Parish council funding cut fury

OLDHAM council has been accused of "pick pocketing" funds from Saddleworth in a bid to cut costs.

The claim was made by Saddleworth parish councillor Jamie Curley during an emergency parish council meeting to discuss a letter from Oldham Council seeking a review of grants.

Oldham says a "relentless reduction" in spending power by government means it is making increasingly difficult decisions in spending priorities in the future.

And, as part of this review, the borough council is considering whether it is able to continue providing grants supporting the running costs and priorities of each of its parish councils.

The move would reduce Saddleworth's income by about £39,490 a year ­- 24 per cent ­- which raised concerns and frustrated protests at the meeting. The Oldham cuts are £192 million since 2009.

Punished

Councillor Curley said: "This is unacceptable and not what the people of Saddleworth deserve.

"We haven't increased the precept for four years. We are giving more services and do more and more around Saddleworth.

"We are being punished for being a successful parish council and serving our community well."

"Oldham Council is pick-pocketing from the people of Saddleworth for being a nice place," he declared. "It loves what Saddleworth gives Oldham but behind that they are a bunch of pick-pockets."

Parish and Oldham councillor Steve Hewitt said: "We should be looking at the positive things we provide for the community and make a dossier to put forward to Oldham.

"The social added value of many things we do ­- like work with community groups and the elderly ­- outweighs the money we are given."

Parish councillor Rob Knotts said: "What we do not know is how much Oldham spends on Saddleworth. We need that figure and a comparison to how much is spent on the 19 other wards. We are not alone in facing this - other parish councils across the country are in the same situation."

Councillor Neil Allsopp, said: "I am sure there are other ways in which Oldham Council can economise further.

"There are a lot of duties we as a parish council currently take off them and that would come to a value of over £40,000.

"We are asking for nothing more than our fair share but I think we are being treated shabbily."

Councillor Alan Belmore said: "This is the money of the people of Saddleworth that Oldham is not passing on and seems deeply unfair to me.

"The crumbs we do get are being frittered away."

Sidelined

Parish councillor Keith Lucas, from Diggle, who couldn't attend the meeting because of a family commitment, said: "Saddleworth is 51 per cent of the demographic area of the borough so why is it always sidelined?"

In a statement after the meeting Pam Byrne, the parish council chairman, said having frozen its precept, through careful budget planning and management, the parish had taken over key services.

"Oldham Council have invested highly in the town centre - a new sports centre, a cinema complex and the Mahdlo Youth Centre - but when did they last invest in Saddleworth?

"Should the cuts be approved, the parish council will either have to curtail the provision of the present services, which would raise serious concerns over public health and road safety issues among others, or pass the burden of the reduction in income on to its residents by increasing its precept.

The parish council will be submitting its comments to Oldham Council before September 30.

Shaw and Crompton Parish Council will also be affected by the grant reduction plans. Councillors have been meeting to discuss their response.