A cost-of-living emergency in the borough has been declared following an Oldham Council meeting.

Councillors met at the council's chambers in the Civic Centre on Wednesday, September 7 to discuss motions including the cost-of-living situation in Oldham.

Council leader Amanda Chadderton proposed the motion to declare a cost-of-living emergency.

Speaking at the council meeting, Cllr Chadderton said: "The reality for many of our residents in Oldham is stark.

"There are more children in Oldham living in poverty than any other borough in Greater Manchester (GM).

"15.7 per cent of our households are fuel poor and are at high risk from rising energy prices, which is the second highest figure across GM."

The motion was seconded by Cllr Abdul Jabbar, Cabinet Member of Finance and Low Carbon.

At the meeting, he said the support that has been given by the government was "nowhere near enough" for struggling residents.

The motion was passed, and as a result, the council's chief executive Harry Catherall will now write to the new Prime Minister and Chancellor to demand they offer more support to Oldhamers.

The council is calling for the government to offer a package of support to help residents in the borough as prices for energy and everyday goods continue to rise.

Cllr Jabbar said: "At this time of national crisis we need our central government to give us the appropriate funding so we can support struggling families."

Cllr Chadderton added: "This cost-of-living crisis is an emergency, it represents a very real threat to the way of life for many people in Oldham."

She said that the council would announce the planned response to help people over the coming weeks.

Elsewhere in the meeting, a motion for a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in the borough was voted down.

The motion had been introduced by Cllr Brian Hobin of the Failsworth Independent Party (FIP), who said he would keep bringing back the motion to council meetings until a public inquiry is commissioned.

Despite members of the FIP, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats all voting in favour of the motion, it was defeated with all Labour councillors voting against it.