The Costly Green Flag Award, Cutts Close, Oakham Town Council

The Clerk is asking Councillor to consider spending a fortune on the erection of a flag pole to fly the Green Flag the park was awarded this year.

There is no guarantee we will be awarded this next year unless Cllr Joyce Lucas is willing to spend more public money feeding the judges next year with even more cake, she said "I knew one of the Judges very well but I am sure that won't effect his decision".

It is my opinion a huge amount of public money will be wasted if we go ahead with the proposal to erect a flag pole in Cutts Close.

The council is considering the south eastern corner of Cutts Close next to the Burley Road car park.

The Clerk says English Heritage have not objected to this location, I fear they will receive another large sum just like when a lamppost was fitted the council had to pay for archaeological costs nearing a £1,000

Will would also need to apply for Scheduled Monument Consent because English Heritage considers all of Cutts Close a Scheduled Monument, and that will cost further public money.

The Clerk goes on to say we need to seek planning permission from Rutland County Council. another cost. (That might interest residents in Stamford who have issues over the skatepark and are being told a Council does not need to seek planning consent on its own land).

The Clerks goes on to say even if SMC id granted, Rutland County Council still has the powers to refuse the application. So he recommends we employ an architect to draw up plans, to support the application.

He as normal has obtained only one quote for the flag pole and fitting £833.94

The only good thing I can see is because Rutland County Council planning is slow is if councillor agree
the  need for this flag pole he wont buy it until Rutland County Council has given it approval.

He goes on to say it would be realistic to assume the flagpole will be installed in Cutts Close early in the New Year.

If we don't win an award next year that means it can come down in time for summer!

Oh! How Oakham Town council likes to waste public money!

The Mayor was correct in her letter sent to candidates hoping to be co-opted onto the council.
"times are hard but it does not effect the council"

That would explain why she is happy to spend £50 for a man to come in and put a nail in a wall to hang a photo in the council chamber.