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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 15 August 2022: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor J Pell | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor P Caulfield | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor J Atkinson | Apologies | |
| Councillor P Claydon | Apologies | |
| Councillor S Dingle | Apologies | |
| Councillor M Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor D Gronland | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Apologies | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor M Radley | Present | |
| Councillor L Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor G Warren | Apologies |
Also in attendance: Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk) James Bond MBE, Robert Richmond, Tony Lister
68. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Dingle and Cllr Hume sent their apologies due to ill health. Cllr Smith and Cllr Claydon sent their apologies due to work commitments. Cllr Warren and Cllr Atkinson sent their apologies for personal reasons.
Cllr Munday proposed acceptance of apologies, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
69. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
All councillors declared NPI item 12, as HTC owns the library, and item 16 as HTC owns the Empire Theatre.
Cllr Munday declared item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, Cllr Radley declared NPI item 5, 22/01527/FUL as a member of BDC, which owns the land. Cllr Pell declared NPI item 5, 22/01527/FUL as a member of BDC, which owns the land, 22/01952/FUL as she is in communication with Wade International, 22/01982/FUL and 22/01983/LBC as the owner is known to her, 22/02023/FUL as family member has premises nearby, and agent and owner known to her.
70. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
1. Statement from James Bond
Council will be aware that Essex County Council appointed a Climate Commission in 2020 to advise on actions to tackle climate change.
A number of recommendations have been made so far one of which has been the establishment of a climate focus area which includes the Colne Valley. Your agenda tonight contains a document which usefully picks up on a number of initiatives which support this.
In the spirit of the idea that climate change will work best from the “bottom-up” there are many suggestions as to what we as the public can do within the document.
Specifically, in the spirit of this approach, what plans does the Council have to challenge planning applications based on realistic bio-diversity improvement targets, net zero carbon new buildings and pedestrian neighbourhoods? Council may note that there is very seldom sufficient information provided in applications, for instance the Environment Act requirement for a 10% bio-diversity gain for certain developments, when there is no information as to the base bio-diversity figure to work from.
The council is, from the papers presented tonight, making plans to ensure electric vehicle charging points are installed. This is a very good start and hopefully in collaboration with the relevant parties the Council will advocate for installation of more including lamp-post chargers which have been shown to be an effective way of increasing availability. When we consider the number of individual visits to traditional fuel stations a day and, given the length of time it can take to receive a full charge, it will be necessary to make a considerable investment to ensure enough points are available given home charging is not an option for many people. Halstead TC could have a valuable contribution to making promoting the provision
What I would say in addition though, is that there has to be a robust, resourced and efficient plan to ensure units, wherever they are installed, to ensure they are rapidly and efficiently maintained and repairs authorised rapidly when things go wrong. As one provider recently advised me “We work closely with our local authority hosts and private owners to ensure that this happens as quickly as possible, but not all local authorities are geared up with sufficient resources to be able to respond to our requests expediently, which can result in delays in units being attended to when required.” – this response relates to 5 units located in Braintree district from my experience.
2. Statement from Tony Lister
Tony Lister wanted to draw the Council’s attention to the poor level and quality of the repair of roads in Halstead, compared with the work which appears to be being done in Braintree. He is also concerned that the river is reduced to a trickle but that there may be a flash flood when it rains due to the growth of trees on the river bed. He had noted the possible introduction of EV charging points at the Esso garage and felt that this was likely to cause disruption due to increased traffic flow through the garage.
The Town Clerk was asked to contact Cllr Chris Siddall concerning the state of the roads, and the Environment Agency over the fears of flooding.
71. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 18 July 2022, Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of 18 July 2022 was put forward by Cllr Gronland and seconded by Cllr Caulfield, and unanimously agreed
The minutes of the Antisocial behaviour working group meeting of 14 July 2022 were noted.
Cllr Munday proposed that items 11 and 12 be moved forward on the Agenda in order not to inconvenience the members of the public who had come for those particular reports. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
72. To consider the removal of unnecessary notices on the library gable.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the HTC noticeboard be removed, and that decisions on its future position be taken after discussions at the Town regeneration meeting to be held on 17 August. This was seconded by Cllr Radley and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Townswomen’s guild plaques be removed, and this was seconded by Cllr Caulfield and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the hanging baskets and their brackets should remain, seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the thankyou sign to various organisations be removed, seconded by Cllr Pell and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed that the library time notice be moved to the door, seconded by Cllr Caulfield and unanimously agreed.
73. To reconsider action to counter climate change
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC set up a working party with a small number of councillors to develop a strategy on climate matters and to consider spending more resources. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
74. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
All members of the council discuss planning applications. Lead member for Planning – Councillor Hume, Deputy lead – Councillor Pell. Cllr Hume was unwell and unable to attend the meeting, so Cllr Pell took the lead for this part of the meeting.
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, are to be considered at the Council meeting.
Cllrs Munday, Radley and Pell left the meeting
Cllr Caulfield took the lead for this part of the meeting. As the council was no longer quorate, councillors gave their opinion but did not vote.
22/01527/FUL – Land East of High Street, Halstead – Proposed 31 No. residential units with associated car parking, amenity areas, external works with the retention of 10 No. WW11 Air Raid Shelters and 1 No. Wardens Hut.
Councillors noted that the developers had shown sensitivity to the air raid shelters and intended to preserve a good number of them. They hoped that attention would also be paid to walking and cycling routes through the development into the High Street, and to installing EV chargepoints on all houses. They did not have any objection.
22/01952/FUL – Wade International Ltd, Third Avenue, Bluebridge Industrial Est, Halstead – Erection of storage warehouse and provision of external storage areas.
Councillors had no objection
22/02023/FUL -60A Broton Drive, Halstead, Essex – Erection of single storey unit to use as secure parking and storage to serve Unit 60A.
Councillors had no objection
Cllrs Radley and Pell returned to the meeting.
22/01862/HH – North Hill, Howe Chase, Hedingham Road, Halstead – Demolition of the former pigsty building and erection of garage and workshop
Cllr Fincken proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Caulfield, with 4 in favour and 1 abstention.
22/01884/FUL- Halstead Service Station, Trinity Street, Halstead, Essex – Demolition of existing forecourt building and change of use of showroom to forecourt shop, addition of electric vehicle charging bays and customer parking
Cllr Fincken proposed no objection, but asked that attention be paid to hazardous substances, to toilet facilities for the public, to a possible one-way system to ease traffic congestion and to reducing signage clutter. This was seconded by Cllr Caulfield and unanimously agreed.
22/01934/VAR – Halstead Tyre and Service Centre, Sudbury Road, Halstead, Essex – Variation of condition 2 ‘Approved Plans’ of permission 11/00553/FUL granted on 26/07/2011 for : Erection of single storey extension to existing workshop to form additional workshop area and installation of roller shutters. Variation would allow : Change from bifolding doors to horizontal roller shutter doors on south east elevation.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
22/01928/HH – 34 Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex – Replacement garage
Cllr Fincken proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Radley and unanimously agreed.
22/00043/FUL (Revised) – Land at East Mill, Halstead, Essex – Erection of 2 no. Semi detached single storey dwellings
Cllr Gronland proposed objection to the development, as had happened when it previously came to council in February 2022, due to limited access, limited parking, limited room for delivery vehicles to turn. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
22/01969/FUL & 22/01970/ADV – Lloyds TSB Bank, 69 High Street, Halstead – 2 x Non illuminated fascia sign and 1 x Heritage projecting sign to front elevation, replace air conditioning units, re-use extract grilles and new shopfront.
Cllr Caulfield proposed no objection, if the work was kept in line with the regulations requested. This was seconded by Cllr Gronland, and unanimously agreed.
22/02034/LBC – The White House , 32 High Street, Halstead – Internal alterations to allow removal of a pillar.
Cllr Caulfield proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Radley and unanimously agreed.
22/01838/HH – 30 Harvey Street, Halstead, Essex – Installation of dropped kerb and new driveway.
Cllr Gronland proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
22/01982/FUL & 22/01983/LBC- 3 High Street, Halstead, Essex – Formation of 1No. self-contained one-bedroom flat on 2nd floor, including addition of internal partitions and internal insulated walls. Removal of external concrete hardstanding.
Cllr Radley proposed no objection to this application, as very little had been changed since the last time it came to Council. Cllr Gronland seconded this, and it was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday returned to the meeting
75. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Fincken said that thanks should be given to all those who had been involved in organising the Summer Fayre, which had been a very successful event. Cllr Pell said that she would send a letter of thanks.
76. FINANCE
Finance – Deputy Lead Cllr Munday led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
a) Income and expenditure report for July 2022
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Gronland that the income and expenditure report be approved, and this was unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the lists of payments 7b and 7b(a)
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Gronland that the lists of payments be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
c) To approve the revised financial accounts
Thanks were recorded to Cllrs Radley, Atkinson and Munday, who had all worked with the Town Clerk on the accounts. Cllr Radley stated that it had not been possible for the Clerk to include the Barclaycard account in the reconciliation as no statement was available despite many attempts. However, the account has subsequently been closed and the balance of funds sent to HTC on 20/05/22 thus verifying the Sage balance on the Balance Sheet. In the Revised accounts circa £10,000 of the surplus had been left in the general fund, a property maintenance section had been created in the earmarked reserves in which £8775 was to be held, and £40,000 had been allocated to the replacement of the Empire Theatre roof.
Cllr Radley proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the revised accounts be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
d) To reconsider the resanding and sealing of Queens Hall floor
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the floor be resanded and sealed using Quote B, and that the work should be carried out over the Christmas break, using funds from the Property maintenance earmarked reserves.
77. To receive reports from District Councillors
Cllr Munday said that he had attended Full Council where Cllr Pell had been recognised for her 35 years at BDC and 40 years at HTC. He had also attended a planning meeting, but there had been nothing concerning Halstead on the agenda.
Cllr Radley said that he had also attended Full Council where the Local Plan had been adopted, and Kelvedon Neighbourhood Plan had been approved. The new Planning forum had now been set up as a group for interested parties to look at applications before they go to full planning. He had also chaired a Scrutiny meeting on s106 funding.
Cllr Pell said that she had attended the cycling group, member development, Licensing, Cabinet meeting, a meeting on the cost of living crisis, and one on markets.
78. To receive reports from Champions
There were no reports from Champions, but it was agreed that the Summer Fayre and the bands in the park had been very successful and did bring people in from outside.
79. To consider an application for S106 funding for allotment fencing
Cllr Radley proposed that HTC should apply for S106 funding for allotment fencing, seconded by Cllr Gronland and unanimously agreed.
80. To consider 20s Plenty and Cllr Gronland’s attendance at the Oxford conference
Cllr Munday proposed that Cllr Gronland should attend the conference, seconded by Cllr Fincken, and that HTC should pay the fee for him to attend. This was agreed unanimously.
Cllr Gronland asked the Clerk to make the application for him.
81. To select a second councillor to attend HiB meetings
Cllr Pell proposed that Cllr Radley join the HiB meetings on behalf of HTC. This was seconded by Cllr Caulfield and unanimously agreed.
The Clerk was asked to provide Cllr Radley with the dates of upcoming meetings.
82. 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 adopting the resolution, seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
83. To consider a matter relating to the Empire Theatre
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Empire Trust should be permitted to move forward with installing a new heating/ventilation system at the Empire Theatre, at their own expense. This was seconded by Cllr Radley, with 5 in favour and 1 abstention.
The Clerk was asked to bring the matter of the replacement roof to the Full Council meeting in September.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.05.