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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 14 November 2022 : at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor J Pell | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor P Caulfield | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor J Atkinson | Present | |
| Councillor P Claydon | Present | |
| Councillor S Dingle | Apologies | |
| Councillor M Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor D Gronland | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Apologies | |
| Councillor A Munday | Apologies | |
| Councillor M Radley | Present | |
| Councillor L Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor G Warren | Present |
Also in attendance: Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk) Sue Hughes, Grahame McCoyd
116. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Dingle and Cllr Hume sent their apologies due to ill health. Cllr Smith sent her apologies due to work commitments. Cllr Munday sent his apologies for personal reasons. Cllr Siddall sent his apologies.
Cllr Atkinson proposed acceptance of apologies, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
117. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Radley declared NPI item 7b and 7ba, as a member of BDC. Cllr Warren declared NPI item 7 as a member of CSGMC . Cllr Claydon declared NPI items 7a, 7band 7d as a member of CSGMC. Cllr Caulfield declared NPI item 5, 22/02702/HH as applicant is known to him, and his daughter is project lead for the lighting. Cllr Pell declared NPI item 8 as a member of H4C, 7b, 7ba and 7d as a member of CSGMC and BDC.
Cllr Caulfield stated that he would like to mark Cllr Pell’s 40 continuous years as a councillor, and presented her with a commemorative crystal plaque.
118. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Sue Hughes, the Youth and Community commissioner, gave an update on youth provision in the District. She said that the Halstead Resource Centre was open for young people aged 11-19 on Monday and Friday evenings, and that the Youth Council (HAPPY) was very much involved with this, as well as with the Summer Fun in August. She also said that a Complementary Education Centre was being set up to help those young people who were missing education due to low level mental health anxiety, following their forced homelearning due to Covid. Youths who might otherwise be running around on roofs causing damage are being taught parcour In addition, the skatepark is being revamped, and young people are invited to 2 events at Easter where they can be involved in the design of the new park.
She said that she would keep in communication with the Town Clerk, so that these activities can be more widely known.
Cllr Pell thanked Sue for the update and said that thanks should be expressed to Anne Thrussell, who does so much for the young people of Halstead.
Cllr Fincken reported on the success achieved in challenging the Boundary Commission proposals on changing the constituency boundaries for Halstead, thanks to the work done by Cllr Fincken and the Clerk. The Clerk should thank the Boundary Commission.
119. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 17 October 2022. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of 17 October 2022 was put forward by Cllr Fincken, and seconded by Cllr Gronland, subject to an amendment to Minute 109 to remove the statement that HTC would definitely buy a new mower. There were 5 in favour and 2 abstentions.
Minutes of the Events meeting of 7 November, were noted, proposed by Cllr Gronland and seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed.
Minutes of the Strategic Lorry route meeting of 2 November were noted, proposed by Cllr Atkinson and seconded by Cllr Warren, and unanimously agreed.
120. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell Deputy Lead for Planning
22/02693/ADV – 8 Bridge Street, Halstead, Essex – Installation of 1 x internally-illuminated fascia sign, 1 x internal screen display, 2 x adhesive film bands on each window, 1 x logo adhesive film on door and 1 x address sign over door.
Cllr Warren proposed objection, due to the fact that the illuminated signage was totally out of keeping with the conservation area. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
The Town Clerk had already reported the signage at the 2 new shops to planning enforcement, and would also report the Betting shop across the road.
Cllr Caulfield left the room.
22/02702/HH Stone Lakes , Sloe Hill, Halstead – Detached outbuilding to create pool and leisure facility
Cllr Gronland proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed, provided that the development was not used for living accommodation
Cllr Caulfield returned to the meeting
121. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Pell said how much she had enjoyed the Halstead Choral concert on 12 November. They had thanked her for the grant given by HTC. She commented that in addition to all the appointments, the staff and councillors had updated their First aid training on 31 October.
122. FINANCE
Finance – Lead, Cllr Atkinson, led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
Cllr Atkinson said in general the Finances at HTC are still moving very much in the right direction.
a) Income and expenditure report for October 2022
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson that the income and expenditure report be approved, and this was unanimously agreed.
Councillors requested the surplus figure to be added to the income and expenditure report, and a detailed report to be presented to the December meeting for approval of the new fixed rate energy contracts
b) To approve the lists of payments 7b and 7ba to be paid in November
Cllr Fincken proposed approval of 7b and 7ba, seconded by Cllr Warren, and unanimously agreed.
c) To appoint a councillor to carry out internal control
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken that Cllrs Warren and Caulfield be appointed to carry out internal control before 10/1/23. This was unanimously agreed.
d) To consider purchasing an outfield mower
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson that HTC should purchase the new Ransome 214 mower, and this was agreed with 4 in favour and 3 against..
e) To note the pay award.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Warren, that the pay award should be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Radley proposed that the word “Statutory” be removed, and this was seconded by Cllr Pell and unanimously agreed.
The Clerk was asked to supply the detail of the figures, and to explain which budgets the extra payments would come from, and where expenditure will have to be reduced.
123. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Radley said that he had distributed his Community grant to the Dementia choir, to Soul Food, to the Big Sing and to the Salvation Army.
He said that the Scrutiny Committee had made 10 recommendations in relation to the S106 expenditure, and these would be signed off, along with the budget proposals on 23 November 2022.
Cllr Pell said that she had given some of her Community Grant to the Dementia choir and the Salvation Army. She had attended Community development scrutiny, the skate park consultation, the Member development working group, the members’ evening, a meeting on expenditure and a cycling strategy meeting.
124. To receive reports from Champions
Surgery – there had been an update from Dr Kreis, and some progress with Halstead Hospital. £250k is held in S106 monies for the surgery, but there is unlikely to be any more from current development.
Policing – Cllr Warren reported that PC Craig Wheeler will be returning to Halstead duties on 1 December. He said that police officers are quite active in Halstead.
Open spaces. – Cllr Fincken reported that the Open Spaces Action Plan was ready for updating, and that he and Cllr Atkinson and the Town Clerk should set up a meeting. He also said that tree planting would be taking place at the railway track at the weekend.
Tourism – significant winter events organised by HTC are about to take place.
125. Christmas Fayre 2022
The details of the Christmas Fayre were noted. Cllr Pell thanked Cllr Smith for her work.
126. To consider offering winter warmth and welcome
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC agree in principle to running winter warmth sessions in Queens Hall if possible on a weekly basis, seconded by Cllr Atkinson and unanimously agreed.
127. 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 Caulfield that the public and press be excluded from the private session of the meeting. This was unanimously agreed.
128. Halstead in Bloom
This discussion was postponed to the next meeting.
129. To approve recommendations made by SAC at a meeting on 3 October
The proposals from the SAC meeting on 3rd October were presented to full council and agreed.
130. To consider proposals relating to car parks
The proposals were discussed and will be revisited.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 22.20