Oakham Town council Agree to refurbish the current basketball area at Royce Recreation Ground used by Rutland Thunders

A full meeting of Oakham Town Council was held via zoom on Wednesday 31st March 2021 and councillors were pleased to welcome four members of the public to the viewing gallery, including three members of local basketball team, The Rutland Thunders. Following an excellent presentation by the team, Council agreed to refurbish the current basketball area at Royce Recreation Ground.

The Rutland Thunders gave council a presentation. The Council were pleased to hear from the team about their enthusiasm for growing their membership and the difference it would make to them to be able to practice recreationally in Oakham if Council approved to refurbish the facilities currently available.

The team hope that having this public facility available would mean that anyone with an interest in basketball can enjoy a game with friends without having to find the money to hire a full court or to travel out of the county.

Members of the team plan to regularly use the area at Royce Playing field to practice together whilst encouraging as many members of the public to join them as they can.

The Rutland Thunders currently play in the Leicestershire league and have teams in the under 14's, under 16's and under 18's categories. Currently these are boys teams but the club would love to hear from girls and boys of any age who may be interested in coming along and playing.

More information about the team and how to contact them can be found on their Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/RutlandThunders/

All councillors agreed that improving the facilities would benefit many members of the community and it was therefore unanimously agreed to approve the work, it is hoped we can get the work started as soon as possible.

Oakham Town Council hopes that everyone gets chance to enjoy the refurbished area, whether basketball is an old favourite or something new you fancy trying, and they hope the Rutland Thunders continue to grow and succeed.

Royce Recreation Ground, Oakham Town Council and The 12 year Tree Dispute Cllr Joyce Lucas BEM

Dear Chairman,

At the County Show Cllr Lucas displayed a photograph of the tree located in Royce Recreation Ground.
This is the tree mentioned in a long running dispute.

She shouted across to another councillor, Mr X won't like to see that photograph and cackled.
This childish conduct is a repeat of her conduct earlier this year when she published the
same photograph in the Rutland Times very shorlty after Mr X had visited the council office
to disccuss the tree. Mrs Lucas was present according to Mr X.

As you are aware I asked for a agenda item to be considered at the earlist possible time,
to assist the residents concerned in ending what they describe as a twelve year vendetta
against them, conducted by Cllr Joyce Lucas BEM.

Cllr Lucas's conduct is unacceptable and has cost the tax payers thousands of pounds
over the passing years.

Please can you explain why despite my request, why this item not placed on the agenda
of the last full council?

As a council we can not continue to permit this "vidictive" and costly dispute to continue,
it is very damaging for the residents and the council.

From

Martin Brookes

Oakham Town Council Flora pro.activ Unilever, Royce Recreation Ground, Princess Avenue Gym, Grant Thornton UK

Sometimes I think the Town Clerk is on another planet.

In his report he claims the building the council leases to a gym is bringing in a considerable income.

The truth is yes they charge a rent, nearly £4000 a year less than  the valuation given by
Stephen Reid, when the property was in a terrible state.

The council spent a quarter of it's income doing it up, it has let it out and throughout the period of
the lease it will not get back all the tax payers money spent.

The owners of the gym advertise a room in the building, the rental for this room if let out at the advertised rate fully covers their rent bill.

It is disgraceful how Oakham Town Council looks after public assetts like the property in Princess Avenue.

The owner of the gym is married to a woman who sits on committees that Cllr Alf Dewis sits on connected to Rutland County Council. The couple are ex forces and live in a expensive Rutland Village.

The property was not put out on the open market and the improvement works were not put out to tender.

The Councils auditors Grant Thornton UK said in writing they would look into this matter, they did not.
They were late checking many parish council accounts last year.

I question if they actually did anything for their fee? apart from send out the letter shown below and
the late report saying all was fine with the accounts.

When a firm of auditors writes to you and informs you they are going to check something, surely
they should do that.

Oakham Town Clerks, Expenditure, Royce Recreation Ground, Oakham

Oakham Town Clerks, Expenditure, Royce Recreation Ground, Oakham

The Clerk decided to spend £2756.97 at a meeting Cllr Joyce Lucas who if I remember correctly
was suffering from a head ache, shout out "waste of money"

I agree with her.

Has anyone seen how many benches there are at the edge of the recreation ground. It's almost
getting as bad as Cutts Close.

Does the Clerk have shares in Broxap?

Concrete for two new benches, G and R Greg £461.37 no VAT

2 Benches, Broxap £1,080.00 including VAT

4 Dog waste bins £802.80 including VAT strangely dog waste bins were removed from cuts
close deemed to expensive and unnecessary, because Cory don't sort waste from litter bins
deemed to costly dog waste bagged can be put in normal litter bins, not very green when you
consider the amount of recyclable waste is placed into the bins. Paper and cans

3 small welcome signs, Barker Signs £412.80

The Clerk was paid £2,118.49 in December 2012 Considerable value for money.

The Assistant Clerk was paid £715.59 in December 2012

Bart Hellyer Esq LLB, The High Sheriff of Rutland, Opens Oakham Town Councils .New Play Area, Royce Recreation Ground, Oakham, Photographs

Bart Hellyer Esq LLB, The High Sheriff of Rutland, 

Opens Oakham Town Councils .New Play Area, Royce Recreation Ground, 

Oakham, Photographs

Today The High Sheriff of Rutland opened a new children's play area at the Princess Avenue Play Area, Royce Recreation Ground was busy with Children from the Ark Nursery School. 

Oakham Town Council has borrowed £50,000 to install the Wicksteed play equipment, which includes equipment for disabled children.

Oakham Mayor Councillor Alf Dewis, Deputy Mayor Cllr Adam Lowe, Cllr Joyce Lucas, Cllr Charles Haworth, Cllr Lockett, Cllr Nowell The Clerk Richard White and Assistant Clerk Alison were present at the official opening.

The Children were also treated to goody bags handed out by a Wicksteed representative.

Bart Hellyer Esq LLB, The High Sheriff of Rutland,  Mayor Cllr Dewis,

Deputy Mayor Cllr Lowe and Councillor Joyce Lucas with children

getting ready to cut the ribbon.

Bart Hellyer Esq LLB, The High Sheriff of Rutland,

Cllr Joyce Lucas smiling with child, is this her official launch

of her 2015 election campaign? :-)

Right Grumpyjag photographic expert and ex town councillor

and former Mayor. His photographs can be viewed by 

clicking the link below

http://www.oakhampeople.co.uk/pictures/Royce-Playing-Field-Play-Area-Officially-Opened/pictures-17125670-detail/pictures.html

High Sheriff of Rutland, to Officially open, Oakham Town Councils, New Toddlers Play Area, Royce Recreation Ground

High Sheriff of Rutland, to Officially open, Oakham Town Councils, New Toddlers Play Area, Royce Recreation Ground

Work has now been completed on installing the new toddlers play area by Wicksteed Leisure.

The new play area has been paid for by Oakham Town Council borrowing £50,000

The official opening will take place at 11.00 am Friday 19th October 2012

If Cllr Lowe is correct with his assumption we should see camera shy Councillor Lucas in the
following Thursday's Rutland Times. (again)

Oakham Town Council Installs A Piece of Disabled Play Equipment, Royce Recreation Ground, Princess Avenue, Oakham, Rutland, Photograph

Oakham Town Council Installs A Piece of Disabled Play Equipment, 

Royce Recreation Ground, Princess Avenue, Oakham, Rutland 

The above is a roundabout which can be used by wheel chair users.

Royce Recreation Ground, Princess Avenue, Oakham, Rutland, New Play Equipment Arrives Photographs

Royce Recreation Ground, Princess Avenue, Oakham, Rutland, 

New Play Equipment Arrives Photographs

Work Starts On New Toddlers Play Area Royce Recreation Ground Princess Avenue Oakham Town Council £50k debt Good Publicity For Joyce says Cllr Lowe

Work Starts On New Toddlers Play Area Royce Recreation Ground 

Princess Avenue Oakham Town Council £50k debt Good Publicity 

For Cllr Joyce Lucas says Cllr Lowe

Oakham Town Council is borrowing £50,000 for a new toddlers play area in Oakham.

I raised the state of the play area in Willow Crescent with my ward Councillor who is Adam Lowe
I ask why hundreds of thousands of pounds had been spent on the two other parks but nothing more than
a bit of grease on the swings when a resident complained about the noise as they rust away.

He responded the other two parks were bigger which gives an opportunity for good  publicity for the council
when they spend thousand on them.

He went onto say we are doing the work at Royces so Cllr Joyce Lucas can gain a little more publicity as the ward councillor publicity she enjoys.

Cllr Adam Lowe is the Planning and Parks Committee Chairman and Deputy Mayor.

He complained to the police because I recorded his conversation he claims it is harassment.

I don't, I call it evidence.

It was not my intention to record Cllr Lowe I choose to record at certain public events due to past
threats received verbally by those connected to local governance. I felt if  I recorded them the police might
take action and if I tell them it  might just  act as deterrent.

Adam used to be a nice guy until he joined the mob.

He also told me being a Cllr was not what he expected.

At the funfair this week I witnessed they  old Adam enjoying himself with his family, he even smiled  at me.

Makes a change from snarls from other councillors like Lucas and Haworth to name just two.

Royce Recreation Ground, Vandals, Cost £40 - £80 bill for Oakham Tax Payers

whether its a nail in the wall to hang a photograph on the

council chamber wall or the swing wrapped around

like this its more money for the council contractor

who charges anything between £40 - £80 for simple jobs like these.

Royce Recreation Ground, Oakham Town Council to dip into reserves?

The Clerk is asking members of the Town Council to consider spending £10,000 of the Council's limited reserves.

Royce Recreation Ground had £50,000 spent on it last year and on piece of equipment was vandalised twice
the Council can not afford to have it repaired or replace the loss is around £20,000

Councillors are being asked to consider spending more money on replacing the whole Toddlers play area

He says we underspent £22,000 last year. Earlier this year I said that sum should be returned to the tax payer.
At a meeting we were not it was not really a underspend so what is it?

He has decided considerable effort has been put into find a way to solve the issue with the large vandalised nest swing. Former Mayor Sharon Spencer said that's what he's telling you... meaning?

I don't believe there is no company in this country that can not supply a rope to fix to the existing substantial fittings.

He now indicates the large arched frame, fondly referred to locally as Oakham's Olympic Dome has become redundant. Who is going to pay for its removal, the tax payer of course. Who will benefit from all that lovely new scrap metal that cost the tax payer around £20,000 ??

The Clerk is proposing we also spend around £25,000 on a Multi use games area.

He is requesting we consider budgeting a total of £50,000 for the Royce Recreation Project.

I am sorry to they users vandalised the equipment why should they get new equipment so soon, when residents in my ward have not had a slice of any cake for years. They can not remember the last time the play equipment saw a lick of paint

I also think is to risky to be taking 25% of Council reserve in this present financial climate.

Royce Recreation Ground Oakham Oakham Town Council Success Story

 

Royce Recreation Ground Oakham Oakham Town Council Success Story

How many more times do we have to read in the Rutland Times

the £50,000 spent on the above is a success story

of Oakham Town Council?

at this moment the main piece of equipment is a pile of scrap metal

from the first day the new equipment was installed it has been 

repeatedly vandalised and now Oakham Town Council 

can not afford to replace it. No other company will attach 

anything to Kompan's frames if the council can not afford

to pay for kompan's solution then the frame will be scrapped.

I look forward to reading about Oakham Town Councils

2011 most successful project in future editions of the 

Rutland Times.