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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 12 February 2024: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Andy Munday | Vice Chairman | Present |
| 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 | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Apologies |
Also in attendance: Dave Gronland, Kevin Pryke, Cllr Chris Siddall, Cameron Poole, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
168. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr Smith sent apologies due to work commitments, and Cllr Warren due to family commitments.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, acceptance of the apologies. This was unanimously agreed.
169. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Fincken declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, items 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC. Cllr Pell declared items 7b and 7b (a) as a member of BDC and CSGMC. Cllr Munday declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, items 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC.
170. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Kevin Pryke, Halstead Mensshed.
Kevin Pryke gave an update on the progress of the Mensshed project in Halstead. The trustees purchased the old ambulance station just before Christmas 2023, and have now completed the first phase of renovation. The second phase of converting the premises into a Mensshed is now under way, and Halstead Mensshed will be hosting the Essex Shed Forum on 21 March 2024.The aim of the Mensshed is to improve the lives of men over 50, who may suffer from isolation and depression, and they are working with social prescribers. There is little targeted help otherwise for this group, and in this area, they have an above average rate of suicide.
The Mensshed is now asking for some assistance from HTC in gaining permission for members to use the car park at Courtaulds sports ground on weekdays during the day, at a time when the car park is usually empty. They asked that the question be put to CSGMC, and said that they would be willing to consider payment in return.
Cllr Pell said that the CSGMC had refused this request earlier, but might reconsider it if payment were to be made.
b) Cllr Chris Siddall
Cllr Siddall gave his monthly report, and said that pothole repair was continuing as fast as possible, and that there had been successful flood alleviation at Sloe Hill. He also said that the county would see more funding of road repairs since the extension of HS2 has been cancelled. The ECC budget is about to be approved with an increase of 4.99%.
171. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 15 January 2024. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 15 January 2024 was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
172. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell, Lead for planning
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, were considered at the Council meeting.
Cllr Munday and Cllr Fincken left the meeting.
24/00118/HH – 38 Pretoria Road, Halstead, Essex – Single storey rear/side extension
Cllr Pell proposed no objection to the application, seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken and Cllr Munday returned to the meeting.
173. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Pell said that she had written a letter to the King following his recent cancer diagnosis. She also mentioned the event to raise funds for the Hope for tomorrow chemo van on 24 February.
Cllr Atkinson proposed that the Mayor’s appointments be noted, seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
174. 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 January 2024
Cllr Atkinson proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the income and expenditure report for January.
b) To approve the Lists of payments
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, approval of the lists of payments. This was unanimously agreed.
c) To consider managing churchyard trees
Cllr Atkinson proposed that Quote 2 be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
d) To consider a small dowry to the RBL in exchange for using their building for installation of CCTV
This item was postponed to the private session, as it may contain commercially sensitive information.
e) To receive the internal control report
Cllr Atkinson proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the report be noted and that Cllr Warren be thanked for the work done. This was unanimously agreed.
175. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Bond said that he had attended a scrutiny committee meeting.
Cllr Fincken had attended a cycling strategy meeting.
Cllr Munday had attended a governance and audit meeting, a planning committee meeting, where the Halstead Hall application was refused, and a members’ evening on health and wellbeing.
Cllr Pell had managed to attend BDC meetings with help with transport from other councillors. She had attended 2 Cabinet meetings and a corporate scrutiny meeting, a cycling strategy meeting and an HiB partnership meeting.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the reports were noted, seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
176. To receive reports from Champions
a) Doctors’ surgery – a new GP has been appointed at the Elizabeth Courtauld surgery.
b) Education – Ramsey school will be partially rebuilt as a result of the discovery of RAAC in the buildings..
c) Police – no report
d) Open Spaces – Cllr Atkinson asked that the working party to be set up at HTC regarding the cycle route be confirmed. Lee Crabbe is already involved with the group, and it was agreed that Cllrs Fincken, Atkinson, Pell and MacAndrews form the new group.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that these councillors form the cycle route group. This was unanimously agreed.
e) Tourism – Cllr Pell said that 3 bands had been planned for the summer – Essex Police Band, The Beavers, and Route 66.
Cllr Hilton asked that the clerk find out whether busking was allowed in the High Street.
178. To review the Risk Management policy
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Risk Management policy be approved, subject to more detail being added on the key risk areas. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
179. To review Standing Orders
Cllr Bond proposed that in 13g the first statement in brackets be removed, and the second adopted. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
Cllr McCoyd proposed that in 3f the Public question time be extended to 15 minutes. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken, and was carried with 8 in favour and 2 against.
Cllr Fincken proposed that all reference to substitutes be removed, seconded by Cllr Pell and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed that Standing Orders be approved with these alterations. This was seconded by Cllr McCoyd and unanimously agreed.
180. To receive a report on the BALC meeting
Cllr McCoyd proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, that the BALC report be noted.
This was unanimously agreed.
181. To consider a community survey
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that HTC agrees in principle to conduct a new community survey but forms a small group with the Clerk to work out how to do this, and what information should be sought. This was unanimously agreed.
182. To consider plans suggested by NEPP to control parking in the High Street
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the Clerk prepare a letter to send to NEPP outlining:
- That the plans are in a conservation area
- That there has been no consultation with the Town council
- That the Lord of the Manor has rights over the land on Market Hill
- That the plans will have a disastrous effect on the businesses in the High Street
- That these measures would have no impact on traffic flow and the pinchpoint in Head Street
- That no thought has been given to events which are held in the High Street and use the spaces where parking charges are planned
- That HTC must be part of any later consultation
This was unanimously agreed.
183. To consider buying an artificial Christmas tree for Queens Hall
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond , that the Chairman and the Town Clerk should together select a tree with a minimum height of 10 foot. They should bring their decision to the Council for approval on price. This was unanimously agreed.
184. 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.
185. A Safer Streets matter was discussed.
186. Staff matters were discussed.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.15