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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES Monday 26 September 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 | Apologies | |
| Councillor D Hume | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor M Radley | Present | |
| Councillor L Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor G Warren | Present |
Also in attendance: Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk) Penny Hill Cllr Chris Siddall
The Chairman Cllr Pell read the following statement:
‘At this first meeting of Halstead Town Council since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we remember Her Majesty for all she did for our country, the Commonwealth and the wider world. We will hold one minute of silence in her memory.’
84. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Dingle sent her apologies due to ill health. Cllr Smith and Cllr Claydon sent their apologies due to work commitments. Cllr Gronland and Cllr Atkinson sent their apologies for personal reasons.
Cllr Munday proposed acceptance of apologies, seconded by Cllr Warren and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Pell proposed a dispensation of 6 months for Cllr Dingle, due to her continued ill health. This was seconded by Cllr Caulfield and unanimously agreed.
85. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Munday declared item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, and 7b as a member of BDC. Cllr Radley declared NPI item 7b as a member of BDC. Cllr Pell declared NPI item 7b as a member of BDC and CSGMC. Cllr Hume declared item 7a as a member of CSGMC, and item 7b as a member of BDC. Cllr Warren declared item 7a as a member of CSGMC.
86. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
A public question had been raised concerning predetermination. BDC Governance were consulted, and stated that HTC had acted correctly in not discussing an item which might be open to the interpretation of predetermination.
87. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 15 August 2022. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of 15 August 2022 was put forward by Cllr Fincken and seconded by Cllr Munday. There were 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
88. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Before the planning was discussed, Cllr Munday made a statement concerning the Bournebridge Hill appeal. Cllr Munday had been working many hours with other BDC councillors, and officers, in preparation for the appeal on this planning application. BDC had done a very good job in collecting evidence to defend the inquiry, but were unable to provide clear evidence that BDC has currently the 5year housing land supply required under the NPPF. The death of the Queen in the middle of the collection of evidence had also hindered the matter. The decision was therefore taken that BDC will not submit evidence to the Inquiry, although the inquiry will still go ahead. Those working on the case had been asked not to reveal any details of their work. Unfortunately, the decision taken by BDC was leaked to Halstead Gazette before HTC was informed.
All members of the council discuss planning applications. Lead member for Planning – Councillor Hume, Deputy lead – Councillor Pell.
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, are to be considered at the Council meeting.
Cllr Munday left the meeting
22/02352/FUL – 2 Evans Court, Halstead, Essex – Erection of single-storey rear extension
Cllr Hume proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Radley and unanimously agreed.
22/02211/FUL – Halstead Hall, Braintree Road, Greenstead Green, Halstead, – Extension and refurbishment of existing redundant building to form 37-bed dementia unit with associated car parking and landscaping.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
22/02418/HH – 3 Blamsters Crescent, Halstead, Essex – Erection of single-storey rear and loft conversion with rear dormer
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday returned to the meeting
89. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Mayor’s appointments should be noted, seconded by Cllr Hume and unanimously agreed.
90. 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 August 2022
The clerk agreed to carry out a review of any adverse costs (utilities and others) compared to the 2022/23 budget and to propose actions to mitigate. A report to be presented at the next full council meeting.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Caulfield 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 Hume proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the lists of payments be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
c) To approve the first registration of council properties
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Warren that unregistered properties owned by the Council be registered at Land Registry. There were 3 in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions. The motion was carried.
d) To note an update on the replacement of the Empire Theatre roof
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the update be noted and that the Town Clerk should apply to the National Lottery for funding.
91. To consider the cost of dog waste bags
Cllr Munday proposed that HTC should continue to provide dog waste bags free to the public, seconded by Cllr Hume. There were 5 in favour and 1 abstention. The motion was carried.
92. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Munday said that he had spent many hours on preparation of evidence for the Bournebridge Hill enquiry. He had also attended a planning meeting, where there were no applications relating to Halstead. He had undergone Gambling Act training, and would be attending skills training, and Full Council in October.
Cllr Radley said he had chaired a further meeting of the Scrutiny committee, and that there would be a report in November. He would be making the postponed visit to the recycling centre in Ipswich in October, and attending Full Council.
Cllr Pell said that many meetings had been cancelled due to the death of the Queen, and that she had also missed several meetings because of a recent fall. She would attend Full Council in October.
Cllr Hume said that he had nothing to report.
Cllr Fincken proposed that Standing Orders be suspended, seconded by Cllr Munday, and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Siddall made his report as Essex County Councillor for Halstead
He said that he had been looking at S106 funds and 258, and had concluded that ECC should be more proactive in managing traffic, caused by the developments around Halstead. He had arranged for 18 potholes around Halstead to be filled. He also had a proposal to reduce the pavement at the junction between Kings Road and Trinity Road, to improve traffic flow.
Cllr Fincken proposed that Standing Orders be restored, seconded by Cllr Munday, and unanimously agreed.
93. To receive reports from Champions
There were no reports from Champions.
94. To approve updates to risk assessments
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC approves the updates in risk assessments, subject to a change of wording from “youths” to “people” in the risk assessments for the Public Gardens. This was seconded by Cllr Munday, and unanimously agreed
The Clerk was asked to further explore the possibility of panic alarms for the office
95. To approve an update to the Equality and Diversity policy
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Equality and Diversity policy update should be approved, seconded by Cllr Hume. This was agreed unanimously.
96. To take the Civility and Respect pledge
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC take the Civility and Respect pledge. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
97. To consider the issue of flooding in Bridge Street
It was noted that Highways has said they would jet wash the drains but had not yet done so. In addition, they should be asked to give precedence to reports of flooding in this area and close the road, to prevent backwash into the shops in Bridge Street, from passing traffic.
Cllr Radley proposed that HTC, in conjunction with Cllr Siddall, should prepare a joint statement to ECC from the Chair of HTC and Cllr Siddall to ECC . This was seconded by Cllr Warren, and unanimously agreed.
98. To approve the addition of a data protection clause to employment contracts.
Cllr Munday proposed the addition of a data protection clause to staff contracts, seconded by Cllr Warren , and unanimously agreed.
99. To approve an update to the Disciplinary procedure
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that a data protection clause be added to the Disciplinary procedure. This was unanimously agreed.
100. To consider a request from the Royal British Legion
Cllr Munday proposed that HTC should state its willingness to lend support to the RBL in running the Remembrance parade in 2022, but should then meet to discuss arrangements for other years. The Council’s view is that RBL should continue to take the lead in organising Remembrance events. This was seconded by Cllr Radley and unanimously agreed.
101. 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”.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20:43