Former Oakham Mayor Alf Dewis, Oakham Town Partnership, Hawksmead 106 Contribution £62,500 Theft or Fraud?

A few weeks ago Oakham Town Council received a surprise from
Rutland County Council. £62,500

Since receiving the money there has been a lot of confusion about
who should have received the money.

After a meeting today with Rutland County Council I find our law breaking
ex Mayor Mr Alf Dewis has broken more laws governing Councillors and the
Council.


I have sent the following email to all members. I can not see how Mr Dewis's
conduct can simply be explained away as a minor mistake?

Theft or Fraud? I will let Leicestershire Police decide.


Dear All

This morning I received another email from Oakham Town Council regarding 
the £62,500 received from Rutland County Council. 
I requested a meeting with senior finance officers at Rutland County Council
to ascertain what was actually going on. I am pleased I did because I learned once again 
our former Mayor Alf Dewis has acted unlawfully.

I attended the meeting and the officers explained the money sent, was a 
part payment shared between Oakham Town Council and Uppingham Town Council.
Money from a 106 agreement between them and Hawksmead.
Then they explained how Uppingham Town Council had agreed to spend their
share and report back to Rutland County Council.

I was told Mr Dewis had met with Rutland County Council
and agreed in his capacity as a Oakham Town Councillor, that Oakham
Town Council would give the Town Partnership the full £62,500 to
fund a town centre manager. Mr Dewis who was a director and chairman for 
three years of The Town Partnership, has breached the law by making 
a Town Council decision unilaterally. 

On Wednesday Oakham Town Council is to decide, if it should send 
the £62,500 back to Rutland County Council. I fully support this 
proposal.

Today I have spoken to Leicestershire Police regarding this matter.
I have asked them to investigate the possibility of theft of fraud.
and for breaches of the localism act.

When Oakham Town Council received the money from 
Rutland County Council the Clerk correctly notified all members 
that the office had received the money out of the blue and he did not know why 
they had sent it.
Since then we have received a number of confusing emails suggesting the money 
was received in error, its ours or its not etc. leading to this weeks agenda item.

It is a serious concern to me that Mr Dewis entered into an 
unlawful agreement with Rutland County Council, also that
he unlawfully decided how the town council should spend the money.

Was Mr Dewis hoping that Rutland County Council were going 
to send the money direct to the Partnership and we would 
never know he had acted unlawfully or even known we had
missed the chance to decide on how a considerable sum of 
money should be spent in Oakham?


From 

Martin Brookes (Cllr OSE)

Oakham Town Partnership, Oakham Late Night Christmas Shopping Event, Report

Oakham Town Partnership, Oakham Late Night Christmas Shopping Event

Preparations for this event started some time ago, I met the organiser, Alison I think.
Nice lady.

I can only imagine the difficulties she experiences when organising such an event.

I heard a lot of negative comments and have my own opinion of the event as I observed
from 2pm

A lot less happened this year, it was spread out over a wide area.

The main stage was hidden away by the Buttercross? this meant that most of the performers
performed to a handful of people.

Comments from traders "Cllr Alf Dewis will not listen to anyone"

Other people "it was crap" "shit"

People complained there was far to many stalls selling booze and food.

As for my opinion some of the food was probably best avoided, food hygiene seemed
not existent in some cases, but not all. One stall was selling food which went out of date last
month Bread Rolls Best Before 15th Novermber


IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THIS BEST BEFORE DATE
COULD MEAN 2015. I am not sure it is possible to preserve them for a year?

Rolls Sold as fresh

I was surprised the town partnership permits the fair to unplug Christmas lights to 

power their rides.

The biggest disappointment for many, after all the work to get the town a decent 

Christmas tree the partnership stuck a great big tatty fun house in front of it.

let them climb a ladder to unplug most of the tree lights so the fun house could

get free power. I asked the man with the ladders if he could plug them back in

he said he would and then drove off leaving the town with a half illuminated

tree!

Each year the town partnership makes no arrangements for waste management

this evening the town has been left in a total mess,

Victoria Hall was busy various craft type stalls.

The Town Council this year moved back into their chamber. 

Cllr Joyce Lucas displayed some interesting photographs and

offered mince pies and chocolates.

Cllr Adam Lowe dug out his WWI exhibition, which I had seen

and found interesting at a past event.

The Stamford Artisan Guild were in the castle when I visited there

were no customers. I think the problem there is there are no lights

leading to the castle or any indication anything was happening 

in the castle unless you were lucky to bump into the one person

handing out information leaflets.

Farmers Market, Gaol Street, Oakham, Rutland, Oakham Town Partnership, Video

Farmers Market, Gaol Street, Oakham, Rutland, Oakham Town Partnership

Oakham Town Partnership, Car Boot Sales, 2nd Sunday of the month

Oakham Town Partnership, Car Boot Sales, 2nd Sunday of the month each Summer to tie in with Band Concerts run by the Oakham Town Council.

The 2014 dates are:

8 June 2014 (Whit Sunday)

13 July 2014

10 August 2014

14 September 2014 

The location of the car boot sale is  Burley Road Car  Park, Oakham, LE15 6DH

click here to find the location on Google Maps.

The car boot sale will be open to the general public from approx 9:30am until approx 1pm.

The car park will be marshalled from 8am for vendors to arrive and set up stalls.

Vendors are to book a place in advance, if a place is not booked we cannot guarantee a space will be available on the day.

The price for a car stall is £5 and for van / trailer £10, payment will be collected on the day of the event.

Please note all proceeds from the vendors will cover the costs of organising the event and excess is put towards providing sporting activities and opportunities for young people during half terms and summer holidays.

Voluntary Action Rutland (VAR), a local charity, are administering the bookings of stalls, if you wish to book a stall please contact VAR on 01572 722622 or email enquiries@varutland.org.uk.

Up to 3 charity or community groups stalls can be arranged for each event to raise funds for local groups.  These stalls will be free of charge.  email cdo@varutland.org.uk for details.

The car boots are free to attend for the general public, unfortunately there is no customer parking at the Burley Road car park.  The nearest available car parking is on Church Street, at the Market Place or at the county council or Museum Car Park off Catmose Street. 

Cllr Alf Dewis, Former Oakham Mayors, Oakham Town Partnership ,Jubilee Oak Donation, Costs Tax Payer More than Donation

Cllr Alf Dewis, Former Oakham Mayors, Jubilee Oak Donation,
Costs Tax Payer More than Donation



Oakham's Boss Cllr Alf Dewis Former Mayor and unelected chairman
of another non democratic club The Oakham Town Partnership.
He once dressed in a ATC uniform not sure what happened there
He was once a CAB volunteer and he became the first Mayor
not to take his place on their committee. It's believed they may
have asked him to leave?

In 2012 his Town Partnership decided to launch the Jubilee Oaks Scheme
for Rutland. A town partnership is not restricted by the local government 
act which say a parish council can only fund things within their parish.

The Town Partnership can use public money as it pleases.

The partnership asked members of the public to sponsor 60 Oaks
at £60 a tree.

http://martinbrookes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/jubilee-oaks-for-oakham-2012-oakham.html

Planting trees in my book is a good thing





Accept when its the former Oakham Mayors and costs the tax payer a lot more 
than his sponsorship to plant the tree.



Cllr Lockett raised the issue of the high cost of planting six tree's in Cutts Close
one donated by Cllr Dewis. Cllr Lucas respond by saying "The cost was high because
the trees were big and needed a big hole"

Each tree costing around £150 each to plant.

Why is the Town Council sponsoring and paying for these trees to be planted in
2014. 

Is this a Oakham Town Partnership Stock Clearance?

I am sure this is a blatant misuse of public money,
This sort of personal expenditure by the Oakham Boss could even
be criminal if localism act is applied.

It won't because this is Rutland....

Is this why Cllr Joyce Lucas suddenly resigned as tree warden?

Lets hope Cllr Dewis gets his fat cheque out and repays the
tax payer his share of the cost of planting his families tree.

Oakham One Way System, Rutland County Council, Oakham Town Partnership

Oakham One Way System, Rutland County Council, Oakham Town Partnership

At the council meeting of the 6th January 2014 Cllr Walters (Ind) asked five questions.

One of those question related to the ongoing issue of the proposed one way system in the town supported

by the non democratic non elected Town Partnership. Mostly made up of members of Rutland County Council and Town Councillors.

Cllr Walters asked what were the councils future plans and also the future of the Jules building in that proposal?

Cllr Roger Begy (Con) replied the project has been ongoing for a number of years. The Town Partnership will be carrying out another of their many consultations with retailers, he said it is important to involve the partnership, interestingly there was no mention of consulting the pointless Town Council.

He said there were currently no plans to demolish the soon to be former Jules Building, I assume this is an option that would involve a new road. He went to say this has been raised in the past and mentioned a past proposal did also involve the baptist church.

Oakham Town Partnership, Public Meeting, chance to have their say on how £500,000 should be spent

Traders and residents are being offered the chance to have their say on how £500,000 should be spent in their community.

http://www.bournelocal.co.uk/news/local/have-your-say-on-how-500-000-should-be-spent-in-oakham-1-5484978?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Oakham Town Partnership wants businesses and people to help shape developments in the area by giving their views on how money from major developments should be spent on regenerating the town.

The partnership now wants to hear from the community on how the town should be developed.

Alf Dewis, chairman of the partnership and an Oakham town councillor, said: “This is a large amount of money and has the potential to have a big impact on the town.

“This is a great opportunity for traders and the public to have their say on the future of Oakham.

People can have their say by e-mailing the partnership at enquiries@oakhamtownpartnership.co.uk.

The partnership is also calling for new members to join its team, which due to people leaving, will soon drop from 14 to 12.

Oakham Town Partnership will be holding its annual general meeting on Thursday next week at 6.30pm, in the Victoria Hall in High Street, Oakham. Those interested in joining the group can attend the meeting.

For more information, visit www.oakhamtownpartnership.co.uk.

Oakham Town Partnership, Car Boot Sale, Rutland County Council, Burley Road Car Park, Fine day for the Sale, Photographs

Oakham Town Partnership, Car Boot Sale, Rutland County Council,
Burley Road Car Park, Fine day for the Sale, Photographs




Oakham Town Partnership unelected organisation run mainly by
Oakham Town Councillors
and Rutland County Councillors




We are told these car boot sales are run to help sport in Rutland,
we are not told how much
the collect of fees raises for this cause.



The Town Partnership has used Oakham Town Council public money
to advertise their events.
The public can not attend their meetings.



The Town Partnership has in the past received public money from
Rutland County Council
and Oakham Town Council.



The Town Partnership does not have any residents on its committee.



The Town Partnership has set aside just over £2000 to hold a private
party for Sarah Outen
when she return home from her around the world trip.

Car Boot Sale, Oakham Town Partnership, Photographs, 14th July, Burley Road

Car Boot Sale, Oakham Town Partnership, Photographs, 14th July, Burley Road

Car Boot Sale Today



Click Here For Information PDF






Nice lady from www.kidsandmore.co.uk






Big Lottery Fund Good Cause Health, Education, Environment and Charitable Expenditure

Rutland Symbiotica

This is a project by a community organisation in Rutland, Leicestershire.

The group will use the funding to increase its provision of specialist transportation
for people with mobility issues and who are isolated.

Last year they received a small lottery grant of £2,130

Oakham Town Partnership, Refuse to Run, Live@museum, Cinema, Theatre and shows, Roger Begy says They want to be paid

Oakham Town Partnership, Refuse to Run, Live@museum, Cinema, Theatre  and shows, Roger Begy says They want to be paid

Rutland County Council decided to close the loss making Live@museum

Former Tory  Councillor  Peter Jones put up a good fight in the form of a public deputation
to save the project from the axe.

The Council has invested heavily in this project and it all appears to be wasted.

There were calls  for volunteers to run it

Cllr Gale proposed the council set aside £10,000

Tory  Leader  Roger Begy said no one would work for that amount of money.

I would it is a lot more than JSA. I wrote to him and his fellow Councillor and
explained those of us in the real world would happily work for a sum much greater
than JSA

Deputy  Tory Leader Terry King spoke claiming the  project was a Oakham
project not a county one. Mr Jones and Beech repeatedly rubbish to what
he was saying and  I agree.

Mr Begy mentioned the young peoples Saturday morning cinema might be saved

He said he was knowledgeable when it came to Arts as he was on the Arts Council
(no comment)

He went on to say he did not know what a cover band was until Mr Jones told him
(I think he means tribute)

To cut a long story the  Council now does nothing for the Arts Culture

They can not afford £10,000 for this, but they can afford £8,000 for
a worthless Bevan Brittan report

Roger Begy added Oakham Town Partnership where asked if they could run it
and he said they refused  but would consider ir if they were paid

Jubilee Oaks, Oakham Town Partnership, Oakham Town Council, Royce Recreation Ground , Oakham, Rutland

Jubilee Oaks, Oakham Town Partnership, Oakham Town Council, Royce Recreation  Ground , Oakham, Rutland

The Oakham Trees have been added to the avenue of recently planted trees at the recreation field.

Cllr  Joyce Lucas, hopes the trees planted  around the edge of the field will mark the route for dog
walkers so the mess that comes with that might be contain instead of the normal spread of dog mess that
is found on the football pitch and the children's play area.



Small plaques show Oakham Town Council used tax payers money
to buy the trees.






One tree was paid for by Mason Bob and  Councillor Joyce  Lucas



Another by the  Weston Family

Oakham Town Partnership, Launches Website Oakham Town Council?

www.oakhamtownpartnership.co.uk

Oakham Town Partnership, Launches Website

Oakham People's Sharon questions why has Oakham Town Council website not been updated?

Oakham Town Council's website has still not been modernised . . . why not?

The truth is Oakham Town are paying a lot of money for a DIY site and will continue
to fork out money each year for a very unattractive dated site that was set up for Leicestershire
Parish Councils.

http://oakham.leicestershireparishcouncils.org/

Despite paying who is ever behind this terrible site substantial sums of money the Town Council has been
told they can not be described as a Rutland Council and they are stuck with be described as:

Leicestershire Parish Councils The website owner has kindly allowed the council to change their pages to the disgusting blue.

Once the Clerk and the Assistant Clerk have finished building the site, already taking months the council will then continue to pay Millennium Computer Services. 17 Midland Court Oakham to host the Domain name currently used and people will be redirected to the new location, lets hope its not a pop up window

This is in my view not modernisation and a very costly mistake. I was looking elsewhere and you can set up a website for less money than Oakham Town Council will spend setting up  this current farce.

Once the new site is up and running the Council will pay the company £300+ a year to host it and just over £100 to Millennium to redirect.

Mary Portas, Oakham Town Partnership, is to receive windfall to help boost the town centre signs

Oakham Town Partnersgip is to receive windfall to help boost the town centre.signs

They will receive £10,000 as part of the nationwide High Street review by shopping guru Mary Portas.

 MP Alan Duncan is supporting the grant.

“It would be good to receive a similar sum from Huddersfield,” he said.

Oakham Town Partnership supported by Alan Ducan has submitted an application for the cash, 

The money will be shared with Uppingham (now I bet they had not joined up with Oakham, Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis also Chairman of the Town Partnership said at this weeks Council meeting Oakham's £5,000 is likely to be spent on improving signs in the town.

Oakham and Uppingham were one of 392 unsuccessful applicants for Portas Pilot funding announced by the government earlier this year. In this, 100 local authorities got £100,000 each to boost their high streets but more cash was set aside to help other locations in a £5.5m package of support.

All MPs in areas which submitted proposals had to endorse applications for the £10,000 grants and sign up to the Government’s package of support for high streets and town centres.

Oakham Late Night Christmas Shopping Event organised by Elizabeth Yardley Events and Oakham Town Partnership

Oakham Late Night Christmas Shopping Event organised by Elizabeth Yardley
Events and Oakham Town Partnership



Late night shopping 2012 event will take place on the 10th December
from 5.00pm - 9.00pm

along with the shopping many fun activities are planned.

There will be an Ice Rink.

Kate Yardley said she hoped the evening will be enjoy by shoppers
and retailers.

http://www.elizabethyardleyevents.co.uk/

What One Trader Had to say about The Town Partnership Oakham Fun Day, Take Note Cllr Dewis

What one trader had to say about the  Oakham Town Partnership Oakham Fun Day.

Take notice Oakham Mayor Cllr Dewis. Your propaganda and self arrogant self promotion using the Rutland Times to publish total rubbish about the event does not fool anyone.

The following was posted on Oakham People and i have confirmed its authenticity.


Hi Joanne here from hirst & hirst. Just to say that it might have been hard for some retailers as we were only told about the fun day the week before, so with around 10 days' notice. 

The fact that shops were open wasn't actually mentioned on the posters. As the fun day took place in the park, it wasn't really bringing people into the town.

It would be useful to hear whether there is a desire among the public to be able to shop in Oakham on a Sunday or whether, as some customers have said to us, people like the fact that Oakham is a more traditional place and shops are closed on a Sunday. We are a business and obviously if we can sell more and make more money by opening on a Sunday we will do! We have tried Sunday opening before Christmas in the past, but it wasn't really worth it. We look forward to hearing your comments! See you soon ;-)


At the weekend Cllr Adam Lowe Deputy Mayor said "there are many on the council who would be pleased to see the back of the Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis."

I also mentioned the further changes Cllr Dewis is proposing to employee's terms and conditions. This is seems to be a frequent event since Mr Dewis became a councillor.

Despite my personal views about the over paid Clerk, it is not acceptable to keep forcing these regular changes upon the staff.

I asked Cllr Lowe if he would accept this from his employer, he responded "No" So I question why is he
supporting this?

Also at this weeks Council meeting it is to be a proposed a working group is set up and to carry out many of the clerks responsibilities as financial officer.

The local government act strongly advises Councillors should not involve themselves with financial work like this where it can be helped.

Will the clerk be taking a pay cut I doubt it.

I imagine the same guidance would be given to councillors regarding legal matters surrounding employment.

It's clear to me Cllr Dewis is not as competent as he would claim, if he was there would not be continual amendments.

One could say his mistake of forgetting to include in advertising or consult with retailers until the last moment about a event to support them, was not a costly mistake.

But a mistake regarding the terms and conditions of employment of the few council staff could be very costly to the tax payer.

I would like to think members will wake up and pass the documents to a employment solicitor as a safeguard.

Did Oakham Town Partnerships Fun Day Encourage Retailers In Oakham to begin Sunday Trading

Left Oakham Town Partnership Chairman Alf Dewis

wearing one of his many hats Oakham Mayor with

Cllr Charles Haworth you can see why he called 999

when I took a mince pie last Christmas.

Did Oakham Town Partnerships Fun Day Encourage Retailers In  Oakham to begin Sunday Trading?

That is the question being asked by people today.

The simple answer is NO

The longer answer is some did open, less than 10.

The biggest complaint was the lack of publicity.

The event was heavily publicised using leaflets and posters.

Spire Homes posted this leaflet to all it's tenants.

The leaflet made no mention of the shops being open so
simply over publicising the event in and around Cutts Close.
some decided not to open and other closed at 1.00pm

The Town Partnership led by Oakham Mayor and Cllr Alf Dewis
billed the event a day to encourage retailers to open and encourage
tourism.

Well done Oakham Town Partnership Chairman Alf Dewis for forgetting
the main reason for your event.

I think this comes about when you put some one in charge who
thinks he can do and organise everything throughout Oakham
and Rutland.

The event was a flop for retailers.

Successful for the event in Cutts Close mainly due to the weather being
so good. Although this was brought to an abrupt end when a local
rock group took to the stage, like a storm cloud this soon dispersed
the large gathered groups of people enjoy the peace and tranquillity
of a lazy summer afternoon in the park.

Oakham Summer Fun Day, Photographs, Spire Homes, Catmose Sports, Oakham Town Partnership, Oakham Town Council

Oakham Summer Fun Day, Photographs, Spire Homes,
Catmose Sports, Oakham Town Partnership, Oakham Town Council

Zumba Catmose Sports

David Ross Rutland Radio

The Rutland Lion Barbecue 

You might like this photo of some of the members on Oakham People

By Home Straight at 21:56 on 09/09/12

http://www.oakhampeople.co.uk/pictures/Rutland-Lions/pictures-16860713-detail/pictures.html

Playing in the sand

The Bike Workshop 

table tennis

Sports Drinks

Mini Zorbing on water Cutts Close Oakham

St John Ambulance First Aid

Spire Homes, Longhurst Group Ltd

Former Oakham Mayor and Councillor Sue Tyers and Former Deputy Mayor

Councillor Charles Haworth.

Oakham Mayor Councillor Alfie Dewis and Councillor

Charles Haworth

A photographer

Oakham Deputy Mayor Councillor Adam Lowe

the Latest gossip 

a few fans (family & friends)