Oakham Town Council Extraordinary Meeting Called Amid Summer Event Deadlines and Staffing Turmoil

Oakham Town Council Extraordinary Meeting Called Amid Summer Event Deadlines and Staffing Turmoil

By Local Democracy Reporter

Oakham Town Council will convene for an extraordinary meeting this week, triggered by a formal request from Councillors Martin Brookes and Sally-Anne Wadsworth. The session comes at a critical juncture for the town, as  delays and a series of brewing scandals threaten both the summer social calendar and the council’s financial oversight.

The primary catalyst for the meeting is the urgent need to approve a suite of policies and procedures required for insurance purposes. Without these approvals, the town’s summer events scheduled to begin in June cannot legally proceed.

Cllrs Brookes and Wadsworth moved to call the meeting after expressing frustration with the conduct of the previous full council session. They allege that members were blocked from submitting vital papers, while only Cllr Ainsley was permitted to present documents regarding Victoria Hall and local speeding issues.

"We are calling this meeting to ensure Oakham actually has a summer season," a source close to the council stated. "If these requirements aren't implemented now, the events simply cannot go ahead."

The council is also facing a governance crisis following an allegation by a local resident concerning potential payroll fraud over the past year. In response, the Town Clerk is seeking immediate approval to appoint an independent company to manage the council’s payroll and ensure financial transparency.

Furthermore, with the retirement of the current HR advisor and a perceived failure by the Staffing Committee to manage ongoing issues, the Clerk is requesting the appointment of a new professional HR firm to steady the ship.

The most contentious element of the upcoming meeting involves a confidential staffing matter. Councillors are expected to discuss a settlement request from a member of staff currently on long-term sick leave. Currently there is no agenda paper for the staffing agenda item.

Concerns have been raised that the council may be forced to settle using taxpayer funds because internal procedures were not followed correctly over the last four years, potentially voiding the council's legal expenses insurance.

The conduct of the Chairman of the Staffing Committee has come under intense scrutiny. Recent disclosures include, a conflict of interest. The Chairman admitted last week to being a "close friend" of the staff member in question, though he maintains he can "change hats" and acted properly when meeting the employee for coffee.

It is alleged that on Tuesday, the Chairman and another councillor met with the staff member and their partner in the town centre without the knowledge of the Staffing Committee or the full Council.

Allegations have surfaced regarding the leaking of confidential information to other members of the council.

One councillor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, questioned why elected members rather than the council’s solicitors appear to be conducting sensitive negotiations. "It is inappropriate for unqualified members to be agreeing sums of taxpayer money in a town centre cafe," they said.

Cllr Martin Brookes has confirmed he will recuse himself from voting if the staffing settlement is to be considered, citing outstanding complaints he had previously filed against the employee which he believes were never correctly investigated due to the Chairman’s and another Councillors friendship with the individual.

The council reportedly has a settlement template provided by the outgoing HR consultant, leaving only the final figure to be debated. However, some members are advocating for a "zero-pay" stance. They point to a previous instance involving a former clerk where the council refused to settle; that case eventually collapsed without a payout.

As the council prepares to enter an exempt session to discuss these private matters, the taxpayers of Oakham remain in the dark regarding the potential total cost of these systemic administrative failures.

Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council to be held at Long Row, Oakham on Wednesday, 

29th April 2026 @ 6:30 pm

https://oakhamtowncouncil.gov.uk/meetings-calendar/extraordinary-meeting-of-full-council-3/

For More News, Jobs, What's On, Discover Oakham and More Visit: https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/