Meet Co-opted Oakham South Oakham Town Councillor Richard Fresia-Farrelly

 Meet Co-opted Oakham South Oakham Town Councillor Richard Fresia-Farrelly

Oakham Town Council say,

This week we meet Richard Fresia-Farrelly. Richard was co-opted on to the council in October 2020 and instantly became an active voice in meetings, working groups and committees. Richard is a joy to work alongside, he has a keen interest in the towns future and is empathetic and articulate. He brings a wealth of knowledge in both commercial and charity sectors as well as being a family man and keen tennis player. 

Richard says:

"My name is Richard Fresia-Farrelly and I am proud & privileged to be a member of the Oakham Town Council & represent the Southern ward. I have a particular interest in supporting local businesses and enterprises, particularly so in these trying times, and am passionate about helping those from vulnerable communities in the local area.

Alongside my 'day job' holding several roles in the hospitality sector and sitting as a Council member on Oakham Town Council I am also Board Trustee & Chair for The Quetzal Project, a charity supporting victims of childhood sexual abuse in Rutland, Leicestershire & Leicester and a brand Ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project, an organisation raising awareness of mental health issues within the hospitality Industry. As a Fellow of The Institute of Hospitality, I also actively support their ‘Mentor Me’ project, growing talent within the hospitality sector.  

I have lived and worked in and around the East Midlands for the majority of my adult life and moved to Oakham over 12 years ago where I now live with my wife and young son enjoying the town and surrounding area as a fantastic place to be as a family."

Uppingham Town Hall, Town Council, Uppingham, Rutland, Photograph

Uppingham Town Hall, Town Council, Uppingham, Rutland, Photograph

Cutts Close Footpath Closed, Oakham Town Council removal, no public consultation

Cutts Close Footpath Closed, Oakham Town Council removal, no public consultation?

If you live in Oakham and walk through Cutts Close Oakham, you may have noticed the sudden  closure of
a foot path in Cutts Close.

Footpaths appeared on the last parks meeting agenda. The Town Clerk suggested various works were required although no one had complained, nor had the matter been raised during the Green Flag inspection.

I questioned the need for any of this work and between the time of my questioning two residents in wheel chairs on two consecutive days nearly fell out of their chairs using the path which is now closed.

The Council received a quote for removing this path and providing top soil, grass seed and the loan of the fences to close the path, all for under £500? I have a sneaky feeling this is a loss leader by the contractor, hoping they will be granted the contract to replace and widen other paths in the park or they are going to fly tip the tarmac outside Peterborough City Council? Their charge does not add up a skip of top soil will cost around £100+ and grass seed is not cheap...

I asked if we would obtain the correct waste disposal certificates I received no response from the council.

It would be nice if for once the Town Council Consulted residents and listened to their views before deciding to remove this foot path. Those I spoke to today said it would be a shame to lose the path.
I could not tell them the councils plans because after all I am only a Councillor why should I know what's going on?

I  read the Rutland Mercury to see what group had been booked for next years Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Cutts Close. When I found it was Wrinkle Rock that was no surprise. The group leader did say to the Deputy Chairman, there would be no problem because he knew the Clerk well. Is it not time this council stopped serving it cronies and served the people of Oakham? This event is another example of how the council does not consult the public.

Oakham Town Christmas Lights Not So Green

Oakham Town Christmas Lights Not So Green

Each year Oakham Town Council spend thousands of pounds of tax payers money putting up and taking down Christmas Lights.

They also spend thousands each year, purchasing new light bulbs.

I asked what happens to the old bulbs? They are binned is the reply!

What a waste of money and resources.

I am not saying the town should not have Christmas Lights, only there must be a cheaper and less wasteful solution.

I wonder how many other council bin their bulbs?

The Clerk has asked the Council if he can obtain 3 quotes for new lights using LED bulbs.

Oakham Tennis Club Considered selling off land belonging to the public to developers

Oakham Tennis Club has written to local residents. The club wishes to seek permission to install floodlights on the site owned by Oakham Town Council.

The residents in a letter from the Club Chairman were threatened with the possibility of a move and the land being sold to developers for building!

"Our two alternatives are to relocate to another site by finding a developer to purchase the Vale land for building or to put floodlights up at the Vale on all our courts".
The tennis club can not decide what happens to the land and I see it as a dirty tricks by the club to gain residents support for the installation of flood lights.

Many years ago the club secured a lease and pays peanuts for its rent. Local young people complain on social media there is no where for them to play affordable tennis. I say if Oakham Tennis Club wants to surrender its lease and move then go ahead and lets return the club grounds back to the ordinary folk of Oakham. For affordable if not free tennis for all.


February 2011


Dear Local Resident,

Oakham Tennis Club - Floodlights

I am very sorry to bother you, but would like to update you as to where we are with this and would like.
to hear your views before we proceed any further.

As a Club we are very grateful for your patience with having tennis close to your houses and hope that
we are not too much of a nuisance to you. We are now one of the few clubs within Leicestershire and
Rutland without Floodlight facilities. This is seriously hampering the playing and development of tennis
in Rutland. We are also the laughing stock of all clubs who come to play matches against us and often
cannot finish matches due to dusk etc. We have therefore been looking at alternatives for the club.
Our two alternatives are to relocate to another site by finding a developer to purchase the Vale land for building or to put floodlights up at the Vale on all our courts.
I know the Club has been down the route of floodlights before and failed with planning. However times
have now changed as has the technology surrounding floodlights. These are now much more court
focussed and have less spread beyond the tennis court area. We would like with your agreement to
put the floodlights up at The Vale to cover all the courts and to have the potential of year round use up
to ten pm.
I attach a small questionnaire for you to complete with regards to this and would ask that you drop off
your reply in the mail box at the entrance to the club. I would also like to invite you to our next tennis
committee meeting at the clubhouse on 7'h March at 8.00pm so that we can hear and discuss your
views.
Thank you for your time, patience and understanding.
Kind regards
Yours Sincerely
T.B. Davies
Chairman

OAKHAM TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY 15TH MARCH

Oakham Town Council
Victoria Hall, 39 High Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AH
Telephone: 01572 723627 Fax: 01572 759395
e-mail: enquiries@oakhamtowncouncil.gov.uk


OAKHAM TOWN COUNCIL MET
TUESDAY 15TH MARCH 2011 AT 7.00PM
AT THE OFFICES OF OAKHAM TOWN COUNCIL,
VICTORIA HALL, 39 HIGH STREET, OAKHAM

The meeting was unusually enjoyable and well conducted, might have been due to the return of Cllr Mark Woodcock who chaired the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Sharon Spencer, Joyce Lucas and Maureen Dodds.


Members are asked to declare any interest they may have in respect to items on the
agenda nio members declared any. The Clerk declared one of the people tendering to supply the floral contract is a close associate of his.


Members confirmed the minutes of the meeting of Oakham Town Council held on
Wednesday March 2nd 2011


Members considered a item outstanding from the previous meeting.

They approved the adoption of New Standing Orders
Proposed by Cllr Alf Dewis and seconded by Cllr Mrs Joyce Lucas at the
meeting held on Wednesday 2nd March 2011   

Councillor Alf Dewis reported on the: 

Rutland Broadband Summit

Leading broadband providers from around the country converged on Oakham last week as Rutland County Council's project to improve broadband speeds across the county gathered pace.

The council is currently looking for a business partner to help deliver faster broadband speeds to homes and businesses in towns and villages across Rutland.

Chief Executive of Rutland County Council, Helen Briggs, says: “We are currently going through a tender process to identify a partner for the Digital Rutland project. This is open to any business that thinks they can work with the council to deliver high speed broadband to homes and businesses across the county”.

Helen Briggs added, “Some of our villages struggle to get a half-decent download speed which in this day and age is a real constraint. Low download speeds stop residents doing things many of us take for granted such as watching television online or downloading music tracks. For a local business, it can make the different between being able to trade competitively or not”.

A number of high profile local and national broadband providers attended the Broadband Summit on Friday 11 March at Rutland County Museum.

Display stands provided more information about the products that each broadband provider currently offers and following two presentations from the council, a question and answer session took place.

The event was also attended by a number of local organisations including voluntary groups, town/parish council representatives and interested members of the community.

The Digital Rutland project aims to provide minimum download speeds of:

• 10Mbps to 95% of businesses (with 80% achieving minimum 25Mbps)
• 10Mbps to 85% of households (with 75% achieving minimum 25Mbps)

The overall aim of the Digital Rutland project is to deliver much faster broadband to towns and villages across the county by 2012/13.

The council is currently waiting to hear if a bid for £1.6 million to the Regional Growth Fund has been successful and further applications for funding are due to be made in the coming months.

The was some mention of this creating extra employment. It appeared Councillors felt the figures were a little high.


The Clerk gave his report – For information only once again comments were allowed.

DEPUTATIONS BY THE PUBLIC
Members of the Public were invited to address the meeting

I spoke about the Cory Contract and my concern it was being suggested the contract was not looked at by the councils solicitor due to the cost. I was told the Council would not risk public money. It later became clear when the item was discussed the contract had never been checked by a solicitor and was a amended one used with Vale.

The Chairman’s Fund will be closed and a separate Cost Centre
created to bring any expenditure incurred by the Chairman in the course of
their duties into the Council’s main accounts. Cllr Dewis said he never understood why this account existed. When I was a Councillor I asked a question about this account and was fobbed off.

The following amounts will also

be brought back into the
Council’s main account:
(a) Oakham Town Partnership Signage Project - £3000
(b) Bus Shelters - £1300
(c) Skatepark - £1750

CONTRACT WITH CORY ENVIRONMENTAL
All councillors decided to approve changes and to decided to authorise the signing
and sealing of the Contract subject to it being checked by a solicitor. I see the clerk taking sick leave if things keep improving in this way.

Cllr Dewis also proposed the Clerk should let the councillors know when all the contract were due and not leave them till the last minute. The sort of thing I would have asked and would have been called a bully by the clerk.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY PARTY SUNDAY 12TH JUNE 2011
It was agreed the council would pay £300 for a bouncy castle.

It is hoped the remainder of Carnival Funds could be used to fund additional family fun on at this event.


PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Oakham Town Council considered the following planning applications received and  agreed on
comments and observations to be made to Rutland County Council:


(i) APP/2011/0031/APB Mr Mike Ashton
Construction of two storey extension to rear (south) elevation, raising of roof
height to match extension and construction of carport to side (east) elevation
51 Stamford Road

This was approved


(ii) APP/2011/0077/DTR Mr Michael Reynolds
Reduce height of 1 No. chimney
5 Alwyne Close

Cllr Charles Haworth made a sensible proposal this was rejected by members and the application was approved.


(iii) APP/2011/0104/NT Mr R Bland
Construction of first floor extension to front (southeast) elevation of
dwellinghouse over existing porch
2 Trent Road

Not approved for various reasons including "the lack of space to bend down and pick up soap"


(iv) APP/2011/0130/DTR Mr G Bewley
Renovation of damaged brickwork to west elevation
78 High Street
Approved subject to the bricks matching.


(v) APP/2010/0122/NT Mr William Kirton
Outline application for construction of detached single storey dwelling
32 Braunston Road

approved



EXEMPT ITEMS
To decide whether to exclude the Press and Public, under Section 1(2) of the Public
Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, during consideration of Items 18, 19 and
20 on the agenda due to the confidential nature of the matters to be discussed


The Chairman Cllr Mark Woodcock appeared to not be happy these items had been grouped together, the public was excluded.


FLORAL DISPLAYS The contract for the Town’s floral displays for one year was granted to Ashwell Garden Centre.

WATERING The contract for the watering of the Town’s floral displays was awarded to a different company

COMPLAINT Councillors received a report on a complaint received and made appropriate decisions and they Clerk will be writing to the lady.