Oldham Council has been formally warned it is acting unlawfully after failing to elect a leader and cabinet following the May local elections, the authority’s head of legal services has concluded.
Legal report sets deadline for councillors
Alex Bougatef, director of legal services, has issued a statutory Section 5 report to councillors stating that the authority is not meeting its legal obligations. The council has 60 elected members and, since May, no group has held overall control. Labour is the largest group but does not have a clear majority.
There have been three unsuccessful attempts to put together an administration. The report gives councillors 21 days to elect a leader and form a cabinet. If they cannot reach agreement within that period, the council says it will write to central Government to ask them to consider the next steps.
What this means for local services and decision-making
The absence of an elected leader and cabinet affects how the council makes executive decisions and can slow the progress of everyday council business, from budget setting to contract awards. While officers continue to carry out statutory functions, key policy decisions normally require political leadership.
- Council size: 60 councillors
- Attempts to form administration: three
- Time allowed to resolve: 21 days
"If they are unable to come to an agreement at that point, the council will write to the Government for them to consider next steps."
The quote above is from a council spokesperson explaining the next procedural move if councillors fail to agree a leadership arrangement within the statutory timeframe.
Context and local impact
Since the May elections produced no overall control, council groups have been negotiating to form a stable administration. The formal Section 5 report is a relatively rare step that signals the legal team believes the impasse is preventing the council from fulfilling its statutory governance duties.
For residents, most frontline services will continue under officer management, but strategic decisions and any new initiatives may be delayed until political leadership is in place. The possibility of central government involvement raises questions about how long the situation could persist if no agreement is reached locally.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Councillors | 60 |
| Attempts to form administration | 3 |
| Time to elect leader/cabinet | 21 days |
Councillors and local party groups will now face pressure to reach a settlement quickly to avoid escalation. I will monitor developments and report any formal approaches to Government or subsequent decisions by the council chamber.
