Simon Hodgson – Neil Wilby Media

Bungling Borough Solicitor blamed for Bardoc blunder

One of the biggest controversies to spill out of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council in this municipal year has been an alleged smear campaign waged against one of its most prominent and best known politicians. It has led to a flurry of legal letters and ferocious arguments waged on social media, and in the local press,Continue reading “Bungling Borough Solicitor blamed for Bardoc blunder”

Local elections in Oldham begin to take shape

In what is probably the most important election in decades, the political parties in Oldham are settling on their candidates that will fight the twenty-one seats that are up for grabs. Since the election in May, 2019 only one poll has taken place and that attracted widespread media attention for all the wrong reasons asContinue reading “Local elections in Oldham begin to take shape”

Council finally owns up to deceiving local politician

The chief executive has all but gone, but deep rooted problems still persist in the higher echelons of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, writes Neil Wilby. Highlighted again this week by an admission that they cheated when responding to a freedom of information request made by a local politician and fierce critic of that same administration.Continue reading “Council finally owns up to deceiving local politician”

The straw that broke the camel’s back?

Several well placed sources have confirmed that Dr Carolyn Wilkins, highly paid chief executive of Oldham Metropolitan District Council, is presently on gardening leave*. The Council’s website records that her present salary is £185,169, compared to the median salary of £24,491. No wrongdoing on the part of Dr Wilkins is expressed, or implied, beyond whatContinue reading “The straw that broke the camel’s back?”

Number of candidates set to contest Oldham elections drops to 95

With the local elections in the East Lancashire mill town less than three weeks away, the statutory list of wards, candidates, and their proposers and seconders, has been published by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (see here). There are twenty wards in the Borough, and the Council, as part of its Publication Scheme, provides impressive in-depthContinue reading “Number of candidates set to contest Oldham elections drops to 95”