Your Councillors' Update: October 2026
By Councillors Tom Besford and Richard Jackson, Labour and Co-operative Councillors for Littleborough Lakeside
Full Council
It was a busy Full Council meeting for us. Our motion on protecting pubs, proposed by Richard and seconded by Tom, called for action on restrictive covenants that stop communities reopening their local, and we are pleased to say it was passed. Details are in our previous updates.
We also strongly opposed a Reform UK motion that would have stopped the Council funding work to tackle the climate emergency. The motion called our local impact negligible, but we reminded colleagues of Boxing Day 2015 when Littleborough flooded: none of that was negligible and all of it was local.
The Council's climate team has already secured more than £15 million in grant funding, including £11.6 million to decarbonise our town hall, leisure centres, depot and schools, with no match funding required. That money is protecting 270 homes in Littleborough and beyond from flooding, bringing around £4 million into the borough to insulate homes and cut bills, and saving almost £30,000 a year through solar panels at just two sites. Scrap the local support and the next national grant goes to another borough. As Tom told the chamber, "this motion wouldn't save us money. It would cost us money, and it would cost our residents too."
Scrutiny
At the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Tom questioned the Mayor and her representatives on why some people are being turned away on foot from the household waste recycling centres - this should not be happening. We also welcomed the extension of free bus travel to 11 to 16 year olds.
At the Communities, Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee we looked at the Council's fly tipping strategy and the forward plans for playing pitches and outdoor sports provision.
Richard also attended the Health, Schools and Care and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committees, where we looked at the new SEND policy reforms and improvements to the Customer Contact Centre, to make sure residents get the right help and advice and that their issues are dealt with appropriately. We also looked at how the Council is working with Credit Unions to help residents access safe and affordable financial help.
Speeding, Safety and Developers
We continue to be appalled by speeding and dangerous driving in the ward, following yet another serious crash. We have been in correspondence with the Deputy Mayor, Highways Officers and local police. Following a large number of concerns from residents in the Summit area of Todmorden Road about unsafe parking, speeding and dangerous driving, Richard, as Chair of Pennines Township, has instructed Highways Officers to bring a full report to the next Township meeting in November on how to tackle these issues. It is another example of why we speak to residents on the doorstep: to understand the issues you face and provide real action to fix them.
We are also still pushing for confirmation of the new secondary school and hope to hear more soon.
Bloor Homes need to do much better. The state of Hollingworth Road, and the mud on footpaths and roads around the development, is not acceptable, and we want them to be better neighbours. We have also been in touch with Bovis, who appear to have used more than one spelling for their new street. Is it Nobel Drive or Noble Drive? We have asked them to look at it again.
Casework
A walkabout with RBH at Stansfield has identified a list of issues for them to resolve, including repeated fly tipping and antisocial behaviour. We have also tackled irresponsible utility companies who have left roadworks up for no reason, including on Calderbrook Road and Featherstall Road.
LittlePinkBorough
Congratulations to Kath and Andy and everyone who contributed to LittlePinkBorough this year, raising awareness of all cancers. We were delighted to see so many businesses getting behind it, and it was a real pleasure for Tom to join the judging panel and meet them. Their commitment to making our village look lovely while raising money for cancer research is something we can all be proud of. The winner of best pink display was GRMC Studios tattoo shop, with Busy Beans in second place and Shoe Closet and Althams Travel joint third. Thank you to all the businesses who took part, and to the Three Amigos Fundraising Group and Cancer Research UK.
On the Doorstep
We continue to knock on doors at least once a week to speak to residents. If a card with our faces on it comes through your door, that means we were in the area and sadly missed you this time. Please get in touch any time.
Our surgeries continue on the first Saturday of the month at the United Reformed Church and the third Saturday at Smithy Bridge Library. No appointment needed - just come and find us.
