Oldham Council has confirmed it is currently operating in breach of the law after failing to appoint a leader and cabinet following May’s local elections. The council’s chief legal officer has issued a formal report to all 60 councillors, setting out that the authority is acting unlawfully unless a political leadership is agreed within 21 days.
Decision-making in limbo
For more than two months the council has been run by officers using emergency powers to maintain essential services while councillors attempt to form a working administration. Key political decisions have been unable to proceed and several meetings have been cancelled during the stalemate.
An internal report from the council’s top lawyer, Alex Bougatef, which has been shared with media, warns of the continuing governance failure and asks councillors to recognise the seriousness of the situation. The report triggers a 21-day period in which an extraordinary council meeting must be held so members can try again to elect a leader and cabinet.
“On Friday July 31, Oldham Council issued a formal Section 5 report to all 60 elected councillors. This report sets out that as the council has no leader or cabinet, the council is therefore acting unlawfully.”
What happens next
The council spokesperson said councillors have three weeks to consider the implications. If they cannot appoint a leader and cabinet at the extraordinary meeting within that period, the council will write to central government for consideration of next steps — a move that could result in outside intervention.
- 60 elected councillors received the formal Section 5 report.
- Councillors have 21 days to attempt to elect a leader and cabinet.
- If no agreement is reached, the council will approach the government for guidance on further action.
| Issue | Current status |
|---|---|
| Leadership | No leader or cabinet appointed |
| Governance | Section 5 report declares council acting unlawfully |
| Next formal step | Extraordinary council meeting within 21 days |
Local consequences
Officers are carrying out day-to-day administration under emergency arrangements, but the absence of political direction risks delaying strategic decisions on budgets, contracts and local services. The report also warns that prolonged paralysis could lead to significant costs being passed to local taxpayers if corrective action is required or external support is needed.
Political parties have blamed each other for the failure to form a leadership. The recent election left no single party with a majority or even a third of seats, and multiple votes since May have failed to produce a leader. Reform UK has reportedly withdrawn from talks, further complicating efforts to reach a cross-party arrangement.
Residents should expect continued service provision for now, but councillors will need to act quickly at the upcoming extraordinary meeting to avoid escalation. If the situation remains unresolved after the 21-day period, the council will formally seek the government’s view on possible interventions.
