Three Councillors in Rutland are facing potential legal action after being accused
of suggesting council officers are involved in fraud and corruption, suspect planning
approvals, misusing public money, and the squandering of millions of pounds of grant funding.
Members (Special Council 29 July 2013) voted in favour of supporting the #### #### and/or
officers to take legal action in their own name for defamation by UKIP Councillors Richard Gale,
David Richardson and Nick Wainwright.
The decision taken is in addition to a series of recommendations agreed at Special Council
(10 January 2013) that provided authority to seek an injunction to prevent harassment #### ####
and other officers.
Councillors were informed that the resolutions agreed at the January meeting are still valid,
despite the three Councillors forming a new political group (Rutland group of UKIP).
Roger BegyCouncil Leader Roger Begy: “This is a particularly difficult decision and one that
members have taken after careful consideration.
Councillors are well aware of the financial risk of taking this route, but feel we have no option.
If we sit back and do nothing, we are open to constructive dismissal claims from staff as well as recruitment and retention issues.”
Councillor Begy added: “In recent years, grant funding has played a key role in some of our most successful projects including the Oakham Bypass, Catmose College and Oakham CE Primary School.
Only last month, the three Councillors published statements to the national media and online accusing the council of ‘squandering millions of pounds of grant money’.
We can only hope this does not reduce our chances of receiving future funding for projects within our local community.”
Councillor Begy went on to say: “Going down the legal route is an absolute last resort but one that we are prepared to take in order to protect our officers.
The quickest and cheapest way to resolve this latest position is for the three Councillors (Gale, Richardson and Wainwright) to either agree publicly that they have been mistaken and issue a full apology, or to provide evidence that supports their claims.”
Other Information
Voting details
16 Councillors voted in support of the recommendations
Mr Edward Baines (Conservative)
Wood Lane Farm
Braunston
Oakham
Rutland LE15 8QZ
Tel: 01572 722154
email: democratic@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Roger B Begy (Con)
Lindow Cottage
25 Main Street
Greetham
Oakham
Rutland LE15 7NJ
Telephone: 01572 812529
E-mail: rbegy@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Kenneth A Bool (Con)
4 Church Farm Close
Exton
Rutland LE15 8BZ
Tel: (01572) 813356
email: kbool@rutland.gov.uk
Miss Gale Waller (Lib)
21 Pinfold Lane
South Luffenham
Oakham
Rutland LE15 8NR
Mrs Carolyn C Cartwright (Con)
3 Main Street
Bisbrooke
Oakham
Rutland LE15 9EP
Tel: (01572) 822233
email: cjcartwright@rutland.gov.uk
Mrs Christine Emmett (Con)
The Windmill
Morcott
Rutland LE15 9DQ
Tel: 01572 747000
email: cemmett@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Gary J Conde (Con)
54 Empingham Road
Ketton
Stamford
Lincs
PE9 3RP
Tel: 01780 720252
email: gconde@rutland.gov.uk
Mr William Cross (Con)
Hill Top Farm
Braunston Road
Oakham
Rutland LE15 8UH
Tel: 01572 755744
email: wcross@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Jeffrey T Dale (Ind)
12 Station Road
Wing Hollow
Wing
Oakham
Rutland LE15 8RY
Tel: (01572) 723569
email: jdale@rutland.gov.uk
Mr David Hollis (Con)
The Roost
49 Main Street
Cottesmore
Rutland LE15 7DH
Tel:01572 812996
email: dhollis@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Martyn Pocock (Con)
Home Farm House
Barrow
Oakham
Rutland LE15 7PE
Tel:01572 812599
email: mpocock@rutland.gov.uk
Mr James Lammie (Con)
12 North Street East
Uppingham
Rutland
LE15 9QL
Mobile: 07825 552973
email: jlammie@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Jonathan Munton (Con)
6 Brooke Close
Oakham
Rutland LE15 6GD
Tel: (01572) 770733
email: jmunton@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Chris A Parsons (Con)
'Poachers Rest'
Newstead Lane
Belmesthorpe
Stamford
Lincs PE9 4SA
Tel: (01780) 762489
email: cparsons@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Mark Woodcock (Indepedent)
33 Harrington Way
Oakham
Rutland LE15 6SE
Tel: (01572) 755814
email: mwoodcock@rutland.gov.uk
Mr Terry C King (Con)
3 Debdale
Cottesmore
Oakham
Rutland LE15 7BU
Telephone: (01572) 812735
E-mail: tking@rutland.gov.uk
The Big Bother TORY House Who will be evicted Next?
2 Councillors left the meeting early after declaring an interest – Gale and Richardson (UKIP)
1 Councillor decided to abstain from voting – Plews (EX Tory)
1 Councillor voted against the recommendation – Walters (Independent)
Apologies received from –
Figgis, (Con)
Montgomery, (Independent)
Oxley, (Lib)
Stephenson, (Con)
Vernon, (Con)
Wainwright (UKIP)