Martin Brookes Oakham Rutland: Three UKIP Councillors in Rutland, facing potential legal action after suggesting council officers are involved in fraud and corruption, Councils Own Report

Rutland County Councils Own Special Council Report

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