Sunday, June 12, 2011

Oakham Town Council, #################, Town Clerk and Bribe

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


Dear Oakham Town Council,

Oakham Town Council, ###############, Town Clerk and Bribe
All five members are aware I published my open letter relating the incident that happened at the last meeting of Oakham Town Council. At this meeting we all sat and listened to the Clerk as he advised us the Councils ####### is advising us and has provided three options the third being a Bribe.

At the time, I questioned this and the Clerk confirmed it was a bribe at no time did any other member of council question this. Cllr Dewis did ask if it was legal to use public money to pay a bribe, only after Clerk started talking money and mentioned £5,000 The Clerk said he would have to look into it.

After the ############# had read my email #### responded. I can not publish #### reply. She has requested ##### response remains private. I am not sure why? If I was the ########## I would want this matter dealt with in a very open manner.

Cllr Lucas the Mayor and Chairman has told members and the public this is very embarrassing for the Council.

She is taking action to remedy the situation, She is going to report me to professional standards because, I reported the use of the word bribe in an exempted item. In the words of Rutland County Council staff when they are threatened with legal action I say "bring it on" lets see how embarrassing this course of action will be for Oakham Town Council. Let us not forget the Deputy Leader of Rutland County Councils, favourite words "how much is this going to cost the public purse"

In my email I did not mention the exempt item, I don't accept her course of action is correct and strongly recommend she rethinks.

Who has caused the embarrassment?

Who takes home over £2,000 a month for this sort of advice?

Who apologised to #########?

Why are they not being disciplined if the advice they gave Councillors was incorrect.

As a Councillor it is my duty to protect public money and speak out when something appears to be wrong as is often the case with Oakham Town Council. You can not hide behind exempt item rules.

From

Martin Brookes