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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 16 January 2023: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor J Pell | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor P Caulfield | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor J Atkinson | Apologies | |
| Councillor S Dingle | Apologies | |
| Councillor M Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor L Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor G Warren | Present | |
Also in attendance: Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk) Grahame McCoyd, Cllr Chris Siddall
160. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Dingle sent her apologies due to ill health. Cllr Smith sent her apologies due to work commitments, and Cllr Atkinson sent her apologies due to her mother’s serious illness.
Cllr Fincken proposed acceptance of apologies, seconded by Cllr Munday, and unanimously agreed.
161. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Munday declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee, and 22/03460/HH as close friend lives next door, and item 7d as a member of BDC. Cllr Warren declared NPI item 7b and 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC, item 5 22/03460/HH as neighbour is known to him, and Article 10 notice as his daughter’s house backs on to Courtaulds Sports Ground. Cllr Pell declared NPI item 5, 22/03460/HH as neighbour is known to her, 7a, 7b and 7d and 12, as a member of BDC and CSGMC. Cllr Hume declared NPI item 5, 22/03460/HH as neighbour is known to him, 7a,7b and 7d, 12 as a member of CSGMC.
162. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Grahame McCoyd asked 3 short questions
- He asked that the Minutes of the Full Council meeting on 14 December 2022 be amended to include Cllr Spray’s statement that the conservation areas would be assessed in chronological order. It was agreed that the Minutes would be amended to reflect this.
- He asked why there were no “Matters Arising from Minutes” at council meetings. It was stated that this practice had ceased long ago as it was felt inappropriate.
- He said that he did not think it was a good idea to stop parking in Trinity Street, but he felt that a bus bay could be established
b) Report from Cllr Chris Siddall
This was given later as Cllr Siddall arrived at 20.00
163. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 14 December 2022. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of 14 December 2022, amended according to Grahame McCoyd’s request, was put forward by Cllr Munday and seconded by Cllr Warren. This was unanimously agreed
164. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Hume Lead for Planning
Cllr Munday left the meeting.
22/03347/LBC – 4 Factory Terrace, Factory Lane East, Halstead
Block up existing external rear door opening with original door to be retained and fixed in position, existing open vent to be direct glazed and internal changes.
Cllr Hume proposed no objection, subject to there being an adequate means of escape from the building. This was seconded by Cllr Pell, and unanimously agreed.
22/03373/FUL- Car Park, Chapel Street, Halstead
Installation of 2 No. Electric vehicle charging stations (5 No. Existing parking spaces to become EV charging bays, along with associated equipment.
The Council could make no comment as it owns the land but confirmed that 2 x double charging points are to be installed.
22/03320/FUL – 42 High Street, Halstead, CO9 2AP
Proposed 3 No. flats on existing flat roof at first floor level.
Cllr Pell proposed that this application be rejected, in line with the comments made by the Historic Buildings consultant that the development was inappropriate in a conservation area and would use inappropriate materials. This was seconded by Cllr Caulfield and unanimously agreed.
22/03460/HH – 35 Morley Road, Halstead, Essex
Erection of a single storey rear extension
Cllr Hume proposed no objection to this application, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
ARTICLE 10 NOTICE – NON-MATERIAL AMENDMENT APPLICATION RELATING TO APPLICATION REFERENCE 22/00779/FUL, FOR THE UPGRADE OF EXISTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS APPARATUS AT CTIL_10848301, COURTAULD SPORTS CLUB, UPPER FENN ROAD, HALSTEAD, ESSEX, CO9 2HH, NGR E: 582130 N: 230590
Please find attached an Article 10 Notice which is required by law to be served upon the owner of the land to which the application relates, to advise that a non-material amendment application is to be submitted to Braintree District Council in relation to the upgrade of the existing telecommunications site located at the Courtauld Sports Club, off Upper Fenn Road which was granted planning permission under LPA reference 22/00779/FUL.
The amendments are as follows:
- Addition of 3 no. antennas onto new headframe.
- Removal of 3 no. Remote Radio Units
- Existing 3 no. Electric Cabinets to be re-located on new Tower Base
- Existing 1 no. Electric Meter Cabinets to be re-located on new Tower Base
- Removal of 1 no. 600 Ø dish and replacement 300 Ø dish.
The Council was not able to make any comment, as it owns Courtaulds Sports Ground, and the applicant is a tenant.
Cllr Munday returned to the meeting.
165. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Pell commented that she had also attended Halstead Hospital on Christmas Day to take gifts to the patients.
166. FINANCE
Finance – Deputy Lead, Cllr Munday, led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
Cllr Munday said in general the Finances at HTC are still moving very much in the right direction.
a) Income and expenditure report for December 2022
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Caulfield, 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 January.
Cllr Munday proposed approval of 7b and 7ba, seconded by Cllr Fincken, and unanimously agreed.
c) To approve reconciliation of bank accounts
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Caulfield that the bank reconciliation be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
d) To approve Budget and precept
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the Budget and Precept be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
e) To consider tenders received for Christmas lights 2023- 25
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that Quote 2 be accepted. This was unanimously agreed.
f) To consider the purchase of Chairs for Queens Hall
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Hume, that HTC buys the 35 new chairs. This was unanimously agreed.
167. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Munday said that the planning meeting had been cancelled and that it had been a very quiet month.
Cllr Pell said that she had attended Full Council, and that the Cabinet meeting had been rescheduled for February. She had had numerous requests for help with homelessness and lack of heating.
Cllr Hume said that he had attended Full Council and would be attending a meeting on the Local Plan on 2 February.
168. To receive reports from Champions
Surgery – there has been talk of an extra surgery at Halstead Hospital
Policing – a very successful meeting had been held with Chief Inspector Martin Richards and PC James Draper
Education – no report
Open spaces – Open Spaces issues had been raised at the meeting with BDC
Tourism – many events are planned for the coming year, and it is hoped to prepare a photo/video album of the winter events for the website.
Cllr Fincken proposed the suspension of Standing Orders to allow Cllr Siddall to make his report, as he had just joined the meeting. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Siddall reported that he is tackling potholes in the main roads in Halstead, in Trinity Street, Mount Hill, Colchester Road and Pennypots. He reported that ECC will no longer fund the Highway rangers. He said that ECC are awaiting delivery of new LED lights before they can get all the streetlights working. HTC would like a timeframe for this.
Cllr Fincken proposed the reinstatement of Standing Orders. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
169. Halstead in Bloom Partnership agreement
Cllr Fincken proposed the suspension of Standing Orders to allow Cllr Siddall to comment on the agreement. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Siddall commented on the changes to the ECC section of the agreement, as put forward by Cllr Lee Scott.
Cllr Fincken proposed the reinstatement of Standing Orders. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the agreement is ready for signature, subject to the changes agreed to the ECC section. This was agreed with one abstention.
170. To note the Minutes of the Events group meeting and the Climate change group meeting on 9 January 2023, and of the meeting with Chief Inspector Martin Richards on antisocial behaviour held on 4 January 2023
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the Minutes of the Events group meeting be noted, and that the recommendation that Cllr Smith take back the management of the Christmas Fayre be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the Minutes of the Climate Change group meeting be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Warren proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the Minutes of the meeting with Chiel Inspector Martin Richards be noted.
171. To agree details of the proposed tennis courts at Courtaulds sports ground.
The proposals had been discussed at length at a Courtaulds Sports Ground management committee meeting, and with the users.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Hume, that HTC recommends that the tennis courts be at the top right hand corner of the ground looking from the pavilion. It is understood that it will be two pitches and not 4 as per the plans, that they will be made of porous macadam with chainlink fencing and have floodlighting, be constructed in an east-west direction and incorporate facilities for other racket sports and netball. Entry would be from Upper Fenn Road, and entrances and paths should be wide enough to allow wheelchair access. This was unanimously agreed.
172. To consider the banning of parking on Trinity Street outside the Public Gardens
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Caulfield, that the Council agrees to the banning of parking on Trinity Road, and the applying of double yellow lines. This decision should be forwarded to the LHP. This was unanimously agreed.
173. To consider roles to be filled at HTC
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that Cllrs Caulfield and Atkinson be appointed as Surgery Champions, and this was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the H4C working group be formed of Cllrs, Fincken, Atkinson, Munday and Warren, joined by Cllr Pell as a non-voting representative of H4C, by Cllr Siddall as a nonvoting member, and the Town Clerk as nonvoting minute taker. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that Cllr Atkinson be the council representative at the Men’s shed. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Warren, that Cllr Caulfield be elected as the 20s plenty representative. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that Cllr Warren should represent the council at BALC and on the LHP. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Warren, that Cllr Siddall be invited to stay on for the private session of the meeting.
174. 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 Munday, that the public and press be excluded from the private session of the meeting. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that Standing Orders be suspended until the close of business.
175. To consider the outcome of the meeting with BDC on 9 January 2023
Cllr Caulfield proposed, seconded by Cllr Warren, that the Minutes of the meeting be noted.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.30