Most Improved Council!

Congratulations to all at Oldham Council for being recognised by the Local Government Chronicle as the “Most Improved Council” in the country.

It’s fair to say that often the council doesn’t get the recognition it deserves for the work it’s doing, whether that’s turning around Children’s Services to achieve a Good rating, driving forward vital regeneration projects that are key to the town’s long-term future, or on many other fronts.

No council has had an easy time over the past decade. Years of austerity have hit hard, and the pressures on children’s services, adult social care, and temporary accommodation have soared, including here in Oldham. That pressure has been felt in every part of the borough, as neighbourhood services have had to be scaled back to meet rising demand in legally mandated services.

But we are now beginning to turn a corner.

This year, with a new government determined to turn this around, councils have for the first time received funding allocations that genuinely reflect need, including higher levels of deprivation. That shift has made a real difference, and with major funding reforms on the horizon, councils like Oldham are finally being put in a stronger position to plan, invest, and deliver for their communities.

That said, it would be wrong to ignore the reality: Oldham has also had to operate in one of the most hostile political environments seen not just in its recent history, but anywhere in the country.

The council isn’t perfect, no institution is, and there will always be room to do things better. But I know that the vast majority of those who work within the council do so to make this borough better.

I include the political leadership in that too. I see the time, energy and personal commitment they put in day after day. Cllr Shah and her deputies Cllr Taylor and Cllr Jabbar and their wider group who have helped secure these improvements deserve this recognition.

And I’d extend that recognition to many members of the opposition as well. I may not agree with all their politics or proposals, but I respect those who show up, who care, and who give their time in what has become an increasingly difficult political climate.

I hope this recognition marks a turning point, a moment for the council to rebuild its confidence, to reflect on the progress that has been made, and to look ahead with a renewed determination.

Because when people step forward into public service, whatever their role, they carry with them the potential to make a real and lasting difference. And in places like Oldham, that collective leadership has the power to do immense good for our borough and the people who call it home.