Oakham Town Council's Unauthorised Payment To Plantscape Ltd Oakham Deputy Mayor Unaware
Cllr Adam Lowe our deputy Mayor has written to the Clerk Richard White for an explanation
of his actions.
Mr Lowe is one of the Councillors who can sign cheques with another. He has told me
he did not sign this check and had no knowledge that the payment was being made.
My question is who is running Oakham Town Council?
Is it the Clerk, Chairman and another?
Because it is certainly not the full council as required by law.
The Clerk appears to have entered into a two year verbal contract with Plantscape Ltd without
the authority of full council and when this pointed out to him he and another two councillors
decided to pay the amount owing instead of putting it before full council this week.
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 9:41 PM
From: "Adam Lowe"
To: "Martin Brookes"
Subject: Contracts and Payments
Richard
Cllr Brookes has raised some concerns to me regarding payments and authorised contracts surrounding Plantscape.
I have looked back through the archives on line and it is not clear as the detail is not in our minutes.
28th Nov 2012 are not even on the system.
It is claimed an invoice for £5800 (+VAT) has been paid, this was authorised by who? Delegated powers do require some level of authority so who green lighted this and why could it not wait till October meeting as the payment last year was authorised then.
You told Cllr Brookes you would put this to Council so this has raised a genuine concern, why say one thing and do another. I tend to agree with Cllr Brookes as this seems a little contradictory.
The awarding of contracts to Plantscape appears to in order and indeed the watering contract the same, however as the lack of detail is missing can you evidence the awarding of these contracts by the Council please by producing a hard copy of the document the Council voted on in the respective meeting.
You gave Cllr Brookes all the dates so I presume this will not be too difficult to produce.
It will be beneficial to resolve these questions before Wednesday meeting as the payment is on the list.
Thank you for your time in this.
Regards Adam
Cllr Adam Lowe Oakham Town Council
Cllr Adam Lowe our deputy Mayor has written to the Clerk Richard White for an explanation
of his actions.
Mr Lowe is one of the Councillors who can sign cheques with another. He has told me
he did not sign this check and had no knowledge that the payment was being made.
My question is who is running Oakham Town Council?
Is it the Clerk, Chairman and another?
Because it is certainly not the full council as required by law.
The Clerk appears to have entered into a two year verbal contract with Plantscape Ltd without
the authority of full council and when this pointed out to him he and another two councillors
decided to pay the amount owing instead of putting it before full council this week.
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 9:41 PM
From: "Adam Lowe"
To: "Martin Brookes"
Subject: Contracts and Payments
Richard
Cllr Brookes has raised some concerns to me regarding payments and authorised contracts surrounding Plantscape.
I have looked back through the archives on line and it is not clear as the detail is not in our minutes.
28th Nov 2012 are not even on the system.
It is claimed an invoice for £5800 (+VAT) has been paid, this was authorised by who? Delegated powers do require some level of authority so who green lighted this and why could it not wait till October meeting as the payment last year was authorised then.
You told Cllr Brookes you would put this to Council so this has raised a genuine concern, why say one thing and do another. I tend to agree with Cllr Brookes as this seems a little contradictory.
The awarding of contracts to Plantscape appears to in order and indeed the watering contract the same, however as the lack of detail is missing can you evidence the awarding of these contracts by the Council please by producing a hard copy of the document the Council voted on in the respective meeting.
You gave Cllr Brookes all the dates so I presume this will not be too difficult to produce.
It will be beneficial to resolve these questions before Wednesday meeting as the payment is on the list.
Thank you for your time in this.
Regards Adam
Cllr Adam Lowe Oakham Town Council
