Council urges Government to scrap austerity

Abdul Jabbar

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LABOUR councillors urged the Government to end the austerity programme which they say has had a massive detrimental impact.

At last night's council meeting, Councillor Amanda Chadderton said the programme has failed the people of Oldham and has hit teachers, nurses and emergency services who will have faced a 12 per cent cut in their real-term wages by 2020.

As well as having a detrimental impact on services, the programme was said to have depressed wages and pushed more children into poverty.

Cllr Chadderton, proposing the motion, said: "This government's austerity programme has failed the people of Oldham. Amongst the hardest hit are our teachers, nurses and emergency services staff who will have faced a 12 per cent cut in their real-term wages by 2020.

"It's not just the public sector staff who have been affected by these changes.

"This government insults the British public by pretending that these cuts are necessary, yet simultaneously cutting corporation tax and cutting the top rate of tax for the highest earners in the country. It's time for a change."

Councillor Abdul Jabbar said: "Since 2010, we have faced £192 million of cuts to our budget, with the need to find an extra £50 million by 2020.

"This is completely unsustainable for a council like Oldham that does not have the tax base of places like Surrey County Council, for example, where a one per cent rise in council tax for them will bring in an extra £6million.

"Further cuts will mean a deterioration of services that will hit those that need it the most, which is unacceptable and must be stopped before it's too late."

He said: "It's time for the government to properly fund local government and especially for places like Oldham.

"I want to work with the LGA so there is a proper assessment of the needs for the local government."

Councillor Shaid Mushtaq added: "While I once believed that the major parties had the best interests of all at heart, I do not believe that to be the case."

Cllr Mushtaq described the government's actions as showing contempt and described the programme as a monster.

"This isn't political point scoring, this is a genuine appeal," he said.

Councillor John Hudson described the motion as political clap-trap and 'c**p' and said that the austerity programme was something he called 'good housekeeping'and added that "you can't spend money you don't have".

Cllr Iqbal said he should withdraw his comment for foul language, however Cllr Hudson said he would not and described comments from councillors as 'lies'.

The motion was passed with an amendment to call for the end of the one per cent pay cap which was proposed by Councillors John McCann and Garth Harkness. Cllr Harkness said: "We need to end this public sector pay cap and have a cross-party discussion about how to pay.

"Please back the amendment and the motion."