Oakham Town Council Meeting Report Wednesday 6th August 2014
I was pleased to see how Oakham Town Council permitted more input from a member of the public present.
This evenings meeting was the first to be lawfully filmed. I am currently processing it now and will upload later.
The Mayor said she had no problem with me filming and exercising her limited authority attempted to lay down some ground rules which I had offered before the meeting.
I would not zoom in, this is not hammer house of horrors more tales of the expected.
The Mayor asked members to wave the standing order banning filming, all accept Cllr Lockett voted against.
Very strange when you consider this a Councillor who represents the council on the police CCTV committee and has complained Oakham residents are not monitored to the same standard and level as Melton Mowbray
APOLOGIES
Cllr Lucas was late and seemed to have a fit of unexplained laughter.
Cllr Dodds still ill and I am told she is now residing in a care home, quite sad, the council club extending her absence.
Cllr Lowe absent attending a charity event.
Cllr Martin ?
Cllr Haworth sent no apologies.
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 an interest
MINUTES
To confirm the minutes of the Meeting of Oakham Town Council held on Wednesday
9th July 2014
These were approved after the Mayor explained only those who attended both parts
of the meeting could vote.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER’S REPORTS
The Mayor distributed a list of events she had attended.
CLERK’S REPORT – For information only
To receive a report from the Clerk
The Clerk gave his normal report he pointed out a delay in obtaining the grant for
new play equipment in Willow Crescent.
DEPUTATIONS BY THE PUBLIC
Two members of the public gave deputations regarding planning
REPRESENTATION ON PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider a letter received and to make any decisions as appropriate
The council is to write to Rutland County Council about its concerns.
Strangely Cllr Stubbs was critical about the number of people at Rutland County
Council who were making delegated planning decisions. Two.
He set up a committee at Oakham Town Council made up of four and has no way
for other Councillors to have an input and 'members have to trust the committee to
refer major applications to the full council' said the clerk. So I can only imagine what
Rutland County Council will do with their letter.
AUTHORISATION TO MAKE A PAYMENT EXCEEDING £5000
To authorise payment, as per Financial Regulation 5.6, of £7240.75 plus VAT to
Plantscape Limited for the supply of floral displays10. AUDIT PLAN (Appendix C)
To consider a Draft Audit Plan for the 2014 – 2015 Financial Year submitted by the
Council’s Internal Auditor and to decide whether to approve the document.
Authorised
SCHEME OF DELEGATION
To consider and approve a Scheme of Delegation until September 4th 2014
Authorised This no longer includes plannning
PRIORITISATION LIST OF WORKS – REQUEST FOR PARKING
PROVISIONS ALONG WOODLAND VIEW AND WILLOW CRESCENT
(Appendix E)
To consider an e-mail from the Transport Strategy Officer at Rutland County Council
regarding the above and to make any decisions as appropriate
The council felt the information provided was limited and poor and there was concern that
Rutland County Council was asking Oakham Town Council to pay for highways work.
Cllr Lockett felt the request should not be considered because it came apparently from
just one resident.
13. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS
To decide whether to approve the Schedule of Payments for the period July 1st 2014 to
July 31st 2014
Approved
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
To decide whether to approve the Statement of Accounts to July 31st 2014
Approved after some waffle about flexed budgets by the clerk
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider the following applications received and to agree on any comments or
observations to be made to Rutland County Council
(i) 2014/0637/PTA Mrs Jean Howl
T56 - Trim whole tree back 10 to 15ft. lower central leads out by 10 to 15 feet
down to branch that is beneficial to tree. Trim any horizontal branches
overhanging neighbours boundary in Willow Brook. T57 Trim all the ends of
hanging branches that encroaches on other properties.
19 Peterborough Avenue
Approved
(ii) 2014/0661/PTA Mrs Karolyn Amstein
Partial crown reduction to 2 No. conifers and 1 No. Yew tree. Reduce height
by 50% of 3 No. Leylandii and fell 1 No. Sycamore tree
Green Hollow, 20 Catmose Park Road
Approved
I was pleased to see how Oakham Town Council permitted more input from a member of the public present.
This evenings meeting was the first to be lawfully filmed. I am currently processing it now and will upload later.
The Mayor said she had no problem with me filming and exercising her limited authority attempted to lay down some ground rules which I had offered before the meeting.
I would not zoom in, this is not hammer house of horrors more tales of the expected.
The Mayor asked members to wave the standing order banning filming, all accept Cllr Lockett voted against.
Very strange when you consider this a Councillor who represents the council on the police CCTV committee and has complained Oakham residents are not monitored to the same standard and level as Melton Mowbray
APOLOGIES
Cllr Lucas was late and seemed to have a fit of unexplained laughter.
Cllr Dodds still ill and I am told she is now residing in a care home, quite sad, the council club extending her absence.
Cllr Lowe absent attending a charity event.
Cllr Martin ?
Cllr Haworth sent no apologies.
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 an interest
MINUTES
To confirm the minutes of the Meeting of Oakham Town Council held on Wednesday
9th July 2014
These were approved after the Mayor explained only those who attended both parts
of the meeting could vote.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER’S REPORTS
The Mayor distributed a list of events she had attended.
CLERK’S REPORT – For information only
To receive a report from the Clerk
The Clerk gave his normal report he pointed out a delay in obtaining the grant for
new play equipment in Willow Crescent.
DEPUTATIONS BY THE PUBLIC
Two members of the public gave deputations regarding planning
REPRESENTATION ON PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider a letter received and to make any decisions as appropriate
The council is to write to Rutland County Council about its concerns.
Strangely Cllr Stubbs was critical about the number of people at Rutland County
Council who were making delegated planning decisions. Two.
He set up a committee at Oakham Town Council made up of four and has no way
for other Councillors to have an input and 'members have to trust the committee to
refer major applications to the full council' said the clerk. So I can only imagine what
Rutland County Council will do with their letter.
AUTHORISATION TO MAKE A PAYMENT EXCEEDING £5000
To authorise payment, as per Financial Regulation 5.6, of £7240.75 plus VAT to
Plantscape Limited for the supply of floral displays10. AUDIT PLAN (Appendix C)
To consider a Draft Audit Plan for the 2014 – 2015 Financial Year submitted by the
Council’s Internal Auditor and to decide whether to approve the document.
Authorised
SCHEME OF DELEGATION
To consider and approve a Scheme of Delegation until September 4th 2014
Authorised This no longer includes plannning
PRIORITISATION LIST OF WORKS – REQUEST FOR PARKING
PROVISIONS ALONG WOODLAND VIEW AND WILLOW CRESCENT
(Appendix E)
To consider an e-mail from the Transport Strategy Officer at Rutland County Council
regarding the above and to make any decisions as appropriate
The council felt the information provided was limited and poor and there was concern that
Rutland County Council was asking Oakham Town Council to pay for highways work.
Cllr Lockett felt the request should not be considered because it came apparently from
just one resident.
13. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS
To decide whether to approve the Schedule of Payments for the period July 1st 2014 to
July 31st 2014
Approved
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
To decide whether to approve the Statement of Accounts to July 31st 2014
Approved after some waffle about flexed budgets by the clerk
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider the following applications received and to agree on any comments or
observations to be made to Rutland County Council
(i) 2014/0637/PTA Mrs Jean Howl
T56 - Trim whole tree back 10 to 15ft. lower central leads out by 10 to 15 feet
down to branch that is beneficial to tree. Trim any horizontal branches
overhanging neighbours boundary in Willow Brook. T57 Trim all the ends of
hanging branches that encroaches on other properties.
19 Peterborough Avenue
Approved
(ii) 2014/0661/PTA Mrs Karolyn Amstein
Partial crown reduction to 2 No. conifers and 1 No. Yew tree. Reduce height
by 50% of 3 No. Leylandii and fell 1 No. Sycamore tree
Green Hollow, 20 Catmose Park Road
Approved