Rutland County Council Imformation for prospective Councillors

Monday evening was a evening to find out what Rutland County Councillors Officers expected from Councillors
Unfortunately Chief Executive Helen Briggs could not attend she had to run home at around 5.00pm to attend a urgent meeting.

Miss Stokes was doing something far more useful she is convicting killers doing jury service.

So the evening was left in the capable hands of Geoff Pook, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Rutland County Council.

He is not a bad public speaker.


The Following County Councillors were present to take part in a speed dating style questioning session.

Mr Roger B Begy (Conservative) - GREETHAM WARD  (Leader of the Council)

Mr Edward Baines (Conservative) - MARTINSTHORPE WARD (Chairman of the Council)

Mr Barrie W Roper (Conservative) - KETTON WARD

Mr Peter W Jones (Conservative) - OAKHAM SOUTH WEST WARD

Mrs Janine Rodger (Conservative) - COTTESMORE WARD

Mr Hugh E G Rees (Conservative) - KETTON WARD (who is stepping down this May)

Mr Peter J W Golden (Lib/Dem)- NORMANTON WARD (was interviewed by Helen Pender, she learnt he knew more about her than she knew about him. Casting that aside she asked what do you do for employment he replied "I am Idle" (A rich Lib/Dem?) (I don't claim to understand politics but it does seem a bit strange here in Rutland))

We started with 9 members of the public 3 more joined us quite late.


I recognised a few people including Mrs Plews she stood against me and Cllr Alf Dewis she broke election rules with her leaflet and when I reported it Rutland County Council did nothing. 


Ex Town Councillor Alan Walters attended not sure why he had told Helen Pender he belong to the wrong party Labour and would not stand. He sat face to face with  Mr Barrie W Roper (Conservative) - KETTON WARD who he called a twat. I did not hear what they said but I imagine Alan probably
said "silly little old me"
Alan Walters signed of his resignation letter Little Old Me. You can view this at Oakham Town Council office.


During the presentation Cllr Peter Jones was giving me friendly glances (not)

After the presentation it was time for the speed dating with Councillors. I did feel sorry for the nice gentleman next to me as there seemed to be a label on our table saying don't approach.

Dr Hugh E G Rees (Conservative) - KETTON WARD (who is stepping down this May) He felt the role of a Councillor was to politically steer the Council, he also explained the role of the Scrutiny Panels, he said he felt Scrutiny at Rutland County Council worked aswell as it should. He felt Scrutiny should be your critical friend and policy maker.

Mr Edward Baines (Conservative) - MARTINSTHORPE WARD (Chairman of the Council) made his way over to us. We had an interesting conversation. He had first become a Councillor because he was green with anger about a issue, He has served both as a Independent and Tory. He said he enjoys the challenging role of a Councillor. He does not discriminate against those who did not vote for him, his role was to serve the whole ward and this was very important to him.

Mr Roger B Begy (Conservative) - GREETHAM WARD  (Leader of the Council) Mr Begy had a chat with me and the other man he knew both of us. I agreed not to blog the details of what was said. (He did not say anything he should not have said the conversation was not related to the evenings theme)
Although I am sure Mr Begy wont mind me saying he is concerned about complacency, The County needs people to stand in both Parish and County level.

I learned Rutland County Councillors are paid an allowance of £3,770 a year.

If Councillor are on committees this sum increases for each one. 

They also claim expenses.


I am awaiting a FOI request to find these details. I understand and accept the delay is due to the person responsible for providing this information is on Jury Service.

They meeting was very interesting and informative. 


It ended with a man asking a question are there any perks, like free parking?

Photographing Leicester Martin Brookes

Leicester Station

My Shadow

Piper outside Marks & Spencer Leicester

Leicester underpass

Leicester Underpass

I received a email from Helen Briggs Rutland County Council this evening.

I received a email from Helen Briggs Rutland County Council this evening.

I am not sure what she means by defamatory, is that a new word for criticism. Mentioning an officers name like Helen Briggs is not defamatory just because she does not like to be criticised. 

The content of my blog does not contain anything illegal or defamatory, it has been checked, by various people including PC Lloyd who was asked to read every page, His response was it was boring. I don't  know who asked the poor man to read all the posts.

At first I agree at meeting to a block, soon changed my mind when I realised this would be giving the Council the opportunity to do something they had wished to do for some time. At that meeting I was not happy because I had traced the abuse to Rutland County Council it was the legal department who suggested it was coming from the library. After I went away and thought things through I insisted the council should ban the person who was responsible for posting vile comments if it was a library user not stop everyone else viewing.

I had no proof it was coming from the library and felt the council were using this an escape, then I obtained proof that some of the most disgusting filthy comments had been posted from the Council Chamber.

Is it defamatory to say a officer is rude?

Now Helen Briggs has spent so much time thinking how to reply to my complaint, she can get on with finding the bank statements for me and the member of public who made FOI request.

Then get on and reinvest the £19 million to earn a better sum of interest. I hope a Home Economics Degree doesn't tell her to hide it in the tea pot in the kitchen cupboard.

I hope that is not defamation?

Below is Helen Briggs Email 

Dear Mr Brookes

Further to your complaint (email dated 31st January 16:14).

I should like to start by apologising for the fact that the block on members of the public being able to access your blog from the computers in the library has been implemented without you having been informed in advance.

However, I am satisfied that it is the correct action for the Council to take in the circumstances.  You will recall that towards the end of last year we did ask whether you would like public access to be blocked in response to what both you and Council officers considered to be highly inappropriate and offensive material being uploaded when there was some reason to believe that the material was being posted from the library computers.  After initially supporting the idea, you quickly changed your mind, which you were quite entitled to do.  At that time the way in which the internet service was provided to the library would have made it difficult to arrange for the blocking of the website, so we complied with your request.

Mr Pook did advise you at that time that we were intending to install new arrangements which would enable the Council's own IT team to regulate access more directly.  It is the completion of that installation which has led to the blocking of access.  From the Council's point of view it is considered that some of the content which you are posting yourself is defamatory of certain individuals connected with the County Council, especially officers.  Further, enabling continued unrestricted access by the public risks the addition of yet more undesirable material of the type which you too have said you would like to cease.

Access is now blocked also as far as the wireless network in the Catmose meetings area is concerned.  The combination should eliminate the scope for  material offensive to you being posted by any association with the Council's systems, a development which I imagine you would welcome.

Helen Briggs | Chief Executive

Rutland County Council

Catmose, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6HP

t: 01572 758203 | f: 01572 758385 | e: hbriggs@rutland.gcsx.gov.uk

www.rutland.gov.uk

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Rutland County Council

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