Council Leaders New Year Message

"Firstly, can I say Happy New Year and hope that you all have had a good Christmas.

"We look forward to this year with a good level of enthusiasm – this is an exciting time for Rochdale.  We will start seeing dramatic changes to Rochdale; Electric House is already gone and we have seen the results on the consultation for the future of our Town Centre, we are a listening Council and believe me if you took part you can say in 10 years that you played a part.  Rochdale deserves better and that is why will be striving to make dramatic improvements to the centre of our Town.

"Rochdale has so much to be proud of, for example, the beautiful Town Hall, Hollingworth Lake, the now much more accessible Healey Dell and much, much more. 

"I am determined to lead the move towards a much improved, state-of-the-art Town Centre with an integrated transport system.  We are keen to bring the Metrolink into the heart of our town.

"Something that Sir Cyril Smith said before Christmas really hit home, he welcomed the move to regenerate our Town Centre but asked us to remember our heritage, and that’s what we’ll be doing.  The fountain at Packer Spout is just one example of that.  We are forward thinking Council that remembers its rich heritage.

"I do not have a crystal ball, but looking forward to 2007 and into 2008, what will have changed in the Borough?  Well for start, the Town Centre. We will also know more about our fight to retain vital services at Rochdale Infirmary.  The four Townships will now have much more effect in determining local decision making.  I said last year that we would do this and this is being done.

"We’ve had a boost in 2006 with the success of the Popps Bid that will bring £1.038 million of extra funding to help us deliver better services for Older People.  We made this commitment last year and this is being delivered. 

"We said last year that we will strive to make sure that Council Tax will be kept as low as possible.  Delivering the lowest Council Tax rise in over 10 years is doing just that!  We said we would listen to people – be a listening Council.  We listened to you and threw out proposals to close libraries and are in fact now going the other way and looking to attract significant investment.  We promised to listen and we are doing just that.  We promised to increase recycling; we have delivered alternate weekly collections in the Pennines and are seeing a significant increase our recycling rates delivered by Councillor Wera Hobhouse.

"Education is the cornerstone of what this Council delivers.  2006 was the year we took to the task of making dramatic improvements.  Sandbrook Primary School is making a real difference to primary education in Balderstone.  The £150,000,000 bid to improve education in our secondary sector is really exciting. 

"We have to make some tough decisions in order to improve and this Council will not shy away from that.  We will also have more details of the new sixth form college for Rochdale.  By the time this Council finishes we will have made real improvements to education across all levels.

"Finally, I’ve got say what a privilege it is to lead this Council at such an exciting time.  I was first elected to the Council in 1971 and stayed on until 1987.  I then ran a shop on Spotland Road for 17 years so I come from two different perspectives.  I came back as a critic of how this Town was run.  I take the criticism of our Town to my heart but believe me we are listening. 

"You can help us to shape the future of our Town – we can do it together.  This year we will start to dramatically change our Town for the better… 

"It’s happening in Rochdale."

Councillor Alan Taylor