By the Rutland Democracy Reporter
Oakham Town Council’s latest session proved to be a busy night of both civic expansion and high-stakes financial drama. The meeting, held last night, saw the council welcome a new face to its ranks while simultaneously grappling with a significant attempted theft from the public purse and ongoing police investigations.
The evening opened with the co-option of Andrew Padmore as the town’s newest councillor. A resident of Kilburn End, Mr. Padmore has lived in Oakham with his family for the past three years. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for the council as it balances community projects with a series of administrative challenges.
However, the celebratory mood was quickly dampened by a report from the Town Clerk regarding the council’s finances. In what was described as yet another instance of the council being targeted by a criminal, a fraudulent cheque for £5,500 was cleared through its new bank account. While the breach was significant, the Clerk confirmed that the bank eventually recognised the cheque had not been legitimately issued by the council and has since refunded the full amount.
Operational matters also took center stage as the council addressed the town’s floral contract. The procurement process hit a snag when members were asked to consider two quotes that were not "like for like," making a fair comparison impossible. To resolve the issue, the council agreed to appoint two members to work directly with the Clerk to refine the contract requirements and ensure the town's displays remain of a high standard. In a further move to stabilise operations, the council voted to extend the contract of a temporary admin assistant for up to six months to cover for a long-term staff absence.
The meeting concluded behind closed doors as members moved into a private session to discuss a sensitive matters and a security matter. Councillors were provided with an update regarding a recent intruder incident involving a former town councillor. While the specifics of the encounter remain confidential, the council confirmed that the matter is still under active police investigation and could say no more publicly at this stage.
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