Oakham Town Council Welcomes New Chairman and Mayor Cllr Paul Ainsley

Oakham Town Council Welcomes New Chairman and Mayor Cllr Paul Ainsley 

Cllr Chris Nix (Deputy Mayor) and Cllr Paul Ainsley (New Mayor)

In a special meeting held at the Council Chamber on October 23rd, Oakham Town Council appointed a new chairman and Mayor.

So the historic market town of Oakham has a new chapter as Cllr Paul Ainsley takes on the roles of Mayor and Chairman of the town council. At a special meeting held at the Council Chamber on October 23rd, Oakham Town Council appointed him as the new chairman and Mayor, Cllr Ainsley succeeds Cllr Adam Lowe and has pledged to serve the community with openness, honesty, and transparency.

In his inaugural speech, Cllr Ainsley expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve Oakham and outlined his vision for the town's future. "I pledge to behave in an open, honest, and transparent way as we work together to make Oakham a better place to work, rest, and play. By working together, we can reinvigorate our county town," he stated.

Cllr Ainsley also paid tribute to his predecessor, Cllr Adam Lowe, who served the town for 14 years. He thanked Cllr Lowe for his contributions and wished him well in his new role as clerk to the council at Uppingham.

As Mayor and Chairman, Cllr Ainsley will be responsible for chairing the town council meetings and representing Oakham at various events and ceremonies. He has a strong commitment to community involvement and is expected to play a key role in assisting in shaping the town's future.

The meeting marked a bittersweet moment as outgoing Chairman and Mayor, Cllr Adam Lowe, delivered his prepared farewell speech. Cllr Lowe reflected on his tenure, highlighting the achievements and positive impact he believes he has had on the local community.

In his speech, Cllr Lowe expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve Oakham Town Council for the past 14 years. He shared his decision to step down, explaining that it was a personal choice to focus his time on a recent career move with another Town Council.

"My decision to resign as Chairman of Oakham Town Council," said Cllr Lowe, "is simply a change of direction that allows me to focus my finite time to a recent career move working with another Town Council serving another community."  

Cllr Lowe's dedication to Oakham was evident in his numerous contributions to the town. He proudly mentioned raising or donating over £25,000 to various organisations and groups during his time as a Councillor. As Mayor, he and his wife raised an impressive £2090, which was generously donated to The Poppy Appeal and the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club.

"Since becoming Mayor in May 2024, my wife and I have raised £2090, that money has already been handed over with £1645 going to The Poppy Appeal and £450 going to the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club," Cllr Lowe said.

It is reported, Oakham Town Council Clerk Chris Evans praised Cllr Lowe's exceptional track record of service to the community. "His work for the community for many years is exceptional," Evans stated.

As Cllr Lowe steps down from his role as Chairman and Mayor, he will continue to contribute to the local area in his new position as Clerk at Uppingham Council. Oakham Town Council looks forward to a new chapter under the chairmanship of its newly appointed Mayor.