Oldham Council’s finances are on the road to recovery following 14 years of central government cuts.
A combination of tough decisions made by the Council and additional investment by the new government has helped place Oldham on a firm financial footing as councillors agreed spending plans for the years ahead.
Council leaders have pledged that “every penny” will be scrutinised so that vital services are protected, jobs created and Oldham becomes a better place to live, work, invest and enjoy.
Leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Arooj Shah, said: “Year after year, we’ve had to make hard decisions due to the cuts and underinvestment in our communities imposed by the last government, but this year’s budget shows that we are starting on a journey which will go some way to repair the damage made not just to the Council, but our communities and Oldham residents.
“The cruel era of austerity is finally over. I have to level with Oldhamers – we aren’t out of the woods yet, but we are now on a firm financial footing that shows that there really is light at the end of the tunnel.
“I make you this promise as your council leader: As always, every penny this council spends will help make the lives of Oldham residents better.”
The budget sets out how the Council will protect and improve vital services, such as:
- more support given to people in temporary accommodation.
- more affordable and social homes built for Oldhamers.
- our programme of holiday activities for families will continue.
- improving our roads, parks and public spaces.
- investing real cash to create real jobs and opportunities so that Oldham can grow.
This year many of the big projects, happening in the background, to make Oldham better, are starting to become a reality, joining success stories such as the Egyptian Room opening, £10m for the refurbishment of the beloved Coliseum, and the restoration of Royton Town Hall into a beautiful community resource. These projects include:
- the opening of the new indoor market.
- our brand new events space.
- the opening of the Old Library as the new civic home for the council and the new home for Oldham Theatre Workshop.
- Parliament Square reopening as a reimagined space to attract visitors and boost businesses.
Cllr Shah added: “The good news doesn’t stop there - just this week the government announced that Oldham will receive an extra £20m of investment. Every district in Oldham will reap the rewards from this cash boost, just as every part of our society, from businesses, to culture, education, housing and sport will all get a growth injection.
“We’re also investing millions to open our own children’s homes, we’ve committed to paying our care workers that look after your families a decent and fair wage, and parking enforcement being brought in-house to save money and ensure more accountability.”
Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Value for Money and Sustainability, said: “We’ve been listening to residents and what matters most to them, we've delivered a balanced budget without using reserves by taking the tough decisions that our residents expect us to make.
“Oldham has faced 14 years of government neglect, but by working together, we can rebuild and move forward. We all have a role to play in making sure our local services are strong, sustainable, and able to support those who need them most.
“I’m really pleased that the Government is now working with local government to try and repair the damage. They’ve put their money where their mouth is with an £8million recovery grant, extension of the Household Support Fund and a much-needed commitment to multi-year settlements in the future.”
Crucially, after years of having to rely on reserves, this year councillors expect to put £4m back into reserves.
Savings still have to be made, but they will be delivered whilst protecting services and projects that help Oldham grow.
To watch the meeting of Full Council and read the full reports, please click here.