Halstead Town Council
Meeting Agenda
Time: 19:15
Day: 12 January 2026
Venue: Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, Halstead, CO9 2BY.
Tel: 01787 476480
Those wishing to ask a question or make a statement should be able to read their statement/question within 3 minutes. Questions may also be submitted to townclerk@halsteadtowncouncil.org.uk by 12:00 12 January 2026
Members of the Council are summonsed to attend the above meeting to transact the following business:
Membership:
Councillor Andy Munday – Chairman
Councillor James Bond – Vice Chairman
Councillor Janet Atkinson
Councillor Malcolm Fincken
Councillor Linda Hilton
Councillor Gemma MacAndrews
Councillor Grahame McCoyd
Councillor Paul Nunn
Councillor Jackie Pell
Councillor Felix Preston
Councillor Linda Smith
Councillor Garry Warren
Public Session
1. Apologies for Absence and approval of the apologies
Chairman’s statement
2. Declarations of Interests
To declare any ‘pecuniary, non-pecuniary or other pecuniary’’ interests relating to items on the agenda having regard to the Code of Conduct for Members and having taken appropriate advice (where necessary) before the meeting. (form attached (.pdf))
3. Public Question Time
a) A maximum period of 15 minutes to allow written questions and statements to be read out and for statements from Councillors with ‘pecuniary, non-pecuniary or other pecuniary’ interests under the code of conduct for Members to make statements.
b) ECC Cllr Chris Siddall will give his report.
4. Minutes
To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 December 2025, and of the Events group meeting held on 9 January 2026.
5. Planning – Lead member Cllr. J Pell, Deputy Lead Cllr P Nunn
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, are to be considered at the Council meeting.
25/02699/HH – 2 Blue Bridge Cottages , Colchester Road, Halstead
Proposed two-storey side and single-storey rear & front extensions
https://publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T6G4BUBFMDB00
25/02755/FUL – Post Office, 76 – 78 High Street, Halstead
Change of use from retail unit (Class E) to restaurant (Class E(b)), including the installation of a kitchen extraction system and the replacement of three bi-folding
doors to the front and side elevations.
https://publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T6SX1QBFMIB00
25/02757/HH & 25/02758/LBC – 5 Chapel Hill, Halstead, Essex
Retrospective application for roofing and re-fenestration of the former rear single-storey room, and a minor rear extension to accommodate a side door to the garden room.
https://publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T6SZTBBFMIG00
25/02606/HH – 22 Pretoria Road, Halstead, Essex
Proposed single storey rear extension.
https://publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T5TVX0BFM4T00
25/02741/FUL – Land East Of, High Street, Halstead
Erection of 27no. residential dwellings with associated car parking, amenity areas, landscaping and associated works; the removal of 5No. and retention of 10 No.
WWII Air Raid Shelters and retention of 1No. Wardens Hut; the use of 2 No. of the retained WWII Air Raid Shelters as a WWII experience; and the use of the retained 1No. Wardens Hut as a visitor centre/retail area/cafe.
https://publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T6PDD0BFMH100
6. Mayor’s appointments – report attached (.pdf)
7. Finance – lead member for Finance is Cllr. Munday, deputy Cllr McCoyd
a) To receive the income and expenditure report for the month of December – report attached (.pdf)
b) To approve the List of Payments to be made in January – report attached (.pdf)
c) To approve the Reconciliation of bank accounts (.pdf), balance sheet (.pdf) and EMR report (.pdf)
d) To approve Precept application 2026/27 – report attached (.pdf)
e) To reconsider the cost of outings – report attached (.pdf)
f) To consider items to be purchased using surplus accumulated in 25/26 financial year – report attached (.pdf)
g) To consider a bluetooth system for Queens Hall – report to follow
h) To reconsider quotes for crab apples tree reduction – report attached (.pdf)
i) To consider the purchase of a new line marker – report attached (.pdf)
j) To consider purchasing a sum-up machine – report attached (.pdf)
k) To consider the Internal control report – report attached (.pdf)
8. To receive reports from District Councillors and BALC – verbal/written reports
9. To receive reports from Champions’ – verbal/written reports
Surgery
Education
Police
Open Spaces
Tourism
Halstead Community Connections
10. To consider an update on the proposed Community Arts Centre – report attached (.pdf)
11. To consider the emergence of a new training organisation – report attached (.pdf)
12. To consider the Events planned for 2026 following the Events group meeting on 9 January 2026 – report to follow
13. To update the Safeguarding policy – report attached (.pdf)
14. To consider committee dates – report attached (.pdf)
15. To approve the Culture Sport and Recreation Strategy – report attached (.pdf)
16. Cllr McCoyd to report back on decisions made remotely – report attached (.pdf)
17. Items for the next council meeting
18. 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”.
Private session
Sarah Greatorex
6 January 2026