Oakham Town Council Civic Service, Oakham Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis
In an attempt to publish something good about Oakham Town Council I have lodged a freedom of information request with the council.
Unlike the previous Mayor Cllr Joyce Lucas, who held a piss up in the castle spending nearly £1,500 of tax payers money on booze and food and chocolate shot glasses for her hangers on, which raised £300 for The Oakham Branch of The Royal British Legion, The current Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis said his civic event would be held to reward residents, who have done a good job within the community for example charity workers.
The local press, The Rutland Times, always pleased to print photographs and waffle provided by those in power failed to publish any details of those rewarded for their good work.
Public money was used to reward these people, I have no objection to that, what I object to is being told by the Clerk, is those rewarded with public money could be protected by the data protection act.
I have since clarified my request, I don't require the home address of any person. It would be nice just to know the names of the people and what charity they have supported and what work they have done.
Oakham Town Council is such a tiresome organisation.
I have gleaned part of my original request from the published schedule of payments.
So far I can see the private event held by the Mayor Councillor Dewis incurred the following costs.
Glasses and other Items from Wilkinsons Oakham £7.27
Wine from Tesco £128.84
Plates from Tesco £5.72
Sandwich platters from Cookies Coffee Shop Mill Street Oakham £468
either the council had a lot of food waste or they were ripped off by Cookies?
looking at their platters price list the most expensive is £21 and this serves 10
if all the platters were the most expensive that would feed nearly 250 people.
The castle can only legally hold an event for around half that number. So I can
only assume in a space of less than 12 months the councillors enjoyed a feast
of gluttony at the expense of local tax payers.
http://cookiesofoakham.com/uploads/files/30/Cookies%20buffet%20platter%20Nov%202012.pdf
Sally Holmes table decorations £25.00
