Body Power, Oakham Fitness Centre, Princess Avenue, Champagne Celebration,
Oakham Town Council Spends Over 60k of tax payers money supporting private company
Saturday the Champagne flowed as a local
business celebrated its £60,000 + wind fall
from Oakham Tax Payers.
The centre was opened by Oakham's Mayor Clrr Alf Dewis
When the previous fitness centre closed the council discussed
what they should do with the property they hold in trust for
Oakham residents.
It was suggested the council stopped paying Victoria Hall over
£10,000 a year to rent two small rooms and move there.
The clerk said the cost to convert the property would be around
£30,000 and he did not think the public would approve.
I can not see why when you consider three years rent would cover
the cost.and the premises could have also been used for community purposes.
the property was valued in the state the last tenant left it.
Steven Reid gave it a rent value of £12,000
So why did Oakham Town Council change its mind and decide to not put the
property on the open market?
Why did Councillor Adam Lowe state at a public
meeting he was chairing "He and other members were shocked
when they were told the cost of the refurbishment?"
Why is it only taking £9,000 a year rent? this means when the
six year leas ends they will have lost money.
I believe this is the biggest miss-appropriation of public money in the history of Oakham Town Council.
It stinks of corruption.
Oakham Town Council has spent a quarter of its annual precept supporting a local company.
The Local Government act states the precept must only be spent providing services and activities that
benefit the parish.
The fitness Centre is of little or no benefit to the parish of Oakham, it is a commercial profit making company assisted by the tax payer. I think the tax payer has pumped enough cash into this venture, it is not unreasonable to ask for some sort of return, it is clearly not going to make any from the rent, so maybe the owners would like to hand over some shares in the company to the tax payer?
Speaking with local people this morning, people could not believe that so much of their money has been spent on a private company
One even said they might consider asking the company for free membership in return for her monthly council tax payment.
I am writing to our MP Alan Ducan to find out what government department can look into this expenditure.
