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A Kiss on the Lips is the new gift for the outgoing Mayor I can't
wait for my turn! Yuk!
Oakham Town Meeting 2015
Please note door noise at start no one was shot.
Oakham Town Meeting not AGM as stated.
The attendance was low Councillors out numbered the public.
The Mayor welcomed all and said it has been a challenging year
due to personal and other reasons. It has been challenging and
a pleasure to represent the town as Mayor.
The Mayor also point out a lot of Councillors departed and
she gave a special mention to Cllr Maureen Dodds who
had been a Councillor for many years, know one was able to
recall how many. Whilst complimenting her involvement
with Philip Quinton who found guilty of making homophobic
and threatening phone calls was also forgotten.
The Mayor expressed here gratitude for the many invitations
she had accepted over the year to attend events.
Especially the Freedom of Entry.
Council projects were mentioned,
Finishing of mentioning the Christmas Tree and Lights.
The Mayor raised "in short managed to raise nearly £1500
for For Rutland In Rutland"
The First item raised at the Town Meeting was the important issue of the
Towns Bunting which has cost thousands.
Mr Beech complimented the Mayor for her "Panache" an interesting word of french
origin although these days if you Google the word you would be forgiven for
thinking he was complimenting her for her choice of knickers, he then went on to
thank the town council for putting up bunting in the town saying it sets us apart from other towns.
It certainly does that. Plastic bunting always adds a sense of quality to any town.
Putting up bunting in our town to make it look pretty is not addressing the towns
reals issues, I am sure we have all noticed when a person paints a window frame
with poor preparation, a few will compliment the person who carried out the work,
but when what is underneath starts to crumble, peal and flake people become unhappy
with the result and this is what Oakham Town Council fails to see.
Just because the town council throws out some colourful bunting it is not fooling anyone.
Only this week a concerned resident wrote to the town council and described
the bunting as dilapidated. The bunting not the town council, although both might be true.
Extract from Email sent to town council from one of the many concerned
residents:
"The Odd House - another old and attractive building - gathering dust and
rubbish (like Flores House) with dilapidated bunting draped across the front
of the building. Are there no incentives available for prospective
businesses to open in Oakham?"
I can always tell when public opinion is against the town council, because
they always drag out one of their few supporters to compliment at
a public meeting. They just don't want to hear any form of criticism.
The proof was evident after this meeting Cllr Alf Dewis spoke to me and told
me of, "you are a Councillor now, it is wrong for you to criticise
the council in public"
It is not wrong Mr Dewis. Yes I am now a Councillor and I represent
the people, some of whom hold very strong critical opinions of their
council. If you cared to listen to the people a little more you might
learn this is the case. Other members of the public present at last
nights meeting raised concerns which will be addressed in posts to
follow. Cllr Stan Stubbs is still suggesting I should not blog?
he added I am guessing anything I say tonight will end up on your
blog. Fortunately for Mr Stubbs, he did not say anything of any relevance
or importance so this is his only mention today.
As for the flags many are now dirty and even torn in the wind, the worst
being the one on the empty betting shop premises not far from the Town
Council Office, closely followed by the West End of Town.
Mr Beech would like to see the "expensive shops" in Mill Street enhanced
with bunting.
I wonder if Mr Beech realises the cost of this decoration? Cllr Joyce Lucas
did hint on that by saying, we will put up extra, we need the money.
There would be an extra costs involved agreeing with all the property owners
to fix brackets and fixings to their buildings.
Mr Beech raised a concern about the dress code required for the forthcoming Freedom
of Entry Reception. "Formal" I am pleased to hear Mr Beech has now relaxed his opinion
on how people should dress. This could explain the absence of his tie last night.
Referring to invitations sent out by the Mayor Mr Beech said:
"If you are expecting formal dress "it ain't going to appen"
who does Mr Beech think he is coming to Oakham Town Council and
telling them "it ain't going to appen" Mr Beech resigned from the
council in 2007 and showed last night what many have known for
a long time, he is still pulling the strings from outside.
In 2010 he turned up to a meeting providing and demanding members
wear ties.
As he started his commenting, he highlighted the real reason for the town spending
tax payers money on these irrelevant activities such as granting freedom of
entry.
He turned to the Mayor and said you were born in Nottingham, referring as she
did in her statement in which she also refereed to the last freedom granted to the
RAF regiment with a weak connection to Oakham, but a very strong connection to Nottingham.
Mr Beech went on to state "I was born in Derbyshire" the regiment that is to
be granted the freedom of Oakham next month is from Derbyshire,
At last years town meeting his wife asked why the council had turned down the request from the
commanding officer of this regiment to be granted the Freedom of Oakham.
Cllr Adam Lowe was tasked with finding a connection to Oakham and
at a recent meeting he gave out those details connecting the town
to the regiment some hundred years ago.
I have said it before and will say it again, when will Oakham Town
Council stop wasting tax payers money, pleasing themselves and
former Councillor's and Mayors, by granting these expensive and
mealiness freedoms. Only a couple of years ago they did so and
on the day the Freedom was granted the government announced the
regiment was moving away.
Oakham Town Council many years ago granted the freedom
of entry to RAF Cottesmore and I believe back then it was a
justified honour. Many local people had a real connection to the base,
people were permitted access to the base and many marriages
and friendships came from that relationship.
Kendrew Barracks replaced Cottesmore and time will tell
if a similar relationship is to be enjoyed.
Although so far the published news is not so good
"problems with the children integrating within the
community and schooling"
In the future Oakham may have developed at great relationship
with that base and Oakham Town Council might consider
the Freedom of Kendrew Barracks.
Myself and others feel the Town Council has cheapened
the honour, by constantly dishing it out in the way it has done
so over the last few years. Cllr Dewis even raised this concern
at a meeting last year.
Is it not time the town council dipped into the petty cash
and purchased this few former and current Councillors
a set of tin soldiers?
Mr Dewis blamed Rutland County Council.
I disputed this because readers will know I have previously published his reason
and repeat it in this video at the public meeting.
After the meeting Mr Dewis reprimanded me for criticising the Town
Council in Public and told me it was the not the correct place to do so
because I am now a town Councillor.
So where is the correct place Mr Dewis? The local press show no interest
and wont publish anything.
This blog in your opinion is the wrong place and now public meetings.
Oakham Town Council is not open to any form of criticism or scrutiny and
that needs to change.
I am pleased to say Langham parish council, who do not employ
a full time officer like so many parish councils they have achieved
the implementation of a local plan. Which I am sure they won't
regret.
Or is it the case Rutland County Council are interfering with the
running of Oakham Town Council?
Mrs Beech raised the loss of Lonsdale House, last year Oakham Town Council
suggested it should be demolished ASAP due to vandalism.
Oakham Town Council has no interest in Oakham's Historic Heritage.
Mr Clifton said Lonsdale House was a prime example of why a local plan is
need.
He like me disputes Cllr Alf Dewis excuse.
Mr Beech intervenes at a point once again to support the bunting!
I raised concern about the continued loss of Oakham's history since
the 1970's
Mrs Clifton describes Christmas late shopping event a appalling, echoing many
members of the public opinion including myself for which I was attacked
for pointing out last years was just a funfair, complimented by expensive
food and drink stalls.
Mrs Clifton suggests the Partnership Should pack up if that is the best it
can do. Well said Mrs Clifton.
Then she moved to the August event of racing cars going up and down
the high street on a Sunday morning.
Mr Guthrie defended it by saying the event would attract tourists.
I wonder if the town partnership has ever heard the noise level
from a formula one racing car? I personally will enjoy the event
but if I were not interested and lived above a shop in Oakham I
might be a little annoyed by this disturbing development.
Did the Town Partnership consult residents?
I cant recall them even consulting the town council.
Mrs Clifton asked how many shops will be opening. No
answer was given.
In the past few shops have supported Town Partnership events
because they have opened on a Sunday in the past and trade
was none existent.
Cllr Dewis in the past has been mistaken when dishing
out figures
Cllr Dewis said the Christmas late night shopping event
is led by retailers. Really?
Mrs Clifton was told by Cllr Alf Dewis that she would need
to apply to join the Town Partnership.
Sarcastic invitation to Mrs Clifton from Cllr Alf Dewis inviting her to advise the
Town Partnership.
He suggested she should apply to join the Town Partnership
Oakham has to many very restrictive ineffective organisations
like the Town Partnership.
As we heard in the meeting the membership is changing at the partnership
change is expected.
Cllr Alf Dewis was booted out of the chairman's seat after his
three year long reign.
I understand a lot of the current and new members would like
him to leave the partnership.
I have been told the partnership would like to be more open
and welcoming to all. Mr Dewis states this is incorrect and
the partnership will not be opening its doors. He did say the
annual meeting will once again become a public event.
He demanded to know who had told me about the desired
changes, I refused to tell him.
Mrs Pender raised the concern about the lack of public interest
in serving their community on the council.
Later Cllr Stubbs told me people don't want to be on the
council because of me. All I can say if you constantly
spread untruths about me then people are bound to be deterred.
