Rutland County Council decided whether to accept £29.4m to redevelop St George's Barracks in private Rutland County Cllrs voted against accepting the HIF grant.

Rutland County Council decided whether to accept £29.4m to redevelop St George's Barracks in private after voting to exclude the public from the online meeting.

Rutland County Council decided not accept the Housing Infrastructure Funding which has been allocated to build a garden village on the site at North Luffenham.

It will provide 2,245 new homes and associated facilities including a new school and health centre.

More than 100 members of the public had joined the virtual meeting to listen to this evening's debate, but on the advice of the council's monitoring officer, the debate has gone into closed session.

Several councillors had called for the meeting to continue in public because of the scale of public interest.

Including Conservative Councillor Kenneth Bool, he said: "We've always tried to keep meetings as open as possible and this should apply here, particularly as we have so many people listening and following the issue." He told members the St George's Barracks issue began four years ago "shrouded in secrecy" adding: "If we go into excluded debate it makes me and the public wonder what else there is to hide. "There is a dark shadow over this project. This is a matter that affects everyone in Rutland and I can't see why residents can't hear their elected representatives discussing it."

Lib Dem Councillor Gale Waller backed the call to continue in public. She added: "We are often told that this development is as key to Rutland as the reservoir was in the seventies. We owe it to residents to make a decision in public."

Fifteen councillors voted to continue the meeting in private. Twelve others voted against.

Rutland County Cllrs voted against accepting the HIF grant.  13 against, 12 for and 2 abstentions

Housing Infrastructure Fund St George's Barracks Rutland County Council Already Listed on Government Website as a Successful Forward Funding projects before Council decision is made

Housing Infrastructure Fund St George's Barracks Rutland County Council Already Listed on Government Website as a  Successful Forward Funding projects  before Council decision is made this evening?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-infrastructure-fund

Successful Forward Funding projects

Local authority Project HIF funding (£million)

Buckinghamshire Aylesbury Garden Town Growth Enabling Infrastructure Programme £172.3m

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Northern Fringe East £227m

Central Bedfordshire Transformational Growth in Biggleswade £69.6m

Cheshire East North Cheshire Garden Village £21.7m

Cornwall Truro Growth Area - Northern Access Road £47.5m

Cornwall Hayle Junctions Infrastructure Project £12.9m

Cumbria Carlisle Southern Link Road £134m

Devon South West Exeter £55.1m

Essex Beaulieu Station and North East Bypass £218m

Essex Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community £99.9m

GLA Docklands Light Railway - growth capacity £290.7m

GLA Meridian Water Infrastructure £170m

GLA East London line - growth capacity £80.8m

Gloucestershire M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme £219.8m

Greater Manchester Combined Authority Manchester Northern Gateway Urban Growth Programme £51.6m

Kent Swale Transport Infrastructure £38.1m

Lancashire South Lancaster Growth Catalyst £140m

Leicestershire Melton Mowbray Southern Distributor Road £14.7m

Medway New Routes to Good Growth £170m

Milton Keynes Milton Keynes East Sustainable Urban Extension £94.6m

North East Combined Authority South Sunderland Growth Area Cluster £25.4m

North Somerset West of England: Enabling Infrastructure for M5-A38 Strategic Development Locations £97m

Oxfordshire Access to Didcot Garden Town £218m

Oxfordshire A40 Smart Corridor £102m

Rutland St George’s Barracks £29.4m

Surrey A320 North of Woking £41.8m

Surrey A320 Woking Town Centre £95m

Surrey Slyfield Area Regeneration Project £52.3m

Swindon New Eastern Villages, Southern Connector Road £18.9m

Thurrock Purfleet Centre £75.1m

Wiltshire Chippenham Urban Expansion £75.1m

St George's Barracks, Welcome From the Oakham Knit and Natter Club,

I was passing the library and thought at first glance some one had tied their old knickers to the tree.

Then on closer inspection and looking up I found the the local knit and natter club has knitted
some bunting to welcome to soldiers from St George's Barracks for the freedom of entry tomorrow.

The parade and presentation follows a church service, the parade meets in the market place at
around 3.00pm and after the presentation it will march away towards Catmose and around to
Mill Street and then turn up the high street to wards Northgate.

There will be a missile on show as part of the parade. Rapier, surface-to-air missile

Freedom of Entry, St George's Barracks, North Luffenham, Oakham, Rutland, Oakham Town Council, tickets

Whilst Rutland County Council cuts back on its civic expenditure, Oakham Town Council continues
to spend thousands of public money with no thought.

The only people who have connections to the base that is miles away from Oakham are the local
establishment.

Made up of ex Mayors, The Festival and Arts For Rutland.

I shall never forget the excitement of the Festival organiser on Rutland Radio, who was selling the hippos on the cheap "the bar is open all night and the drinks are so cheap"

I repeat what I said last year if that group want to give the freedom of Oakham to that barracks
then let them pay for it, why should the residents of Oakham pay?

I can understand the past freedom being granted to RAF Cottesmore, because I hear so many stories
form locals about that base and their connection either through friendship or marriage.

Its a pity Cllr Dewis is sucking up to his friends, it would have been much better to wait a few years
to see if the new Kendrew Barracks is worthy of a similar honour.

Each day in Town I see soldiers from Kendrew Barracks in Oakham.

It very rare you see anyone from St George's Barracks.


If you are interested in attending the church service on St Georges Day.

You need to apply to the town Clerk for tickets and if they like you they will send you two
tickets.

The Barracks may be granted the freedom of Oakham, I challenge any Oakham resident
to attempt to gain access to the barracks.


FREEDOM OF ENTRY TO ST GEORGE'S BARRACKS

Oakham Town Council is to award the Freedom of Entry to Oakham to St George’s Barracks at North Luffenham on St George’s Day, 23rd April 2013, The honour will be conferred during a ceremony in Oakham that will entail a service in All Saints Church.  This will be followed by the presentation of the honour during a parade in the Market Place when the Mayor of Oakham, Alf Dewis, will present an illuminated scroll to the Commanding Officer of 16th Regiment Royal Artillery.

 The honour is to be granted because of the long standing association of over 70 years between the military base at North Luffenham and the Town of Oakham.  It also recognises the service that members of the armed forces located at the base have performed both for their country and the Town over that period.  RAF Cottesmore was awarded the honour jointly by Rutland District Council and Oakham Town Council in 1988.

 The Regiment will then exercise its ‘Freedom’ by marching through Oakham with drums beating, bands playing, colours flying and bayonets fixed. The parade will leave the Market Place and march along the High Street where Dr Lawrence Howard, the Lord Lieutenant, will take the salute at the junction of Church Street and High Street.  The parade will continue along High Street turn down Northgate and finish in Church Street.

 St George’s Barracks started life as RAF North Luffenham in 1940 and continued in RAF occupation until 1998.  During this period various units were located at the base and for a short period between 1951 and 1955, RAF North Luffenham was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force and was the first Canadian NATO base in Europe housing No. 1 Fighter Wing.

 In 1955 the base reverted back to RAF use when 238 Operational Conversion Unit flew Gloster Javelins for just over a year. In the ensuing years there were a number of RAF units located at North Luffenham including the Aviation Medical School, Joint Services Language School, Midland Radar and No. 3 Ground Radio Servicing Squadron.  Between 1959 and 1963 the Thor intermediate range ballistic missile was housed there.

 In 1998, RAF North Luffenham was renamed St George’s Barracks and has been the home of a number of army regiments including the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment.  The present incumbent, 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, has been at St George’s Barracks since August 2007 when it moved from Woolwich.  The Barracks are also presently shared with 104 Military Working Dogs, an Army Education Centre, a group of Explosive Ordnance Disposal operators as well as an Army Recruitment Team.

 The presentation of the ‘Freedom’ will be a major event for Oakham and the Town Mayor, Alf Dewis, is keen that as many people as possible share in the day’s proceedings.

He says “Oakham Town Council will try to involve as many people as possible in the event but All Saints Church can only accommodate 400 including service personnel and guests.  Therefore due to the limitation in numbers, admittance to the Church will be by ticket only and we would urge that people who wish to attend apply in writing to the Oakham Town Council”.

 Anyone who wishes to attend the Church Service, which commences at 2.00pm, should write to The Town Clerk, Oakham Town Council, Victoria Hall, 39 High Street, Oakham LE15 6AH by Friday 15th March 2013 giving their name and address.  Only written applications will be accepted and due to the limited number of seats available the tickets will be restricted to two per family.  If the numbers are oversubscribed then a draw will take place.  Tickets will be sent out week commencing 25th March 2013.

The High Sheriff of Rutland, Bart Hellyer, Fabulous Forces, fashion and Food, St George's Barracks, Voluntary Action Rutland, Elizabeth Yardley Events

The High Sheriff of Rutland Bart Hellyer is hosting an evening at the Officers Mess, St. George's Barracks,

North Luffenham, Rutland.

The evening titled Fabulous Forces, Fashion and Food is being held to raise funds for Voluntary Action Rutland.

Upon arriving you will receive welcoming drinks, and a three course evening meal including wine, those who attend will enjoy Steward service at each table.

A table for 10 costs £450

or £50 each

As well as the fashion show there will be opportunity to browse items for sale before and after the show

For further information please contact kate on 07909 901 980

or email: kate@elizabethyardleyevents.co.uk

I am told the bar is cheap

2nd November 2012

6.30pm until late

The High Sheriff of Rutland, Bart Hellyer, Fabulous Forces, fashion and Food, St George's Barracks, Voluntary Action Rutland, Elizabeth Yardley Events

16 Regiment Royal Artillery, Oakham Town Council, St George's Barracks, Freedom of Entry to Oakham

Oakham Town Council, St George's Barracks, Freedom of Entry to Oakham

Last night Oakham Town Council ensured it continued its tradition of enjoying free hospitality
from the armed forces.

After the closure of RAF Cottesmore Oakham's Mayor found there was less purpose for him
and less invitations to attend forces events.

So he came up with the idea to grant the Freedom of Entry to St George's Barrack's

This comes as a cost to the local tax payers of around £2,200

The Mayor pointed out the cost of the reception for councillor and officers from the base
will be paid for by the base.

Six  Councillors decided the expenditure was reasonable in accordance to section 249(6) of the
Local Government act 1972 as amended by the local democracy, economic development and
construction act 2009

I don't think it is reasonable and speaking to local people they don't see little or any connection
to the barracks or its personal of the North Luthenham base.

I have no objection to the council acknowledging the work of the army.

My personal view of this is Cllr Alf Dewis has only pushed this through to gain favour from
a group of local thuggish bullies who's conduct I believe bears no resemblance of the modern
day British Army.

Conservative Cllr Gene Plews and former Mayors Beech and Harrison often enjoy the hospitality
of the base scoffing curry and beer in the officers mess for charity. Possibly they should be funding
this honour for the base.

The 6 Councillors decided the following:

"in due consideration of the long standing association of over 70 years between 
the military base of North Luffenham and the Town of Oakham and the service
that members of the armed forces located at that base have performed both for 
their country and the Town of Oakham that Oakham Town council is both
pleased and proud to grant the honour of Freedom of entry to the Town to St.
George's Barracks".

There will be church service on St George's Day Tuesday 23 April 2013 at All Saints Church
Oakham.

followed by a parade through the town with drums beating, bands playing, colours flying and
bayonets fixed.

the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery will form up outside the church following the service and inspected by the Lord Lieutenant. the Freedom will then be rad from the scroll for the public and soldiers to hear and
the scroll presented.

The parade will march up Northgate along Melton Road and down High Street where the Lor Lieutenant
will take the salute.

On completion of the march past the parade falls out in Market Street and returns to St George's Barracks

Official guest then proceed independently to St. Georges Barracks for a reception hosted by the Regiment.



Today's Blog post about the Freedom of St Georges Barracks

prompted a message from Former Oakham Mayor Jim Harrsion.

From the message below you will see Mr Harrison shows his true colours.

It would seem just because I mistakenly assumed  Mr Harrison was a guest when he attends the Barracks and photographed events at which his friends attended as guests, he feels he can correspond with me calling me a scum bag and threatening me.



Facebook messages today: 


Jim Harrison. For your information I have never been invited to eat anything at St Georges Barracks nor have I ever been there as a guest. 

Get your information correct before making comments about me. Put that on your blog you lying scumbag. 

I am sick and tired of your slurs and comments about me and now it is time for action and the sooner the better. 


Now run off to the police station and report me for this.

Jim Harrison You don't even know me nor what I am like.It has taken a lot of lies from you to get me mad, I have had enough, be warned, I have stayed quiet for long enough, you know absolutely nothing about me or my character nor ever will. Now run off to the police station and tell them that as well

St George's Barracks Homecoming march on Thursday 2nd June Oakham

St George's Barracks Homecoming march on Thursday 2nd June Oakham

The March will start at 10.15am to mark their return from active duty in Afghanistan.

One Cllr comment why do they have to get up so early?

The Military Dog Squadron and the 11th (Sphinx) Battery RA will be taking part.

The march will start from the Northgate/Melton area of Oakham and will finsih in Oakham Castle.

We are told a medal ceremony will take place in the Castle grounds following the March.
 This ceremony will probably be private with only a small group of dignitaries attending.

"Lets hope their families will be allowed in"

Dignitaries is such a dated word, yes I am a town councillor but I don't consider myself a dignitary. I am no different from the man or woman who I am meant to serve.