Council merger scrapped

The Leader of Rochdale Council Councillor Colin Lambert

The potential merger between Rochdale Borough Council and Oldham Council has been scrapped.

The two councils have had regular meetings but just hours before joint working recommendations were due to go before a meeting of Full Council in Rochdale the idea has been thrown out.

Council Leader Colin Lambert said joint working with Oldham could “jeopardise Rochdale being able to retain its sovereignty and maintain strong, democratic accountability.”

Mr Lambert said: “Over the last few months we have been working closely with Oldham to determine potential opportunities for full integration across the two councils.

“The priority for members of both councils has always been to seek to deliver the services our communities’ want, whilst minimising the impact of the £120 million of savings we need to make across both councils over the next three years.

“To contribute to the £64 million of savings we need to make in Rochdale, we have explored every possible avenue and working with Oldham was one potential opportunity.

“As part of this process we have considered full integration, sharing a joint Chief Executive and having a joint and integrated management team.

“Full Council will meet on Wednesday evening and the issue of joint working is on the agenda. I will be withdrawing the item from the agenda.

“We have concluded that we will not be pursuing full integration, the constitutional issue of a shared Chief Executive or a joint and integrated management team. We have concluded that this would jeopardise Rochdale being able to retain its sovereignty and maintain strong, democratic accountability.

“In addition, this could have increased rather than reduced senior management costs at a time when we are being forced to cut services delivered to our local communities. This is not acceptable.

“However, we will continue to look at joint working opportunities with Oldham, as well as other authorities across Greater Manchester.

“We have an excellent track record of working with Oldham, most recently our joint street lighting contract, and we will build on that work wherever possible. Any opportunities for joint working with Oldham will continue to be considered by the Advisory Joint Committee.

“Proposals for the future senior management structure for Rochdale Council will soon be considered by councillors.

“It is to the credit of all involved that the interests of each of our local communities have been put at the forefront of any decisions.”

Councillor Lambert concluded: “I realise that this has been a difficult time for staff and acknowledge that there is still uncertainty given the level of savings we are having to make.

“I have therefore thanked them for their continued commitment and have assured them that both I and Chief Executive Roger Ellis are committed to keeping them updated whilst we are going through such immense change.”

Plans for a new senior management structure in Rochdale will now be expedited.

The Leader of the Conservative group, Councillor Ashley Dearnley, said: “As a group we were concerned at the speed they were trying to achieve this with the merger of the Chief Executive and senior directors. We think it is unfortunate that all the time and effort has been put into this issue.

“We fully support working together and hope this is not the end of working towards some joint services.

“It was far too rushed to be successful.

“We need to look again at ways of working, not just with Oldham, but with any authority to ensure the best possible services are provided for the residents of the borough.”

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Rochdale, Councillor Wera Hobhouse, said the council has missed a “golden opportunity to save millions of pounds.”

She added: “People should no longer believe the Labour administration when they blame the cuts to services in Rochdale on central government.”