Following publication of a Neil Wilby Media article on 19th August, 2023, a fairly routine police bail update (read in full here), reader feedback included some quite startling news: Security screens around the public galleries that have previously protected councillors from serious public disorder, during a number of Oldham Council meetings in recent times, have been removed (read more here).
The out-turn from that disorder has included one criminal conviction (read more here), at least twelve Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction warnings being issued and heightened security checks before entry to the civic chamber (read more here).
The Council was asked to provide a statement about the removal of the screens that incorporated answers to a series of questions put to them. These included the standard why, when, where and by whom, together with other enquiries regarding stakeholder consultations and risk assessment.
This is the statement, attributed to the Leader of Oldham Council, in full:
“Plastic screens were erected in the council’s chamber, and in many other council buildings, during the covid 19 pandemic, in keeping with national public health guidance at the time to support ongoing infection control, especially for vulnerable members of the community.
“Given Covid-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation and relevant advice has been relaxed, a decision was taken by Group Leaders for the protective screens to be removed ahead of the new municipal year starting.
“All risk assessments are undertaken by the Council’s Health and Safety team and reviewed and updated on a regular basis.”
It now sits alongside a number of other similar, sub-optimal statements provided to Neil Wilby Media – and other publishers – since she returned to the top job in May this year, in a tray marked ‘Opaque, Incomplete or Unnecessarily Defensive’. The tray next to it is marked ‘Blue Sky Thinking’ (read more here).
As is now becoming customary, it drew a series of further questions from the author of this article, Neil Wilby, sent to the press officer dealing with the matter soon after Cllr Shah’s statement had been received.
“An interesting statement from the Leader, but it is, variously, vague or silent on the following points:
“a. The date the decision was taken (disclosable under FOIA)
“b. The basis of the decision. Repeated public disorder at Full Council meetings is a massive concern and the screens are an important barrier in containing it (see below article). It is impossible to believe that was not a consideration. If it was, then it should be in the statement:
“c. The date and content of the risk assessment (also disclosable under FOIA). The working hypothesis is that there wasn’t one undertaken.
“d. Consultations with security contractors and police. The working hypothesis is that none were undertaken.
“My own view, having personally sampled the lawless, dangerous, feral behaviour of some of the more prominent members of The Rabble (a sample of their membership pictured above behind the security screens) , at very close quarters in Manchester Magistrates Court whilst doing my job, is that someone will get hurt at an OMBC meeting, absent of those screens.
“In those circumstances, it would make the positions of the Group Leaders who supported the decision to remove the screens, including Cllr Shah, untenable.
“Perhaps, after digesting all the above points, you could invite her to have another crack at a statement that more carefully, and appropriately, addresses the above issues.
The other three Party Group Leaders, as well as Cllr Shah, were copied into the email. Graham Sheldon (Conservative), Howard Sykes MBE (LibDem) and Brian Hobin (Failsworth Independent Party).
This article will be updated once responses are received to those further enquiries.
In the meantime, the reader might ponder on the fact that public disorder was so serious at the last meeting of the Oldham Full Council that it had to be suspended twice by the Mayor, whom, by tradition, chairs these meetings, and councillors withdrew from the civic chamber on both occasions. The meeting eventually reconvened in a different part of the Civic Centre with the public excluded.
UPDATE: A Council spokesperson, following up a request, by Neil Wilby, for further comment or statement from The Council Leader, said:
“Thanks for getting in touch. We won’t be making any additions to the statement as it stands”.
A Freedom of Information Act request has now been made seek answers to the public interest questions that Cllr Shah wants to conceal not only from the constituents who elected her in St Mary’s, but those she purports to represent across the wider Borough.
If she thinks the issue will go away any time soon, that is to underestimate the resilience and resourcefulness of the only local or regional reporter prepared to hold her Council to account.
Follow Neil Wilby on Twitter (here) and Neil Wilby Media on Facebook (here) for signposts to any updates.
Page last updated: Thursday 24th August, 2023 at 09h25
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