Showing posts with label Rutland County Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rutland County Council. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Martin Brookes Independent Candidate, Oakham South Ward, Rutland County Council, May 4th 2023,

Martin Brookes Independent Candidate, Oakham South Ward, Rutland County Council, May 4th 2023,




There is only one INDEPENDENT route

Rutland County Council 2023

Oakham South Local Election


Dear Residents of Oakham South Ward,

As your independent candidate for the upcoming local council election, I am committed to making our community a better place to live. Here are some of the key issues I will focus on if elected:

Neighbourhood Planning: I believe that residents should have a say in how their neighbourhoods are developed. That's why I will work to ensure that your voices are heard and that new developments are in keeping with the character of Oakham South Ward.

The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives colluded to reject the local plan, costing local tax payers millions of pounds and of course the current development nightmare.

Protecting the Environment: I will prioritise the protection of our environment and work towards sustainable development in our area.

Community Safety: I am committed to making Oakham South Ward a safe place to live. I will work with the police and other agencies to tackle crime and anti social behaviour.

Local Services: I will ensure that important local services, like the library, schools, and hospital, are properly funded and accessible to all residents of Oakham South Ward.

Community Cohesion: I believe in building a strong and cohesive community where everyone is valued and included.

I will be a hard worker and have the skills and experience needed to be a good Councillor. I am also a good listener and believe in working collaboratively to find solutions to problems.

I would be honoured to have you vote on May 4th Please vote for me, your Independent candidate for Oakham South Ward, and let's work together to make our community the best it can be.


Thank you.


Martin John Brookes




Printed and published by Martin Brookes, 13 Willow Crescent, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6EQ



Tuesday, April 04, 2023

Martin Brookes, Independent Candidate, Rutland County Council, Election 4th May 2023

Martin Brookes, Independent Candidate, Rutland County Council, Election 4th May 2023


I am standing as an Independent candidate for Oakham South Ward in the Rutland County Council election on May 4th 2023.

I am a local resident and have lived in Oakham for over 15 years. I have a strong interest in local issues.

I believe that local people should have a say in how their community is run, and I am committed to working hard to represent your interests on the Council.

I am standing as an Independent because I believe that local people should have a say in how their community is run. I will be a strong voice for Oakham South Ward on the Council.

If elected, I will work to improve the following:

Roads and pavements: I will lobby for more investment in roads and pavements in Oakham South Ward. I will also work to ensure that potholes are repaired promptly.

Parks and open spaces: I will work to improve the upkeep of parks and open spaces in Oakham South Ward. 

Neighbourhood planning: I will work to ensure that residents have a say in how their neighbourhoods are developed. I will also work to ensure that new developments are in keeping with the character of Oakham South Ward.

Protect the environment: I will work to protect our environment and promote sustainable development.

Community safety: I will work to make Oakham South Ward a safe place to live. I will work with the police and other agencies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Local services: I will work to ensure that local services, such as libraries, schools and hospitals, are properly funded. I will also work to ensure that these services are accessible to all residents of Oakham South Ward.

Promote community cohesion: I will work to build a strong and cohesive community where everyone feels valued and included.

I believe that I have the skills and experience to be a good Councillor. I am a hard worker and I am good at listening to people and understanding their concerns. I am also good at working with others to find solutions to problems.

I would be honoured to have your vote on May 4th. Please vote for me, the Independent candidate for Oakham South Ward.

Thank you.

Martin Brookes


Candidate: Martin Brookes (Independent)

4th April 2023

Publisher: Martin Brookes 13 Willow Crescent Oakham Rutland LE15 6EQ

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Rutland County Council, Annual Budget Consultation, Public presentations, Rutland County Council Chamber (Oakham), Monday 30 January, Ketton Congregational Hall, Tuesday 7 February 2023

Rutland County Council, Annual Budget Consultation,  Public presentations, 


Rutland County Council Public presentations:

Rutland County Council are holding a series of public presentations for anyone who would like to hear directly from Council Leader Lucy Stephenson and Cabinet Member for Finance Karen Payne about the draft budget:

Rutland County Council Chamber (Oakham), Monday 30 January from 10.00am to 12.00pm

Ketton Congregational Hall, Tuesday 7 February from 1.30pm to 3.00pm


The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance have also written an FAQ summary that answers common questions about our financial health, Council Tax and the budget process.

What's in the draft budget?

The total cost of funding local services in Rutland in 2023/24 is £46.5million 

Despite making savings in 2022, increased demand for services, rising energy prices and an inflation rate of 10% over the past 12 months mean it will cost the council £6.1million more to deliver the same local services in 2023/24, compared to last year

The latest Local Government Finance Settlement has awarded Rutland County Council more money than it did in 2022/2023. However, this increase is not enough to cover the rising cost of services

National government continues to give councils the flexibility to raise Council Tax by as much as 4.99% (half the 12-month rate of inflation for 2022) and expects local authorities to make full use of this to help fund local services

Rutland’s budget therefore includes a Council Tax increase of 2.99%, together with 2% precept to help fund adult social care services

If approved, the average Council Tax increase for a Band D equivalent property would be just under £8 per month

The draft budget for 2023/24 is balanced using £589k of the Council’s General Fund reserves (savings)

Rutland’s funding gap is projected to be £1.4m in 2024/25, assuming £1.485m savings are made in the next year and Council Tax is raised by a further 5%.

The council will identify savings through a transformation programme that aims to make the organisation fitter, leaner and financially sustainable by fundamentally changing the way that services are delivered

Why does the Council have to set a budget?

We have a legal requirement to set a budget each year and to set the level of Council Tax. These decisions determine how much we can spend on frontline services for residents and businesses. The budget is based on the money we receive from direct Government funding and through Council Tax. We also apply for grants, if they are available.

Does the council set the budget and Council Tax levels for Police and Fire services?

No. We only set the precept and Council Tax level for the services that we provide. Parish and town councils set their own individual precepts.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland is responsible for local policing and raises Council Tax for that reason. You can find details about the police budget by visiting the Police and Crime Commissioner website and searching for ‘Precept’.


The Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority sets Council Tax for the Fire Service. You can find details about their budget by visiting the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service website and searching for ‘Budget'.


We are required by law to collect Council Tax for the Police and Fire Service, as well as town  and parish councils. We do not set their Council Tax rates.

Where does my Council Tax go?

Lots of people ask this question because they don’t realise the large number of services that we, as a council, must deliver. We don’t just collect bins and fix roads. We also have duties, as a Unitary Council, that District Councils like Melton or South Kesteven do not have. Our budget report explains where we spend your money.


Why should I pay for services I don’t use, like Adult Social Care?

Council Tax is made up of a general charge, that covers all services - not just the ones people use directly - and a specific charge called the Adult Social Care (ASC) precept. The ASC precept is only spent on adult social care services that help people in later life, as well as those who need extra support due to illness, disability or hardship.

We all benefit from council services, even though we might not realise it. For example:

If you eat at a local restaurant it will have been given a license by the council and inspected to make sure the food is safe
We maintain the roads and pavements that we all use every day
When you or your neighbour wants to extend their house, we make sure they have the right planning permissions
When a child on your street is living in unsafe conditions, we can take them into care to protect them
If your elderly relative needs help to carry on living in their own home, we will pay for and provide support, including home visits
These are just a handful of the services we provide and which all taxpayers help to fund. We don’t think this is unfair. Even if we did, there is little we could do to change this because the Government has decided these are all legal duties which councils like ours must carry out.

Can I get help to pay my Council Tax?

Yes. Many Councils have reduced support for those unable to pay bills but we have not.

If you’re on a low income, you can apply for Local Council Tax Support. This scheme offers financial assistance (a Council Tax discount) and is means tested, so we look at your household income and savings to work out if we can help. If you qualify, we could reduce the amount of Council Tax you need to pay. 

If it sounds like we could help you, please complete an application form. 


We also run a discretionary scheme, which means that if you get Local Council Tax Support and need more help then you can apply for this as well.

We know how challenging the cost of living crisis is, so we've gathered together lots of information about all the support you can get – not just from us but from other organisations, as well.


Anyone who's struggling to pay their Council Tax should speak to us or get advice from Citizens Advice Rutland.


Is Rutland County Council financially stable?

Yes and No. As it stands, we can balance our budget for 2023/24 by using less than £600k of reserves (our savings). We can afford to pay our bills for now, so we're not on the verge of bankruptcy. This means, for now, we are ok. However, the signs are worrying. With the cost of everything going up and inflation at around 10%, we are expecting our costs to keep rising.

One of our big challenges is that we don’t know how much income we will get in the future. With a General Election likely in 2025 and the economy in its current state, all we can do is make predictions. The truth is, no one really knows.

Our predictions tell us that, to be stable, we need to continue to get increases in Government funding, raise Council Tax, make significant savings, use our reserves and hope that costs stabilise. If all this happens, we might be stable.

Many Councils are in exactly the same position, so we're not alone. Some councils are reporting huge gaps in their budgets, which may be difficult to close.


What is the Council doing to solve its financial problems?

Councillors recently approved a Financial Sustainability Strategy, which sets out our approach to solving our financial problems. There are three parts to this approach:

We will use our reserves to balance the budget while we make savings
We will raise Council Tax (the Government assumes we will do this in our funding calculations)
We will make savings through a council-wide Transformation Programme
We are proposing to make budget reductions (service savings) of more than £1.7m in 2023/24 to contribute towards balancing the books. However, we still have more to do in the future.


What might the impact of more savings be on residents?

You only have to look at other councils who have been in financial trouble to see what the impact of savings might be. Typically, councils stop spending on non-essential and reduce statutory services. So, if you look at what other councils have done, libraries have been closed, youth services shut, bins collected less often and road maintenance restricted to emergency works only.

It’s virtually impossible to reduce net spending by £4m without stopping some services or reducing others. However, there are things we can do that won’t affect services. For example, the average Rutland household produces more waste than other areas, which costs us a lot of money. Residents can help the environment and our costs by reducing waste.

It's too early to be certain about how any savings we might make will impact residents. However, we can't pretend that we can change services without any impacts.


How can you help?

We consult on our budget every year, so there’s always a chance for people to talk to us, ask questions and share their views. Our 2023/24 budget consultation gets underway on Friday 13 January.

You can also email comments, feedback and suggestions to: letusknow@rutland.gov.uk.

Lastly, you can lobby our MP, Alicia Kearns, and help us as we try to get fairer funding for Rutland.


Where does the Council get its money from?

We raise money from Council Tax, Business Rates and receive some money direct from Central Government departments. We also charge for some services to help cover costs. However, most of our money comes from Council Taxpayers. How much money we get is decided by Government.


Does the Council get money from the Government?

Yes. The Government uses something called Core Spending Power to show how much funding we are getting. This Spending Power figure includes Council Tax and Government funding.

In 2023/24,we are receiving £9m in Government funding, compared to £8.09m in 2022/23. This is big increase. However, the level of funding is much less than the £9.51m we received back in 2015/16. Over this same period, the amount we get from Council Tax has gone from £20.68m to £32.05m.

This means our Spending Power has gone from £30.19m in 2015/16 to £41.06m today. However, the Government’s approach has been to place greater emphasis on Council Tax to the point that their funding calculations assume will will increase Council Tax rates by the maximum each year.


How does Government expect councils to manage on less funding than they got in 2015/16?

The Government argues that councils now have more money in overall terms, not less. This is true because they expect councils to raise Council Tax by the maximum amount each year.

The Government makes the rules about how much Councils can raise Council Tax. This year, we can raise Council Tax by up to 2.99%, plus an extra 2% for adult social care. The Government assumes that Councils will do this. They argue that it’s a local choice. However, councils would go bankrupt very quickly if we did not choose to increase Council Tax.


How does the Government expect residents to cope with Council Tax rises?

We don’t know, but we don’t think it’s fair. The Government doesn’t want to raise tax nationally for core local government services and give more money to councils. However, it is happy to tell councils their funding assumes taxes will be raised. 

We have expressed our views in the strongest possible terms about the lack of fair funding for local government and for Rutland. We are pleased that the Government has given us £33k to give discounts of up to £25 for people in financial hardship. This will be given on top existing discounts a £20k discretionary fund we already have in place.

You can find more information about the support available for households on our Cost of Living support page.



Why is Rutland's Council Tax so high?

We have asked the same question of civil servants.  At some point, the council raised its first Council Tax bill and we wanted to know how the rate was set. We know it was set my councillors at the time but we don’t think they would have set a high rate if, for example the level of Government funding they were expecting would be enough to meet local needs. We can only draw the conclusion that the rate was heavily influenced by the level of Government funding available.

Rutland receives £504 Government funding per household compared to the national council average of £1,019. The Government formula gives us less funding because our 'needs' are thought to be less (we are often characterised as an affluent county with low levels of deprivation) and our relative resources are greater. It’s largely because of this inequality that we are so dependent on Council Tax to fund services. Otherwise, we would not have to raise Council Tax to the extent we do.

It's fair to say that the funding formula is out of date and successive Governments have not addressed the issue. The current Government has promised to reform the funding arrangements for some time but nothing has happened.

Around 78% of Rutland’s £41.06million available resources for 2023/24 comes from your Council Tax contributions. On average, councils with our responsibilities receive around 43% of their funding from the Government, meaning the remaining 57% comes from their local taxpayers.


The funding issue doesn’t seem fair, so what are we doing about it?

We continually lobby Government directly on various matters, including the disparity of funding between rural and urban authorities and the unfair burden placed on local taxpayers in respect of Council Tax. We also respond to Government consultation on funding matters. 

We believe the local government funding system is broken. It doesn’t work for any Council.  The Government doesn’t invest enough funding into local government and the amount it does invest isn’t fairly distributed.

Our MP, Alicia Kearns, is working with Ministers to get the best deal for Rutland. We are trying hard to make our concerns known and will keep trying.


Isn’t the Council naïve to expect Government to keep bailing it out with more funding?

We are an agency of Government. The role of local authorities is set out in legislation and regulations made by national government.  The services that consume most of our funding (adult social care, children's social care, waste management etc.) are all delivered within that legislative framework.

If councils are expected to deliver services, surely everyone would agree they should be adequately funded? Our view is that funding is inadequate. If the Government can’t contribute properly to the funding of local services then it should reduce the role of council’s and take services off our hands. Expecting us to deliver more or the same with less funding is untenable.

Having said all this, we are not simply waiting for more funding. We have approved a Financial Sustainability Strategy that sets out how we will aim to meet our funding gap and have built savings of  around £5m into our plans.


What Government funding will Rutland get beyond 2023/24?

The Government haven’t told us this formally, yet. Various announcements mean we have a good idea for 2024/25. However, we are very worried about 2025/26 and beyond. There are important questions to be answered:

What might happen after the General Election?
Will the Government follow through with implementing the care cap in October 2025?
Will the Government complete the Fair Funding review?
What will the state of the economy be in the future?
It’s tricky to plan for the future without a clear view of how much funding we’re likely to get. To allow us to make appropriate decisions, we would like a five-year settlement, so we have certainty of funding. However, we know this is unlikely.

We have modelled different funding scenarios – increases of 3%, 7% and 10% for 2025/26. A 3% increase would leave the Council in serious financial difficulties. Even with a 7% increase, we still need to deliver savings of over £4m and raise Council tax by 5% each year. The cost of delivering the services we run is increasing so much that it feels like we have no choice.

Will we have to put Council Tax up?

The simple is answer is yes, we need to raise Council Tax because of what’s happening in our economy. The Government's approach to funding councils also expects us to raise Council Tax by the maximum.

You will know from their own experiences that the price of everything is going up. The cost of food, fuel, electricity and clothes is going up because of inflation and other issues. We are experiencing the same budget pressures as households. When we let or extend a contract, it’s costing us a lot more as suppliers are facing increased costs for raw materials, supplies and staffing. When we commission a care home bed, it used to cost us around £535 a week. Now, it’s costing us between £800 and £900 because care homes are facing their own cost increases.

Our detailed budget reports gives lots of examples of how inflation is impacting us. Of course, we have looked at whether freezing Council Tax as an option. We recognise the pressure households are under. However, if we did, we would be risking financial independence. The current Cabinet is not proposing any short-term election promises that buy votes. Instead, it wants to be responsible and ensure that the Council is fiscally fit and ready for a new administration in May 2023.

Securing the long-term future of the council for our residents is paramount. If we don’t raise Council Tax by the maximum then our funding would be £1.5m less in 2023/24 and every year thereafter. After five years, we would have foregone funding of more than £7m.

The Settlement for 2023/24 gives us some additional funding (£1m) but it is not enough to protect key services. We will have to raise Council Tax again. We are proposing to make savings, use our reserves and raise Council Tax, so we can continue to protect key services for now.


Why does the Council keep spending more if it's getting less funding?

We know we need to spend much less but the answer isn’t simple:

There are lots of things we must do
We have statutory services that we must deliver, such as social care and road maintenance. Then, there are other services we must provide so other statutory duties to be met. The Local Government Association's guidance for new Councillors says that local authorities in England are subject to 1,300 different statutory duties and responsibilities, so we don’t have a free reign to pick and choose what services to provide.

In reality, this means we have to save £4m to £5m from a £25m budget, not a £46m budget as there are many areas and services we just can’t reduce.

Many of our services are demand-led
Many of the services we provide are what we call demand-led. This means the amount we spend depends on the number of customers we have and their individual needs. For example, if a child is at risk of harm and we have to take them into care, we must do it regardless of whether we have the money. It’s the law. The same applies if someone is homeless - we must help them get off the streets, even if we don’t have the money.

The demand for local services is increasing because of our growing and ageing population.

Cost of services is increasing
Rutland County Council is like any household in the UK which finds that the cost of its bills go up every year. Our services are delivered through a combination of council staff and external suppliers, or contractors. Like every household in the country, we're feeling the impact of higher prices across all our services.


Why doesn’t the Council cut salaries?

We spend around £12m on staff salaries. We often get feedback saying that our staff earn too much, or that pay increases are too high and we should cut them. It sounds simple but the reality is somewhat different. 

Firstly, the pay rises given to staff are decided at a national level and agreed with the Unions. Council staff do not give themselves pay rises. The Unions ask for significant pay rises that cover the cost of living but rises have been kept minimal. The average pay rise has been at 2% or lower for the past eight years. There has been no increase at all in some years. In 2022/23, the pay rise was £2,000 per person, regardless of salary level.

Secondly, salary levels are decided by a Job Evaluation system. If we don’t apply the right salary for a job, we can end up paying more. In the past, we have pitched social worker salaries too low and struggled to fill social care vacancies as a result. Because we have a statutory duty to provide social care services, we had to pay higher rates for agency and interim workers while we continued trying to recruit full time staff. This issue has now been resolved by offering the right salary for social workers.

Cutting salaries may sound like a simple solution but can have a different impact in reality. We want to recruit and retain the best staff so that we can provide the best possible services.


Why can’t the Council raise more money by increasing charges and finding new sources of income?

This is something we are doing. We review all our fees and charges every year and look for areas where it would be appropriate to increase them to try and generate more income and cover costs. The 'cover costs' bit is very important. For the most part, we aren’t allowed to make profits. The best example of this is our charge for green waste collections, which was introduced in 2018/19. This has generated nearly £400k of extra income and allows us to cover our costs. We don’t make a profit. However, changing charges alone is not enough to fill the budget gap. We’ve also had to makes savings.


What is the Council doing differently to cut costs?

We have made £11m of savings since 2011/12, without cutting your frontline services. This year we are saving more than £1.5m. Despite these savings, we do need to save even more money and we have started what we call a Transformation Programme to do this.

The Transformation Programme will reshape Rutland County Council and change how local services are delivered. We are looking at the following areas as part of this important work:

Operating Framework

To design a new operating framework that makes decision-making lean and strips outs unnecessary bureaucracy, making it easier to deliver services for customers.

Customer

We will simplify access to customer services and look for opportunities to enhance customers lives and lived experience by reviewing how customer access works and our model for customer services.

Community Offer

To have an integrated all-age community offer, including the Voluntary Community Sector, that allows individuals and communities to help themselves, provides preventative support and targeted intervention to prevent escalation of needs.

Commissioning and Contracting

The Council manages fragile marketplaces, effectively supports services to source and secure commercially viable contracts and ensures there are skilled contract managers in place to maximise value from contract arrangements.

Digital, Data and Technology

Customers can self-serve through online services and integrated systems that create efficiencies and give better access to data and insight, meaning evidence-led decision making is easier.

Enabling Services

The Council’s support services function is reviewed, with clear consideration given to a centralised or decentralised model for each support function, which will maximise the value offered by service delivery units.

Public Realm

To reorganise public realm services, rescale our revenue commitment while maintaining a safe public realm and develop a standardised and affordable offer across the county - one that's clear on the role and remit of the Council and partner organisations, as well as who pays.

Cultural Services

To develop an enabling cultural offer that enhances the visitor economy for reduced financial impact to the Council.

Asset Management

To optimise our estate, reduce cost and maximise revenues.

Special Educational Needs          

To identify sustainable changes that can drive high quality outcomes for children and young people with SEND (within their locality) and secure a more efficient and cost-effective model.

Integrated Care Organisation

To redesign and integrate health and adult social care services, utilising shared resources to secure a more efficient and cost-effective model and one that improves the customer experience.

Transport

To design and implement a demand led public transport model which is sustainable and costs less and drives up passenger use and improves accessibility to services including health and education.

We will be coming up with proposals and options for our Councillors to consider after the May 2023 local elections.  We haven’t made any decisions about the future delivery of services yet.

Why can’t house builders and developers help pay towards the cost of local services?

Developers do pay to help fund the cost of capital that provides new buildings, roads and other infrastructure needed to serve our growing population. However, they don’t pay towards the cost of staffing and running schools, or other council services. This is where Council Tax from those new homes helps. We don’t have the power to change this.


If the population is growing, won’t you get more income from Council Tax and Government grants to pay for services?

We will and our financial projections already take account of this extra funding. However, this still falls short of the extra money we will need to pay for services to meet demand and make up for reduced government funding and inflationary costs.


Saturday, June 11, 2022

Post Covid Rutland County Council Customer Services Oakham Rutland

Post Covid Rutland County Council Customer Services Oakham Rutland






Saturday, May 14, 2022

Oakham Castle Wall it is hard to believe millions of pounds of lottery money has been spent on this project by Rutland County Council over the years.

Oakham Castle Wall it is hard to believe millions of pounds of lottery money has been spent on this project by Rutland County Council over the years.

The Cutts Close side lost dozens of healthy trees thanks to Oakham Town Council approving their destruction, after the then tree warden Cllr Joyce Lucas agreed they should be destroyed. Now we have look at the old stumps which the council is still to this day attempting to poison with the plastic plugs inserted in each stump.

A small section of the wall nearest to the skate park has been vandalised and the hundreds of shrubs planted for the benefit of the wildlife was more recently destroyed by the councils contractors using their power strimmer's, spreading the plastic protection sleaves everywhere amongst the litter.

The Burley Road Car Park section is slowly losing all its trees. More were felled early Thursday morning. Some were falling over, but not all. I wonder if the Council will be considering replacing the trees or have we got to get used to this ugly view all around the castle? 

The wall originally did not have mortar between the stones, probably one reason why the wall was in modern times propped up with piles of earth and why the Skate Park section can be easily vandalised.










Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Rutland County Council Annual Meeting 2022 Video

Rutland County Council Annual Meeting 2022 Video

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Stephen Lambert Liberal Democrat Rutland County Council By-Election Uppingham Candidate, If I could vote in this election he would get my and so would Peanut

Stephen Lambert Liberal Democrat 

Rutland County Council By-Election Candidate with Peanut


Uppingham Ward vacancy, 5th of May 2022 Rutland County Council by-election.

If I could vote in this election he would get my and so would Peanut







Thursday, March 31, 2022

Friday 1st April 2022 is the 25th anniversary of Rutland regaining its status as an independent county, as well as the formation of Rutland County Council as a unitary authority.

Friday 1st April 2022 is the 25th anniversary of Rutland regaining its status as an independent county, as well as the formation of Rutland County Council as a unitary authority. 


Rutland was a district of Leicestershire from 1974 until 1997, regaining its independent status only after a long-running campaign by local councillors, residents and communities. 



“As well as being a huge milestone for the county, this anniversary is a chance to pause and think about the things we value most about living in Rutland. We have a lot to be thankful for – particularly after the past two years and everything we’ve experienced because of the pandemic. It’s also timely that 2022 is also the year in which Council agreed to endorse and adopt the community’s new shared vision for Rutland. This is something we can all work towards over the next 30 years and then look back on what all we have achieved together – maintaining our independence while continuing to work closely with our friends and neighbours.”

Councillor Jeff Dale, Chairman of Rutland County Council

Oakham Library is hosting a display illustrating Rutland’s battle for independence, covering the campaigns from the 1960s to Independence Day on 1st April 1997, together with a selection of local history books telling the stories of England’s smallest County. Oakham Library is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday – Friday and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday.

The full picture of our wonderful County can be explored in the displays at Rutland County Museum, which covers everything from fossils to Romans to the present day. Further details about the various collections on display at Rutland County Museum can be found online at: rutlandcountymuseum.org.uk. The Museum is open from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with no booking required.

Friday, March 11, 2022

As the Green Party Celebrates Its Rutland County Council Election Win, Uppingham Ward Councillor Miranda Jones, Green Party Resigns

As the Green Party Celebrates Its Rutland County Council Election Win, Uppingham Ward Councillor Miranda Jones, Green Party Resigns. 




Rutland and Stamford Sound report she is moving to Scotland 


Green Party Candidate Rick Wilson Elected, Rutland County Council By-Election RYHALL AND CASTERTON WARD

Richard Peter Wilson, Known as Rick Wilson has been elected as a Green Party Candidate

It was a close vote, 281 votes.

Richard Foster, The Conservative Party Candidate, 268 votes. The former Conservative County Councillor can now enjoy his retirement. 

The number of ballot papers rejected was 2 for being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty.


The Liberal Democrats could not be bothered to stand a candidate, despite flooding other wards with leaflets, claiming they have achieved so much with their current small team.

Labour also failed to stand anyone despite winning the last by-election.

The tweeted: Rutland&MeltonLabour @rmlabour

Another good result for Progressives in #Rutland ‼️

👍❤️💚😉

Whilst the Conservatives hold the majority nothing can be changed here in Rutland. I hope at the next full council election these very weak parties can put up some candidates to give Rutland voters a choice. Unlike the last elections when the many Conservatives are elected unopposed.

Politics here in Rutland is rubbish.





Sunday, November 07, 2021

LGBT Oakham and Rutland have approached Rutland County Council and Oakham Town Council, regarding the possibility of Holding The 1st Rutland Pride event on 25th June 2022

LGBT Oakham and Rutland have approached RCC regarding the possibility of Holding The 1st Rutland Pride event on 25th June 2022



2019 The last time Tesco Oakham Recognised Pride Month 




I am not sure who is running our new local pride group, I hope to find out soon, So I can offer to join the Rutland Pride Committee.

The group has had a meeting with RCC which are in support of their plans. These include a Parade through Oakham Town centre at 11 am ending in Cutts Close. 

Cutts Close will then have entertainment, business and education stalls finishing around 5/6pm. 

This event will be inclusive of all Families

Oakham Town Council are being asked To Allow  LGBT Oakham and Rutland to use Cutts Close on Saturday 25th June 2022.


Meeting of Oakham Town Council on Wednesday 10 November 2021 at 6.30 p.m Agenda

Oakham Town Council

Rol House, Long Row, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6NL 

 01572 723627        

 enquiries@oakhamtowncouncil.gov.uk

www.oakhamtowncouncil.gov.uk


TO:  All members of the Town Council

In accordance with the requirements of the Local government Act 1972, you are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of Oakham Town Council on Wednesday 10 November 2021 at 6.30 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the offices of the Town Council, Rol House, Long Row, Oakham, LE15 6LN

Karen Bell

Locum Clerk to the Council

03 November 2021                 

NOTICE OF MEETING

Public Notice of the meeting has been given in accordance with schedule 12, Para 10(2) of the Local Government Act 1972. The Meeting is open to the press and public. Members of the public attending this meeting are advised that it may be filmed and recorded.

AGENDA 

1. APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE:  To receive and approve apologies for absences 

2. DECLARATION OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS AND APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION:  Reminder to Members to disclose either a Pecuniary Interest or Other Interest in any item on the agenda.  The clerk cannot advise members on this. Members are personally responsible for declaring an interest. Members are respectfully advised to read the Code of Conduct for more information. Councillors are also responsible for ensuring that their Registers of Interests are up to date (within 28 days of any changes)

3. DEPUTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:  An opportunity for members of the public to speak in accordance with Standing Orders 1 (d)- 1(i)

4. FULL COUNCIL MINUTES 

     4.1 To confirm the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October   2021 Attached

      4.2 To receive an update on any matters arising not included elsewhere on the  agenda

5.   FINANCE COMMITTEE HELD ON 13 OCTOBER 2021:  The minutes from the 

      meeting are to be received and noted.  Questions can be asked of the Committee

      Chairman Attached

6.   RECREATION AND PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD ON 27 OCTOBER 2021:The 

      minutes from the meeting are to be received and noted.  Questions can be asked 

      of the Committee Chairman Attached

7.    COUNCILLOR’S QUESTIONS   

To answer questions previously notified to the Clerk under Standing Order 9 

8.   CLERK’S REPORT 

9.   CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

10. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS, WORKING GROUPS AND OUTSIDE BODIES  

11.TO CONSIDER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED 

11.1 ABF The Soldiers Charity – Invitation to Christmas Curry Luncheon, and /  or donation request

11.2 One Way Out Escape Rooms - Space share Proposal

11.3 4 Oakham – Request received for OTC to contribute towards cost of 

gazebos

12. FINANCIAL ISSUES 

  12.1 2020-2021 Conclusion of External Audit 2020/21:  To receive new  information

  12.2 Payments for Approval:   To follow

  12.3 Bank Reconciliation at 31 October 2021:   To follow

  12.4 2022-2023 Budget:  To receive information 

13. OAKHAM SKATEPARK PROJECT:  To consider Report Number TC 01/11/2021 

Attached

14. OAKHAM TOWN CRIER:  To consider Report Number TC 02/11/2021

Attached

15.  CUTTS CLOSE SHELTER:  To consider Report number TC 03/11/2021

Attached

16. OBTAINING TITLE REGISTERS AND TITLE PLANS FOR OTC ASSETS:  

      To consider Report Number TC/04/11/2021 Attached


17.  RUTLAND PRIDE 2022:  To consider Report Number TC/05/11/2021 Attached 

18.  REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS:  To consider the following motion which has 

       been submitted by Cllr. Orchard

“that Standing orders be reviewed monthly, equally divided across the year

(nominally 2 per councillor, per month) to allow for a more focused  opportunity  for councillors to review and offer updates”

19.  ARMED FORCES COVENANT:  To receive information

20. MATTERS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION:  To receive information

21. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE:  Appointment of Town Clerk

22. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING:  08 December 2021 @ 6.30 p.m. 

NOTES:

a)  The meeting is open to the press & public. 

b)  The Town Council allows a short period of time at meetings of the Full Council  when residents can put questions to the council. At other times, the public are not  able to take part in the proceedings except at the discretion of the Chairman who  may at a convenient time in the transaction of business adjourn the meeting and  suspend standing orders to allow any member of the public to address the meeting  and ask questions requiring answers of a factual nature 

c)  Mobile phones are to be turned off during the meeting


Meeting Documents

Friday, November 05, 2021

Labour Gain First Seat for Decades on Rutland County Council Leah Toseland Elected

Labour Gain First Seat for years on Rutland County Council Leah Toseland Elected 




Daniel Stephen Bottomley 175 Votes 

Leah Toseland 293 Votes


Rutland last had Labour Councillor. When they had two up to 2003 Elections. 


Monday, November 01, 2021

Oakham North West Rutland County Council by-election Daniel Bottomley Conservative Candidate Election 4th November 2021

Oakham North West Rutland County Council by-election Daniel Bottomley Conservative Candidate Election 4th November 2021








Friday, October 15, 2021

The Labour candidate standing in the Rutland County Council Oakham North-West by-election is Leah Toseland

The Labour candidate standing in the Rutland County Council  Oakham North-West by-election is Leah Toseland



RUTLAND and LAUNDE
Branch Labour Party


CANDIDATE FOR OAKHAM 
NORTH-WEST BY-ELECTION
4 November 2021

Leah Toseland



The Labour candidate standing in the Oakham North-West by-election is Leah Toseland. 

Leah lives in the ward and has lived in Rutland for many years. She is 29 years old and a mum of two children with special needs. Despite the demands of being a mother, Leah has become involved in the issues that affect the community, including campaigning for the swimming pool; a petition with over

2,000 signatures has just been submitted to Rutland County Council. Leah is also committed to campaigning for better local health provision and for public transport that meets the needs of local people especially when trying to access health provision.

She said:

“I am acutely aware of the issues we face as a community and the needs that our ward has. I will freely admit, I am not the usual person that runs for Councillor, I am a local mum, who lives down the road. I just want to become a Councillor to help others. I want to be the change voters want to see. 
If people feel fed up and dissatisfied with Rutland County Council and want to send them a clear message that their attitudes need to change – vote for me. 

I am not just a Mum, I am a passionate campaigner for issues involving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Health Care, Social Care and Education reform.

I want to ensure that we create an inclusive and encompassing society for all. Why? I have ADHD. My sister is autistic and has ADHD, and my two boys are autistic.  

I am a registered carer for my two boys, so I understand the struggle carers face. I also have other long term and chronic health conditions which I have to manage, and live with, every day.”


The election is to be held on Thursday 4 November 2021. The other candidate is:

Daniel Stephen Bottomley (The Conservative Party candidate)

I have contacted him and await his press release.


Thursday, September 30, 2021

Oakham North West Ward Rutland County Council By-election called, Only two nominations are required of nomination forms due to covid

Oakham North West Ward Rutland County Council By-election called, Only two nominations are required of nomination forms due to Covid  so it makes it very easy for candidates to stand.

● Local council: 2 (instead of 10).

‘Local’ council elections cover election of councillors for divisions for county

elections and wards for district elections and London borough elections.

Changes are not being made for parish council elections which already

require two subscribers only for each candidate


Following a request from two local government electors, Rutland County Council says an election will be held to fill this vacancy on Thursday November 4. Further details can be found in the full Notice of Election, published online at: www.rutland.gov.uk/elections.

Nomination packs for candidates who would like to stand in this election are available from the Council’s Elections Office. Anyone who would like to request a pack must first contact the Elections Office by phone, by calling: 01572 758 385 or 01572 720 907.

Nomination papers must be completed and delivered by hand to the Returning Officer at Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP. Returns must be made between the hours of 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday, but no later than 4pm on the Friday 8 October 2021.

Friday, September 03, 2021

Video Rutland County Council Merchant Navy Day Oakham Castle Rutland Flag Raising. #MerchantNavyDay at @oakhamcastle @RutlandLL @aliciakearns @rutlandcouncil #oakham #rutland

Video Rutland County Council Merchant Navy Day Oakham Castle Rutland Flag Raising. #MerchantNavyDay at @oakhamcastle @RutlandLL @aliciakearns @rutlandcouncil #oakham #rutland





Rutland County Council Merchant Navy Day Oakham Castle Rutland Flag Raising. #MerchantNavyDay at @oakhamcastle @RutlandLL @aliciakearns @rutlandcouncil #oakham #rutland

Rutland County Council Merchant Navy Day Oakham Castle Rutland Flag Raising. #MerchantNavyDay at @oakhamcastle @RutlandLL @aliciakearns @rutlandcouncil  #oakham #rutland