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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 17 June 2024: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Andrew Munday | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor James Bond | Vice Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Apologies | |
| Councillor Malcolm Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor Gemma MacAndrews | Present | |
| Councillor Grahame McCoyd | Present | |
| Councillor Paul Nunn | Present | |
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Present | |
| Councillor Felix Preston | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Present |
Also in attendance: PC Craig Wheeler, PC James Draper, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
015. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Atkinson sent apologies for personal reasons, and Cllr Smith because of work commitments. Cllr Bond sent apologies as he was unwell.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, acceptance of the apologies. This was unanimously agreed.
016. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Fincken declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, and 7e and 7e(a) as a member of BDC. Cllr Munday declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee and NPI item 7e & 7e(a), as a member of BDC, and 7i as he knows one of the companies which has quoted for the job. Cllr Pell declared NPI items 7e and 7e (a), as a member of BDC and CSGMC, and item 5, 24/00873/VAR as an objector is known to her. Cllr Warren declared NPI item 7e and 7e(a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr Hilton declared an NPI item 7e and 7e(a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr MacAndrews declared NPI item 5, 24/01230/VAR as she has a child at the school. Cllr McCoyd declared NPI item 5, 24/01230/VAR as he has a grandson at the school.
017. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Craig Wheeler Essex Police, PC James Draper, Community Safety Engagement officer,
PC Wheeler enlarged on Essex police’s aim of developing a closer working relationship with Halstead. He mentioned that they will be holding beat surgeries at the council offices, that there are now 3 specials, that the inspector would like to make a tour again this summer, and that they would like to get the speed gun working. Councillors requested that they cover events in the town,
018. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 13 May 2024, and of the Annual Town Council meeting held on 13 May 2024. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 13 May 2024 was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Hilton, and agreed unanimously. Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Preston, proposed adopting the Minutes of the Annual Town Council meeting of 13 May 2024 and this was agreed unanimously.
019. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell, Lead for planning
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, were considered at the Council meeting.
Cllr Fincken and Cllr Munday left the meeting, and Cllr Nunn became Acting Chairman of the meeting.
24/00873/VAR – 80 Conies Road, Halstead, Essex – Variation of condition 4 of approved application 22/00702/FUL granted 06/06/22 for: Erection of detached outbuilding to be used for dog-grooming (Class Sui Generis). Variation would allow change in hours to the following: Monday – Friday 08.30 – 18:00, Saturday 08:30 -14:00 and close Sundays and bank holidays.
Cllr Preston proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Hilton, with 6 in favour and 1 against.
24/00966/HH – 10 Ashlong Grove, Halstead, Essex – Proposed front porch.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Hilton, and unanimously agreed.
24/01049/HH – The Chase, Pretoria Road, Halstead – Alterations and conversion of roof space to habitable accommodation, single storey side extension, and alterations to fenestration.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, and unanimously agreed.
24/01067/HH – Terrington , Beridge Road, Halstead – Proposed two- storey side & single storey rear extensions. Replace pebbledash to bay window with render. Replacement windows & front garden wall. New resin driveway.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Hilton, and unanimously agreed.
24/01230/VAR – Richard De Clare Primary School , Parsonage Street, Halstead – Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans) of approved application 23/00570/FUL granted 25.10.2023 for Provision of single-storey building to west of main school building to provide 4No. Key Stage 1 classrooms with stores, sink area, WC areas and a covered external teaching area. Addition of covered link to provide access between the existing and new building. Variation would allow changes to the approved canopy design from an aluminium frame to timber, changes in roof pitch, a small change in position, and changes in height
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Preston, with 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
Cllrs Fincken and Munday returned to the meeting.
020. FINANCE
Finance – Cllr Munday, Deputy Lead for Finance, led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
a) 2023/24 Financial accounts and fixed assets
Cllrs Pell, MacAndrews and McCoyd raised a number of questions regarding the accounts.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken that the report on the Financial accounts and Fixed assets for the Financial year 2023/24 be noted. The Clerk and the bookkeeper were asked to explore points raised and bring their findings to the next meeting. This was agreed, with 7 in favour and 2 abstentions.
b) To approve the Annual Governance statement
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the Annual Governance statement. This was agreed, with 7 in favour and 2 abstentions
c) To approve the Accounting statements for audit
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, approval of the Accounting statements for audit. This was agreed with 7 in favour and 2 against.
d) To approve the bank reconciliation and the explanation of variances
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, approval of the bank reconciliation and the explanation of variances. This was agreed, with 8 in favour and 1 abstention.
e) To approve the lists of payments
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the lists of payments. This was agreed, with 8 in favour and 1 abstention.
f) To note the Income and expenditure for April and May 2024
Cllr Munday proposed noting of the income and expenditure for April and May 2024, seconded by Cllr Fincken, and agreed, with 7 in favour and 2 abstentions.
g) To approve the increasing of investment in CCLA to protect HTC funds, and to approve the Investment Strategy
Cllr Fincken proposed approval of increasing the investment in CCLA, and of adopting the Investment Strategy. This was seconded by Cllr Warren, and agreed, with 8 in favour and 1 abstention.
h) To consider repairs to the churchyard path in St Andrews churchyard
Cllr Warren proposed accepting quote 1 for the repairs to the churchyard path, seconded by Cllr Preston, and unanimously agreed.
i) To consider replacing the lights in Chapel Street carpark
Cllr Preston proposed, seconded by Cllr Pell, that Quote 2 be approved for replacing the lights in Chapel Street carpark. This was unanimously agreed.
021. To receive reports for District Councillors
Cllr Pell said she had attended the Public gardens management committee, Cabinet, JET, a Strategy meeting, and a meeting on councillor allowances.
Cllr Fincken said that he had not attended any meetings due to the forthcoming election.
Cllr Munday said he had attended one planning committee meeting and one planning forum.
022. To receive reports from Champions
Doctors’ surgery – Cllr McCoyd said that triage has been so successful at the doctors’ surgery that sometimes they have to close the system down early. They are nearly fully staffed with GPs.
Education – no report
Police – no report
Open Spaces – no report
Tourism – the police band had performed on 16 June.
023. To approve an update to the Member & Officer Protocol
Cllr McCoyd proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, that the update to the Member & Officer protocol be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
024. To approve an update to the Financial Regulations
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, that this item be deferred to the July meeting. In the meantime, Cllr Atkinson and any other interested councillors and the Town Clerk would work on the changes. This was unanimously agreed.
025. To approve the Clerk’s attendance at the SLCC annual National Conference
Cllr Preston proposed, seconded by Cllr MacAndrews, that the Clerk’s attendance at the annual National Conference be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
026. 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”.
027. To approve the Minutes of the SAC meeting 3 June 2024
Cllr Preston proposed the approval of the minutes of the meeting of SAC on 3 June 2024. This was seconded by Cllr Hilton and agreed, with 8 in favour and 1 abstention.
028. To confirm arrangements for HiB
Cllr Preston proposed, seconded by Cllr Nunn, that arrangements for HiB be approved. This was agreed, with 8 in favour and 1 abstention.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.08