COUNCIL chiefs in Oldham are preparing to make a series of major decisions on the costs of elderly care and where new homes could be built in the borough.

Senior town hall figures have timetabled when they plan to make their “key decisions” in coming months.

A policy is classed as being key when it affects more than one electoral ward – or will mean increased costs or savings of more than £250,000.

Refurbishment of Royton Town Hall and the library – and relocation of the central records office – are among the projects to be decided on.

The creation of the new local plan, which will decide what land currently in the green belt can be released for new housing developments, is due to take a series of leaps forward.

Later this month a draft assessment of sites that could be built on – the Draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) – and a report on how the community can be involved will be published.

Officers say the draft SHLAA will be consulted on for a minimum of six weeks.

“People will be able to comment on the sites that have been included and put forward any new sites they feel are suitable for residential development”, they added.

The council has also revealed it has been given £330,000 to spend on additional places or improving facilities for special needs pupils with education, health and care plans.

Bosses are now seeking agreement on how they will spend the funding.

There are a number of property acquisitions to be considered – including at the eastern and western gateways in Oldham town centre.

Major transport work is also going to be ruled on, with new highways construction at the Prince’s Gate development in Oldham Mumps and disposal of land at Albert Street as part of the Hollinwood Junction development site.

Meanwhile, more than £250,000 could be spent on a retaining wall on the A670 Standedge Road in Diggle.

A loan to an unknown third sector organisation, which will be worth more than a quarter of a million pounds, is to be decided on in June by the cabinet.

However, details of the report will not be publicly released as they are deemed commercially sensitive.

Also in June cabinet will set the new adult social care fees for 2018, and look at provision for care at home and extra care housing.