Election Trigger Possible for Oakham North West as Town Council Struggles to Fill Multiple Seats

Election Trigger Possible for Oakham North West as Town Council Struggles to Fill Multiple Seats

By Local Democracy Reporter

Oakham Town Council is facing a significant membership vacuum and a deepening internal rift following the explosive resignation of Cllr Anna Douthwaite. The departure has left the council not only searching for a replacement in the North West Ward but also struggling to fill a total of six seats across the authority.

The resignation, which was made official following the council’s December meeting, was marked by a remarkably blunt assessment of the current chamber’s working environment. In a resignation letter read aloud by the Town Clerk Chris Evans, Cllr Douthwaite did not mince words regarding her reasons for stepping down.

She specifically took aim at fellow member, describing him in her formal letter as a "horrid little man." The statement has highlighted a significant breakdown in professional relations within the council.

The exit of Cllr Douthwaite leaves a vacancy in the Oakham North West Ward. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg for the embattled council.

The authority is currently seeking to co-opt five new members to fill existing gaps in its ranks. This is in addition to the North West Ward vacancy, which the council hopes to fill by a formal election if triggered by the public.

A formal Notice of Vacancy has been posted for the North West Ward. While the council can fill positions via co-option where councillors choose the replacement themselves residents have a specific window of opportunity to demand a democratic vote.

The Process for Residents:

• The Deadline: Residents must act by 27 January 2026.

• The Requirement: For an election to be triggered, ten registered electors from the Oakham North West Ward must submit a request in writing

• Where to Write: Requests must be sent to the Returning Officer, Mark Andrews, at the following address: The Returning Officer Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP

If no such request is received by the deadline, the vacancy will instead be filled by co-option. In computing this 14-day period, weekends and bank holidays are disregarded.