Oakham Welcomes New Mayor and Deputy at Annual Meeting; Key Decisions Made on Town Improvements and Museum Support

Oakham's New Mayor and Deputy. 

Oakham Town Council, Cllrs Chris Nix and Anna Douthwaite.

Oakham Town Council held its annual meeting last night, marking a transition in chairmanship and addressing important town matters for the year ahead.

The meeting saw the formal appointment of Councillor Chris Nix as Oakham's new Mayor. He takes over the civic chains of office, ready to represent the town over the next twelve months. Supporting the new Mayor will be Councillor Anna Douthwaite, who was appointed as the Deputy Mayor.

In addition to her new role as Deputy Mayor, Cllr Douthwaite has also stepped forward to assist the council in a temporary capacity. She has accepted the unpaid role of Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) to support the council's operations during the current absence of the Clerk. Oakham Town Councillors expressed their sincere gratitude and appreciation for Cllr Douthwaite's willingness to take on this crucial additional responsibility.

Beyond the appointments, the council addressed several key agenda items. Demonstrating support for local heritage and county-level initiatives, Oakham Town Council agreed to back Rutland County Council's lottery application which aims to fund proposed improvements to the county museum located in Oakham.

Further discussions focused on enhancing the town's appearance. Following numerous positive compliments from residents and councillors alike, the council unanimously agreed to proceed with cladding all the town's remaining planters with recycled plastic wood effect material. This project is expected to improve the visual appeal of the planters throughout Oakham. The estimated cost for cladding the remaining 17 planters is approximately £5000. The council also reinforced the stipulation that, once clad, the planters must not be used for advertising or promotional 'plastering', ensuring their primary purpose remains aesthetic enhancement.

Looking forward, the council members expressed optimism for the upcoming year and the work ahead. The meeting also included thanks to outgoing Chairman, Councillor Paul Ainsely, for his dedication and service in chairing the council since the resignation of Cllr Adam Lowe last year.

Editors Note:

In town councils in England, the roles of Mayor and Chairman are primarily ceremonial and do not grant the individual holding the position any extra powers beyond those of a regular town councillor. All councillors hold equal standing and decision-making authority rests with the full council collectively, not with any single individual.

The law does not designate a Town Council Mayor or Chairman as a "council leader" in the same vein as leaders in other forms of local government, such as those in county or district councils with a cabinet system or directly elected mayors who hold executive powers.

The main responsibilities of a Town Council Mayor or Chairman typically include:

• Chairing Council Meetings: Presiding over meetings of the full council, ensuring that the meetings are conducted in accordance with standing orders and facilitating orderly debate. While they chair the meeting, they do not have the power to make unilateral decisions on agenda items.
• Ceremonial Duties: Representing the council and the town at various civic functions, community events, and engagements. This can involve attending official openings, welcoming dignitaries, and participating in local celebrations.
• Signing Documents: Being permitted to sign documents on behalf of the council, often as a formalϋ process to enact decisions that have been collectively made by the full council. This is usually a procedural duty rather than an executive power.

Crucially, decisions on all council matters, from setting the budget to implementing local projects, are made by the collective body of elected councillors through resolutions passed at duly convened meetings. No individual councillor, including the Mayor or Chairman, has the power to make decisions independently.

The Deputy Mayor or Vice-Chairman generally does not have specific responsibilities unless the Mayor or Chairman is absent. In such cases, the Deputy steps in to perform the duties of the absent incumbent, most notably chairing council meetings.

If these rules were followed the town council would be a much happier organisation.

 

 Video of Appointment and Oakham Mayor Cllr Chris Nix Acceptance Speech.

Full Audio of recording of Oakham Town Councils Annual Meeting 2025