Oakham Town Council this morning decided it would pay the Rotary Club to
provide a Christmas Tree for the town.
For over thirty years the Rotary has provided the town with a shabby tree poorly
decorated and proudly displayed a sign saying they had gifted the tree to the town.
Recent communications with the council made public show this was not true
Someone else who is now not willing to do so paid for the tree.
Cllr Peter Locket said "if we are going to pay for the tree we don't want it
labelled gifted from the Rotary Club"
Cllr Dewis the Mayor, Chairman of Oakham Town Partnership and another other committee
throughout Rutland and clearly not the Rotary
Said " The tree provided has been poor in the past" he also said "I am surprised the Rotary can not
organise its own fundraising after all is that not their purpose?"
He went onto agree with Cllr Lockett's comments.
Cllr Maureen Dodds questioned "can we have some decent lighting?"
Cllr Lucas reminded members once again that one previous year members were asked
to to wrap a box in a plastic bag to make the tree look better.
I remember the year well soggy parcels in plastic bags truly enhance the look of the half illuminated tree.
The members decide to give the Rotary the money with attached conditions that they might like to
decorate the tree better and include a sign notifying the tree was paid for by the Town Council.
Why the Council don't by and decorate a tree itself I don't know?
At the beginning of the meeting we learnt Clr Lucas has now switch her door bell from
chiming to a barking dog such class Cllr Lucas :-)
