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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 14 March 2023: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor J Pell | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor P Caulfield | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor J Atkinson | Present | |
| Councillor S Dingle | Apologies | |
| Councillor M Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor L Smith | Present | |
| Councillor G Warren | Present | |
Also in attendance: Alan Massow Planning Policy BDC, Grahame McCoyd, Macaully Moffat Halstead Gazette, Helen Catley, Ken Paisley, Anne-Maree Robertson, Cllr Chris Siddall Essex County Council, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
The meeting began with a 2-minute silence to mark the passing of Cllr David Hume on 14 February 2023. He was a Halstead Town Councillor for 20 years and Chairman of the Council for 8 of those years. Councillors also remembered Cllr Kathleen Jones, former Mayor, who had recently died.
199. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Dingle sent her apologies due to ill health.
Cllr Fincken proposed acceptance of apologies, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed.
200. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Munday declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, and 7b and 7b(a)as a member of the Empire Trust and item 18 as a member of BDC. Cllr Warren declared NPI item 7b and 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr Caulfield declared NPI item 13 as Juliet Townsend is known to him, Cllr Pell declared NPI item 5, 23/00255/HH as the agent is known to her, 23/00039/LBC as she is related to a member of the church group, 23/00192/FUL and 23/00193/LBC as a relation of a former employee, 23/00314/HH as owner is known to her, OPI 230/0040/FUL as applicant is known to her, PI 23/00246/FUL as she is involved through the Halstead Hospital League of Friends, 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC and CSGMC, and Item 18 as a member of BDC.
201. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Alan Massow, Planning Policy, BDC made a presentation
Alan Massow stated that the central part of Halstead was designated a conservation area in 1969. The designation is given to ensure that an area retains its specific architectural quality, and to prevent development of an unsuitable character. This area in Halstead covers the High Street, Market Hill, Bridge Street and Hedingham Road, where there are a large number of Grade II listed buildings, including St Andrews church. Halstead is mentioned in the Domesday Book and first had a market in 1251.There was significant change in the 19th and 20th centuries due to the Courtauld family and industrial development.
BDC has a duty to review conservation areas, and funding is now available to do an appraisal of the Halstead conservation area in April. During the appraisal the planned regeneration of the town will be taken into consideration.
b) Grahame McCoyd made a comment on item 10 on the Agenda, suggesting that there should be a search facility on the homepage. The Clerk will investigate.
Anne-Maree Robertson commented on how the Town Team funds should be spent. She felt that a memorial to David Hume should be funded through donations from organisations in the town and residents. The Town team funds should be spent on the Town centre.
Ken Paisley spoke about the planning application to turn part of the Centre into 2 flats, and stated that this would enhance the area.
b) Public questions time
c) Report from Cllr Chris Siddall, Essex County Councillor
Cllr Siddall reported that the Bournebridge Hill pothole had been repaired and that an extra £10m had been set aside by ECC to tackle potholes. It was suggested that the repair would not last as it was not of the quality needed. The pothole scheme has been extended to pavements. He also said that Trucam was available to hire for councils. This is a number plate recognition and speed checking system. He also stated that the budget had been set at ECC, and this would produce a £19m deficit, which would increase in subsequent years if no action was taken. He said that the whole pattern of working at ECC had changed, as many people now worked from home, and office buildings were no longer needed. Cllr Siddall is part of the Transformation Board set up to manage the changes in working practices.
202. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 13 February 2023. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of 13 February 2023 was put forward by Cllr Fincken and seconded by Cllr Munday. This was agreed with 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
203. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell Deputy Lead for planning
Cllr Munday left the meeting.
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, are to be considered at the Council meeting.
23/00255/HH – 47 New Street, Halstead, Essex – Replacement single-storey rear infill extension including a small section of balcony over.
Cllr Fincken proposed no objection to this application, seconded by Cllr Atkinson and unanimously agreed.
23/00039/LBC – Holy Trinity Church, Chapel Hill, Halstead – Installation of 9 No. infra-red heaters on internal columns
Cllr Caulfield proposed objection to this application, as it had not been fully researched and the solution suggested was not appropriate to the building, and no opportunity had been given to the public to comment. This was seconded by Cllr Atkinson and unanimously agreed.
23/00192/FUL & 23/00193/LBC – The White Hart, 15 High Street, Halstead, Essex – Extension of existing patio area with concrete block paving, including erection of fence with pedestrian gate. Extension of existing timber pergola across the new length of the patio, and installation of raised flowerbeds around boundary of new area.
Cllr Caulfield proposed no objection, although he said that the planned fencing was too high for safety and visibility. This was seconded by Cllr Atkinson and unanimously agreed.
23/00314/HH – 61 Trinity Road, Halstead, Essex – Single storey side and rear extension
Cllr Fincken proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Atkinson and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Pell left the meeting.
23/00246/FUL – Essex Rivers Healthcare N H S Trust, Hedingham Road, Halstead – Change of use of part of existing hospital (former X-Ray Block) to use as surgery (Class E(e))
Cllr Caulfield proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
23/00401/FUL – 5-7 The Centre, High Street, Halstead – Change of use of part of ground floor (Use Class E(a)) to 1 No. 2-bedroom flat. Addition of 1No. Second floor 3-bedroom flat.
Cllr Warren proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Fincken. The motion was carried with 1 abstention.
Cllr Munday and Cllr Pell returned to the meeting.
204. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the Mayor’s appointments be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
205. FINANCE
Finance –Lead, Cllr Atkinson, led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
a) Income and expenditure report for February 2023
Cllr Atkinson said that the finances were going in the right direction and that there would be a surplus sufficient to cover extra projects.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the income and expenditure report be approved, and this was unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the lists of payments 7b and 7ba to be paid in March.
Cllr Fincken proposed approval of 7b and 7ba, seconded by Cllr Munday, and unanimously agreed.
c) To consider replacement of the Empire Roof
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that HTC accepts quote 3 for repair of the Empire Roof .This was unanimously agreed.
d) To consider good use of the Town team funds
Cllr Pell proposed suspending of Standing Orders, seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Siddall expressed his wish to be involved in decisions on the Town Team funds.
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Caulfield, that Standing Orders be reinstated, and this was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson , that a meeting should be set up to discuss the best use of the Town Team funds, and that the town collectively should raise funds for David’s memorial. Anne- Maree Robertson, Annette Randall and Tracy Holdgate should be invited to be part of the group, and Cllr Munday expressed a keen interest in also being part of it. This was unanimously agreed.
e) To consider installing a panic alarm in the Town council office
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that a panic alarm should be installed in the council office. This was unanimously agreed.
206. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Munday said that he had attended a planning meeting where sadly an application had got through for Halstead, to allow 55 more homes to be built. He had also attended a planning members’ forum which provided a good opportunity for members to meet developers before the consultation process.
Cllr Pell said that she had attended the scrutiny committee, and Full council when the budget was agreed. She had also received communications from the chief executive and the leader concerning the future use of Wethersfield airbase. Plans are under consideration for its use as a centre for holding asylum seekers while their cases are being reviewed.
207. To receive reports from Champions
Surgery – The Elizabeth Courtauld surgery had expressed a very strong interest in using the Halstead Hospital facilities.
Policing – Disappointment was expressed that nothing much had been achieved although Chief Inspector Martin Richards had promised a lot of action by the specials and community police officers after his meeting with HTC. The latest surgery had been postponed and then cancelled, specials are not visible and it would be nice to see them at meetings. The Clerk was asked to write again to C.I. Richards to let him know that the Council is not happy with developments so far.
Tourism. – events are planned for the Coronation
208. To review the Website accessibility policy
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, that the update to the Website accessibility policy be approved. This was unanimously agreed. He asked the Clerk to look into having a search facility on the website.
209. To approve Christmas dates 2023
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, that the Christmas dates for 2023 be approved. This was unanimously agreed,
210. To receive a report on the meeting of the Strategic Lorry route group
Cllr Pell proposed the suspension of Standing Orders to allow Cllr Siddall to speak. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Siddall said that it might be possible for ECC to use Section 278 funds to unblock the pinchpoints. It was important now to persuade Suffolk County Council.
Cllr Siddall was thanked for his input into the meeting.
Cllr Munday, seconded by Cllr Pell proposed the reinstatement of Standing Orders. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Caulfield, that the report on the Strategic Lorry route group meeting be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
211. To consider an Art in shop windows project
Cllr Caulfield proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that HTC agrees in principle to the project of painting in shopwindows, but that this should be further discussed at a meeting of the Town team funds working group, and that further information should be sought from Juliet Townsend. This was unanimously agreed.
212. Climate change Action plan
Cllr Munday proposed acceptance of the Climate change Action plan, subject to removal of dates by which actions should be achieved, and changing wording from ‘campaign’ to ‘lobby’. This was seconded by Cllr Atkinson and unanimously agreed.
213. 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 Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson that the press and public be excluded from the meeting and that Cllr Siddall should be invited to stay. This was unanimously agreed.
214. A report on assets was considered.
Cllr Siddall left the meeting.
Cllr Munday proposed that Standing Orders be reinstated, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed that Standing Orders be extended by 10 minutes, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed.
215. A proposal from the Baptist church was considered.
216 & 217 Two recommendations from the Staff Advisory Committee were considered
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.30
Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)