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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 13 JANUARY 2025: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Andrew Munday | Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor James Bond | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Apologies | |
| Councillor Malcolm Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor Gemma MacAndrews | Present | |
| Councillor Grahame McCoyd | Present | |
| Councillor Paul Nunn | Apologies | |
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Present | |
| Councillor Felix Preston | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Apologies |
Also in attendance: Cllr Chris Siddall, Dave Gronland, Kevin Pryke, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
24/139 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs Smith and Nunn sent apologies as they were working. Cllr Munday, Cllr Atkinson and Cllr Warren sent apologies for personal reasons.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, acceptance of the apologies. This was unanimously agreed.
Chairman’s statement 13 January 2025
Firstly, we must congratulate Cllr Pell on the British Empire Medal awarded in the New Years’ Honours, for her 40 years of service to Halstead and Braintree.
In December, the Council decided to name a new road, to be developed near the Football stadium, after the Halstead Football club – it is to be called Humbugs Close. It was also agreed to improve the security at the Empire Theatre, following the recent break-in. The whole building was investigated and was found to be secure in almost all areas, except for some reinforcement of security over some of the ground floor windows. A roller shutter will also be installed to prevent entry through the glass doors at the front.
The Citizens’ Advice Bureau is due to start on 4 February at the United Reformed Church. They will initially come on the first Tuesday of every month, to avoid Halstead residents having to travel to Witham if they have a problem. Watch out for the publicity
24/140 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Pell declared NPI, item 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC and CSGMC, and item 10, as she sits on several charities. Cllr Hilton declared NPI Item 7b and 7b (a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr Fincken declared NPI, item 5 as a member of BDC planning committee.
24/141 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Dave Gronland made a comment in advance of the discussion of the memorial bench in Item 14. The family of the young man who died in a recent accident had asked the Shed to make the bench. At the current time the Shed is unable to do that, as one of their members was involved in, though not responsible for, the accident.
b) Cllr Chis Siddall gave his report
He reported that HTC would be eligible to apply for funding to improve local transport, but there is very little time left to do this. He also talked about the Devolution plans, saying that he was not sure that it was a good thing to do away with the County Councils, and to have Unitary authorities managing 500,000 people. It is likely that the ECC elections of 2025 will be cancelled, and the BDC elections of 2027, but the parish and town council elections will go ahead in 2027.
24/142 MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 11 December 2024, and of the Extraordinary meeting held on 2 January 2025. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 11 December 2024 was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Pell, and carried with 1 abstention.
Proposal to adopt minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of 2 January 2025 was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, and carried with 2 abstentions.
24/143 PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell, Lead for planning
Cllr Fincken left the meeting.
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, were considered at the Council meeting.
24/02610/FUL – Halstead Service Station, Trinity Street, Halstead
Demolition of showroom building. Installation of new jet wash bays and customer parking area.
Cllr MacAndrews proposed no comment, except to mention the noise created by the jet wash, the hours of operation until 23.00 which are unsuitable for local residents, the signage which would obscure the view of the road for drivers, and the water runoff which will be created by the jetwash. This was seconded by Cllr Pell , and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken returned to the meeting.
24/144 MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
The mayor’s appointments were noted, proposed by Cllr Preston and seconded by Cllr Hilton, and unanimously agreed.
24/145 FINANCE
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
a) Income and expenditure for December 2024
Cllr McCoyd proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, approval of the income and expenditure report for December 2024. This was agreed unanimously.
b) To approve the List of payments and the supplementary list of payments.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, approval of the lists of payments. This was agreed unanimously.
c) To approve the Reconciliation of bank accounts
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, approval of the reconciliation of bank accounts. This was agreed unanimously.
d)To approve budget and precept 2025/26
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC agree to the budget, and a precept figure of £247,051. This was seconded by Cllr Pell and carried, with 5 in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention.
e) To consider the Internal Review report
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the internal review report be noted, and that a response to the Recommendations be brought back to the next meeting by the Clerk. This was agreed unanimously.
24/146 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Cllr Fincken said that he had attended meetings on the new Waste Strategy, and Devolution. He also mentioned that HTC should bring the Waste Strategy to its next meeting, in order to be able to influence decisions.
Cllr Pell had attended a Fit for the future meeting and those on waste and devolution.
Cllr Bond had also attended the waste and devolution meetings.
24/147. To receive reports from Champions
Doctors’ surgery – Cllr McCoyd had talked with the practice manager, and had learnt that there was no Chair or secretary for the Patients’ group. There had been several incidents of abuse at the surgery and the police had been called. She also stated that the surgery was not making any use of Halstead Hospital.
Education.- Cllr Bond has a meeting arranged with the head of Ramsey school to discuss the current pressures in secondary education.
Open Spaces –.Cllr Fincken referred to the response from the River Improvement Group, and suggested this be brought to the February meeting.
Tourism –..Cllr Pell said that tourism had been well served by the Christmas events.
24/148 To consider the coordination of charities and voluntary organisations in Halstead
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Hilton, that HTC supports the setting up of a group to coordinate and support charities and voluntary organisations in the town. This was unanimously agreed.
24/149 To consider an update to the Capability and Conduct policy
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr MacAndrews that the update to the Capability and conduct policy be approved, subject to the replacement of the word ‘manager’ with the words ‘the Council’. This was unanimously agreed.
24/150 To consider an update to the Safeguarding policy
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the update to the Safeguarding Policy be delayed until the government reveals changes to Safeguarding. This was agreed unanimously.
24/151 To consider an update to the Sickness and Absence policy
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, that the update to the Sickness and Absence policy be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
24/152 To consider a request to place a memorial bench at Butler Road carpark
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Pell, that the request to install a memorial bench in Butler Road carpark be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
24/153 To consider Events planned for 2025
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that events planned be noted.
This was unanimously agreed.
Items for the next meeting
1. Organisation of the Annual Town meeting
2. Cllr McCoyd would like to report on his training on the Financial Regulations
24/154 EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
To give consideration to adopting the following resolution: – “That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted and pursuant to the provisions of section 1(2)-of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended, the public and the press be temporarily excluded from the meeting”.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Hilton, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting. This was unanimously agreed.
24/1155 A property issue was discussed.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.05