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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 11 March 2024: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Andy Munday | Vice Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Present | |
| Councillor James Bond | Present | |
| Councillor Malcolm Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor Gemma MacAndrews | Present | |
| Councillor Grahame McCoyd | Present | |
| Councillor Paul Nunn | Present | |
| Councillor Felix Preston | Apologies | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Present |
Also in attendance: Conor O’Brien, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
Cllr Pell opened the meeting by expressing the Council’s sadness at the recent death of Cllr Fincken’s wife, Jenny.
189. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Smith and Cllr Preston sent apologies due to work commitments, and ECC Cllr Chris Siddall also sent his apologies. Cllr Munday sent his apologies for personal reasons.
Cllr Atkinson proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, acceptance of the apologies. This was unanimously agreed.
190. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Fincken declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee. Cllr Pell declared items 7b and 7b (a) as a member of BDC and CSGMC, and item 12 as a member of BDC and the Friends of the Public Gardens. Cllr Warren declared NPI item 7b and 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr McCoyd declared PI Item 7b, and NPI item 10, as the resident is known to him.
191. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
There were no public questions.
192. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 12 February 2024. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 12 February 2024 was put forward by Cllr Atkinson, seconded by Cllr Bond, and agreed with one abstention.
193. 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 left the meeting.
24/00219/VAR – 9 Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex – Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans) of approved application 20/02191/HH granted 13.04.2021 for: Erection of a garage and boundary wall. Variation would allow:-the boundary wall design to have a brick base and piers with close board fencing and 2 flint sections.
Cllr Nunn proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Warren, and unanimously agreed.
23/02855/HH – 21 Oak Road, Halstead, Essex – Hardstanding and vehicle access
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, subject to comments by Essex Highways. This was seconded by Cllr Nunn and unanimously agreed.
24/00299/ADV – Land North Of, Oak Road, Halstead – Retention of 10 No. flags on 6 metre flagpoles & 2 No. site entrance panel signs
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, on the condition that the flags are removed once all the houses have been sold. This was seconded by Cllr McCoyd and unanimously agreed.
24/00351/HH – 63 Conies Road, Halstead, Essex – Part two storey part single storey side extension
Cllr Atkinson proposed no objection, provided that advice is followed on the care of the tree in the neighbouring garden. This was seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
24/00326/FUL – St John Ambulance, Fenn Road, Halstead – Proposed change of use from St John Ambulance Station to Halstead Community Shed and alterations to fenestration
Cllr Warren proposed no objection to the change of use of the Ambulance station but mentioned concerns over the commercial use of the site for parties and weddings and lack of parking for that use. This was seconded by Cllr Nunn, and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken returned to the meeting.
194. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Pell thanked the council staff for all their efforts at the Cuppa for Cancer event. The event had raised money and awareness. She also mentioned that she had attended the funeral of Archie Peacock, who had done a great deal of work for young people in Halstead. She also said that HTC should nominate someone for the High Sheriff’s award next year, and that the town should celebrate in some way the 50 years of HTC, which is due on 1 April 2024. It was suggested that this could be celebrated at the Annual Town meeting.
Cllr Bond proposed that the Mayor’s appointments be noted, seconded by Cllr Warren and unanimously agreed.
195. FINANCE
Finance – Cllr Atkinson, Lead for Finance, led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
a) Income and expenditure for February 2024
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Hilton, approval of the income and expenditure report for February. This was unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the Lists of payments to be made in March
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, approval of the lists of payments. This was unanimously agreed.
c) To consider the implementation of parking restrictions in Trinity Street
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC agrees to implement parking restrictions from 7.00 – 19.00 allowing parking outside of these times Monday to Sunday, and to fund it from the car park major maintenance budget. This was seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
d) To consider renewing the whitelining in Hedingham Road carpark
Cllr Atkinson proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, that Quote 1 should be chosen for renewing the whitelining at Hedingham Road car park. This was unanimously agreed.
e) To confirm a decision to spend remaining unallocated surplus on more CCTV
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that HTC approves the expenditure of £3598.01 on the Safer Streets project to allow the installation of CCTV at the public toilets and in the Causeway, taken from the unallocated surplus of the financial year 22/23. This was unanimously agreed.
f) To consider a request from a councillor for a generic email for councillors
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Pell, that a dedicated email address be set up for all councillors, properly set up and supported. All options should be researched and results brought to the April Full council meeting.
196. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Bond said that he had attended Full Council.
Cllr Fincken had been unable to attend meetings, but had been involved in the discussion of the NEPP parking proposals, which had been widely opposed.
Cllr Pell had attended a budget setting meeting, a skate park meeting and a cabinet meeting. The Friends of the Public Gardens had also met.
Cllr Atkinson proposed that the reports were noted, seconded by Cllr Hilton and unanimously agreed.
197. To receive reports from Champions
a) Doctors’ surgery – Cllr McCoyd reported that he had attended a PPG meeting where there had been a speaker from Healthwatch. He also reported that an extra GP had been appointed, and that there would be further appointments of other healthcare professionals.
b) Education – no report.
c) Police – Cllr Warren reported that the PCSOs and Specials had recently been active in the town, had been to the office to talk to the Clerk and had also been working with Matthew the new Street warden.
d) Open Spaces – Cllr Atkinson reported that there had been a useful Greenway meeting which had agreed that a Halstead Local Council Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) be set up, in order to be able to apply for funding. There had also been several meetings with Julia Watts Landscape Architect at BDC, on the ramp to be installed at Mill Chase, on improvements to the Riverwalk near Box Mill, and on the tennis courts being installed at Courtaulds Sports Ground.
e) Tourism – Cllr Pell reported that events are being planned for the summer, and that Halstead should take advantage of the Cycle race coming through Halstead in May.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Champions’ reports be noted. This was seconded by Cllr Hilton and unanimously agreed.
198. To receive an update on the Safer Streets project
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Safer Streets report be noted. This was seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
199. To consider overnight motorhome parking in Butler Road carpark
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond that overnight parking for motorhomes in Butler Road be researched thoroughly, including a consultation with the residents of Riverside Court and Butler Road, and consideration of the effect on EV charging and EV charging overnight. This was unanimously agreed.
200. To consider a Public Space Protection Order for the Public Gardens
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond that consideration should be given to a PSPO in the Public Gardens as a future project, while understanding that it is the property of BDC. This was unanimously agreed.
201. To consider an aspect of the Town Centre regeneration project concerning the Licences for street furniture
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, that HTC note that the licence issue had been resolved. This was unanimously agreed.
202. 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 that the public be excluded from the private session, seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
203. A staff matter was discussed.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.00