Rutland County Council Removes Political Poster in Oakham, Raises Concerns About Costs and Procedure

Rutland County Council Removes Political Poster in Oakham, Raises Concerns About Procedure.

Oakham, Rutland - Controversy has erupted after Rutland County Council dispatched workers to remove a political poster from private property situated along the A606. The incident, which transpired on Monday, has sparked questions about the Council's adherence to protocol and its prioritisation of resource allocation.

Initially, the Council asserted that the poster infringed upon public land. However, in a subsequent U-turn, they argued that the poster's size and "distracting" nature necessitated its removal. Notably, the Council has been unable to produce any official policy regarding limitations on poster dimensions.

The removal of posters from private land by local authorities is highly uncommon. Additionally, tampering with election posters is considered a legal violation. These factors have led many to raise concerns about the Council's motives, particularly given the poster's affiliation with a political opponent.

Furthermore, residents have questioned why the Council acted with such urgency in deploying staff funded by Council Tax to remove the poster. This swift action stands in stark contrast to the Council's reported lack of resources to address the concerns raised by local Parish Councils and Rutland communities.

In a statement issued by Conservative Candidate Alicia Kearns she said: 

“It is difficult to see how this is not politically motivated, it’s clear the Liberal-run Council does not want my message to be conveyed to our communities. Several times I have requested reasoning for its removal and each time I received conflicting and contradictory answers.

“The Liberal Democrat leader has questions to answer, it is an appalling misjudgement to use Rutland resident-funded Council staff to take down a sign when the requests of Parish Councils go unanswered and ignored for weeks and months.

“As someone who has always run a positive campaign, focused on what I can offer to Rutlanders, and my determination to serve our communities; this is a worrying attack on democracy from a party with form for disregarding the will of the people. 

“Sadly it’s no surprise they have resorted to such tactics when they have gone back on their local election promises, and issued fake newspapers to residents over the last few weeks claiming their candidate (who in 2015 stood to be a Labour MP) – who is a Local Councillor in Hinkley and Bosworth – is a local man. How can he be a Local Councillor in a distant corner of Leicestershire yet also be a local man?”

I wrote to Cllr Gale Waller (Lib Dem) the leader of Rutland County Council, she responded:

"I did not know Ms Kearns had accused the Liberal Democrats of complaining about her poster boards.  I am therefore not in a position to comment.  I am copying this to Mark Andrews who may know more than I do."

Gale Waller

Leader, Rutland County Council and Member for Normanton Ward

(Mark Andrews is the CEO of Rutland County Council)

My opinion: The actions of the council may or may not be politically motivated. Often the council's actions are simply based upon two things, do they like you? do they not like you? it does not matter how you are politically aligned but it certainly does help if you are a friend of the majority controlling political group. The council is well known for being very selective, when it removes event posters from roadsides, many organisations have complained of the councils biased actions. Some years ago the council was forced to return many A frames it had selectively  removed from outside Oakham shops, after it was found it did not follow correct legal procedures.   

Rutland and Stamford Candidates 2024 Husting to be held at All Saints Church Oakham Rutland.

Rutland and Stamford Candidates 2024 Husting at All Saints Church Oakham Rutland.

Election husting will be held here in Oakham at All Saints Church on 25th June 2024 at 7pm.

Joanna Burrows Rutland and Stamford Candidate for Rejoin EU

 Joanna Burrows Rutland and Stamford Candidate for Rejoin EU 

BIO:

Joanna Burrows

I have been a member of the Liberal Democrats for nearly 50 years.  However I am standing for Rejoin EU because the Liberal Democrats (and the other main parties) refuse to be honest and vocal about the catastrophic damage Brexit continues to cause our country. This despite 60% of British people now regretting our departure.  

Labour is standing on a platform of growing the economy. We know that our economy is £140 billion smaller because of Brexit. Despite this, Labour is not making a priority of reversing the main cause of this shrinkage, ruling out ever returning to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.  

Rejoin EU candidates come from many political backgrounds with one common goal. This is to pressure the major political parties to begin IMMEDIATE dialogue with the European Commission on the conditions and timing of re-joining the EU; the restoration of free movement as part of renewed single-market and customs-union membership; suspension of any further divergence from EU regulations; and immediate development of closer ties with Brussels including renewed participation in Erasmus+ and other European initiatives open to non-EU members.

We also propose extensive UK constitutional reforms to prevent future governance crises, including greater proportional representation, term membership of the House of Lords and stricter parliamentary conduct regulations.

Personal

A mother of three Richard, Daniel and Catherine, and a grandmother of six, I have lived in the area for nearly 30 years. I have consistently invested in the area by being a county councillor for Rutland, working with Age UK to tackle loneliness in older people, with the Home Office to tackle drug and alcohol misuse, and I currently raise funds for a charity supporting vulnerable teenage girls. 

I am a trustee for the Victoria Hall in Oakham. 

Cambridge Pride 2024 Photographs and Videos

Cambridge Pride 2024 Photographs and Videos

 

Cambridge Pride 2024 performances at Jesus Green Park Cambridge. 15th June 2024

Performers:

Poppadom Shake – drag performer

Faith Louise – pop vocalist

Tigermouth Presents – silly stuff by non-binary

Queens, Kings And Things

Cosmic Ninja – queer, female-fronted rock band

The Divas And The Mawmas – high energy drag trio

Colonel Spanky’s Love Ensemble – 

Cambridge band with their signature funky style

Homoparody – queer dance collective

Sing Out – community choir

Justa Knight, with friends Clit Eastwood and Persephone

  

More Photos and Video via these links:

Cambridge Pride 2024 First Ever March Through Cambridge City Centre, Video

https://martinbrookes.blogspot.com/2024/06/cambridge-pride-2024-first-ever-march.html

Cambridge Pride Main Stage Jesus Green Park, It was a fantastic celebration! Photographs

https://martinbrookes.blogspot.com/2024/06/cambridge-pride-main-stage-jesus-green.html

Cambridge Makes History with First-Ever Pride Parade, Photographs

https://martinbrookes.blogspot.com/2024/06/cambridge-makes-history-with-first-ever.html

Cambridge Pride 2024 First Ever March Through Cambridge City Centre, Video

Cambridge Pride 2024 First Ever March Through Cambridge City Centre

A Right Royal knees-up: Ashwell Village Fete a Roaring Success, King Charles knighted Fathers, The King and Alicia Kearns Officially Opened The Fete.

A Right Royal knees-up: Ashwell Village Fete a Roaring Success

The sun shone brightly on Ashwell Grange this past Sunday as the annual Village Fete unfolded in all its glory. This quintessentially British affair drew a record-breaking crowd, eager to celebrate community spirit and raise vital funds for local causes.

The fete was officially opened by a very special guest – King Charles, accompanied by none other than Alicia Kearns. The presence of royalty added a touch of grandeur to the proceedings, setting the tone for a truly memorable afternoon.

 

Following the opening ceremony, the sprawling grounds of Ashwell Grange transformed into a hive of activity. Visitors spread out on the lush lawns, indulging in a quintessential British tradition – tea and cake. The gentle clinking of china cups and chatter filled the air as families and friends enjoyed each other's company.

Entertainment was plentiful, with live music and energetic dancing ladies, keeping the atmosphere lively. The arrival of the Rutland Morris Dancers, with their traditional attire and lively routines, provided a further dose of cultural charm.

But the fun wasn't just for grown-ups. Children were kept thoroughly entertained with a dedicated activity centre and a plethora of games. The pièce de résistance, however, was a resounding endorsement: the "best Punch and Judy show I have ever seen." High praise indeed!

No British fete is complete without a good dose of retail therapy, and Ashwell did not disappoint. The white elephant stalls and the shopping area proved hugely popular, with treasures waiting to be discovered around every corner.

Food and drink flowed freely throughout the afternoon, with stalls catering to every taste bud. From classic fete fare to refreshing summer drinks, there was something to keep everyone happy.

Perhaps the most heart-warming element of the day was the King's special involvement. In honour of Father's Day, His Majesty bestowed a unique honour – knighting a number of fathers present. This unexpected gesture brought smiles and a touch of royal magic to the occasion.

There was also a display of classic cars.

The dog show was very popular.

As the festivities drew to a close, it was clear that the Ashwell Village Fete had been a resounding success. The event is expected to have raised a significant amount of money, with beneficiaries including the Air Ambulance, St. Mary's Church, and the village hall.

King Charles also opened the ice cream stall.