OAKHAM’S MAYOR Zoe Nealson

A BUSY YEAR for OAKHAM’S MAYOR

It’s been an odd time to be elected Mayor, with Zoom meetings and fewer events making local democracy less visible. Happily, post-Covid, Zoe Nealson is looking forward to getting out and about to make a difference to the town and inspire young people to become involved in shaping the town’s future...

Images: Rob Davis.

Tell us about growing up in Rutland... I was born in Aldershot in 1982. My dad was in the Coldstream Guards so we moved around frequently when I was young. My mum grew up in Oakham and had a large family living here, so after my dad passed away, my mum bought a house opposite her parents’ house and moved my sister and I here in 1989. I was then raised in Oakham surrounded by family until I left for university in Birmingham at 18.

After I graduated, I stayed in Birmingham and worked in HR and training for charities and local government until I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012. At this point I was medically retired and returned to Oakham which I have always thought of as home. I now live here very happily with my wife and our three young children.

What led you to join the Council? I joined Oakham Town Council in 2018. I had been looking for a way to give back to the town and community that I love, when a chance encounter with an old school friend made me realise that Oakham Town Council was the place to do this. There was a current vacancy that the council were co-opting on to, and so I applied and was accepted.

Having MS means that there are days where I really struggle, MS is a neurological condition affecting the brain and spinal cord and so it can cause problems in any part of the body. I have mobility issues and these can be exacerbated by heat, infection or stress.

MS is progressive and I am aware this means as I get older its possible I will be wheelchair bound or suffer sight loss or motor function deterioration, this is why I am so grateful to have this opportunity now while my condition is stable and manageable. Being a town councillor has given me a sense of purpose and I am driven to perform well in my mayoral year. I really care about Oakham and its people and want to make a positive contribution while I can.

What does the role of Mayor involve? To be elected Mayor you have to receive a nomination from within council at the Annual General Meeting. I was extremely honoured to receive a nomination from Dave Romney, the outgoing Mayor.

I was seconded and won the ensuing vote eight to three and I was pleased to discover that the other members of the council had so much faith in me.

When I first joined the council I hadn’t considered becoming Mayor but I quickly realised it was an opportunity that would allow me to represent my home town in a proactive way. The role is essentially split in to two parts. In one half, you are the chairman of the council, leading meetings and working closely with the town clerk to ensure accountability and efficiency within the council. The other half is being ‘The Mayor,’ this is a sort of ceremonial/ambassadorial side which allows you to represent the town at various levels both within Oakham at concerts and events and in other towns.

What’s the role of the town council? Town and Parish councils have the same powers and act within the same legislation, the only difference is that a town council has an elected mayor and covers a larger area.

One of my priorities this year is to build a stronger relationship with Rutland County Council. However, I think its important for Oakham to have a separate council as we can then focus directly on positives and improvements that can benefit the town.

Oakham Town Council is directly responsible for maintaining several of the open spaces in Oakham. These are Cutts Close Park, Royce’s Recreation Ground, Willow Crescent Playground and Centenary Field.

We organise events like the summer concerts in Cutts Close and we are always open to hearing about community initiatives that we may be able to support. >>

>> Do people have a deep enough understanding of how local government works and how decisions are made? I don’t think it’s always easy to understand the different levels of local government and how they work together, often decisions that are made at county level are blamed on the town or parish and vice versa. Tools like social media are helping to make decisions more visible to everyone. My hope is that regular updates on Facebook and in local press, combined with questions being answered, will make local governance more transparent and accessible to the local community. I do think it is the responsibility of all councils to reach out to their constituents and help inform and signpost everyone.

You’re keen to see younger people becoming more involved in local government.. why? I probably don’t fit the stereotype people envision when they hear the word ‘Mayor.’ I am both disabled and lesbian. I am hoping that seeing me in this role will encourage a more diverse community to engage in local politics, Oakham Town Council is a welcoming and positive environment. Myself and Mrs Mayor are hoping with Covid restrictions being lifted we will be able to speak to Catmose College and spend some time with students talking about how they can get involved and steer their local councils and communities. I try to spend as much time in the community as possible speaking to people directly and telling them how much I get out of the council and how passionate I am about driving Oakham forward. I also have a genuine belief in the young people of this town. Our eldest daughter, Annabel, couldn’t wait to tell her friends at school that I had been elected Mayor and she came home bursting with ideas for fundraising and community projects that they would like to see happening.

What projects or activities is the council involved in for short term gains? Oakham Town Council is currently undertaking several projects, these include renovating an the shelter at Cutts Close Park to provide the community with a building that can be used by several groups and working alongside other interested parties to identify an appropriate site and build a skate park. The business working group within the council is supporting local businesses by creating a network and providing networking, we have also offered stalls free of charge to businesses and community groups at our first summer concert in Cutts Close.

The summer concerts were delayed due to Covid restrictions, however we were able to plan a two day event in July; The Life Reloaded Festival. We hope to continue the concerts in September, weather permitting.

What opportunities are there for Oakham post-pandemic? Coming out of the pandemic there appears to be a real appetite in the community and within both Oakham Town Council and Rutland County Council to work on a long-term vision for the town. We all know that the way we live has been changing for a long time and lockdown has expedited this process.

There are more people working from home and more people shopping online. Oakham needs to reflect this and adapt to new markets and offer new approaches in catering for the community. This is more evident on our high street than anywhere else. I love Oakham town centre. It is pretty and accessible with unique shops and some incredible eateries. I believe we need to focus on our streets becoming an ‘experience’ and to encourage in new businesses and markets that can make Oakham a real destination.

While I can already see the organic growth of these businesses – the recent and forthcoming additions to the town are exciting –I do think both councils have a role to play both in encouraging the right businesses in the right properties, ensuring visual standards are met throughout the town and looking carefully at possible infrastructure changes that may increase foot traffic around town.

I am really keen to see Oakham thrive as market town. We have recently underwritten our support as Oakham Town Council for the town’s craft market on Gaol Street and I am really hoping the market schedule can be added to and enhanced over the next year.

Are there elements of Oakham’s development which concern you? Oakham is growing quite quickly, and I appreciate there is a lot of frustration within the community about this. I feel quite strongly that the infrastructure of the town needs to be kept in line with these developments. The town council only has an advisory role on planning applications but as a member of the public I am keen to see a focus on Oakham remaining a small town while providing necessary extra housing and businesses.

I am passionate about Oakham’s local businesses and this informs my approach to the town’s growth. I was the only councillor to vote against McDonalds when that came through town council and – on a personal level – I would prefer to keep new developments, whether business or residential, in keeping with the town’s current look and styling. I am very excited about the potential of an independent cinema and the new restaurant and wine bar due to open in town. It’s important that we grow and change as a town but that should always be with a keen eye on ‘improvement’ rather than simply a financial decision.

“I love Oakham town centre. It is pretty and accessible with unique shops and some incredible eateries...”

You married Rachel earlier this year and have three children together, as a family what do you want from Oakham as a community and how will you lead the town to achieve that? We love the community of Oakham. As a family under the LGBTQ+ umbrella we have felt a strong sense of inclusion within the town and from the people here and we hope that other families and individuals get that same experience. We want to continue being active members of the community, attending and participating in local events and being a part of something that is always growing and improving. When problems are identified we hope we can all work together to create solutions. n