Conservative leader's column: a productive meeting with the interim chief executive of RBH

John Taylor is the leader of the local Conservative party in Rochdale and a councillor for Wardle and West Littleborough.

This month he dedicates his column to discussing a productive meeting with the interim chief executive of RBH, the cost-of-living crisis, the conviction of David Carrick, and Asrar Ul-Haque's OBE award.

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As this is my first column of the year let me wish everyone a Happy New Year. I like to start each year with renewed hope, optimism for the future and a determination to improve the quality of life for everyone over the coming months and this year is no exception.

That positive thought reminds me of the very productive meeting I had last week with Yvonne Arrowsmith, the interim Chief Executive of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). I found her to be a breath of fresh air with a desire to turn around what has become a failing organisation.

I always believe genuine leadership qualities are a critical and essential element within any organisation and from my conversation with Yvonne, I was left with the impression she has those qualities in abundance.

There is, in my opinion, a marked difference between management and leadership with managers following process whereas leaders will always do the right thing. Yvonne understands why RBH failed its residents and she seems to have the experience and wherewithal to turn the organisation around.

I also recognise how RBH has many excellent members of staff who with Yvonne’s guidance and leadership will have the opportunity to flourish and shine. I wish her and all of her staff well for the future.

Nationally we remain in a very difficult position with the cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone from all walks of life across our borough. I was pleased to read our Prime Minster’s five pledges to the county and believe they will resonate with all of our citizens too.

They encompass many of the issues people raise with me on a regular basis and offer a sensible road to economic recovery, growth and future prosperity. It is worth reminding ourselves what those pledges are and I am sure they will influence peoples voting intentions in 2024 when the next general election comes around.

• Halve inflation this year, to ease the cost of living and give people financial security.
• Grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity across the country.
• Getting our national debt down, so that we can secure the future of public services.
• Cutting NHS waiting lists, so people can get the care they need more quickly.
• Legislating to stop the boats, making sure if you come here illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed.

Early indications are positive with inflation starting to fall but I am the first to recognise there is a long way to go yet before we are out of the woods. It does, however, focus my mind (and that of my Conservative colleagues too) on delivering all we can to support our communities.

Next month full council will set a budget for the next fiscal year and we are currently working with council officers to prepare our own budget proposals. I cannot write about the details of those proposals yet but I can articulate how our priority is to reduce the impact of the cost of living crisis for everyone. This crisis affects everyone and it is perfectly reasonable therefore, to provide as much support as possible for everyone too.

This week I read with horror the catalogue of offences and missed opportunities for intervention around the conviction of David Carrick.

As a citizen I am troubled by this case; as a retired police officer I am genuinely horrified and find the lack of leadership and decision making around the appointment and continued employment of this individual deeply disturbing. As an elected representative this case raises questions in my mind about recruitment of police officers locally. I have no doubt this case will damage and usurp confidence in policing for vulnerable victims when they need support the most.

Trust and confidence in policing are necessary and paramount in a society where policing by consent is the norm. Carrick was hidden in plain sight and yet worse, he was disguised as a police officer, a person who victims ought to be able to trust. Having studied the number of complaints made about him and the nature of those complaints it beggars belief why he wasn’t dealt with far sooner which would in turn have prevented many of his victims from suffering the harrowing ordeals they endured. This is in my opinion another example of failed leadership and that simply isn’t good enough.

In view of this I have written to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester and asked what steps he is taking to ensure the recruitment of officers and the investigation of complaints are fit for purpose and how he will reassure victims and build confidence with those most vulnerable in our community.

I opened this month’s column on a positive note and would like to close on one too. This week I met with the Lord Lieutenant for Manchester and her two local representatives, one of whom is my former colleague Asrar Ul-Haque who has been honoured with an OBE for his work with communities.

May I offer Asrar my warmest congratulations and this is a timely reminder of all the fantastic work that goes on across the borough for the benefit of al our residents and businesses alike.
 

Read more: OBE for Deputy Lieutenant Asrar Ul-Haq in King’s New Year’s Honours ListPublished: 30 December 2022