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An Open for Growth Local Authority
the Oldham story and messages from the PAS
Open for Growth Peer Challenge
- Cllr Shoab Akhtar (Oldham MBC)
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The importance of certainty to investment
Councillor Shoab Akhtar
Deputy Leader, Oldham Council
Executive Member for Business & Town Centres
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Oldham in context
• 13 years of political instability
• 2001 Riots – not a place to invest
• 2008 lowest resident satisfaction 22% (Your Place Survey
• 2008 weak leadership (Audit Commission)
• £72m uncollected debt (council tax, rates)
• Decade of decline – lost 50% of manufacturing
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What were our options?
• Carry on regardless – politics first
• Manage decline – best of a bad job
• SAY NO – Rewrite our history!
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Our Journey
• 2008 Labour lose control
• Cross Party agreement to work for the good of the town
• Clear out management, recruit new team
• Get own house in order
• Clear debtors, control spend – can’t do anything without
cash!
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2011 Labour return – but different
• Modernise governance – make relevant
• Co-operative Council – campaigning
• Bold vision – regenerate & jobs
• Financial house in order
• Political house stable
• Young leadership with stake in future
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Set the scene
• Credible projects – achievable
• Scale and ambition – no 2nd prize
• Build team of ambassadors
• Put your money where your mouth is
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Building the team
• Internal – get the officer skills in place
• Specialist skills
• Ambassadors – local – regional – national
• LEADERSHIP – lead from the front
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Credible
• Be clear on expectations
• Set the vision
• Make a decision …. and stick to it
UNCERTAINTITY COSTS – TIME AND MONEY
• Thoughtful, logical, but with passion
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Momentum
• Events and publications
• Website – people will want to know more
• Officers set up to respond, not frustrate
• Take opportunities and be flexible – but not lacking in
focus
• Celebrate successes – manage blows
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Oldham 2013
• Most Improved council in the country
• Resident satisfaction from 22% to 65%
• £150m of cuts but £110m freed up for investment
• £200m of private sector investment
• Award winning Fairness Campaigns – Energy, Fares
• First UK public body to close accounts
with £100k underspend
• Team Oldham – public and private sector
working hand in hand
• Flagship Youth Guarantee
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AMBITIOUS
HUNGRY
WRITING OLDHAM’S HISTORY
TODAY
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Old Town Hall Cinema Complex
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Prince’s Gate, Eastern Gateway
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Town Centre Hotel and Conferencing Centre
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New Coliseum and Heritage Centre
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Oldham Town Centre Leisure Centre
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Independent Quarter
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Did you know?
• Oldham – Cotton world leader –
360 mills 17.2m spindles
• Made world’s first computer
• World’s first test tube baby born in Oldham
• Home of Lancaster Bomber
• Winston Churchill – Oldham MP
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. . . The next world changing invention, event or
product . . . in progress!
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NEVER MISS A CHANCE TO
SELL YOUR VISION!
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Open for Growth Peer Challenge
The peer challenge aims to assist the council to
align its services to facilitate and support
economic growth and is less about detailed
processes and performance. To focus attention
in the right places a peer team challenge team
considers the following questions:
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Open for Growth Peer Challenge
• Corporate and political leadership: is there
clear commitment to growth evidence that this
carries through from strategy to implementation
and funding decisions?
• In delivering the growth strategy, what is the
role of and relationships with, key local partners
including neighbourhood forums, other local
authorities and the local enterprise partnership?
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Open for Growth Peer Challenge• What is the authorities ‘offer’ to local
businesses and potential investors? What can
customers expect when looking to invest and is
there a clear route to access support and
advice?
• Is there evidence of integrated approaches to
advising and helping customers, to using the
council's assets and to making the best use of
resources to deliver services and outcomes?
• The role of planning in helping to deliver
economic growth.