In a recent comment on my Blog I was accused of making many standards complaints.
I believe this is unfair. I think you will agree as you read on.
A former councillor attends meetings and has made it known to me there has not been a single meeting where there has not been a serious breach of standing orders.
when one of these incidents was passed to the Town Clerk his response was I wish people would not keep complaining about little things. It is the little things that are meant to keep the big thing running smoothly.
A resident wrote to last weeks Rutland Times, very concerned about the level of complaints aimed at Oakham Town Council.
He may get the feeling they are all from me, wrong information was leaked to Rutland Radio, who broadcast my name until the press office of Rutland County Council asked them to withdraw the news item.
The writer of the letter says he may use the freedom of information act to find details of the complaints. If that works I would like to know.
Complaints are handled in a very secret way. Minutes of Rutland County Councils Standards Committee are available, unfortunately the only contain the basic details with no names.
I would like to see all complaints dealt with publicly I would like to publish all details unfortunately the local government act forbids that. If complaints are investigated by Standard for England the law only allows the publication of the finding and this most likely wont contain the complainants name.
Without intentional breaking the law I publish the following information.
If a person wishes to complain about a councillor in Rutland they write to the monitoring officer at Rutland Council,
Geoff Pook
Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer
Catmose
Oakham
LE15 6HP
If a complaint is made about a councillor, they will not know for some time unless they are in contact with members of the standards committee or if the complainant informs you.
In my case the first I knew anything about the many complaints about me was after a I received a large delivery of letters.
Headed, Allegation of Breach of Conduct. quite a shock.
3 Allegations from Cllr Charles Haworth
1 Allegation from Cllr Alf Dewis
4 Allegations from Ex Cllr Jim Harrison
5 Allegations from Doris Cook Community Street Warden, Melton
11 Allegations from the Town Clerk of Oakham Town Council Richard White
2 Allegations from Ex Concillor Alan Kelly
Rutland County Councils Assessment Sub-Committee of the Standards Committee considered these allegations most from vile bullies, there maybe more I don't know.
Most Decisions I have received notice of state the following:
In accordance with Section 57A(2) of the Local government Act 2000, as amended, the Standards Committee Assessment Sub-Committee resolved to refer the allegation(s) to Standards for England for the following reasons:
This case taken together with other assessed cases involving many members of Oakham Town Council indicates an inter-relationship of cases so serious or complex that they could not be handled locally;
Investigating the complaint(s) require substantial amounts of evidence beyond that available from the authority's documents, its members or officers;
There is substantial governance dysfunction in the authority,
In relation to the dysfunction without wishing to attack our chairman, she is trying very hard to bring harmony to our council with the assistance of her deputy.
The job is a difficult one handled with little or no training and hindered in my view by the bullies like Cllr Alf Dewis and Cllr Charles Haworth.
Cllr Dewis is a new Cllr and and for a new boy has risen very quickly within the council. I suggest he is trampling his way to the top.
Cllr Dewis has assaulted me and constantly obstructed me. He tells the police his raised hand came into contact with me because I walked past him. The police support there committee member and no action is taken.
Cllr Dewis has a image to uphold, quite a false image he continues to use a company email address, his company that was dissolved early last year, alf@alfdewisconsultancy.co.uk
Company Details
- ALF DEWIS CONSULTANCY LTD
Registered No.06067398
Address: 59 REDLAND ROAD, OAKHAM, RUTLAND, LE15 6PH, LE15 6PH
Tel:
Type: Private Limited with share capital
Incorporation Date: 25-01-2007
Status: Dissolved
Last Accounts Filed up to: 31-01-2008
Nature of business SIC: 74140 - Business and management consultancy activities
Cllr Alf Dewis (ALFRED ROBINSON DEWIS) claimed the company still existed during his election campaign last September, this was a lie.
Rutland Times
http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/Candidates-for-Oakham-Town-Council.5644257.jp
Since 2003 Mr Dewis has been self-employed as a consultant advising local councils across the country on people management.
According to Company records his company was started 25th January 2007
Only three complaints from myself have been referred to standards for England.
These complaints relate to 2 against Cllr Alf Dewis and 1 against Cllr Joyce Lucas
So Before anyone else says the cost is due to me look at the list please.
