Greater Manchester Combined Authority

What happens if a council goes bankrupt?

This article is reproduced, with minor local amendments, from a publication earlier this week in the House of Commons Library, Full and unreserved credit is given both to them and its author, Mark Sandford, by Neil Wilby Media. In the run-up to the Government’s Autumn Statement, two local authorities, Kent and Hampshire county councils, wroteContinue reading “What happens if a council goes bankrupt?”

No public inquiry in Oldham says Home Office

At a meeting of Full Council in Oldham last night it was heard, during an answer to a question from a member of the public, that the Home Office had replied to a letter from the local Liberal Democrats and turned down their request for a public inquiry into grotesque child sexual exploitation (CSE) failingsContinue reading “No public inquiry in Oldham says Home Office”

Journalism is not a popularity contest – but this abuse is absolutely off the scale

As an investigative journalist, an essential requirement is to develop a thick skin and the ability shrug off both criticism and resistance to what is being probed, writes Neil Wilby. Particularly, from subjects of those enquiries and their circle of friends and associates who may feel threatened by what may, potentially, be exposed. This can,Continue reading “Journalism is not a popularity contest – but this abuse is absolutely off the scale”

Doubts linger over Tory inquiry letter claim

As the scandal over the handling of historic child sexual exploitation (CSE) by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council rumbles on, and, mostly, played out on partisan right-wing news channel, GB News, calls for an independent public inquiry have been made by the two mainstream opposition parties. The Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats, the long-serving Cllr HowardContinue reading “Doubts linger over Tory inquiry letter claim”

Disgraced Mayor makes further false claims over efficacy of ‘Assurance Review’

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has written an open letter to Oldham residents in response to widespread criticism of a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Assurance Review, commissioned and paid for by him, which was published on 20th June, 2022. In his letter, the Mayor says he wants to ‘make sure people in OldhamContinue reading “Disgraced Mayor makes further false claims over efficacy of ‘Assurance Review’”

‘Renegades’ face humiliation over quest for public inquiry

Four ‘renegade’ Oldham Metropolitan Borough councillors, Bethany Sharp (representing St James ward), Dave Arnott (Royton North), Lewis Quigg (Royton North) and Robert Barnes (Chadderton South) say they have written a joint letter to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Priti Patel, urging her to consider instituting an independent public inquiry into child sexualContinue reading “‘Renegades’ face humiliation over quest for public inquiry”

LibDems slam ‘new’ chief constable over taxi checks

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Party has discovered that, despite Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council warning Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in December 2018 that the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check) wasn’t good enough for taxi licensing, the Council still haven’t had a promised response. The recent Assurance Review into historic CSE in Oldham found that GMP initiallyContinue reading “LibDems slam ‘new’ chief constable over taxi checks”

‘Profoundly disappointing’ response from chief constable says CSE survivor, ‘Sophie’

Following a meeting that took place at Greater Manchester Police headquarters, earlier this week, between Oldham’s highest profile child sexual exploitation (CSE) survivor, ‘Sophie’, and the GMP chief constable, a written reply has now been provided by Stephen Watson, who joined the thoroughly disgraced force just over a year ago. Sophie was accompanied at theContinue reading “‘Profoundly disappointing’ response from chief constable says CSE survivor, ‘Sophie’”

The Review into safeguarding practices in the Borough of Oldham – Terms of Reference

These are the full Terms of Reference for an Assurance Review that took place between January, 2020 and June, 2022 into historic safeguarding practices involving Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Greater Manchester Police and partner agencies. The Review was undertaken by Malcolm Newsam CBE and Gary Ridgway – and published on 20th June, 2022 (read fullContinue reading “The Review into safeguarding practices in the Borough of Oldham – Terms of Reference”

Will democracy trump disorder?

Following disgraceful scenes of public disorder at an Extraordinary Meeting of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council on 27th June, 2022 more disruption is expected at a Full Council meeting scheduled for 13th July, 2022. Noisy and disruptive protests over a failed ‘Assurance Review’ into child sexual exploitation failings in the Borough, during the period 2006 toContinue reading “Will democracy trump disorder?”