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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 15 May 2023: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| 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 Andy Munday | 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 Community safety engagement officer, Essex Police, Sarah Greatorex – Town Clerk
031. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Cllrs Nunn and Preston as they were both away. Cllr Munday proposed acceptance of these apologies, seconded by Cllr Warren and agreed unanimously.
032. 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 BDC. Cllr Warren declared NPI item 7b and 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC. Cllr Pell declared NPI item 5, 23/00706/FUL as a BDC councillor, 23/00425/OUT, as the owner is an H4C trustee, 23/00881/FUL as an objector is known to her and the letting agent is known to her, 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC and CSGMC, and as a trustee of the Day Centre. Cllr Fincken declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, and 7b and 7b(a) as a member of BDC. Cllr Bond declared NPI item 5, 23/00706/FUL as a BDC councillor.
033. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) PC James Draper, Community safety engagement officer at Essex Police, gave a report on recent police activity in Halstead. He gave a summary of the Op day when there were speed checks and insurance checks on the major roads entering the town. He talked of a bid to secure funding to improve safety in Halstead, as part of the safer Streets campaign, which could be used to improve safety in the Butler Road/Public Gardens part of Halstead.
b) Cllr Siddall
Cllr Siddall reported that he had been elected to the Transformation Board, which is to address the significant financial deficit at Essex County Council. He also said that other major topics being focused on were an increase in devolution, a climate change action app, to allow people to see their own carbon footprint, a disability strategy – meaningful lives matter, Ride London, and more funding for potholes.
034. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 17 April 2023 and the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held on 24 April 2023. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of 17 April 2023, and of the Extraordinary meeting of 24 April was put forward by Cllr Fincken and seconded by Cllr Munday.
There were 4 in favour and 6 abstentions. Those abstaining had either not been at the meeting or had not been elected at that time.
035. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell Lead for planning
Cllrs Munday and Fincken left the meeting
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, are to be considered at the Council meeting.
23/00881/FUL – Croft House, Parsonage Street, Halstead – Erection of two-storey rear extension and four-storey front extension. Addition of rear attic storey with sloping slate roof. Re-facing and re-fenestration to all elevations. Erection of single-storey cycle/bin store to front and remodelling of yard to rear of nos. 26 and 28 Parsonage Street to provide parking.
Cllr Atkinson proposed objection to this application, as it was inappropriate for the area, with the modern design very close to Grade I and Grade II listed buildings. In addition there was not enough parking allocated and some of the windows were overlooking existing houses. This was seconded by Cllr Warren, and carried with 5 in favour and 1 abstention.
23/00898/LBC – 35 Head Street, Halstead, Essex – Retention of ensuite shower room to bedroom 1, including provision of heritage-style fascia vent to front elevation.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed.
23/00989/HH – 18 Johnston Close, Halstead, Essex – Single Storey front extension.
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Smith, and unanimously agreed.
23/01112/HH – 8A Abels Road, Halstead, Essex – Erection of detached annexe
Cllr Atkinson proposed objection to this application as overdevelopment, seconded by Cllr Warren. This was carried with 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
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 Atkinson proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
Cllrs Pell and Bond left the meeting. Cllr Atkinson took the lead for the last 2 planning items.
23/00706/FUL – Land at Old Halstead Senior Citizens Centre, New Street, Halstead – Erection of 4 no. Detached Dwellings
Cllr MacAndrews proposed objection to this application, as inappropriate development not in keeping with the area, and overlooking other properties. This was seconded by Cllr Warren and unanimously agreed.
23/00425/OUT – Mds Civil Engineering, 19 Fourth Avenue, Bluebridge Industrial Estate – Outline planning application with all matters reserved, except access and scale, for the erection of mixed use industrial/commercial units with flexible use for classes E, B2 and B8, and associated operational development
Cllr Atkinson proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr McCoyd and unanimously agreed.
Cllrs Munday, Fincken, Pell and Bond returned to the meeting.
036. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Smith, that the Mayor’s appointments be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
037. 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 April 2023
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the income and expenditure report be noted, and this was unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the lists of payments 7b and 7ba to be paid in May.
Cllr Munday proposed approval of 7b and 7ba, seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
c) To approve Direct Debits for the financial year 2023-24
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that HTC approves the Direct debits. This was unanimously agreed.
d) To consider a gift for Haubourdin
Cllr Atkinson proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that a small group be formed to decide on a suitable gift for Haubourdin. This group should consist of Cllrs Pell, MacAndrews, Warren and Smith, and Mick Radley. This was unanimously agreed.
e) To consider installing CCTV in Rosemary Lane car park
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, that the decision on CCTV be postponed, in the light of the information offered by PC Draper, about the possibility of the Safer Streets Campaign providing funds possibly for CCTV. This was unanimously agreed.
f) To consider a repair to the Mayoral chain
Cllr Munday proposed that authority to sort out the repair be delegated to the Chairman, Vice chairman, the Finance lead and the Town Clerk. This was seconded by Cllr MacAndrews and unanimously agreed.
038. To receive reports from District councillors
All BDC councillors had been attending induction.
039. To receive reports from Champions
As the representatives had just been elected at the Annual Town Council meeting, there were no reports from Champions.
040. To consider a report on dog fouling
Cllr Munday commended the report, and proposed, seconded by Cllr Warren, that:
- That HTC works with the district dog warden to more effectively promote good dog ownership.
- That HTC puts up similar signs to those used in Suffolk on HTC property to highlight that Dog fouling will not be tolerated, and encourage BDC to put up more signage
- That the Town Council advertise the fines that can be awarded for failing to pick up after your dog.
- That Council CCTV footage is used to help identify offenders.
- That this campaign be advertised in the press and social media
- That the Clerk contact BDC to ask them to do more to combat dogfouling
This was unanimously agreed.
041. 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 20.55