Oakham Rail Services Will BE Halted as RMT Strike Action Against CrossCountry Trains.

Oakham Rail Services Will BE Halted as RMT Strike Action Against CrossCountry Trains.

Rail travel through Oakham is set to be completely shut down on Saturday, October 18, as the ongoing industrial dispute between train operator CrossCountry and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) escalates into a full strike.

The industrial action will result in the cancellation of the entire Birmingham – Leicester – Cambridge/Stansted Airport line, meaning no CrossCountry services will call at Oakham or Stamford throughout the day. This comes as part of wider nationwide disruption to the CrossCountry network, which is expected to run a severely reduced and limited timetable across all its routes.

Why are the Workers Striking?

The strike action by the RMT union is primarily a result of a breakdown in industrial relations and a dispute over pay enhancements for overtime and rest day working, which the union accuses CrossCountry of trying to avoid.

According to RMT, the union and the operator had previously agreed to open talks regarding enhanced pay for all grades of staff when working rest days and Sundays. The union claims that CrossCountry has since refused to negotiate on these enhancements, effectively trying to "wriggle out of agreements and block fair pay" for its members.

The dispute centres on several key issues related to workers’ pay and conditions, including:

Refusal to Negotiate on Overtime and Rest Day Pay: The core of the conflict is the union's allegation that CrossCountry has failed to table proposals for better pay rates for staff across all grades working on rest days and weekends, breaking previous commitments.

Protection of Agreements and Union Rights: The RMT states that the industrial action is necessary to protect negotiated agreements, the future of members' jobs, and the right of the union to represent its members effectively. The union's action is aimed at challenging what it views as the company's "flagrant breach of agreements."

CrossCountry has stated that it is committed to reaching an agreement with the RMT and remains available to continue talks, but the current dispute has led to the full strike action on October 18th, causing significant disruption for passengers, particularly those who rely on weekend services.

Passengers planning to travel on the affected date are strongly advised to seek alternative transport or check the latest information before travelling, as no alternative rail services are being provided on the cancelled route.

From Town Criers to Tree Surveys: Oakham Council Tackles Finances, Lights, and Loud Voices

From Town Criers to Tree Surveys: Oakham Council Tackles Finances, Lights, and Loud Voices

VIDEO TO FOLLOW

Oakham Town Council's latest meeting covered a diverse and often lively agenda, seeing major steps taken in financial governance, public amenities, and the introduction of a new, rather audible, official.Town Crier Appointed Amidst Volume Concerns

Perhaps the most colourful event of the evening was the appointment of an official Town Crier. The council enthusiastically approved the hire and committed to purchasing a uniform at a cost of just under £500, which will remain the council's property. The newly appointed Town Crier gave a demonstration of her abilities right there in the council chamber. The powerful display prompted a visiting Rutland County Council representative to humorously ask if "the lady has a volume control."

Streetlights and Picnic Benches Dominate Public Input

Two key matters brought forward by residents sparked significant discussion. A resident's request for street lighting on an unlit path leading off Burley Road was met with council support. Given that Rutland County Council does not have a budget allocated for new installations, Oakham Town Council agreed to spend money from its reserves to fund the project, setting a maximum budget and requesting an exact cost from Rutland County Council's Clerk.

The proposal to install picnic benches on Barleythorpe Field (also known as Centenary Field) was raised by another resident but was deferred by the council. Councillors are seeking more cost-effective quotes and clarity on the provision of accompanying litter and recycling bins before moving forward.

Financial Governance Tightened After Audit Report

A key focus of the evening was financial administration and transparency. Councillors acknowledged receipt of an EXTERNAL AUDIT report, which was openly described as "not a good report." In response, the council is actively working on improving its financial governance, including a revision and tightening of its financial regulations. The commitment was further underscored by agreeing to FILCA training (Finance, Law, and Administration) for all staff and members of the finance working group.

In related matters, the council finally confirmed the accuracy of the minutes from the annual meeting held back on May 14th, 2025, after rejecting them for inaccuracy over the last five months. The minutes of the more recent September 10th meeting were accepted without issue.

The council also approved a backlog of financial accounts, including the bank statements and budget for August and September 2025, but only after corrections were made to the August accounts that had been rejected previously.

Discussions surrounding the Oakham Hopper Bus Service and a £29,000 bill from Rutland County Council for the 2025-2026 period were deferred to the next meeting.

New Policies and Amenity Updates

In other decisions, the council:

Agreed to adopt the iconic TELEPHONE KIOSK on Market Square.

Approved a new policy regarding email communications with office staff.

Agreed to install new metered sockets on Market Square, replacing existing ones. This aims to resolve a health and safety issue and stop traders from taking electricity freely—the original sockets were intended solely for Christmas lights.

Confirmed the CHRISTMAS Light Switch On will go ahead, engaging several companies to provide family entertainment for what is anticipated to be a "fun event for all."

Agreed to maintain the web hosting fee for the Discover Oakham Website.

Added "Rutland Day" to its FLAG FLYING POLICY.

Agreed to appoint a contractor to carry out an annual survey of all the trees it is responsible for, a task last completed in October 2023. This follows recent concerns over lack of maintenance, including unfinished work in Cutts Close and the recent removal of a dead tree from the churchyard.

Councillor Anna Douthwaite was noted as absent from the meeting. The next meeting is expected to continue discussions on the Oakham Hopper Bus and the Picnic Benches proposal. 

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING: 12^th November 2025 at 6:30pm

Gale Waller’s Proposal: Rutland Council Leaders Poised to Choose County’s Future in Local Government Shake-Up

Gale Waller’s Proposal: Rutland Council Leaders Poised to Choose County’s Future in Local Government Shake-Up

Rutland County Council is rapidly approaching a decision on its own future, with the Cabinet set to consider a crucial report on October 14, 2025, outlining the path for the county’s participation in the mandatory Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process.

The report, No: 99/2025, submitted by the Leader of the Council, Councillor G Waller, seeks to establish a set of guiding principles for a full Council debate on November 20, 2025. The Cabinet's ultimate decision on submitting a final LGR proposal is scheduled for the following day, November 21, 2025.

The LGR initiative is a nationally orchestrated process stemming from the English Devolution White Paper, which aims to replace smaller councils with much larger unitary authorities (guideline population size of 500,000+) to pave the way for strategic authorities with an Elected Mayor. The report emphasizes that councils, including Rutland, cannot opt out of this process.

The Proposals on the Table

As a small unitary authority, Rutland has been included in three separate interim proposals submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG):

North, City, South: A three-unitary model developed collaboratively by Rutland and a group of Leicestershire Districts and Boroughs.

Leicester City Council's Proposal: A model proposing two unitary authorities, one of which would incorporate Rutland into a single, larger Leicestershire unitary.

South Kesteven and North Kesteven Proposal: A merger forming a unitary authority that includes Rutland, North Kesteven, South Kesteven, and South Holland, effectively merging Rutland eastward into a Greater Lincolnshire area.

The Recommended Path Forward

Cllr Waller's report recommends that the Council's debate be framed by the statutory criteria from the MHCLG, with the explicit goal of identifying the proposal that provides the best means of ensuring long-term financial sustainability and the delivery of high-quality, sustainable public services for Rutland.

The report also notes that a proposal for Rutland to remain unaltered is unlikely to be accepted for statutory consultation, as an authority of approximately 40,000 people is not considered sufficiently large to achieve the necessary efficiencies, capacity, and financial resilience for the long term.

Public Engagement Reveals Strong Desire for Independence

Extensive public engagement conducted between June and July 2025 highlighted significant resident concerns and priorities regarding the reorganisation.

Many respondents voiced a strong desire for Rutland to retain its independence and current governance structure, with several recalling the fight to regain independence in 1997.

When asked to rate importance, residents identified the financial sustainability of any new unitary authority as the number one priority. This was closely followed by the preservation of Rutland’s identity and ceremonial status and ensuring sensible economic and housing growth.

The most recurring fears included the potential loss of Rutland’s influence and voice within a larger, more distant administration, the risk of a decline in the existing high quality of local services, and concerns that Rutland’s land would be used to meet the housing quotas of its larger neighbours.

Of the three interim options, a merger with the Lincolnshire/South Kesteven area received favourable remarks, often due to perceived "culturally similar" rural ties. Conversely, there was a strong, often emotional, dislike for the idea of being "completely subsumed" into a single Leicestershire unitary.

The results of the structured discussions showed that maintaining good representation and the new council's financial stability were of higher importance to participants than achieving the smallest possible population size or securing Council Tax reduction opportunities.

Rutland's Flood Reckoning: Council Vows Resilience After Investigation Highlights 'Poor Maintenance' and Policy Gaps

Rutland's Flood Reckoning: Council Vows Resilience After Investigation Highlights 'Poor Maintenance' and Policy Gaps

Following three severe storm events—Storm Babet (October 2023), Storm Henk (January 2024), and an event in January 2025—Rutland County Council (RCC), acting as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), has published a critical Section 19 Flood Investigation Report and an updated Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). The findings confirm that while extreme, high-intensity rainfall was the primary driver, significant local factors contributed to property flooding and widespread highway disruption across communities including Whissendine, Langham, Barleythorpe, and Oakham.

The investigation and a corresponding Flooding Evidence Panel review highlighted critical shortcomings in proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness. The principal failings identified include:

Poor Maintenance of Watercourses: In Whissendine, properties were flooded as a direct result of the Whissendine Brook overflowing, a situation attributed to the constriction and poor maintenance of the watercourse.

Inadequate Drainage Infrastructure: In Barleythorpe, flooding was caused by restrictions in the Barleythorpe Brook due to issues with the culvert and trash screen near Ostlers Drive. Highway flooding across multiple locations suggested the surface water drainage network was overwhelmed or insufficient.

Policy and Clarity Gaps: The Flooding Evidence Panel found a need for a new strategic approach to flood management. Critically, the Panel noted confusion over the ownership of drainage assets that needs to be addressed, and a lack of clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of the various Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) for the public.

Emergency Response Issues: Concerns were raised over the need for a clear communications plan (including live updates and clarity on reporting mechanisms), the streamlining of emergency plans, and a required review of road closure procedures.

Development Scrutiny: Concerns were raised regarding the timeliness of Flood Risk Assessment reviews and the adequacy of flood risk mitigation measures during new construction projects.

The Path to Improvement: Future Plans and Strategy

The new Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS), a framework set for the next ten years, outlines a concerted effort to enhance community resilience and address the systemic issues identified.

The Strategy is built upon three core objectives:

Collaborative Assessment: Work with partners to assess flood risk and understand priorities.

Risk Reduction: Partner to reduce flood risk to properties and infrastructure.

Community Resilience: Improve community understanding of flood risk and support local resilience.

To deliver these objectives, RCC has committed to a series of specific, risk-based actions:

Whissendine Constriction and poor maintenance of Brook

Explore improvements to the watercourse to enhance conveyance and reduce overtopping.

Barleythorpe Restricted culvert/trash screen Investigate the capacity of the attenuation pond and review the effectiveness of the trash screen and culvert capacities.

Langham Out-of-bank flooding at bridge Investigate options to reduce out-of-bank flooding at Melton Road bridge.

County-wide Maintenance, Planning & Policy

Implement an enhanced inspection regime for high-risk drainage areas. Promote the use of nature-based solutions (NBS) and natural processes in flood mitigation. Clarify the ownership of drainage assets.

The Council also acknowledges that flood risk management requires shared responsibility, stressing the vital role of residents and landowners in maintaining private drains and watercourses. The LFRMS is set for a full review in 2035.

The report and plans will be presented to Cabinet - Tuesday, 14th October, 2025 10.00 am

https://rutlandcounty.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=133&MId=3073