Earlier this year around £65,000 appeared in Oakham Town Councils bank account.
At first know one appeared to know why Rutland County Council had paid the money.
Then we were told it was money that should have been paid to Oakham Town Partnership
to pay for their pointless Town Centre Manager. I say pointless because although she has
been appointed hardly any retailers or the Town Council have been introduced to her.
After a period of time it became clear that both the ex Mayor Mr Alf Dewis and Cllr Adam
Lowe were aware this money for some time. A Rutland County Council member of staff
wrote to us pointing out that Cllr Adam Lowe had meetings with him about the money in 2014.
The money is part of a developers 106 contribution and was to be split between Oakham and Uppingham Town Council to bring new residents of Oakham North into the towns.
Cllr Alf Dewis was also the Chairman of the Oakham Town Partnership whilst this
was all being negotiated it would appear that he and Cllr Lowe forgot to mention anything
about this money to Oakham Twon Council.
Leicester Police said if the money had been paid to the Town Partnership it could have
been an act of fraud.
Since the resignation of the ex Mayor Mr Dewis for other unlawful conduct the
current deputy Mayor has been attempting to find out who the money belongs to and
its purpose. Rather oddly it appears Cllr Haley has lost his ability to understand the
English language and the ability to read.
Many correspondence have been exchanged between him, Larkfleet and Rutland
County Council I think they think we the Town Council are stupid as they refuse
to respond any further to Cllr Haley.
At last Wednesday's meeting Michael Haley presented us with the report below and
a letter from Larkfleet to Rutland County Council.
The content of the report is somewhat random.
The letter is very clear the money is for Oakham Town Council to spend on bringing
the residents of Oakham North into the town and not for the sole purpose of employing
a town centre manager. This echoes the legal deed signed by Larkfleet and Rutland County
Council which Oakham Town Council are aware of.
Once again Cllr Haley proved most if not all council business is conducted outside
of meetings by a few of the old guard his last comment in his report was that another
paper would be produced for the next meeting setting out how the money will be spent.
This was not agreed by full council.
Why no consultation with the residents?
Why no consultation with the businesses in the town?
Cllr Haley wishes to continue this saga as he persuaded enough members to agree
that the council will be writing a letter of complaint to the Chief Executive of Rutland
County Council. Why?
At the same meeting I put a suggestion of one small expenditure which could help the
town.
A retailer suggested the town council agrees to pay for free parking for a period of time
for the residents of Oakham North, perhaps for Saturday's
Oakham Town Council expressed a concern about how Uppingham Town Council
have spent their money. I personally don't think it has anything to do with Oakham
Town Council, but if Larkfleet were really concerned that the terms of the agreement
were applied then they may have a problem.
I am personally not happy that Rutland County Council agreed this split of the
money the Oakham North Development is miles from Uppingham. it is on Oakham's
doorstep and the money should have been used to provide much needed local infrastructure
Rutland County Council have really messed up with this major development.
