Thursday, January 15, 2015

Oakham Town Councillors Voted To Move Out Of Victoria Hall Oakham

Oakham Town Councillors Voted To Move Out Of Victoria Hall Oakham

Oakham Town Council last night voted to give itself a purpose in our community.
The move is likely to take place towards the end of this year.

The nasty old guard Deputy Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis, Cllr John Nowell and Cllr Stubbs
objected to progress.

Oakham Town Council are planning to move into the property they already own
in Princess Avenue Oakham sited on the corner of Princess Avenue.

The property has been leased to various private individuals who have run
private gyms, for many years at little or no benefit for the community.

The Councils plans to convert the space into Office, Meeting Space and a Community
Centre which will be available for all sorts of affordable community events.
Who knows? we may see the return to Oakham of a number of clubs that have been
pushed out of Oakham by the Trustees of Victoria Hall over the years due to
the rising rent costs.

Oakham Town Council currently pays over £10,000 a month to rent as they
described a 'shoe box within a prestigious building'

The building and the imagined status that provides was one of the reasons for
objection by the members of the old guard.

Cllr Joyce Lucas reminded members of a recent survey which showed the council
rarely received any visitors to its office.

The Council is likely to keep it's space until the end of next April when its lease
could end. It hopes to trial the use of the space and use it for a tourist information
centre, whilst the castle is closed for restoration.

The Mayor Cllr Jayne Woodcock supported the move although she still had
a strange imagination that the council actually provided public services. Eventually
highlighting that it is just a club providing 'entertainment'.

During the discussion about the budget  at the same meeting she mentioned the council
must do more to raise its profile and attract the public to its services not being able to
recall any she quickly added entertainment. She was attempting to suggest all the new home
building and the new residents would being using their provided entertainment? I can see
all those new residents rushing to Cutts Close to dance along with Wrinkle Rock!

Hopefully if the move is successful and the three old guard snobs are not re-elected
in May and the council will gain a purpose and do as it is meant to, serve its community
and the community hub sounds like a step in the right direction.

Cllr Stubbs attempted to put members of by saying it would be hard work and
a task too complicated. He and Cllr Dewis also made up a figure of £50,000 describing
the cost. I raised this during my public deputation and members also questioned
it, Cllr Stubbs or Dewis did not address this issue Cllr Dewis just sat grinning as normal.

Cllr John Nowell said nothing, this is quite normal for him, when he can be bothered
to attend the rest of the time he sorts his business outside the chamber in secret.
I am told this is normal for a Master Mason. I think he also teaches the use of
inappropriate language. At one point into the meeting he turned to Cllr Adam Lowe
and called him a bastard.