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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 11 November 2024: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Andrew Munday | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor James Bond | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Present | |
| Councillor Malcolm Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor Gemma MacAndrews | Present | |
| Councillor Grahame McCoyd | Present | |
| Councillor Paul Nunn | Apologies | |
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Present | |
| Councillor Felix Preston | Apologies | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Present | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Present |
Also in attendance: Cllr Chris Siddall, PC James Draper, Emily Hume, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
24/94. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Preston sent apologies for personal reasons, Cllr Nunn sent apologies as he was unwell.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Pell, acceptance of the apologies. This was unanimously agreed.
Chairman’s statement 11 November 2024
Thanks are due to Cllr Bond who managed HTC affairs for 2 months while I was away on holiday.
We have at last some good news on the public toilets. The automatic locking mechanism on the men’s toilet was damaged through vandalism several months ago, but we are now promised a speedy repair, which will enable the toilet to be locked overnight and prevent further vandalism. We are also planning to give the outside a clean up and a coat of paint.
There have been many rumours flying around the town relating to supermarkets. The Council’s contract with the East of England coop will now be continuing when the new supermarket takes over.
Since the attempted break-in at the Empire Theatre, the Empire Trust and the Town Council are considering installing a roller shutter for greater security
HTC would like to mark the death of Margaret Eskins on 6 November, and sends its sympathy to all those involved in Halstead in Bloom.
24/95. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Pell declared NPI, item 5 24/02080/FUL as an objector is known to her, item 7b & 7b(a) as a member of BDC and former mayor, item 14 as a close relative works for East of England co-op head office. Cllr Warren declared NPI item 7b& 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr Fincken declared NPI, item 5 as a member of BDC planning committee. Cllr Munday declared NPI, item 5 as a member of BDC planning committee, and 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC. Cllr Smith declared NPI, item 5, 24/02080/FUL as an objector is known to her.
24/96. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Cllr Chis Siddall gave his report
• He mentioned that there is now a chairman’s panel at the LHP, which allows some schemes to pass through more quickly, including the crossing at Chapel Hill which is to be made safer, particularly for schoolchildren. Work will start on this on 6/1/25, and Cllr Siddall will ensure that it is done without reduction in the width of the pavement.
• ECC is carrying out a wellbeing survey with residents to discover the biggest issues affecting families
• Highways have had an investment boost
b) PC James Draper
PC Draper had been asked by Cllr Warren to report on the recent work done in Halstead by the Specials, and also those working elsewhere in the county. He said that the incidence of crime had dropped significantly over the past year. He also mentioned Commonplace, which is a participation app, which can be used to indicate to others places where you feel unsafe.
24/97. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 14 October 2024. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 14 October 2024 was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Bond and agreed with 2 abstentions.
Cllr Atkinson proposed, seconded by Cllr Smith, that the minutes of the events group meeting of 25 October be noted. This was agreed unanimously.
24/98. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell, Lead for planning
Cllr Fincken and Cllr Munday left the meeting.
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, were considered at the Council meeting.
24/02080/FUL – St Andrews House, 19 – 21 Head Street, Halstead – Change of use from office space to residential children’s home.
Cllr Hilton proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Bond. This was agreed, with 4 in favour and 3 abstentions.
24/01843/LBC – 91 Head Street, Halstead, Essex – Re-roof of existing roof using the same materials and re-using existing tiles where possible
Cllr Pell proposed no objection as long as the historic adviser is kept informed. Cllr MacAndrews seconded this, and it was agreed unanimously.
Cllr Fincken and Cllr Munday returned to the meeting.
24/99. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Munday mentioned that attending the Rotary club meeting on Dementia had convinced him to focus on Dementia for the Mayor’s charity.
The mayor’s appointments were noted, proposed by Cllr Munday and seconded by Cllr Fincken, and unanimously agreed.
24/100. 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 October 2024
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, approval of the income and expenditure report for October 2024. This was agreed unanimously.
b) To approve the List of payments and the supplementary list of payments.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, approval of the lists of payments. This was agreed unanimously.
c) To note the 2024/25 pay award
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the pay award be noted. This was agreed unanimously.
d)To consider purchasing new barrier fencing for the Christmas tree
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that barrier fencing be purchased for the Christmas tree. This was agreed with one against.
e) To note regulations for procurement at HTC.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the regulations for procurement be made more explicit, giving reasons for accepting only one quote on some occasions. This was agreed unanimously.
24/101. DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Cllr Fincken said that he had attended Full Council when an important motion on recycling had been passed unanimously, and the Planning Committee.
Cllr Pell said that she had also attended Full Council and had laid wreaths for BDC as past chair.
Cllr Bond said that he had attended Full Council, and the Scrutiny Committee looking at the budget for 25/26.
Cllr Munday said that he had also attended Full Council and the Planning Committee.
24/102. To receive reports from Champions
Doctors’ surgery – Cllr McCoyd had attended the PPG, which had consisted mainly of complaints, and had learnt that there are 4 trainee GPs at the surgery.
Education – Cllr Bond is to have a meeting with Ramsey school shortly.
Police – Cllr Warren had instigated the report on Specials.
Open Spaces – Cllrs Atkinson and Fincken had had a meeting with the Clerk to update the sites for Potential Open Spaces Improvements
Tourism – The stall spaces for the Christmas Fayre had been booked up very quickly, and bookings are already being taken for 2025.
24/103. To consider in principle the installation of a roller shutter at the Empire Theatre
Cllr Fincken proposed that quotes should be sought for a roller shutter at the Empire Theatre, and a crime prevention officer should be contacted This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
24/92. 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, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting. This was unanimously agreed.
24/104. Recommendations of the SAC were approved.
24/105. Proposed bank account changes were agreed.
24/106. Recommendations on car parks were agreed.
24/107. Ways of managing the Causeway were agreed.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 22.15