Kevin Tighe has resigned as Chief Executive of the Rutland Agricultural Society

Kevin Tighe has resigned as Chief Executive of the Rutland Agricultural Society.

Conservative Cllr Kenneth Bool Says Rutland County Council Chief Executive Helen Briggs Signed A Memorandum of Understanding With The MOD in secret, Edward Baines Described the previous leader as arrogant

At special council meeting at Rutland County Council last night. 

Former CEO of Rutland County Council Helen Briggs 

Conservative Cllr Kenneth Bool Says Rutland County Council Chief Executive Helen Briggs Signed A Memorandum of Understanding with The MOD four years ago, which was kept secret from 24 out of 26 Councillor for an entire year.

Conservative Rutland County Councillor Kenneth Bool 

 

When the councils monitoring officer advised the meeting should should go into exempt he said.

"If we go into excluded now, we started out in secrecy and we are ending in secrecy and I have to say this makes me and the general 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 this." 

"We can do so in a manner that adheres to our obligations and of the none disclosure agreement, transparency is important in a democracy, so that those in power are held to account for the common good. Let us therefore be open and transparent with those who put us in office. We should remain in the public domain."

Conservative Rutland County Councillor Kenneth Bool 

The Chairman of the Council Edward Baines  said he agreed with Cllr Bools comments about the previous leader of the council and he went on to describe the previous leader as arrogant and that they behaved as if they had powers of an elected mayor rather than the leader of this elected council.  

(as Mr Bool did not speak about any former leader of the council it is not clear if Cllr Baines was referring to a former leader of the former CEO some on social media have decided he was referring to the former CEO)

Edward Baines stated all that is in the past, is he not forgetting he has been a large part of that past? I do hope the man who refuses to move into the modern world and even use basics such as email steps down at the next election.

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

What next?

There has been some discussion on social media this morning 

Cllr Nick Begy Conservative Rutland County Councillor 

Conservative Councillor Nick Begy said, the outlook is bleak. We have lost control on the development and now greenfield sites in our villages are in danger.

Councillor Ian Razzell  Conservative Rutland County Council 

Conservative Councillor  Ian Razzell  said,  there are some who need to hang their heads in shame. Banging on about their community and failing to represent them at countless meetings. I hope they are able to explain to their community why green fields will now be torn up to build on.

Helen Briggs, Rutland County Council, Chief Executive, Presence at My Protest, Horror Video

Helen Briggs, Rutland County Council, Chief Executive, Presence at My Protest, Video

Helen Briggs, Chief Executive, Rutland County Council, Leicestershire Police Manipulation?

Helen Briggs (left) Tory Leader Cllr Roger Begy (right)

Just over five years ago Rutland received a new chief executive Helen Briggs during her Tory reign she has
destroyed any freedom of speech in here in Rutland.

Many local critics have moved away or have been silenced by her army of  Tory bullies.

A Langham Blogger who made comments about the planning issues of Rutland and the serious issue of blocked drains in his village was silenced. It is not clear if her army manipulated the local police in this case
as is my case and admitted by a detective sgt. yesterday. Although it is proper to mention that he did not mention the name of the person responsible for that manipulation. Maybe all will be revealed in court.
Sgt Shellard and others have described it as mismanagement. I describe it as council and police corruption.

Future Blogging by Roy Clarke
http://roys-blog-moments-in-time.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/future-blogging.html

Many of those who have spoke out at public meetings have moved out of the county.
Some according to a Rutland County Councillor still suffer abuse from the council when
they move hundreds of miles away.

I am told the BBC is currently producing an 'Inside Out' documentary about our fab Tory Council. I wonder if they will interview any of those victims. The BBC is very good at exposing this sort of issue but sadly we have no decent local press to ever follow up their good work. I think of the past exposure of Melton Estates and more recently the Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Rutland Air Ambulance.

People are very aware how rotten are local councils are, they fear taking it on, most councillor are have no mandate from the electorate, standing and becoming elected unopposed. This is true of all eight Oakham Town Councillors. at least one of the vacant seat has been available since 2010. It would be nice to see the
transformation that has happened in Uppingham  repeat itself her in Oakham and the County.
The Town Council is content it "does little well" at a very high cost to the tax payer. Uppingham now appear to work for the community after school clubs a perfect example. Instead of wasting tax payers money on Army parades Oakham and giving the costly freedom to a regiment that has been in Rutland about the same time as our Chief Executive and is on the day the government announced the regiment is on the move again.

You do of course see the odd tweet or letter in the paper but these are often silenced by the menacing telephone calls and when that does not achieve the desired outcome they call you a paedophile "manipulate" the local police.

 wendy moody ‏@wendbloo

1h

@OakhamUK you will never win any battles with the council, they are a law unto themselves, as observed over years of living here!

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There is enough evidence to prove that things turned very nasty throughout the county when Mrs Briggs arrived.

A local man who has disagreements with her since then has sadly been pushed to the brink where he now publishes death threats and other crude comments out of pure frustration. This man has a far higher education

standard than Helen Briggs and her army. It's all very sad. I don't endorse any threats of harm. I question why the people of Rutland and Oakham have permitted our councils to spiral out of control.

Let us not forget Helen Briggs description of her council “we are lean and mean”. her  quote from a national

newspaper sums it up.

Is this Helen Briggs New Car?

Concluding today's post I would like to thank Mrs Briggs for recognising that our councillors find it difficult 

to answers or respond to any public correspondence. I assume they might be a bit thick?

She has ordered I don't email any councillor due to the complex nature of my questions and emails.

She orders I use the single point of contact address, the same one she demands the Anti Corruption Councillors are asked to use.

Of course it's not that complex to realise her request is unlawful. Any member of the public has the right to

communicate with Councillors. without the interference of the unelected Chief Executive and her staff. 

Any Councillor can chose to ignore residents, this of course could effect there support at the next election.

It is unlawful for an MP to ignore a constituents written correspondence.   

Rutland County Council, Public Questions, Mr Mehra, New Statesman, Leicestershire Police, Rutland Anti Corruption Party, Responses, Chief Executive, Mrs Briggs, Bevan Brittan LLP, Mr Keith-Lucas

Although my name is mentioned in the following questions, I did not request they be asked  I have not objected to them being asked.

Rutland County Council
Catmose Oakham Rutland LE15 6HP

Telephone 01572 722577 Facsimile 01572 758307 DX 28340 Oakham

TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTEENTH (Special) MEETING of the COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Catmose, Oakham on Thursday 10 January 2013 at 7.00pm.

Questions received from Miss Helen Pender, Oakham

1) Re: Bevan Brittan Report, 16 November 2012, Appendix A. Introduction, Item 4:

“We have previously advised the Council in connection with statements made by Martin Brookes on his weblog …”

1. What previous advice has RCC, its officers or Councillors sought or received on Martin Brookes’ web publications?

The Chairman invited the Chief Executive of Rutland County Council, Mrs Briggs, to respond. 

Mrs Briggs responded “Advice was provided on the possible course of action relating to the Mr Brookes Blog on 25th May 2010”.* 1.

2.What other advice has the Council, its officers or Councillors sought or received on any other internet publications?

Mrs Briggs responded “None to my knowledge”.

3.

(a) Have letters been written to Private Eye or The Leicester Mercury? 

(b) If so, what was the cost of writing letters to these or any other publications?

Mrs Briggs responded “None on behalf of the Authority”.

4.

How much liaison, and with whom was the liaison conducted between RCC, its officers or Councillors and Leicestershire Police? What matters were raised?

Mrs Briggs responded “The Council liaises on a regular basis with Leicestershire Police in the normal course of business. Issues of concern in relation to Blogs have been discussed but only informally and no action has been requested”. 2.

5.

Did any Councillor on RCC seek to convict Martin Brookes with a Criminal ASBO?

Mrs Briggs responded “The Council has had no involvement in such action”. 3.

Miss Pender asked the following supplementary question:

I notice the caveat “none on behalf of the Authority”, which seems to connect you to someone connected to Council; has someone written to the Mercury?

Mrs Briggs responded “I can only answer on behalf of the Authority and that is the answer”.






my comments:

1. that advice cost the council £2385.00

2. So if no action was requested why did Inspector J Monks feel the need to 
take action?

3. Conservative Cabinet Member Councillor Gene Plews did, he claimed in
a rather fictitious police statement, I "have destroyed Oakham" and was part 
of a group made of 9 people made up of Town Councillors, The Mayor then 
Cllr Joyce Lucas and ex Mayor Paul Beech and their cronies, last  year, 
Class A bullying, I was not happy and neither were the CPS. 

2) Bevan Brittan has published an email from Cllr Richardson to Kim Sawyer dated 15 November 2012 in which he states:

2.The second disciplinary meeting (of Aman Mehra) was on 14 June 2012.

1.Who requested this meeting? Why?

2.Why would a disciplinary meeting be held with the erstwhile monitoring officer and compliance officer of RCC? Is this true?

3.If this meeting was held at the request of Mr Mehra it would suggest that he had severe reservations over compliance matters. Such reservations could not legally be said to breach employee post mortem confidentiality so:

a) Did Mr Mehra have any concerns over RCC compliance matters?

b) What were those concerns?


Mrs Briggs responded “Mr Mehra was the subject of an ongoing disciplinary investigation which had not concluded. The meeting which took place on 14th June 2012 related to that ongoing disciplinary investigation. The meeting was not held at the request of Mr Mehra”.

There was no supplementary question.

3) 

Bevan Brittan report, 16 November 2012, Appendix A. Introduction, Item 4 states:

“We have previously advised the Council ……”

Can this report be said to be independent when:

a) 

Bevan Brittan have clearly advised the Council on previous occasions?

b) 

I understand Bevan Brittan have failed to talk to Councillors Gale, Richardson and Wainwright when compiling this report. Can this be deemed wholly independent if Bevan Brittan have failed to ascertain the other half of the argument and case brought against these Councillors by RCC?

c) 

Since all liaison with Bevan Brittan only outlined RCC’s complaint was it not a complete waste of public monies?

Mrs Briggs responded “The report has been prepared by a nationally prominent firm of Solicitors instructed under normal client care conditions. The firm is independent of the Council. The only previous connection was through similarly arms-length instruction.

They were instructed to advise on the possible legal options which the Council might wish to consider, not to undertake a full investigation.”

Miss Pender asked the following supplementary question:

I understand that the legal correspondent on the New Statesman has contacted a local blogger, saying the advice is deeply suspect; why didn’t you contact a QC why a jobbing solicitor?

The Chairman invited the Local Government Partner, Bevan Brittan LLP, 

Mr Keith-Lucas to respond. 

Mr Keith-Lucas responded “Mr Green had contacted me to say that he intended to publish and he disagreed with the substance of the report. However, this could only be resolved in a court of law and that was the end of the discussion.”

Rutland County Council, Chief Executive, Helen Briggs, Writes To, Anti Corruption Councillors,

Rutland County Council, Chief Executive, Writes To, Anti Corruption Councillors,



Mrs Briggs Left Photograph on Rutland Day 2010 outside council office.

Mrs Briggs has written to members of the Anti Corruption Group asking them not to
protest outside the Council Office, She claims their peaceful protests are causing
her staff distress and they feel intimidated.

Interestingly when I first learnt of the protest from a on-line publication,
The report included a photograph of Tory Leader Roger Begy outside the castle.

I went to Rutland County Council and asked about the protest and
none of the reception staff were aware there had been any protest.

It would be true to say many staff have felt intimidated in the past and
they most certainly don't accuse the three Rutland County Councillors
who make up the Anti Corruption Party. Many feared for their jobs
during the last round of cuts. Many took her to tribunal and won.

I am awaiting her latest snotty letter telling me off for taking a photograph
of the publicly owned Christmas Tree located in the reception area.

If you read Private Eye this week you can read the result of her intimidation
of staff and how her supporters threaten old ladies over they phone.

There is a blog on-line where she is blamed also for the death of a father
when she worked for another council as a caring person in social services
I am not sure exactly what went on but she was moved to bin duty and
then took up her role in Rutland.

She is quoted in a National Newspaper:

"We are lean and mean," enthuses chief executive Helen Briggs, who lives in Oakham.at the 10th Anniversary of Rutlands Independence 


 tragic deaths seem to follow Mrs Briggs, three of them this year.

Very Soon Chief Executive of Rutland County Council will probably celebrate six years in her job. What has she achieved?

Very Soon Chief Executive of Rutland County Council will probably celebrate six years in her job. What has she achieved?

H Briggs Right

A reputation for being a bully, a description given in a email from Tory Councillor who resigned from the party and a verbal comments from a Union Shop Steward and staff.

After one year Mrs Briggs spoke to the Guardian  "We are lean and mean," enthuses chief executive Helen Briggs,

This is probably the only time Mrs Briggs has given an honest statement about herself and the council.

Since the article was written the council made another honest statement and admitted it is political.

It is mainly Conservative led by 4 Bullies Mrs Briggs, Roger Begy and Terry King. (as described in a email received from a former Tory after his resignation from the Party. I personally add the name of Cllr Gene Plews to that list.

The recent news item about Tory MP Andrew Mitchell and his alleged outburst calling a policeman a pleb.and Tory David Cameron's outburst in the commons  back in May when he said ‘which we wouldn’t have if we’d listened to the muttering idiot sitting opposite me.’ all this reminds me of Helen Briggs Tory Council.

The Standards Committee ruled it is "political tit for tat" when Tory Councillors refer to me as an "idiot" in communications. when I complained about an email sent by Tory Gene Plews, I guess that is why the mainly Tory Committee took no action against the Tory leader Roger Begy when he called me an idiot when I attended a meeting of the council, 

It seems to me you have to be a particular breed to be a Rutland Tory. Maybe when Cameron and Andrew lose their seats at the next election they can come and join the Rutland Tories they would fit in nicely around Helen Briggs table.





Some residents contributed towards a gift for Helen Briggs
unfortunately they did not have much spare cash left after
paying the highest council tax in the country.

some refused by saying we pay her £130,000 a year
she can buy her own flowers.

Reminding her of the Tory Motto "We are all in it together"
as if?

Peter Hetherington: Rutland is 10 years old, but is small beautiful ...

www.guardian.co.uk › News › SocietyShare

19 Sep 2007 – "We are lean and mean," enthuses chief executive Helen Briggs, who lives in Oakham. "When I go shopping, people stop me in the street and ...

• ews
• Society

Independent means

England's tiniest county is 10 years old, but residents are still divided over whether small is beautiful

Things you didn't know about Rutland
Profile of Rutland by Local Futures (pdf)

• Peter Hetherington
• The Guardian, Wednesday 19 September 2007

Sharing services is essential to the survival of Rutland. Photograph: David Sillitoe

Ten years after breaking away from Leicestershire to become an all-purpose unitary council, England's smallest county - population 38,500 - celebrated "independence day" last weekend with morris dancing, carnivals, concerts and fireworks.

Rutland, on the southern fringes of the East Midlands, within commuting distance of London, might stretch a mere 18 miles from north to south and 17 east to west at the widest point, but it still occupies a land area bigger than many cities. And its status is attracting renewed interest, with unitary local government back on the agenda as ministers prepare final guidance to create, potentially, 16 new unitary authorities, from Exeter to Northumberland. Local government minister John Healey insists that the new authorities will deliver more "effective, responsive and efficient services", and will save around £150m annually, which can be used to cut council tax bills.

Significant deficits

The message from Rutland, based on the last review of local government in the mid-1990s, which created a raft of new unitary councils, is that the opposite can be the case, with many new councils inheriting significant deficits. The dilemma is how to match efficiency and economies of scale with the need to create units of local governance that accommodate historical boundaries and interests. In other words, balancing size with local identity.

By any measure, the residents of Rutland - motto: Much in Little - are proud to identify with a county first recognised as a shire in the 12th century. With 51 parishes, two towns - Oakham and Uppingham - and 26 county councillors, it certainly passes the democratic test. "We are lean and mean," enthuses chief executive Helen Briggs, who lives in Oakham. "When I go shopping, people stop me in the street and question me about local services, like the swimming pool [which has just had a £500,000 revamp]. At parish council meetings, it's not unusual for me to attend along with other officials."

But does an authority with only 350 staff - a further 378 are tied to education, serving 17 primary and three secondary schools - and a net budget of £27m pass the value-for-money test. Council leader Roger Begy, a Conservative who is proud to lead what he calls a "non-political council" based on consensus - there is no party whip, although most members are Tories - is still rattled by the bill Leicestershire left his infant council to pick up 10 years ago. "The rationale is that the budget should have followed services, but we were left with a £3m shortfall," he says. "That has always put pressure on the community in terms of council tax and a dedicated staff to deliver services as cost effectively as possible."

The upshot, he concedes, is that while a majority of Rutlanders are pleased with the performance of the county council, a "significant minority" remain concerned about the cost of independence. Jim Harrison, mayor of Oakham, the largest town, is among them. "I was always against the idea from the outset," he says. "I said it would cost us more money - and so it has. Nothing good has come of it."

For Harrison, it boils down to the council tax: £1,200 annually, he says, for a three-bedroom house in Rutland and only £800 for a similar property in Leicestershire "three miles away". Since his outburst in the Rutland Times last week, he insists he has received considerable support. "A lot of people have stopped me and said: 'Thank God we have a mayor who's saying what we're thinking.' They remember the first thing the [new] council did: spend £1m to extend its head office."

Begy will have none of it. "[Harrison] has taken a hell of a lot of stick from local people who feel he has no open mind on this issue," he responds. But Begy accepts that running Rutland requires some imaginative thinking - namely, sharing services with neighbouring authorities, including Leicestershire and Lincolnshire county councils. Aside from police and fire, still run by Leicestershire, internal audit and economic development are shared; shortly, revenue and benefits, legal services and building control will follow suit.

While acknowledging that sharing services is essential to the survival of Rutland, Briggs insists that collaboration on this scale means the council can customise delivery to suit local circumstances. At present, for instance, a mobile library service is shared with Leicestershire, although they are now considering how to modify this to provide a wider mobile access point for council services.

Briggs, a former corporate director with Doncaster council in South Yorkshire, which serves a population of 287,000, is clearly enthused about Rutland's close identity with the community. She recalls, for instance, the council's former lead member, who knew the names, and the circumstances, of all the children in the care of the local council.

Passionate about issues

And party politics? While 19 of the 26 councillors are Conservatives, Briggs finds it hard to detect party allegiances. She says: "I would describe them as members who are passionate about issues, and not political in a party political sense - passionate about doing the right thing for Rutland."

As to the future, Begy thinks unitary, or all-purpose local government, may be the way forward for other councils - provided the financial base is secure. He says: "Ten years ago, we were told that the creation of new unitaries would be cost-neutral and the funding would follow the services, yet we inherited a deficit that has taken 10 years to write off."

Not surprisingly, his advice to aspiring all-purpose councils is to "spend a lot of time and effort on calculating and negotiating the way service delivery costs are split up". But he knows that tiny Rutland still has its detractors. Too small to be efficient? "Absolute rubbish," he responds "We've done a hell of a lot in 10 years, connecting with the public in a way that larger councils cannot. Surely that is what local democracy is about?"

· Email your comments to society@guardian.co.uk. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication"

Catmose Campus Official Opening by Dr Laurence Howard, H.M. Lord Lieutenant of Rutland O.B.E, JP

Oakham Mayor Cllr Joyce Lucas, Dr Laurence Howard, H.M. Lord Lieutenant of Rutland O.B.E, J.P,
Stuart Williams, the Principal Catmose College, Edward Baines Chairman of Rutland County Council and Helen Briggs, the Chief Executive of Rutland County Council


Today was the official opening of Catmose Campus, marking the achievement and success of one of Rutland's biggest projects to date.

I felt a little bit like a gatecrasher as the Town Council had not contributed in anyway to this project.

The hospitality from the college was superb, plenty to drink soft or bubbly. The nibbles from Waitrose...

We were are shuffled into the theatre, via the art gallery currently showing student works.

Once in the theatre the Principle spoke and thanked all involved and then it was the turn of two head students who spoke about the benefits of the new campus.

Then Dr Laurence spoke and cut a ribbon in front of the stage and the curtain opened and we were treated to highlights from the student production of Hair Spray, Very talented students, it would have been good to see the whole show. I don't think my school ever put on performances like this one.

Click Here To See Performance Photographs


Then Helen Briggs spoke

After this we all took a look around the Campus, I was very impressed by Anna who offered a tour of the Campus. She was very informative and explained many features in great detail. I asked questions and received good answers.

Mr Stuart is rightly very proud of his students and staff and the new campus. Even if the students call his new restaurant a canteen... They also appear to be enjoying their new Campus.

I departed feeling very cheerful and then it was of to Oakham Town Council that was a long night................

"We are lean and mean," enthuses chief executive, Helen Briggs, Rutland County Council

"We are lean and mean," enthuses chief executive Helen Briggs, who lives in Oakham.at the 10th Anniversary of Rutlands Independance,

If Rutland County Council was lean and mean then, what is it now?  Mean and Evil?

Now I understand the reason why these good people give me so much grief.

Good grief why do we put up with this woman.

We were lied to about her pay, by Conservative Council Leader Roger Begy at the public meeting, does he think we are stupid?

All websites that list Council staff who are paid more than our Prime Minister list her as earning £129,000

There is now a huge reduction shown on the Councils own site this year.

Helen Briggs said While 19 of the 26 councillors are Conservatives, Briggs finds it hard to detect party allegiances. She says: "I would describe them as members who are passionate about issues, and not political in a party political sense - passionate about doing the right thing for Rutland."

Has she never looked at the voting records.

And the public are not blind.

I hope the large amount of public who were at lasts nights council meeting remember their comments and vote out this Conservative mob on May 5th

Ex Councillor Mr Jim Harrison in the past said of Rutland County Council:

"I was always against the idea from the outset," he says. "I said it would cost us more money - and so it has. Nothing good has come of it."