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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF ANNUAL TOWN MEETING |
Membership:
| Councillor Mrs S Diver | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor A Munday | Vice Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Mrs J Allen | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S Dingle | Present | |
| Councillor C Fox | Absent | |
| Councillor D Gronland | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs E Penn | Present | |
| Councillor M Radley | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J Sutton | Present | |
| Councillor G Warren | Present |
Also in attendance: Public – Cllr S. Kirby (BDC); Cllr Mrs J. Beavis (ECC);
Mr and Mrs R. Smith, Mr A Lister, Mr M Fincken.
Mrs S Greatorex – Town Clerk
Mrs J Smith – Minute Clerk
479. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr Mrs Pell and Cllr Munday. Cllr Fox was absent. Apologies and absence were noted and approved.
478. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15th May 2017. Minutes were unanimously adopted.
479 HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL’S REPORT. Halstead Mayor, Cllr Mrs Shirley Diver, gave the annual Town Council report. Copy attached here
A report from Halstead Town Clerk had been written and circulated. Copy attached here
480. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS. Cllr Mrs Allen gave a report on her duties at District Council. Report attached here
Cllr Mrs Pell had written a report, which was read by Cllr Hume. Copy attached here
Cllr Hume said that 2017 had not been an easy year for him personally due to ill health and some chemotherapy. He was now pleased to be able to carry on fully with his Town and District Councillor responsibilities. With regard to District Cllr Hume said that he has been part of the working party on the Local Plan which is a complex, but very important, matter. He has been working on the Overview and Scrutiny Panel which holds the executive to account; he was pleased to report that the Leader of the Panel wants to broaden the political spectrum of the group to bring in some more skills. This panel has a wide ranging programme and he felt it important to see Councillors working together. Cllr Hume gave details of the Grants he had given: a computer system and a fridge for Halstead Day Centre and a Dementia Cinema event at Colne View Care Home.
Cllr Kirby reported that in 2017 he had been Chairman of BDC so therefore could not report on his duties in that role. During his year he visited many places in the District and was always pleased to promote his home town of Halstead. Cllr Kirby was pleased to report that he has raised £3500 for two local charities during his year in Office. He reported that now that those duties have been completed he again sits on the Planning Committee. He is also working to try and improve Halstead High Street and is reviewing residents’ parking difficulties. His Councillor grant for last year was given to Halstead Girl Guides and also to Halstead Cricket Club to promote soft ball cricket in schools. Councillor Kirby said that he is now looking forward to resuming his duties as District Councillor for Halstead.
A full report on District Council achievements 2017/18 had been lodged, circulated and is attached herewith.
481. COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT. Cllr Mrs Joanne Beavis thanked Halstead Town Council for inviting her to attend and give a report. She said that she had been a District Councillor for 15 years and a County Councillor for one year; she said that Halstead Town Council was doing great work in the Community and that she had visited most Councils in her Ward with the Colnes, Gosfield and Greenstead Green still to visit. Cllr Beavis said she had some concerns about the unparished area of High Garrett and urged all Councils to pull together to help residents of this area.. Cllr Beavis said that she is Chairlady of the Highways Panel and is trying to get changes so that there is more personal touch which has been lost recently. Cllr Beavis was pleased to roll out the ‘Live Well’ campaign that she began at Braintree and which is now adopted throughout the County. This regime is aimed at prevention of common ailments by exercise and diet. She has been working with the Mid Essex Clinical Care panel to monitor and reduce some problems such as self harming among young people. Cllr Beavis said she had been looking at budgets, which was a daunting task and noted that there is a new formula for calculating local budgets which will bring challenges. Cllr Beavis congratulated Halstead Town Council, and particularly Cllr Gronland, on the proactive stance taken on infrastructure matters and noted that there will be some particular challenges with new developments in the area.
Cllr Beavis will be attending the Full Essex County Council A.G.M. in the near future and said that she had been given promotion to the Cabinet Office and will be Deputy to Cllr Dick Madley with responsibilities for young people, etc; she will be representing local government at a national level. Cllr Beavis remarked on Halstead’s local civic pride with many local events and with the In Bloom campaign. The churches work with the community in the Town and there is a strong local identity. She cited the tourism and culture campaign that will bring local benefits. Cllr Beavis said she has been working with local businesses, in particular recently Maycast Nokes and will continue to work with Halstead business in the future.
Cllr Beavis thanked Halstead Town Council for ongoing support and said that her first year as a Council Councillor had been busy but enjoyable.
Cllr Mrs Diver thanked Cllr Beavis for her report and offered congratulations on her promotion.
482. POLICE REPORT. Mayor Cllr Mrs Diver announced that no Police was present at the meeting, but read a message that at present Police do not have enough staff to attend Parish and Town Council Meetings.
483. COMMUNITY HALL – Cllr Mrs Pell was not in attendance and no report was given
484. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
Mr Lister spoke about the River Colne and felt that the river bed was becoming choked with attendant risk of flooding. He felt that the river needed to be cleared from Doe’s Corner to Bluebridge and urged Council to press the Environment Agency to take action.
Town Clerk explained that there had been a meeting with Environment Agency, Town Council and new owner of The Mill with the latter saying that he would take legal action against the Environment Agency to restore the Mill Gates to working order and that he would take responsibility for raising the gates at times of need and to guard against flooding. The matter is still under debate but Mr. Lister was assured that Halstead Town Council will continue to monitor progress.
Mr Lister then asked about the expected forthcoming traffic disruption when the Oak Road site needed to access underground services and said that cars parking in Trinity Street outside Halstead Public Gardens cause unnecessary disruption. Many Councillors agreed with this comment and it will be taken on board.
Mr Lister then spoke about the poor state of the footpath in Windmill Road saying that there had already been accidents. He also said that there is no ramp for disabled access at one end of the path. Mr Lister’s comments were noted.
Mr Fincken asked if plans for the former Hunwick’s site are known and commented that the area is an eyesore at present. Cllr Gronland said that this area is not in the Local Plan for housing development as it is on a flood plain but Mr Fincken was assured that Council will monitor any plans for development.
Mr Fincken said that there appears to have been an increase in pot holes in recent weeks and that some of them are likely to cause damage and accidents. Mr Fincken was assured that ECC Highways are notified of any reported road defects, although reports are not actioned quickly. Comments were made about the area around drains that don’t seem to be finished properly and the new repair component used by Suffolk CC was noted.
Mr Fincken said he was disappointed that no report about the Community Hub had been presented but hoped that the Trustees will communicate their dealings with the public. Mayor Cllr Mrs Diver said she would pass this comment to Trustees.
There being no further business, Chairman closed the meeting at 08.09 p.m