Oldham Council has approved a new package of interim governance arrangements.
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.
The arrangements were approved by Council on 16 September and include the creation of interim Lead Member and Deputy Lead Member roles aligned to the Council's four directorates.
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. Under the arrangements, 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 roles carry no executive decision-making powers.
The four Interim Lead Member portfolios have been allocated to the Council's four largest political groups, with deputy roles assigned from the same groups.
Interim Lead Member appointments
Resources
- Lead Member: Sam Al-Hamdani (Liberal Democrats)
- Deputy Lead Member: Mark Kenyon (Liberal Democrats)
The Resources portfolio will provide political oversight of the Council's finances, budget management, transformation programme, corporate services, governance, workforce and organisational performance.
Place
- Lead Member: Arooj Shah (Labour)
- Deputy Lead Member: Elaine Taylor (Labour)
The Place portfolio will focus on regeneration, economic growth, planning, housing, highways, environmental services, transport and the continued delivery of major projects that support Oldham's future prosperity.
Children and Young People
- Lead Member: Mark Wilkinson (Reform UK)
- Deputy Lead Member: Gary Tarbuck (Reform UK)
The Children and Young People portfolio will provide oversight and advocacy for children's social care, education, safeguarding, special educational needs and early help services. The Lead Member will also undertake the statutory Lead Member role for children's services as far as practicable within the interim arrangements.
Health and Adult Care
- Lead Member: Kamran Ghafoor (The Oldham Group)
- Deputy Lead Member: Aisha Kouser (The Oldham Group)
The Health and Adult Care portfolio will champion adult social care services, public health, support for vulnerable residents, wellbeing programmes and partnership working with health organisations across the borough.
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.
"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."
The approved arrangements will remain in place until a Council Leader and Cabinet are appointed, or until 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.