Every motion and amendment moved or seconded by current Oldham Group councillors at Full Council since 15 March 2023 — 31 in total, 15 carried. Each entry links to the official minutes.
31 results
Full Council, 16 Sep 2026MotionCarried
A Borough-Wide Strategy to Reduce Child Poverty and Improve Life Chances for Children in Oldham
Called for a practical, measurable and cross-party programme to reduce child poverty in Oldham, building on existing support and learning from councils elsewhere.
Proposed that the Leader’s post rotate between the political groups for the rest of the year, with a rotating Deputy Leader and a politically balanced Cabinet, to end the deadlock.
Outcome: Lost. As every amendment fell, the Monitoring Officer wrote to the Secretary of State.
Moved amendments nominating Cllr Sam Al-Hamdani and then Cllr Mark Kenyon as Leader, and proposals to change procedure rules to allow other ways of electing a Leader and further nominations.
Urged schools and academy trusts to cut compulsory branded items, end single-supplier deals and expand pre-loved uniform schemes, as part of tackling child poverty.
Outcome: Carried as amended. Council will write to all schools and trusts and ask for a written response within six months.
The 15 July 2026 meeting was recorded in two parts.
Proposed an annual multi-agency fireworks action plan, year-round education (including at weddings and private celebrations), annual reporting of complaints and work with retailers.
Sought a community-led plan, using heritage funding, to restore the Grade II listed Music Rooms in Werneth Park, closed since 2001 and costing the Council about £125,000 a year.
Outcome: Carried as amended. Council will keep exploring options with community groups and the GM Building Preservation Trust.
Called for scan-based (digital) post-mortems ordered by the Coroner to be free for bereaved families and paid from the coronial budget.
Outcome: Carried as amended. From 2026, Coroner-authorised digital post-mortems for Oldham residents will be funded through the coronial budget, with no direct charge to families.
Oldham Group amendment to the administration’s motion, setting out stronger language on civilian deaths and famine in Gaza.
Outcome: Amendment lost (0 for, 30 against, 20 abstentions) when the debate resumed on 12 November 2025, after Council refused to let the Oldham Group revise or withdraw it; motion carried.
Debate began on 17 September 2025; the vote was taken when the meeting reconvened on 12 November 2025.
Proposed free school travel for children living in temporary accommodation (748 children in Oldham at the start of 2025), so that a housing crisis does not cost them their school place. An Oldham Group amendment (moved by Cllr Ghafoor, seconded by Cllr Wahid) re-ordered the proposal to fit the Council’s budget rules.
Outcome: Carried as amended. Cabinet to report within 12 weeks on options, including free school travel regardless of mileage.
Taken when the adjourned 17 September 2025 meeting reconvened on 12 November 2025.
Asked for an urgent cost-benefit study of bringing back a free three-item bulky waste collection, noting 5,672 fly-tipping incidents costing over £600,000 in a year.
Oldham Group amendment calling for a national statutory inquiry and statutory powers for Oldham’s local inquiry, with survivor-led, independent terms of reference. Parts were merged into a composite amendment moved by Cllr Al-Hamdani and seconded by Cllr Wahid.
Outcome: Parts incorporated into a composite amendment. [TO CONFIRM: final vote – not clearly stated in the printed minutes]
Asked the Council to urge the Greater Manchester Pension Fund to stop investing in fossil fuels and arms companies, report transparently and reinvest ethically.
Outcome: Carried as amended (the amendment passed 52–5). Council asked GMPF to develop a divestment plan within 12 months and report annually.
Amendment asking the Council to review new kinship care guidance urgently, become a Kinship Friendly Employer and fund support for kinship and foster carers.
Outcome: Amendment carried; motion as amended carried.
Seconded by Cllr Sheldon as a Conservative councillor, before joining the Oldham Group
Called on the Council to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, protection of civilians and safe access for humanitarian aid.
Outcome: Carried as amended by 40 votes to 5, with 14 abstentions. Council called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and rapid entry of humanitarian aid.
On the Chief Executive’s secondment to Tameside, asked for reports to Full Council on the risks and legal position and for open recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive.
Highlighted evidence that drivers in more ethnically diverse areas are quoted higher car insurance premiums, and asked the Council to press MPs, the regulator and insurers to end the disparity.
Outcome: Carried as amended. The Council agreed to write to Oldham’s MPs, asking them to raise the issue with Government and urge the FCA to speed up its investigation, and to write to the Association of British Insurers.
Called for longer cemetery opening hours (up to 10pm, seven days a week), one fixed burial fee and later booking and paperwork cut-offs so families can arrange same-day burials.
Outcome: Carried as amended. Council agreed a pilot of extended cemetery hours, a tariff based on the pilot, and to keep offering same-day burials seven days a week.
The published agenda listed this motion as to be moved by Cllr Zaheer Ali and seconded by Cllr Aisha Kouser. The minutes record that on the night it was moved by Cllr Ghafoor and seconded by Cllr Wahid.
Oldham Group amendment noting the scale of civilian deaths in Gaza, condemning the 7 October attacks and collective punishment, and calling for a ceasefire and respect for international law.
Outcome: Amendment lost; the motion as amended by another group was carried.
Asked the Council to add Oldham’s voice to calls for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian aid and accountability through the International Court of Justice.
Outcome: Carried as amended. Council wrote to the Prime Minister, the UN Secretary-General and the Foreign Secretary in support of a ceasefire and humanitarian aid.
Criticised the Labour administration’s record on the town centre, including the closure of the Coliseum theatre and overspends on major projects, and challenged confidence in the Council’s leadership.
Outcome: Lost (recorded vote).
Seconded by Cllr Sheldon as Conservative Group Leader, before joining the Oldham Group
Called for priority to be given to a modern health centre serving all of Saddleworth, using part of the old Saddleworth School site.
Outcome: Carried as amended. Council committed to work with the GM Integrated Care System and NHS England to prioritise a Saddleworth health centre and find a site.
Seconded by Cllr Sheldon as a Conservative councillor, before joining the Oldham Group
Asked the Chief Executive to identify a parcel of council land that could be donated to the Oldham Muslim Cemetery Committee for a Muslim graveyard. Apart from the land, the Council would not pay for its development or upkeep, and it would relieve pressure on existing cemeteries.
Outcome: Lost.
Moved before the Oldham Group was set up (Cllr Ghafoor was then a Conservative councillor)
Called for the Council to expand renewable energy across the borough to cut carbon and costs.
Outcome: Carried as amended. Council committed to re-evaluate all council-owned buildings and land for solar panels and to explore further renewable schemes, including a mine water heat network.
Seconded by Cllr Akhtar while a Labour Cabinet Member, before joining the Oldham Group
About this list. Taken from Oldham Council’s printed minutes of Full Council. It includes amendments the group put forward, and motions seconded or moved by councillors before they joined the Oldham Group (marked). Procedural items such as mayoral nominations are not included. “Not agreed” means the motion or amendment was lost on the vote.
