Local Firm Threatens me with Legal Action for reporting what Oakham Town Clerk Richard White said at Town Council Meeting

The following post has been edited, at the request of a named person and company. The previously named person and company claim the inclusion of their names is defamatory. This would suggest to me The Clerk who now says he was only joking has been slanderous.  After some negotiations, I have decided to remove the names. I find it strange I can not mention a firm that works for the Town Council, who are paid for by the tax payer. This decision is taken to save the public any further costs. I have personally told the person I had not intended to cause their firm any embarrassment and said sorry if this was the case.

I Read the letter ref: ###/ARS  I also have a sense of humour
Notice if my reporting of the Clerks advice has caused your company embarrassment I am sorry.
At no time have I suggested you gave inappropriate advice.
I suggest any further action you wish to pursue is directed toward the Town Clerk who made the original allegations.





Dear ##########

I would like to point out I have only reported what was said by the Clerk Richard White at meeting of the full council, because I was disgusted. I have not accused your company in any way purely reported the facts.  I have nothing to say sorry for. I will not feel threatened by you because of the Clerks behaviour. I am a Councillor who has a responsibility to the residents of Oakham and to protect their money, when I challenged him he went on to say it is a bribe and suggested the ############# could be paid a bribe £5,000 to get out. This not the sort of advice a councillor should  expect from a Clerk paid over £2,000 a month.

Are you suggesting as a Councillor I should have ignored his comments?

I am surprised you are not writing to the Clerk or the Town Council, he is the person who said you gave the following advice. "Option  3 is a bribe". I was the only Councillor to questioned this and then raised my concerns with you and I expressed my surprise and concern when he gave this advice.

I suggest you direct action towards Oakham Town Council, please don't shoot the messenger.
It is about time this council was held accountable for its actions. Of course it does have insurance  cover for this kind of event.

I am copying this email and your letter to the LRALC for my own advice.

I am also requesting Oakham Town Councils chairman and staffing committee immediate action in relation to the clerk.

I will be happy to publish a statement on my blog, if you wish to clearly state the advice given by Oakham Town Councils Clerk Richard White was incorrect and mislead councillors.

From

Martin Brookes







############

#######

13 June 2011

Dear Sir

Your Blog and Emails

We refer first of all to your “blog” published on the internet on 9 June 2011 : it appears at www.martinbrookes.blogspot.com.

The blog contains statements that are untrue and defamatory of this firm.

You are required immediately to take down the blog so that further publication of the defamation of this firm cannot occur. When removing the blog you must also remove the label and all links to other websites.

Furthermore, we require you to circulate to all third parties to whom you have published this defamation either by email or otherwise, a written apology in the following terms :

“With reference to my recent communication to you concerning the meeting of Oakham Town Council on 8 June 2011, I unconditionally withdraw all statements and allegations to the effect that advice received by the Town Council from ############# used the words “bribe” or suggested that the Town Council take part in an illegal act.

I also unreservedly apologise to ############# for my actions”.

Copies of these written apologies must be sent to this firm.

We require you in addition to provide this firm with your written apology and undertaking not to publish any defamatory statement of this firm in the future.

The removal of the blog, the written withdrawal and apology to third parties and the written apology and undertaking to this firm are to be completed by yourself within 24 hours, i.e. by 11 am Tuesday 14 June, failing which this firm reserves the right to take action against you personally in respect of the defamatory material produced by you.

This letter is being emailed to you so that the time it has been emailed is recorded and a hard copy will be sent to you in the post.

Yours faithfully,

#################

----- Original Message -----

From: #######

Sent: 06/13/11 10:19 AM

To: councillormartinbrookes@email.com

Subject: Your blog and emails

Please see attached letter.

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