Oakham & Rutland News

09 November 2026

Oakham Town Council Set to Address Staffing Restructuring, Town Centre Contracts, and Military Freedom Honour at Busy Evening Meeting

Oakham Town Council is convening for an ordinary meeting tonight, Tuesday, 10th November 2026, at 6:30 PM

Taking place at the Town Council Offices in the Council Chamber at Rol House, Long Row, the session features a packed agenda covering significant administrative overhauls, community initiatives, and ceremonial honours

A central focus of the evening will be recommendations brought forward from the Staffing Committee’s 7th October meeting

. Councillors are set to consider an extensive Organisational Stabilisation report designed to address historic and current workload pressures within the council

If approved, the motions will support the implementation of a revised staffing structure, recruitment to four new posts, and the rollout of a structured organisational improvement programme

. Additional measures include strengthening the Member/Officer Protocol, enhancing document management and information governance, and prioritising historic matters through a proportionate, risk-based approach

. Further staffing business includes updates on town clerk recruitment and the ratification of an urgent decision regarding temporary administrative hours

The council will deliberate on several key local service agreements and community enhancements:

The council will review tender documents for the town centre floral displays contract and decide on specific tender provisions, including contract length pricing structures and infrastructure ownership

The council will consider funding request from Oakham in Bloom for a £305 application fee to Rutland County Council for planter advertisement placements and the integration of formal nameplates on enhanced planters

Papers regarding the leases for Oakham Tennis Club and Oakham Bowls Club are up for review, alongside quotes for a building condition report for Princess Avenue

Councillors will review the risk assessment and an update report for the upcoming Christmas Light Switch-on

In a notable tribute to the local military community, the agenda includes a motion to confer the honorary freedom of the town upon the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, based at Kendrew Barracks in Cottesmore

. This distinction would grant the regiment ceremonial Freedom of Entry to Oakham, allowing them to march through the town with bayonets fixed, drums beating, and colours flying

Additionally, the council will weigh up the formal adoption of the National Association of Local Councils' Civility and Respect Pledge, review committee and working group memberships following recent co-options and resignations, and address routine financial approvals, police reports, and county councillor updates