Monday, April 30, 2012

Freedom of Information Request: Oakham Town Council Mayor Councillor Joyce Lucas Civic Party Cost?

Freedom of Information Request: Oakham Town Council Mayor Councillor Joyce Lucas Civic Party Cost?

On the 29th March 2012 Oakham Town Councillor and Mayor Joyce Lucas held a Civic Party.

Quoted in the Rutland Times published on-line on the 4th April 2012 as saying:

“It has been a wonderful day for me, my family and the town."


"Me" of course being the normal egotistic side of Cllr Lucas.

As for the town? I can not find how in anyway a party paid for by the tax payer, exclusively for Cllr Lucas's invited friends and family can be of any benefit for our Town?

I will be asking the Cllr Lucas to explain this benefit at the Town Meeting on May 9th.

Cllr Lucas has broken her pledge  made to tax payers, she said many times in public, she would not spend tax payers money on booze and food like her predecessors and mentioned bring and share at the civic carol service. My freedom of information request and a local photographers photographs show she and her guests enjoyed an evening of pure greed.

Her deputy Cllr Charles Haworth returned home late that night, clearly intoxicated and sent me a rather rude email. I imagine in her mind that was the benefit for the town?

Cllr Lucas is also quoted in the Rutland Times:

"A collection was held in aid of the British Legion, which raised almost £300."

Why can she never give a full figure when asked how much she has raised?

It reminds me of the time, she had a tombola at Victoria Hall and she wrote to me and told me the figure
raised had increased by £5. Because she had found a note in her husbands pocket? I am not sure why it
was in his pocket when they had the use of a designated cash box?

The civic party has cost the tax payer over £1,000 this is one example of why Oakham Town Councils
Precept is so high. During these difficult times for all this is a disgrace! In here mind it does not matter because she raised around £300 for a good cause.

I have received the following costs from my Freedom of Information request, showing some of the cost to the tax payer, .

Wine and orange juice and Drinks £217.64


Chocolate Shot Glasses £61.35 (if your going to knock back spirits paid for by the poor tax payer why not do it in style?)

Food and Cling Film £287.28


A special cake was commissioned. Reason? Cost £60.00


Platter and Plates £39.72


Laminating of Invites and Place Cards £9.99


Plants and Food £14.50


Church Hire £25.00


Flowers for Church £60.00


Order of Service Printing £169.23


There is also the cost of the Castle Hire for the party.
Details of this cost have not been provided because the 
invoice has not been paid yet.


I attempted to make a second call to the Town Clerk at the Councils Office
to find out the cost of the Castle Hire.
He did not answer the phone.


At the party The Mayor also gave her Volunteer of the Year Award to Angie Humphreys.
wife of a ex Town Councillor and mother of Tim who used to run the Rutland Chat Forum
used by people connected to this rotten council, to attack me in a most vile fashion.
No details have been supplied relating to the cost of the gift Angie Humphreys received paid for
by the tax payer. It never surprises me how Oakham Town Council continues to reward its own
if it opened its eyes and served the town instead of itself maybe in future, awards could go to
ordinary people, who do do good in our community and don't seek weekly publicity for that work
via the Rutland Times?