Council unable to appoint Leader and Cabinet puts in place interim governance arrangements following legal advice

The package of measures approved this week (16 September) include the creation of interim Lead Member and Deputy Lead Member roles aligned to the local authority’s four directorates and allocated to its four largest political groups.

Chief Executive Shelley Kipling will continue to exercise delegated executive powers, while Lead Members provide political oversight, advocacy and a visible link between residents, councillors and services, the council said.

“The roles carry no executive decision-making powers,” it added. 

Oldham said: “These measures are designed to strengthen democratic oversight, provide clear political leadership across key service areas and support transparent decision-making while the borough continues to work towards the appointment of a Council Leader and Cabinet.”

Oldham said the arrangements form part of a wider governance framework developed following legal advice, engagement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and discussions between political group leaders.

The approved arrangements will remain in place until a Leader and Cabinet are appointed, or until full council determines otherwise.

“Alongside the new Lead Member roles, enhanced cross-party engagement and scrutiny arrangements will continue to provide oversight of significant decisions affecting the borough,” Oldham said.

In August Oldham’s monitoring officer wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government after the local authority was again unable to elect a Leader at an extraordinary meeting of full council. It has been without a Leader and Cabinet since the May local elections.

Earlier that month the monitoring officer, Alex Bougatef, issued a section 5 report after stating that the authority’s failure to appoint a leader following the local elections had “progressed beyond ordinary political disagreement".

Commenting on the interim governance arrangements, Oldham Chief Executive Shelley Kipling said: "The approval of these arrangements marks an important step in strengthening transparency, accountability and political oversight while the council continues to seek a longer-term leadership solution. 

"By bringing representatives from the council's largest political groups into clearly defined Lead Member roles, we are creating stronger links between elected members, residents and services while ensuring decisions continue to be taken effectively.”

She added: "I would like to thank all political group leaders for the constructive way they have worked together to develop these arrangements. While they are not a replacement for the leadership model set out in legislation, they provide greater democratic engagement and help ensure that residents remain at the heart of everything we do."