Saturday, March 29, 2014

Oakham Town Council working towards obsolescence, Planning and Parks Report 26th March 2014

Oakham Town Council working towards obsolescence, Planning and Parks Report 26th March 2014


Oakham Town Council working towards obsolescence
Victoria Hall, 39 High Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AH
Telephone: 01572 723627
e-mail: enquiries@oakhamtowncouncil.gov.uk


Over £20,000 spent each year on the above
includes watering, super value!

A MEETING OF OAKHAM TOWN COUNCIL’S
PLANNING AND PARKS COMMITTEE
7.00PM WEDNESDAY MARCH 26TH 2014
VICTORIA HALL, 39, HIGH STREET, OAKHAM

Report

APOLOGIES

 (i) To receive apologies for absence
 (ii) To decide whether to approve apologies for absence

Apolagies were recieved from the usual part-time parish councillors

Cllr John Nowell busy with work, Cllr Leanne Martin also to busy once
again to spare an hour of her time for those she claims to represent.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members are asked to declare, if required:
(i) Any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest they may have in respect to items on the agenda
(ii) Any other interest they may have in respect to items on the agenda

 Members are also reminded to inform the Clerk of any changes in their Register of Members’
Interests

Cllr Guthrie declared that a number of planning applications were close to his home so he took
no part in those matters

MINUTES (Appendix A)
To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Parks Committee held on
Wednesday 26th
 February 2014

Cllr Stan Stubbs caused a great deal of confusion by stating he was not present at the meeting
then after a great deal of chat he decided he was present at the last meeting.

COUNCILLOR’S QUESTIONS
 To answer questions previously notified to the Clerk under Standing Order 8

No questions

MEMBER’S REPORTS
 To receive reports from members relating to the work of the Committee
 (Members intending to give a report should inform the Clerk before the meeting)

Cllr Alf Dewis pointed out he had attended a meeting of local strategic partnership for
senior members, a committee where he conducts a lot of brown nosing with Rutland
County Council Tories who can do nothing better than attend one of the dozens of
partnerships in our tiny county.

Cllr Dewis enjoys teasing people by revealing tiny parts of information gleaned without
giving the full picture, often stating something is confidential and will share with members
later. Power crazed misrable sod often used to describe this charming councillor and chair
of the no democratic Oakham Town Partnership which uses Town Council public money
and office to function.

He chatted about Kendrew barracks and the proposed increase in numbers the end result being
the base will be home to a much large number of people than when it was RAF Cottesmore.

He also said the MOD is plannning to build a further 110 homes on the base.

CLERK’S REPORT – For information only
 To receive a report from the Clerk

For those who can not read the clerk reads and wafles on about what is in front of every ones
eyes, I guess he has to justify his employment. Like me the clerk is part-time, although he is paid a sum 
for one month that takes me four month to earn. Always good to see him leaving the office early, (lunch time Friday)

He refered to incorrect reporting by the Rutland Times in their article about the small piece of land
next to  Cllr Haworth's home. It's not surprising the Rutland  Times get so many town council stories
wrong when you look at who feeds them with stories, Cllr Alf Dewis.

DEPUTATIONS BY THE PUBLIC
 Members of the Public are invited to address the meeting in accordance with procedures laid
 down in Standing Order 1(d) – 1(i)

I thanked the council for finaly getting around to placing enough bollard at the entrance to the old
school preventing parking and damage that caused  especially to the grave stone in the church yard.
Whilst giving my deputation some councillors behaved very rudely. Their conduct at a previous meeting
led to a member of the public complaining.
When there is no other members of the public present some members conduct is even worse, rude and child like.

Cllr Stan Stubs (Con) sat talking to Cllr Dewis with their backs turned he kept pushing him and pointing
to his watch.

Cllr Joyce who suffers from a selective hearing disorder normally takes he hearing aid out when I speak to
her decided she did not even want to lip read and covered her eyes with both hands, (I could still see you Councillor Lucas)

Despite his faults the homophobic nasty Cllr Councillor Haworth listens and grins.

OAKHAM CASTLE RESTORATION PROJECT (Appendix B)
To consider a report relating to the future provision of seating in the Castle grounds and to
make any decisions as appropriate

Rutland County Council would like Oakham Town Council to spend thousands of pounds on 8
benches for the council grounds.

Cllr Lockett asked Cllr Woodcock "where did the figure of 8 come from out of the sky?"
She did not know, She said the extra benches would possibley increase the use of the castle
grounds. personally I think the one that exists is enough. nearby Cutts Close is littered with ugly
street furniture all described as victoriano. I am sure the Clerk is on commission from the company
who supply the benches.

Surprisingly Cllr Disgusting Haworth spoke saying he felt there was no need for the benches.

Cllr Joyce Lucas suggested it should be a community project, this was ignored.

Members agreed to waste public money on 8 new benches for the castle ground. The cost is
likely to grow because the mayor wants the town counil crest built into the benches rather
than plaques that could be mistaken for memorials. I guess they can use them when the Town
Council is no more!


CYCLE BOLLARDS (Appendix C)
 To agree on locations for five cycle bollards in Oakham

Some town Coucillors will walk around town on the 3rd April to decide where to place four more ugly unused cycle bollards. Cllr Alf Dewis questioned the need for the Town Council to spend money on such a project, the clerk comforted him by telling him it's no problem because Rutland County Council are paying.
Cllr Dewis seemed pleased. No one could agree to where they should be sited but no one was willing to
say they were not needed. Not wanting to turn away Rutland County Councils gift. Why Rutland County Council did not just pay for the recent 5 the Town Council hace installed? The Clerk also revealled they
have one in storage. I wonder when that will vanish just like the Christmas lights purchased for the market place did a few years ago.


CUTTS CLOSE PARK (Appendix D)
 To consider an audit of the Park and to make any decisions as appropriate

A number of issues were raised the main being the drive way to the old school at the Church Yard.

The Clerk reminded member of the offer some time ago made by Oakham School to grass and provide
gate a offer he described as over kill.

The school is blamed for the damage caused by cars that used to park and drive over grave stones.
When my photographs proved most of those responsible for parking on concecrated ground were
Councillor or their family and friends, this included the Fillingham Family, Tyers and Aston.


HOUSING ALLOCATION POLICY CONSULTATION (Appendix E)
To consider the proposed policy and to agree on any comments to be made to Rutland County
Council on the response form

Cllr Dewis for the first time said it was not acceptable for the Council to respond by saying each member will reply if they wanted to, which has been the normal response to many consultation request from Rutland County Council if a report contained more than one page. Even when he chaired the council, it was different this time because he wanted to have a say. He said point one on the questionaire was to strict, relating to a condition of eligibilty for affordable housing. (affordable housing in Rutland a joke?)

GARAGES ON PRINCESS AVENUE AND CAR PARK TO REAR OF WESTFIELD
AVENUE (Appendix F)
To discuss the condition of the garages and to agree on any representations to be made to the
owners of them

Cllr Lucas once again pretending to be concerned for residents and evidence she pays no attention to
papers or matters raised at previous meeting that she is not interested in. If she did she would know that
all members were told the garages in Princess Avenue belong to Rutland County Council and not Spire Homes. It is Rutland County Council who are leaving the area to look like a slum.

Cllr Dewis said he did not understand why this matter was being brought to Council? It would of course be very strange if any Oakham Town Councillor brought anything up at a meeting that effects residents within
their wards.

It was decided the Clerk will contact Rutland County Council

PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider the following applications received to date and to make recommendations
 or observations thereon to Rutland County Council:

All Agreed

(i) 2014/0223/FUL HSBC Bank
 Installation of new security fence at high level to rear of branch
 28 High Street

(ii) 2014/0231/FUL HSBC Bank
 Removal of two entrance steps to allow level access and replacement of entrance doors
 28 High Street

(iii) 2014/0232/FUL Mr Garry Murden
Construction of single storey extensions, with balcony, to side (south) elevation of
dwellinghouse
11 Catmose Park Road

(iv) 2014/0200/ADV Tasty plc
 Erection of 5 No. illuminated fascia signs. Erection of 1 No. illuminated menu box
 51 – 53 High Street

Cllr Stubs pointed out the conservation officers objections.
Oakham Mayor Cllr Lowe pointed out the food was horrible to salty and kept him
up all night.

(v) 2014/0247/FUL Cabel UK Limited
Variation of condition No.2 (2013/0898/FUL). Change of materials to upper levels to
match adjacent building
8 Pillings Road

(vi) 2014/0259/PTA Mr Edward George
 Fell 1 No. Spruce and replace with 1 No. Fuschia within 1 No. metre
 57 Stamford Road

(vii) 2014/0266/CAT Rev Trevor Wilson
 Prune 1 No. Scotch Fir Tree
 Congregational Church, High Street

(viii) 2014/0239/RG3 Rutland County Council
Change of use from office accommodation to: Provision of ground floor office
accommodation staff bedroom, kitchen and youth club facility. Provision of 5 No.
bedrooms, communal kitchen, bathroom and laundry facility on first floor
Pinewood, 1 Cold Overton Road