Oldham residents will take to the polls next month, with seats up for grabs across the borough. Elections will be taking place in all 20 wards in Oldham. Each ward has three councillors and for this election, one councillor will be elected per ward. It means there are 20 seats out of 60 up for grabs in this local election , which will take place on May 7. See below for the full list of candidates standing. Martin Alexander Dinoff-Liberal Democrats Shaid Mushtaq-Labour and Co-operative Anne Taylor-Independent Northern Heart Oldham Katie Helen Gloster-Liberal Democrats Alexander David William Lomas-Reform UK Kyle Phythian-Labour and Co-operative Mohammed Mohib Abu Taleb-Independent Keith Pendl
Oldham's 2026 local elections will take place on May 7, with voting in all 20 wards across the borough. Each ward has three councillors, but only one will be elected per ward, making 20 seats available out of 60 total. The current council composition includes Labour (27), Liberal Democrat (9), Oldham Group (9), Conservative (6), Reform UK (3), Failsworth Independent Party (2), Royton Independents (2), and The Independent Group (2). Registration for voting must be completed by April 20, with postal vote registration closing April 21 and proxy voting April 28. Polling stations open 7am-10pm on election day, requiring photo ID. Results are expected by May 8 afternoon, though counting may occur overnight as in 2024.
First Choice Homes Oldham has launched a dedicated Respect Line for reporting anti-social behaviour and appointed Louise Dean as community safety manager. Dean, who joined in January, leads a team of five ASB officers and will strengthen partnerships with Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Police. The Respect Line was introduced last month and is already being used by residents. FCHO has issued over 25 notices to seek possession following alleged criminality uncovered by GMP's Operation Vulcan. The housing association has also ordered new noise monitoring equipment to tackle noise nuisance in partnership with Oldham Council.
Oldham Council has launched a tender to appoint a Strategic Energy Partner for its £5.6 billion Green New Deal programme. The partnership aims to deliver clean, locally generated energy across the borough, cut carbon emissions, reduce fossil fuel reliance, and protect residents from rising energy costs. Early projects include a low-carbon heat network in Oldham town centre, renewable energy generation on council-owned land and buildings, and expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The programme is expected to create jobs and training opportunities through partnerships with GM Green Economy and Oldham College. The tender will be published on Friday 27 March 2026, with a partner expected to be appointed in autumn 2027.
Oldham Council and Oldham College will launch a new campaign on May 21 to help young people enter the workforce. The scheme aims to create 100 apprenticeships in 100 days and supports the national Youth Guarantee. Councillor Mohon Ali said the campaign will provide opportunities for young people to progress into good careers after exams. Simon Jordan, principal of Oldham College, emphasized the initiative's commitment to social mobility and community resilience. Employers of all sizes are being encouraged to participate by offering apprenticeship roles.
Chadderton Hall Park Day Care, which has provided services for adults with learning disabilities for 20 years, had closure plans announced in January. Oldham Council has paused the budget reduction proposal and MioCare is conducting a review until June 5. Amanda Shelley, whose brother Mark Hilton attends the centre five days a week, launched a petition with over 500 signatures to prevent closure. The centre offers tailored programs in a non-institutional setting, which families say cannot be replicated elsewhere. Council consultations are ongoing with families to be involved throughout March.
Oldham Council has launched BREE (Brokering Relationships Employers and Educators), an online platform designed to connect local schools and colleges with businesses. The initiative, inspired by Manchester City Council's successful model with an 80% success rate, aims to simplify collaboration between education providers and employers while reducing pressure on businesses. Several key employers including Caseys Construction, Willmott Dixon, and Northern Care Alliance have already signed up. Caseys Construction has already partnered with North Chadderton School, delivering careers education sessions about construction careers. The council is encouraging employers of all sizes to register and contribute through workplace visits, mentoring, careers talks, or curriculum support.
Cllr Elaine Taylor at Alexandra Park. Families across Oldham will benefit from new and improved play equipment thanks to a £150,000 investment in our parks and play areas. The funding is being used to upgrade equipment, improve safety surfacing and add new features to play areas across the borough. Improvements include new basket swings at George Street, Arundel Street and Holts Play Village, along with new play panels at Limeside Park and pitch enhancements at Westwood MUGA. Children can also enjoy a new roundabout at High Crompton Park, while resurfacing works have taken place at a number of sites. Significant investment will continue to enhance a number of ongoing development schemes, inc
Oldham Council has secured £5.7 million in funding for 2026/27 to support residents facing financial hardship, an increase of over £1 million from previous Household Support funding. The 12-month programme includes supermarket vouchers worth £15 at May half-term and £50 over summer holidays for around 21,000 children eligible for Free School Meals, a £1 million Crisis Payment scheme for residents facing sudden financial hardship, and a £500,000 Housing Payment scheme for those at risk of homelessness. Additional support includes help with rent deposits, community-based crisis support through faith and voluntary organisations, and funding for Oldham Foodbank. From summer 2026, resilience support will include a one-stop financial advice service, an Income Maximisation Team, energy efficiency advice, an expanded Holiday Activity and Food programme, affordable loans through Oldham Credit...
Oldham Council is changing bulky waste collection charges from Wednesday 1st April 2026, reducing the cost to £10 per item with no extra charges for specific items. The current system charges £23 for up to three items, plus £12 for fridge freezers and £8 for each additional item. Under the new pricing, smaller electrical items will cost £5. Councillor Elaine Taylor, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said the changes make the service clearer and in many cases cheaper, helping residents dispose of unwanted items responsibly. Residents can book collections online at www.oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 6644.
Oldham Council has approved its 2026 budget with £12 million allocated to children's social care and £18 million for local roads, plus an additional £2 million from council capital. The budget includes a 5% council tax increase and introduces a £10 per item bulky waste collection fee. New initiatives include a Rapid Action Team to tackle fly-tipping and £100,000 for youth services across districts. The council has achieved a balanced budget without using reserves for the second consecutive year and reduced council borrowing. Leader Cllr Arooj Shah described it as 'first and foremost about protecting the people of Oldham,' while Deputy Leader Cllr Abdul Jabbar highlighted the council's financial stability and plan to rebuild reserves.
Oldham councillors are inviting residents to raise concerns at upcoming ward surgeries. The surgeries will be held at OBA Millennium Centre on Featherstall Road North, Oldham, with councillors Diane Williamson, Davis Murphy, and Louie Hamblett (Lib Dem) in attendance. Additional surgeries will take place at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre on High Street, Shaw. The events are scheduled for 2026 and are part of the council's efforts to engage with local residents and address community issues.
Oldham Council is investigating issues with its Public Registers Portal, which has been intermittently unavailable over several months. The Oldham Times reported multiple failed attempts to access the site, including on March 4 at 9am and 11am, with error messages such as '504, bad gateway' appearing. The site is used to search for licensed businesses, people, and premises in the borough. Reporters regularly use the portal to track changes to local businesses including pubs, shops, and restaurants. A council spokesperson confirmed work is underway to resolve the issue and stated they are committed to providing a reliable service.
Plans to close Chadderton Hall Park Day Care in Oldham were announced last month, prompting intervention from MP Jim McMahon and a pause in closure proceedings. Relatives of service users, including Amanda Shelley whose brother Mark Hilton has attended for over 20 years, feel 'left hanging' as uncertainty continues. The council-led provider MioCare is conducting 'meaningful conversations' with stakeholders, but no timescale has been provided. The centre offers unique activities like woodworking and cookery classes that aren't available at traditional day centres. With no new members in 10 years, relatives argue the centre deserves support rather than closure, while families struggle to find suitable alternatives.
Oldham council approved a 4.99% council tax increase and £8m in cuts to address a £20m budget gap caused by rising costs in adult social care, children's services, and emergency homeless accommodation. The budget includes a 10% average increase on service fees, with Band A properties facing an £82 rise to £1,717 annually. Council leader Cllr Arooj Shah said the increase was necessary to avoid service cuts for vulnerable residents. The budget also allocates £12m each to adult and children's social care, increases road maintenance spending, and creates a rapid action task force to tackle fly-tipping. Liberal Democrats criticised the council for failing to deliver promised savings and not addressing social care adequately.
Oldham councillor Marie Bashforth has defected from Labour and will sit as an independent for the remaining eight weeks of her term. She was deselected as Labour's candidate for Royton South in the May 7 local election, with Kathryn England selected instead. Bashforth, who has represented Royton South since 2013, said she felt 'stabbed in the back' and believes her challenges to leadership on CSE issues and Places for Everyone contributed to her deselection. She failed to attend council meetings for several months after the decision and was warned she could lose her seat. The council's political makeup will now include 26 Labour councillors, nine Liberal Democrats, nine Oldham Group independents, six Conservatives, three Reform UK members, and six area-specific independents.
Plans to close Chadderton Hall Park Day Care, a service for adults with learning disabilities in Oldham, have been paused following public outcry. The council-run MioCare service, described as 'irreplaceable' by families, was set to close as part of £8m budget cuts to address a £20m deficit. MP Jim McMahon called for 'every effort' to keep it open. The revised budget now allocates £100,000 for youth services and £250,000 for a Rapid Response Street Scene Team. Council leader Arooj Shah said the pause allows time for 'meaningful conversations' about the service's future.
Oldham Council has approved a 4.99% council tax increase and £8m in cuts for 2026/27 to address a £20m funding shortfall. The budget includes £29m in additional funding from government policy changes, but rising costs in adult and children's social care (£14m over budget) and homelessness (£4.6m extra) remain challenging. Council leader Arooj Shah highlighted planned investments in social care, road maintenance, youth services, and a fly-tipping response team. The budget will be voted on by the full council on March 4.
Oldham Council's Don't Trash Oldham campaign is back with renewed focus on tackling fly-tipping, clearing alleyways, and addressing litter hotspots across the borough. The initiative follows strong resident demand for a cleaner, greener Oldham and will see council teams working alongside communities to restore neighbourhood pride. New competitions include 'Clean Alleyway of the Month' and 'Cleanest Alleyway of the Year' with prizes for residents who maintain tidy streets. Council Leader Cllr Arooj Shah emphasized the campaign is about 'pride, partnership, and progress,' while Cllr Elaine Taylor highlighted targeting areas where residents have requested change. The campaign will feature before-and-after photos and social media updates showing progress throughout Oldham.
Oldham Council has approved vital funding to support children and families with SEND through short breaks play and leisure activities. The council is extending its current contract with POINT, a charity supporting families of children with additional needs, for a further two years. The decision was published on Friday, 28th November 2025. This funding extension aims to provide continued support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in the Oldham area.