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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 14 August 2023: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Andy Munday | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Apologies | |
| 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 | Present |
Also in attendance: Ian Tinton, Stephanie Kirby, Henry Rayner (from 19.45) Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
The meeting started with a minute’s silence to remember former councillor and Chairman Michael Gage, who had recently died.
070. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Cllr Smith and Cllr Atkinson due to work commitments. Cllr Munday proposed acceptance of these apologies, seconded by Cllr Fincken and agreed unanimously.
071. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Munday declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, items 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC. Cllr Pell declared NPI item 7a as a member of CSGMC, and 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC, and CSGMC. Cllr Warren declared NPI items 7b and 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr Fincken declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, and 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC. Cllr Hilton declared NPI item 7b and 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC.
072. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Stephanie Kirby gave an update on the improvements requested for the Centre. HiB have installed planters. She stated that the Centre is part of the Conservation area of the High Street, yet it has no heritage furniture or lampposts. As a member of the Chartered Institute of Builders, he considers the subsidence to be bad and in need of attention. He had invited all councillors to visit. The Clerk and Cllr Fincken had done so. Cllr Pell reported that a decision had been taken at the Town Team funds meeting, chaired by Cllr Siddall, to give support to the Centre. Miss Kirby requested that shop owners should be able to attend future meetings of this group.
b) Ian Tinton spoke about ongoing problems with parking and access at Slough Farm Road, in relation to item 17. Cars already park on the pavement, and more cars are expected due to a proposed development nearby. He had already written to BDC and NEPP.
073. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 10 July 2023. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 10 July 2023, was put forward by Cllr Munday, seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
074. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell Lead for planning
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, were considered at the Council meeting.
Cllrs Munday and Fincken left the meeting.
Revised Application 23/01067/HH – 21 Oak Road, Halstead, Essex – Two storey side extension, part single storey part two storey front extension, single storey rear extension
Cllr Nunn proposed no objection to this application, seconded by Cllr Warren, and unanimously agreed.
Revised Application 22/00329/FUL – Land Adjacent to Blamsters Farm, Mount Hill, Halstead – Proposed affordable specialist neighbourhood for older people and/or those living with or supporting someone with a disability, consisting of 33no. Affordable dwellings and a community hub building, with associated landscaping and infrastructure.
Cllr Nunn proposed no objection to this application, subject to all conditions stated, and noting the tendency for the road to flood at the corner of Russell Road and the A131. Cllr Hilton seconded this and it was unanimously agreed.
23/01682/HH – Stones Lakes, Sloe Hill, Halstead – Erection of a new dome greenhouse and treehouse
Cllr Bond proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Nunn, and unanimously agreed.
23/01649/FUL – 3 Fifth Avenue, Bluebridge Industrial Estate, Halstead – Crossover dropped kerb to enable off street parking with permeable hardstanding
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, and unanimously agreed.
23/01839/HH – 8A Abels Road, Halstead, Essex – Erection of detached annexe
Cllr Nunn proposed objection to this application, as it is not in keeping with the surrounding area, and should be attached to the original building. If this application were to go forward, the annexe should be tied to the original building and not sold separately. This was seconded by Cllr Warren and this was carried by 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
23/01530/FUL – Halstead Service Station, Trinity Street, Halstead – Demolition of existing showroom. Proposed side extension to provide additional floor space for (Use Class Ea and Eb) together with addition of electric vehicle charging bays and customer parking.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, subject to HTC’s previous comments on access at a busy junction and signage clutter, and to the comments from Chris Howard, on accessibility for the elderly and disabled. This was seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
23/01864/VAR – Lidl UK GmbH, Kings Road, Halstead – Variation of Condition 1 (opening hours) of permission 17/01886/VR granted 5/12/22 for: Application for variation of Condition 8 of approved application 15/01138/FUL – To allow store to open between 08.00 – 22.00 on Bank and Public Holidays. The use of the site hereby permitted shall not be open to customers and no deliveries shall be made outside the hours of 08.00 – 22.00 Monday to Saturday including Bank and Public Holidays, and 10.00 – 16.00 on Sunday. Variation would allow the condition to read “The use of the site hereby permitted shall not be open to customers outside the hours of 08.00 – 22.00 Monday to Saturday including Bank and Public Holidays and 10.00 – 16.00 on Sundays and no deliveries shall be made to the site outside the hours of 08.00 – 22.00 Monday to Sunday including Bank and Public Holidays. Reason: In the interest of residential amenity’
Cllr Warren proposed that Standing Orders be suspended in order for a member of the public to be consulted on opening hours of other supermarkets in Halstead. This was seconded by Cllr McCoyd, and unanimously agreed. The member of the public was consulted. Cllr Warren proposed the reinstatement of Standing Orders, seconded by
Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
It was proposed by Cllr Pell that the matter should be referred back to BDC planning, as not enough information is available for the Council to be able to make a decision. Councillors felt that the hours at this supermarket should be in line with those of other large supermarkets in the town. They would be prepared to reconsider if this information is made available.
This was seconded by Cllr Preston, and carried with 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
Cllrs Fincken and Munday returned to the meeting.
075. Public question time second round
Cllr Munday proposed suspending Standing orders to allow Henry Rayner to make a statement on the Parish paths partnership. This was seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
Henry Rayner said that he had been approached to help with the revival of the Parish paths partnership in Halstead, as they had no representative at present. He will be involved in walking the footpaths, encouraging volunteers to help, ensuring maintenance of signage and upkeep of paths.
Cllr Munday proposed reinstating Standing orders, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed bringing forward item 16 which related to the Parish paths partnership, and this was seconded by Cllr Fincken, and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Bond proposed that HTC approve the recommendations
- That HTC agrees to become part of P3
- That HTC assists Henry Rayner in recruiting volunteers
- That HTC enters into an SLA to manage vegetation cutting on the Public rights of way around the town more efficiently
This was seconded by Cllr McCoyd and unanimously agreed.
076. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Pell thanked the councillors for their good wishes while she had been unwell, and thanked Cllr Munday for standing in for her at the Summer Fayre. She had also attended Route 66 in the Public Gardens on 13 August.
Cllr Munday proposed that the appointments be noted, seconded by Cllr Fincken, and unanimously agreed.
077. 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 for July 2023
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the income and expenditure report. This was unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the List of payments
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the list of payments. This was unanimously agreed.
c) To select a builder to install the Rosemary Lane barrier.
Cllr Fincken proposed that Quote A be selected. This was seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
d) To consider a 5-user licence for the Rialtas accounts package
Cllr Munday proposed approval of buying a 5-user licence. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously approved. The Clerk was asked to check first whether a 5-user licence could be purchased for 1 year only initially. If this was not possible, the 5-user licence should be bought anyway.
e) To consider the repair and enlargement of the Mayor’s chain
Cllr Bond proposed that HTC should select Quote 2 for the repair and enlargement of the Mayor’s chain. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken, and unanimously agreed.
f) To approve a change to the Annual Accounting statement
Cllr Munday proposed that the change to the Annual Accounting statement be agreed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, and carried by 8 votes (Cllrs Pell, Munday, Hilton, Bond, Nunn, Fincken, Warren and Preston) in favour and 2 votes against (Cllrs McCoyd and MacAndrews) .
078. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Fincken reported that he had attended a planning meeting, the Planning Forum, the Local Plan, and Full Council. He had also attended a call-in at the Corporate Scrutiny committee, where the Labour Party, and then the Independent and Green Party, had called in against the charge to be brought in for garden waste collection. But this was not sent back for further discussion.
Cllr Munday reported that he had attended a planning meeting, the Planning Forum, the Local Plan, and Full Council. He had also attended licensing training.
Cllr Bond reported that he had attended the Policy development committee and Full Council.
Cllr Pell reported that she had attended a BDC meeting where each councillor could ask one question, and licensing training, and a cycling strategy meeting.
The reports were noted.
079. To receive reports from Champions
Doctors’ surgery – Cllr McCoyd reported his meeting at Courtaulds surgery with Practice Manager Carrie McSpadden, Operations Manager Jenna Lancaster-Jones, and Dr Daniela Kreis
They stated that Cllrs Radley and Gronland had been extremely helpful.
They said that they have been allocated 4 rooms at Halstead Hospital, as an overspill for their staff to work in, but the practice cannot currently afford the cost, and are in negotiation with the Integrated Care Board.
Their current difficulty is that their capacity to treat patients is greater than the space they have to work in.
The surgery is not oversubscribed in spite of the building development.
The new online booking appointment and triage system is working very well. There are many amongst the older population who are capable of making online appointments. The triage system means that doctors see the more difficult cases, while nurses and other qualified staff see the routine cases.
The phone queue is much reduced.
They said that waste of unused medication is a big issue.
a) Education – no report
b) Police – Cllr Warren reported that there had been significant antisocial behaviour in the town, including in the library. It was felt that the police were following the activity around but taking no action.
c) Open Spaces – councillors are waiting for the BDC meeting on 31 August and hope to meet the new landscape architect.
e) Tourism – the last summer event was the Route 66 in the park on 13 August.
080. To note the change from substitutes to 6 members at SAC
Cllr Fincken proposed that the changes to the terms of reference of the Staff Advisory Committee be made in the Scheme of Delegation.
This was seconded by Cllr Bond and was unanimously agreed.
081. To note the minutes of the meetings of the Climate change Action group of 19 July, and of the Town Team funds group of 10 July. Minutes had been circulated.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the minutes of these meetings be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
082. To update the Policy on Intangible Risk
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken that the policy on Intangible risk be updated. This was unanimously agreed.
083. To reconsider parking in Trinity Street
Cllr Munday proposed that HTC applies through the Local Highways Panel, at Cllr Siddall’s suggestion, for a single yellow line parking restriction on Trinity Street between 7.00 and 19.00, to prevent parking at busy times, but to allow residents to park in the evenings and overnight. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
084. To reconsider the Town’s Action plan
Cllr Munday proposed that the Climate Action plan should be incorporated in the Action plan going forward. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken suggested that councillors should put their suggestions through the Clerk, and then volunteers should be asked to come forward to keep a watching brief.
A few small changes to the plan were noted.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the update to the Town’s Action Plan be noted. This was seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
085. To consider measures to control parking in Slough Farm Road/Beridge Road
Cllr Fincken proposed :
- That HTC refers this request to the LHP
- That HTC contacts NEPP concerning parking close to the junction of Slough Farm Road and Beridge Road
This was seconded by Cllr Hilton, and unanimously agreed.
086. 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 21.10