In an announcement last week by Rutland County Council, the authority announced they would be hiring security guards at a cost of £14,000 per month. 

This comes following a series of reported sexual assaults in Oakham, including one at the town council offices. 

As a result of this, Rutland County Council has elected to install security guards at the Council building on Catmos Street, with any members of the public visiting having to now wait for a security guard to allow them to enter the premises. 

However, Rutland residents have criticised the £14,000 price tag of this new security. 

One resident said: 'How ridiculous! Whilst I appreciate the seriousness of someone being assaulted, this could happen in any business, and they just can't afford this kind of security so RRC should never be spending this because we can't afford it either.' 

Another concerned resident said: 'This is outrageous and ridiculous in the extreme. The assaults in question were of course a terribly unfortunate thing but could have happened anywhere to anyone. This is once again an example of the Council of "not what people do in the real world." 

Others have criticised the decision to use the money in this way, saying: 'How can they afford that but not a sports centre.' 

Another resident questioned the amount being paid to security staff, saying: 'Whilst I recognise we need to protect RCC staff, how on earth can it cost £14k per month? That's £3.5k per week for a person to cover from 8-5 max, that is almost £80 per hour!' 

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Rutland County Council have been approached to provide a breakdown of these costs and what the £14,000 will be used for but have given no response.