Rochdale Council encouraging shopping in... Oldham!

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Despite recently promising it would never happen again, Rochdale Borough Council is again advertising shopping facilities in another town on council employee payslips.

In June Rochdale Online revealed that the Council was advertising markets in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge on employee payslips, this month we can reveal that the Council is advertising a cash and carry in Oldham.

At the time of the initial revelations, Councillor Greg Couzens said: "It is totally wrong and I will take this up with council officers."

Just a day later Councillor Couzens issued a statement saying the external contract and pay slip advertising will now be looked after in house instead.

“This will be on the same basis that we deliver advertising in Local Matters which means advertising will be restricted to the council’s own services and partner organisations only.

“Quite clearly the council does not agree that advertising markets outside of the borough is helpful for local businesses and I will personally ensure that once the contract has ceased, the first advert to be in the new payslips will be one encouraging staff to shop local.”

A deeply embarrassed Councillor Couzens was dismayed when told by Rochdale Online of the latest payslip adverts, and asked why the external contract with a Halifax based company was still in operation, despite him saying it would be terminated, he said: "I will investigate and come back with an update as soon as possible."

Rochdale Council Communications Manager Kate Lindley who previously said: “The council and its partners are committed to supporting residents and local businesses – particularly during the economic downturn ... I will be discussing this issue with colleagues ... to ensure that together we do what we can to ensure we support local business at this time”, also promised to investigate why the council promise has not been kept.