FURTHER cost-saving measures are being implemented at Oldham Council, to tackle a funding gap of £30m in the current financial year.
Due to a £215m reduction in Government funding over the last decade, teamed with the estimated £20m cost of the Coronavirus pandemic to the authority, difficult decisions now have to be taken to enable the council to continue delivering vital services.
At the start of the pandemic, Oldham Council was told by the Government to spend whatever was needed to deal with the impact of Coronavirus. However, the money received so far does not cover the amount of money the council has spent in providing additional support to residents and businesses, combined with a substantial loss in income.
In order to close the funding gap, from Monday 24 August Oldham Council will therefore be asking staff to consider voluntary redundancy and a number of other cost-saving measures such as working fewer hours or “buying” additional holiday.
Oldham Council Leader Sean Fielding said: “Everyone at Oldham Council and Team Oldham has gone above and beyond to ensure we have been there for Oldham residents during the Coronavirus pandemic. They’ve been there to collect waste and recycling, to take calls on our emergency helpline, provide emergency food parcels to those most isolated and more.
“Asking our staff to now consider voluntary redundancy is not a decision that has been made lightly and not what any of us would wish. However, we have to explore all options for saving money due to the scale of the budget challenge we face.
“I urge the Government to fully support our continued effort in protecting the residents of Oldham and ensure we, and other local authorities, receive fair funding in these most challenging of times.”
Support those who have selflessly worked for the most vulnerable throughout this crisis, sign here today – https://www.oldham.gov.uk/
Don’t forget quite a few oldhamers could be on the verge of loosing their jobs me included just waiting been on furlough leave since march and I could not afford more pressure put on bills , Why don’t you take a pay cut MrFielding I am sure that would help
So what about the Council Tax your tenants pay, what does that get spent on and don’t say the Emergency Services, because you look at how many tenants you have in your Council houses and how many home owners also in the Borough who pay Council Tax that should be enough to stop redundancy in the council
But they have just employed 2 people on £50.000 +a year and are wasting £306 million on a white elephant. The council are a total disgrace and wasted money on most things they should be investigated for fraud
Oldham Council continue to be the worst Authority in England for the rate payers of Oldham.
Millions spent on a school which any decent builders could have completed in 9 months and still on going.
This from a Labour Council whose shadow cabinet wanted to close all private schools.
Four times i have phoned them to ask what protection is being given for the residents around the school from cars parking on pavements with engines running within half of the metre of the local properties.
Over 1800 children leaving school at the same blocking all pavements where local residents need to walk.
No answers because they do not know.
That is indeed a disgusting waste of tax payers money. It is only the tip of the iceberg with this Council.
There are other examples of money being spent like water with no accountability.
Staff at all levels being paid at inflated rates at Oldham Council. Double and more than people working in the private sector receive.
Enhanced terms and conditions like six months sick pay (full salary) followed by six months half pay, this is often exploited by staff and is often monitored poorly by the powers that be.
Vulnerable service users exploited due to the councils failure to work within current legislation.
The list is endless. This Council only has itself to blame for the absolute dire financial mess it is now in.
The leaders consistently stating how well it is doing . Those same leaders of OMBC continue to hoodwink the hard working tax payers of Oldham. Cutting vital services etc.
All of these measures and the exploitation of its most vulnerable have been and continue to have taken place a long time before the very unfortunate onset of Covid 19.
Does anyone in this Council really care ?
The amount of tax payers money that is wasted by this Council is nothing less than criminal.