Before the meeting I spoke to Cllr Sharon Spencer and Cllr Woodcock in conclusion Cllr Spencer felt I should stop blogging!
Oakham Town Council meeting.
As normal Cllr Swiffin did not turn up.
Cllr Lucas gave reports about trees, another tree is to be chopped down at the Burly Road Car park.
She also mentioned Rutland County Council are two spend the next five years surveying all the trees in Rutland in public and private places (she can stay away from my trees)
She then went onto say two Volunteers will be assisting, but she could not divulge their names tonight the first of many secrets tonight. Of course everyone knows it is her and her son who is apparently a tree expert an
arborist. Because as she went on at length explaining, she kept saying I am, we are. Why it has to be a secret only she knows.
She then moved onto to give a long report about the parish forum held at Rutland County Council.
Despite the snow she felt the turn out was good and may have been due to The Health Authority giving a presentation.
She then said she personally thanked Rutland County Council Contractors for gritting the roads and the bin men for coming out to empty her bin in the snow. Mrs Briggs chief person at Rutland County Council was pleased.
She said Rutland County Council can not guarantee to fill the grit bins next season. She said people were stealing grit for their own drives and "White Van Man" was also stealing the grit and selling to other councils.
The Council is considering getting future supplies of Grit dyed, so if you knick it can be traced back to Rutland County Council, lets hope Melton Council don't also chose pink.
She said Rutland County Council had decided a new site in the county for gypsies but they were not told where in the county. (Cutts Close? Royce Rec?)
She then went on to say RAF Cottesmore would like to say thank you to Rutland by doing some work for the community. The scheme is called "Hero's For Help" She said she knew what Rutland County Council was going to ask them to do, but she was not going to tell us!
She did say they did not want to do anything that would take work away from anyone.
So the Clerk said he thought it would be good for them to paint things like the fences in Cutts Close, a job painters are normally paid to do, although in the past this has been done by prisoners on work release.
The Clerk then gave a brief report:
The Council had received 6 tenders for the grounds maintenance contract. 2 have been rejected because to price was to high. Cllrs will consider the four other and interview them soon.
New fencing matching existing Cutts Close fencing may be put in place at the Burly Road car park to stop car owners driving into Cutts Close and will cost £3,500
A new Cllr was co-opted onto the Council to replace that one who resigned.
Oakham South East Newest Cllr is Adam Lowe.
The whole co-option is dealt with in secret I had to ask who had applied! voting and counting was done in secret. So much for open democracy.
To be honest I am happy with the one I have already Cllr Lorna Grey is more than adequate. Cllr Tor Clark seems to have lost his sparkle, it shows what a few knocks from the Clerk can do.
Members then considered A request from the Cottesmore Hunt to use Cutts Close on Monday 27th December.
Cllr Lucas stood up and said "How can we possible refuse it" I believe that was a proposal as it was promptly seconded and a vote passed the request, Two Councillors voted against.
Cllrs moved onto two planning applications.
APP/2010/1102/APB Mr Adrian Palmer
erection of new detached garage and conversion of existing garage into playroom 36 Stamford Road.
Cllrs were confused about trees and this time it was not their fault, the application said no trees were near the property, but the architect had drawn a tree on the plan, Stamford Road has a lot of trees with TPO's
The council realised it did not have enough time to gain clarification from Rutland County Council Planning. So they decided to approve subject to no destruction of trees. This shows the appalling planning system we have, very often RCC decide an application before Oakham Town Council has considered an application.
Next APP/2010/1172/DTR Trustees of the Victoria Hall installation of notice and events panel to front elevation of the building Victoria Hall 39 High Street
The plan shows two huge banner style panels one on the right flat obstructing a window and the other on the left facing out into the street should look wonderful in the tourists photos. This does not match the application. The Clerk was only pointing out the one banner to councillors, so I said there is one on the left and he said oh yes. They think I am mad so I guess its my right to interrupt the meeting, We nearly did not get to see the plans, if it were not for Cllr Alan Walters asking, because the Chairman Cllr Sharon Spencer had straight away proposed the Council should not comment because the trustees were the councils landlord. I wonder why they soon forget they wanted to be more pro-active. Victoria Hall is an important landmark here in Oakham. What would they do if the trustees said they want to demolish it? nothing? Just like The Gaol Street Victorian Houses.
Anyway they looked at the plans and voted not to comment.
They then moved onto the budget, I am not sure but I think they said they were going to invite those who they dish out cash grants to along to a future meeting to explain what they will do with the money, before setting the budget.
The meeting was closed.
