Another good week down in Westminster, hereโs what Iโve been up to 
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐บ
I attended the LGA Councillor Forum to discuss the challenges facing local government. Hearing directly from councillors is essential to understanding what communities need and how we can help councils deliver for residents. Understandably local government reorganisation, devolution and finance was top of the agenda and we are working through each; first as I complete the review of the LGR programme, work on further devolution deals alongside the new Rewiring the State white paper, and the upcoming Local Government Finance Settlement.
๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ & ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น
There were important votes on the Courts & Tribunals Bill at Report Stage, which includes reforms aimed at tackling delays in the criminal courts and speeding up access to justice. These are significant changes to our justice system, making parliamentary scrutiny and debate particularly important.
๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐
We are putting the finishing touches to a new High Streets Strategy to go alongside new powers and ยฃ210m of new investment. So it was timely to take part in an adjournment debate on Government support for high streets in Amber Valley. Our high streets are vital to local jobs, businesses and communities, and we must continue working to keep them thriving.
๐ ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ข๐กโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐
On Tuesday, I met with members of the Oldham MioCare Group who came to Westminster to take part in UNISONโs ‘We Show Up’ lobby. Iโll continue to listen to the concerns of service users, families and staff and support efforts to protect the vital support our communities depend on, including on concerns over pay and conditions of the hardworking staff who care for our loved ones.
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ง
I headed home earlier this week so I could be at the funeral of former Councillor and Mayor of Oldham Peter Dean at Oldham Parish Church. It was an honour to speak about his commitment to service and the difference he made to our community. He was also one of the nicest people you could have met. My thoughts remain with his family Susan, and his children Elizabeth, Andrew, Jonathan and Alison; his grandchildren, great grandchild and all who loved him.
๐๐จ-๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ
The new ยฃ10m Co-operative Development Fund is now close to finalising and a lot of work is underway to prepare the ground ahead of allocating out to regions, exciting times!
๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ-๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐
Fantastic to spend an evening this week at the brilliant Co-op Live Arena in Manchester to hear former President Barack Obama speak about his life, his presidency and the future of our world. Thanks to the Co-op Group for the invite.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐น๐๐ฏ
Towards the end of last week, I visited Salford Lads Club for the Beyond the Music Dinner, hosted by Co-operatives UK, YouTube and Google. It was a great opportunity to celebrate the role of music, creativity and community spaces in opening up opportunities for people.
Back to the departmentโฆ It was a busy week as usual, and while much goes on behind the scenes it was a week with a fair few announcements including on proposed interventions in a number of councils and a combined authority. Our job is provide equal challenge and support to improve.
And finallyโฆ it was then back home for some important engagements in Oldham & Greater Manchester including seeing work start on West End Street Playing Pitches and the Friends event at Gallery Oldham.
