Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Oakham Town Council Unlawful £1000 payment to Oakham Town Partnership Cllrs Question

Oakham Town Council Unlawful £1000 payment to Oakham Town Partnership Cllrs Question


Dear Richard, (town clerk)

Due to Alf Dewis's meddling with standing orders members can only ask one question at Cllrs Questions, Could this be reverted?

I wish to raise some questions regarding the unlawful payment in December 2015, £1000 paid to the
Oakham Town Partnership.

I ask you the following questions and the last in bold is my question for the next council meeting.
Last week you kindly showed me the new safeguards put in place so the councils cheque signatories
could check they should be signing cheques presented to them.

Please can you tell me what method of payment was used to pay the OTP £1000?
Who requested this payment be made was it verbal is there a letter all members can see?
I can see no record of the normal legally required council approval.

The amount paid is considerable larger than any previous payment given to OTP.
in the past the council has debated paying OTP around £100 and given the correct approval
it was becoming obvious that the council was becoming a little reluctant to continue to contribute
towards the OTP funds, is this why the much larger request of £1000 was handled by the office
only?

If the payment was made by cheque who signed it and why did they not question the missing minute number?

If the payment was via electronic payment who signed the slip authorising that the payment and who made
the payment?

Since all the issues of the 2014 -2015 accounts, I find it unacceptable that not all requests for payments are
not put to full council this one is so late during the 2015 -2016 financial year, it appears the council has not learned
anything from the advice given from accountants.

At the time the payment was made Cllr Adam Lowe made some mumbling about a £1000 has gone from the
promotion of Oakham budget. He is correct to raise a concern as he knows a set budget does not give
a working group powers to spend, the group have to seek permission from Council before spending any money.

Why did the deputy Mayor not follow this up. Perhaps a silly question when you consider our ex Mayor Alf Dewis has
been a very long term member of the Oakham Town Partnership, is he also responsible for this unlawful transaction?

Councillors question.

In December 2015 Oakham Town Council gave Oakham Town Partnership £1000
this payment request was not put before the full council as required by law, can the
council please let me know what steps it is taking to recover the sum paid without 
the correct authority to Oakham Town Partnership.