Cllr Joyce Lucas, Highly Critical of Oakham Town Clerks Report, Oakham Fitness Centre, Fence

Cllr Joyce Lucas, Highly Critical of Oakham Town Clerks Report, Oakham Fitness Centre,  Fence

Like a coward she took advantage of the Clerks absence and slated his report and work publicly.

She needs to be careful he just might start waving the bully card in her direction if she continues to take
on her new role of acting in the interest of the local tax payer.

She complained about the way the report had been written and most shockingly he said she would
have expected three quotes for each option.

The council has decided to go for the cheaper option of giving the Fitness Centre a free (paid for  by the tax payer) low level fence. The Clerk has also been instructed to obtain three quotes. That surely is going to see
a few more days of sick this next month.

The fitness centre don't want this option, I suggest if they are unhappy they buy their own instead of
begging for tax payers hand outs.

They have enjoyed a quarter of last years precept so far how more is going to be spent on this private
company?

Body Power, Oakham Fitness Centre, Second Official Opening

Body Power, Oakham Fitness Centre, Second Official Opening?

After Oakham Town Council spent over £60,000 refurbishing the gym for a private owner. The Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis officially opened the gym.

The Rutland Times Published this on Friday 28 September 2012 09:00

A NEW gym has opened its doors.

Oakham mayor Alf Dewis was invited to cut the ribbon at Body Power Oakham Fitness Centre in Princess Avenue.

Today ex Mayor and councillor Jim Harrison publishes on Oakham People details of a second official opening a month on:

Oakaham /fitness Centre Officially Opened

By GrumpyJag | Sunday, October 21, 2012, 16:38

        

On Friday the High Sheriff of Rutland, Bart Hellyer, and Mayor of Oakham Cllr Alf Dewis was shown around the Oakham Fitness Centre-Body Power- by the proprietor Adrian Spurdle.

After the short tour and looking at some of the equipment that will be used there, the High Sheriff of Rutland declared the Centre officially open and said that he hoped it would be used regularly by a lot of people from the area. Click here to see Mr Harrison's photographs

I hope Adrian Spurdle. is very successful  so the tax payer can start to see a return on their investment in around seven years time.... 

Body Power, Oakham Fitness Centre, Princess Avenue, Champagne Celebration, Oakham Town Council Spends Over 60k of tax payers money supporting private company

Body Power, Oakham Fitness Centre, Princess Avenue, Champagne Celebration, 

Oakham Town Council Spends Over 60k of tax payers money supporting private company

Saturday the Champagne flowed as a local 

business celebrated its £60,000 + wind fall 

from Oakham Tax Payers.

The centre was opened by Oakham's Mayor Clrr Alf Dewis

When the previous fitness centre closed the council discussed 

what they should do with the property they hold in trust for

Oakham residents. 

It was suggested the council stopped paying Victoria Hall over 

£10,000 a year to rent two small rooms and move there.

The clerk said the cost to convert the property would be around

£30,000 and he did not think the public would approve.

I can not see why when you consider three years rent would cover 

the cost.and the premises could have also been used for community purposes.

the property was valued in the state the last tenant left it.

Steven Reid gave it a rent value of £12,000

So why did Oakham Town Council change its mind and decide to not put the 

property on the open market?

Why did Councillor Adam Lowe state at a public 

meeting he was chairing "He and other members were shocked

when they were told the cost of the refurbishment?"

Why is it only taking £9,000 a year rent? this means when the 

six year leas ends they will have lost money.

I believe this is the biggest miss-appropriation of public money in the history of Oakham Town Council.

It stinks of corruption.

Oakham Town  Council has spent a quarter of its annual precept supporting a local company.

The Local Government act states the precept must only be spent providing services and activities that

benefit the parish. 

The  fitness Centre is of little or no benefit to the parish of Oakham, it is a commercial profit making company assisted  by the tax payer. I think the tax payer has pumped enough cash into this venture, it is not unreasonable to ask for some sort of return, it is clearly not going to make any from the rent, so  maybe the owners would like to  hand over some shares in the company to the tax payer?

Speaking with local people this morning, people could not believe that so much of their money has been spent on a private company

One even said they might consider asking the company for free membership in return for her monthly council tax payment.

I am writing to our MP Alan Ducan to find out what government department can look into this expenditure.

Oakham Town Council VAT registration for Oakham Fitness Centre

Oakham Town Council VAT registration for Oakham Fitness Centre

Oakham Town Council has applied for VAT registration to help soften the
blow to the local tax payer after it spent over £60,000 of public money
refurbishing the fitness centre for a new private tenant.

By Registering the property for VAT the council can claim back VAT
paid on the work.

Oakham Fitness Centre Princess Avenue,Oakham, LE15 v Oakham Town Council

Oakham Fitness Centre Princess Avenue,Oakham, is one of  three tenants Oakham Town Council receives rent from. The Fitness Centre is currently in arrears with it rent and finally at last nights Council meeting, Councillors voted to start the legal process.

Oakham Town Council lets 3 public properties to elite groups in Oakham for next to nothing rent.

Oakham Fitness Centre Princess Avenue,Oakham £1,200.00 a year they only paid £597.50


Oakham Tennis Club £700 a year


Oakham Bowls Club £620 a year




None of the above are paying a fair commercial rate, the clerk told me its how the old boys drew up the leases a few years ago.


Personally I think this stinks the properties belong to the public, were paid for by the public.
Oakham Town Council is not a charity.

The fitness centre should be repossed and the premises used as a local community centre.