Oakham Town Council Meeting Descends into Chaos & A Glimmer of Hope for Victoria Hall

Oakham Town Council Meeting Descends into Chaos

Last night's Oakham Town Council meeting was an uncomfortable and chaotic affair, marked by heated exchanges and accusations of unprofessional behaviour. The discord reached a peak as a long-standing conflict between council members came to a head.

The Chairman's Perspective

In an email this morning, the Chairman of Oakham Town Council Cllr Chris Nix, acknowledged the meeting's chaotic nature but laid the blame squarely on Cllr Brookes. The Chairman stated that Cllr Brookes was "solely responsible for attempting to angrily assert his own opinion in a wholly unacceptable manner."

Cllr Chris Nix, also speaking on record, accused Cllr Brookes of "bullying the council and its staff." He detailed this behavior as a pattern of "sarcastic and underhand comments, unfounded accusations, and an overwhelming volume of communication," which he claims is pushing staff "to breaking point and beyond."

Cllr Nix conceded that the council's undertakings are "far from perfect" and that there are "non-compliant" issues. However, he argued that Cllr Brookes's "consistent belligerence and eagerness to attribute blame are hindering efforts to rectify these issues." He concluded that the council is "wasting vast quantities of time defending against your unrelenting allegations of wrongdoing, rather than constructively going about the business of improving Oakham."

Cllr Brookes's Defense

In response, Cllr Brookes expressed his pleasure that the Chairman recognised the council's imperfections and non-compliance with legal requirements. He defended his actions, stating that as a councillor, he has a duty to raise these issues and expect timely action from the council. 

Cllr Brookes cited the handling of the monthly accounts as a prime example of the council's failings. He explained that for at least six months, he has been asking questions about the accounts, which have not been presented correctly. He became angry at the meeting when he was "stopped from asking questions," something he considers a core duty before legally approving the accounts. The meeting ended with the accounts being refused by council members, which he hopes will lead to a correct presentation next month. 

Councillor Brookes says he os puzzled because he was invited to rejoin Oakham Town Council under the pretense that things had changed, but he has found no evidence of any real improvement. He is also concerned that the upcoming meeting with the monitoring officer, which all councillors are invited to attend, will be used as a platform to criticise him, rather than to address the council's ongoing issues.

According to Councillor Brookes, the council's problems with governance failings and staffing issues predate his return. He notes that the council has previously held unpublicised meetings with the monitoring officer to discuss these very same concerns, suggesting that the current challenges are not new.

A Glimmer of Hope for Victoria Hall

Despite the tumultuous proceedings, the council did manage to reach a significant agreement. They voted to explore the possibility of becoming the sole trustee of the Victoria Hall. A budget of £20,000 was approved to appoint consultants who will advise the council on the risks involved in this undertaking.

Cllr Paul Ainsley, who has been working closely with two of the current trustees, expressed his excitement after the meeting, saying he was "so pleased and excited by the outcome 'I could wet myself'."  This decision represents what could be a positive step forward for the future of the historic building amidst the council's internal turmoil.