An Open for Growth Local Authority

the Oldham story and messages from the PAS

Open for Growth Peer Challenge

- Cllr Shoab Akhtar (Oldham MBC)

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!

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:

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?

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.