|
HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
MINUTES OF FULL COUNCIL MEETING HALSTEAD, Essex. CO9 1ET
|
Membership:
| Councillor D Hume | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs J Allen | Present | |
| Councillor M Day | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S Dingle | Present | |
| Councillor C Fox | Present | |
| Councillor D Gronland | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs E Penn | Present | |
| Councillor M Radley | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs J Sutton | Present |
Also in attendance: Public – Mr Frost, Mr Hawkes, Mr & Mrs Kern, Mr K Mortier, Mr R Richmond, Mr Whiterod, Mrs H Wolf
Sgt T Bastendorff – Essex Police
Miss K Hough – Halstead Gazette
Mrs J Stobart – RCCE
Mr M C Murkin – Town Clerk
71. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from Cllr M Radley
72. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
All councillors declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/01048/FUL as they are Halstead Town Councillors
Cllr D Hume declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/01012/FUL as objectors known to him, 15/01027/FUL, HTC Solicitors, 15/01048/FUL, is a member of CSGMC, 15/00991/FUL, Conversation with neighbours,an Other Pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.5 Planning 15/01082/FUL as the applicant in known to him, and a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.8 Homestart – Town Council Representative, as he is a trustee of Homestart
Cllr Mrs J Allen declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.5 Planning 15/01048/FUL a Mi community member, 15/01121/OUT, as she is a Braintree District Councillor
Cllr Mrs S Diver declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.5 Planning 15/01012/FUL, as HRA Committee members are objectors to it, 15/01048/FUL, as she is on the Committee
Cllr C Fox declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/01138/FUL, as he is a resident of Kings Road
Cllr D Gronland declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/01082/FUL as the applicant is known to him
Cllr A Munday declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/01012/FUL , as two people commenting on the application are known as they are HRA members
Cllr Mrs J Pell declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/01082/FUL, as the applicant is a trustee of Halstead Community Centre Charitable Company, 15/01012/FUL, as friends own 26 and 28 White Horse Avenue, 15/01012/FUL, as the objector is known to her, and a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.10 Community Hall, as she is Chairman of the Halstead Community Centre Charitable Company
73.(a) PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Cllr Mrs J Pell read out a statement from Beverley David who is objecting to the planning application 15/01121/FUL Land Adjacent 24 White Horse Avenue Halstead Essex.
Mr Frost gave a statement to say he had major concerns about the same application as the access will be across a green and also trees will be removed from the site.
Mr Richmond addressed Agenda item no. 14 Council Committee Structure and raised concerns that the change in the structure of the meetings could exclude public.
B) Presentation – Jan Stobart, RCCE – Town Plans
Jan Stobart explained that a Town Plan is a document that sets out a statement of the strengths and weaknesses of the town and highlights what needs to be tackled. She also explained that the reason for doing a Town plan is to end up with a business plan, which can help when setting up the precept and help to secure grants. There are two grants available from Essex County Council and Braintree District Council, to help with the costs. RCCE can help with setting this up and can provide two public consultations.
C) Presentation – Sgt. Tom Bastendorff – Police
Sgt Tom Bastendorff explained that he was there to talk about the restructuring of Essex Police and how this is affecting the way the police are prioritising crime. The emphasis is on “hidden harm” crime such as child abuse, people trafficking and domestic violence. Sgt Bastendorff said that the police have changed the shift patterns so that more officers are available at core times between 3.00pm and 2.00am. He is looking to attend more council meetings where time allows. Some councillors raised the issue of problems with youth in Halstead and how this was being tackled. Sgt Bastendorff said that the police are aiming to get the correct authorities to deal with issues before a crime is committed. He was asked to report back to senior officers the concerns regarding youth crime and the lack of police presence on the streets.
74. MINUTES
To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10th August 2015
Proposed by Cllr Mrs J Pell and Seconded by Cllr Mrs J Allen that the minutes be approved. Minutes were approved
75. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Cllr A Munday took the chair for this part of the meeting
15/01012/FUL – Land Rear Of 16 High Street Halstead Essex – Erection of terrace comprising 4 no. dwellings (3 no. two bed and 1 no. three bed) complete with gardens, parking and related works, including partial demolition of wall. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr C Fox that members object to the application on the same reasons the application was previously refused. Councillors hope that Essex County Council Highways are consulted and are particularly concerned about vehicles ingress/ egress of the site – carried.
15/01027/FUL – The Chestnuts Trinity Street Halstead CO9 1JE – Insertion of cast iron railings along the front of the property. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr Mrs Diver that members agree with the Essex County Council Conservation Consultant that there should be a plan that shows exactly where the railings will be sited but no objection in principle – carried.
15/01048/FUL – Courtauld Sports Ground Colchester Road Halstead Essex -Application for variation of condition no.2 of approved application 15/00469/FUL (Erection of extension to existing changing room) – reduction in size of the side extension from 6×6 to 6×5.4. Members made no comments as the building is owned by Halstead Town Council.
Cllr Mr Hume left the room
Cllr Mrs J Pell left the room
15/01082/FUL – Brookfield and 83 Chapel Hill Halstead Essex CO9 1JP – Proposed replacement dwelling, access and landscaping. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr C Fox that members object due to an intrusive build and lack of privacy for no. 87 Chapel Hill – carried.
Cllr Mr Hume returned to the room
Cllr Mrs J Pell returned to the room
15/01053/FUL – 86B Beridge Road Halstead CO9 1JZ – Erection of single storey rear extension. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr C Fox that members raised no objection – carried.
15/00991/FUL – 27 Matthews Close Halstead CO9 2BJ – Erection of first floor extension to rear of building. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr Mrs Diverthat members commented that the plans on the website were not a good standard but raised no objection to the application – carried.
Cllr Mrs J Pell left the room
15/01121/OUT – Land Adjacent 24 White Horse Avenue Halstead Essex – Erection of 2 no. three bed terraced dwellings. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr C Fox that members object on the grounds of poor access on to the site, the inadequate parking with insufficient room to turn and overdevelopment of the area – carried.
Cllr Mrs J Pell returned to the room
15/01120/FUL – Rowans 56 Chapel Hill Halstead Essex CO9 1J – Demolition of single storey garage and erection of single storey rear extension and two storey side extension. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr Mrs Diver that members raised no objection – carried.
15/01095/FUL – Land Adjacent 85 Colchester Road Halstead Essex – Erection of 2 no. three bedroom dwellings and 3 no. Two bedroom dwellings, cart lodge landscaping, new entrance and access, decommissioning existing access and removal of single storey later. Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr Mrs Diver that members were concerned with access on to the site and hope that Essex County Council Highways are consulted but raised no objection in principle to the application – carried.
15/01138/FUL – EMD Ltd Kings Road Halstead Essex CO9 1HL – Demolition of existing buildings and construction of a Lidl food store and formation of car parking.
Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr S Diver that members raised no objection provided construction working hours and delivery times are sympathetic to the residents of Kings Road – carried with one abstention.
Cllr D Hume resumed Chair of the meeting
76. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cllr D Hume outlined the charities that he is supporting this year, these being Homestart – Halstead Witham & Braintree, Halstead Day Centre and TAPS (travel Aid for Parents of Sick Children)
Cllr Hume has written to HM the Queen to congratulate her on becoming our longest serving monarch and also written to the Town Mayor of Sudbury, offering sympathy for the fire in Sudbury town.
Cllr Hume also said he had attended the Anglia in Bloom awards ceremony and congratulated Halstead in Bloom on winning Gold in Best Town and Overall Best.
Report was noted
Under Standing Orders 1 (b) and 22(s)
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr C Fox seconded that the meeting be extended for an additional fifteen minutes – carried
77. FINANCE –
A) Financial Monitoring.
Cllr Mrs Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs Diver seconded – carried
Report was noted
B) Earmarked and Capital Reserves
Report was noted
C) Monthly Performance (Car Parks).
Report was noted
D) Monthly Performance (Lettings/Sickness)
Report was noted
E) List of Payments to be approved
Cllr Mrs Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs Diver seconded that the payments be approved – carried
78. HOME-START – TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
Cllr Mrs Allen proposed and Cllr Mrs Pell seconded to appoint Cllr Mrs J Sutton as the representative of Halstead Town Council on the Management Committee – carried
79. CAR PARK CHARGING
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr Mrs Diver seconded that councillors give free parking from mid-day onwards on 28th November 2015- carried
80. COMMUNITY HALL
Report was noted
81. YOUTH
Cllr A Munday said that the youth council had held their AGM. He also thanked Cllr Mrs Sutton on going to Ramsey Academy to enlist support for the Youth Council.
Report was noted
82. TOWN TEAM
Cllr D Gronland said he had met with Town Team representatives from other towns to discuss the problems of Town Teams and a full report would follow
83. TOWN PLAN
Cllr D Hume proposed and Cllr Mrs Diver seconded that this Agenda item to be deferred to the next council meeting on 12th October – carried
84. COUNCIL COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
Cllr Hume advised that he instigated the review which led to monthly meetings. Cllr Mrs Pell stated that it would be unfair to change the dates this year as councillors already had the dates in their diaries.
Cllr D Hume proposed and Cllr Mrs Pell seconded that this Agenda item to be deferred to the next council meeting on 12th October – carried
85. PUBLIC TRANSPORT – To receive an update from the Town Council’s Passenger Transport Representative.
Cllr Mrs Pell said that the bus service that runs to Gosfield and Braintree has been saved. The Stephenson bus company have agreed to take over the route and are currently looking to employ new drivers. The service will initially be hourly, but may go back to half hourly if it is well used. Cllr Pell advised there is currently a public consultation and encouraged councillors to fill in the questionnaire.
86. 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”.
87. EMPIRE THEATRE
Cllr Mrs Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs Diver seconded that this Agenda item to be deferred to the next council meeting on 12th October – 8 councillors voted for, 1 councillor voted against and 1 abstained – carried
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.47 pm