Ashwell Garden Centre & Oakham Town Council Freindship and Public Funds

Oakham Town Councils planning and general purposes committee met last night

They discussed a number of applications this included.

APP/2010/1138/PG Rutland Garden Centre
Retrospective application for change of use of part of first floor of retail unit from storage to living accommodation.
Rutland Garden Centre Rutland Village Ashwell Road

At this point the meeting turned into a complete shambolic mess!

All but four member declared a personal and prejudicial interest.

It took some time for them to leave the chamber along with the clerk.

Who all knew the applicant as she was once the assistant town clerk employed by Oakham Town Council. And it was also stated she was a close friend.

This is a very interesting development because this has never been declared at any time in the past.
The garden centre receives huge sums of money for the hanging baskets and watering throughout the summer.

When I was a councillor I question the high cost and the possibility of tendering and the clerk told me no one else was interested.

I can not see why when the contract runs into thousands of pounds it is a very lucrative contract.

Any way when they finally departed the chamber the remainder did not seem to want to deal with the application.

The members needed to elect a chairman so Cllr Dewis proposed. Cllr Charles Haworth because he was a senior member. He accepted of course this is total rubbish all town councillors are meant to be equal clearly not the case at Oakham Town Council.

Cllr Dewis was unhappy the council was being asked to consider the application, because they had not considered the original.

What does he not understand about a retrospective planning application? It means the applicant has already implemented the change without planning consent or any previous application.

Members were not happy to consider the application because it was outside the parish boundary and it was suggested it was solely a matter for Ashwell Parish Council.

The four members agreed not to comment on the application. It was clear they did not want to upset anyone.

As they returned to their original seats Cllr Haworth suggested they could have considered the matter further if they had ambition to expand their territory .

Cllr Alf Dewis added yes back into Leicestershire!