Have your say on new council ward boundaries

Residents and organisations in Oldham are being asked for their views to help draw up new ward boundaries across the borough.

A new pattern of wards is being developed for Oldham Council, and the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has decided that the number of councillors in Oldham should be 60 - the same as now - within the 20 electoral wards. 

The independent parliamentary body has launched a 10-week consultation on the proposals, which will run until 16 March 2021. 

It's reviewing Oldham to make sure councillors represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements "help the council work effectively" as well as "reflect community ties and identities". 

The body is particularly interested in views on the following:

• Which communities should be part of the same ward? 
• What facilities do people share, such as parks, leisure centres or schools and shopping areas?
• What issues do neighbouring communities face that they have in common, such as high numbers of visitors or heavy traffic?
• Have there been new housing or commercial developments that have changed the focus of communities?
• Are there roads, rivers, railways or other features that people believe form strong boundaries between neighbourhoods?

The Commission says it will use the views to help draw up the proposals and there will then be a further consultation. 

Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: "We want people in Oldham to help us. We are starting to draw up new wards for Oldham Council. We want our proposals for new electoral arrangements to reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.

"Residents and local organisations can help us understand community ties and identities at this early stage of the process. It’s easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can e-mail or write to us. Just tell us what you think and give us some details why you think that. It’s really simple, so do get involved.”

You can take part in the consultation, and see an interactive map of the boundaries, by visiting https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/have-your-say/24328. 

People can also give their views by e-mailing reviews@lgbce.org.uk, or by post:

The Review Officer (Oldham)
LGBCE
PO Box 133
Blyth
NE24 9FE

'Times have changed' 

Leaders of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on Oldham Council have voiced "disappointment" over the boundary commission's refusal to cut councillor numbers on the authority.

The Lib Dems believe the move would cut costs for the local authority.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes, said: “This is disappointing news. Times have changed since the current councillor numbers were agreed upon.

"The Committee system has been replaced with a Cabinet so only a handful of Councillors are involved in daily decision-making.

"We now live in a world of social media, emails and online meetings rather than taking letters to a typing pool or resorting to faxes, making the conduct of council business far quicker and easier, without the time-consuming commuting.”

“Even more important the number of staff at the council and the budget with which the council delivers services have halved over the last decade. We believe it is only right and proper that the number of councillors should be reduced and both staff numbers, services and budgets have.”