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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 16 October 2023: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Andy Munday | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Apologies | |
| Councillor James Bond | Apologies | |
| Councillor Malcolm Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor Gemma MacAndrews | Present | |
| Councillor Grahame McCoyd | Present | |
| Councillor Paul Nunn | Present | |
| Councillor Felix Preston | Apologies | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Present |
Also in attendance: Mark Sweeting, Kevin Pryke, Cllr Chris Siddall (from 19.55) Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
Cllr Munday opened the meeting by stating that Cllr Pell was very unwell and suggesting that flowers and a message be sent to Cllr Pell from the Council.
105. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs Pell, Atkinson and Bond sent apologies as they were unwell, Cllr Smith sent apologies due to work commitments, and Cllr Preston sent apologies for personal reasons.
106. 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 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
107. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
a) Mark Sweeting
Mark had attended to object to the planning application 23/02321/OUT, Land adjacent to Conies Farm. This had previously come to council on 18 May 2021, and the application had been rejected by HTC. He requested that the council reject the application once again for the following reasons:
- It involves a new entry and exit from Oak Road
- 12 mature trees would be destroyed
- A further 112 trees close to the boundary with his property will be destroyed
- The schools and the surgery are unable to take on anyone else
b) Kevin Pryke
Kevin spoke about the current interaction between Halstead town council representatives and local charities, and said that he felt the current scheme lacked transparency. Some councillors represent multiple groups and this could be burdensome. There appears to be no process of reporting back. There is no list of all groups and charities in the town. He suggested that HTC might hold a Champions meeting for charities in Queens Hall, inviting groups such as Community 360, Eastlight and as well as others traditionally supported by HTC, in order to promote cooperation between the groups.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken that item 13, to consider the relationship between HTC and charities in the community be brought forward. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed that the Town Clerk, with assistance from Kevin Pryke and the library, should draw up a list of all charities in the town and their contact details, and should prepare a report for the December Full Council meeting, listing the charities and suggesting ways in which the council could become more involved, and in which the charities could become involved in the Annual Town meeting. Cllr Fincken seconded this, and it was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed suspending Standing orders in order to allow Kevin Pryke to speak again. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Kevin suggested that the website should be made more welcoming and invite charities to get in contact with the council.
Cllr Munday proposed that Standing Orders be reinstated, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
108. MINUTES
To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 18 September 2023. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 18 September 2023, was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Nunn, and agreed unanimously.
109. PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Nunn, Deputy 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.
23/02321/OUT – Land Adjacent Conies Farm, Oak Road, Halstead – Outline planning permission with all matters reserved for 39 residential dwellings.
Cllr MacAndrews proposed objection to the application on the following grounds:
- No drainage strategy had been submitted
- There is no proposal for tree protection
- Other properties are overlooked
- This application could be regarded as overdevelopment
- The infrastructure of schools and the surgery cannot cope with the impact of another 39 dwellings
- An application placed in 2016 for Oak Road to be designated a quiet lane is under consideration
This was seconded by Cllr McCoyd and unanimously agreed.
23/02303/VAR – 58 Churchill Avenue, Halstead, Essex – Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans) following the grant of planning permission
23/00652/VAR granted on the 20/07/2023 to vary permission 22/01155/FUL for: – Erection of 1 No. two- storey dwelling and associated parking areas.
Variation would allow: Revised roof design
Cllr Nunn proposed no objection to this application, seconded by Cllr McCoyd and unanimously agreed.
23/02386/HH – 49 Winston Way, Halstead, Essex – First floor front extension
Cllr Nunn proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr McCoyd and unanimously agreed.
23/02366/FUL – Essex Rivers Healthcare N H S Trust , Hedingham Road, Halstead – Proposed door and 3No. air units to side elevation and installation of 2 No ventilation dormers to rear elevation to facilitate the use of surgery.
Cllr Nunn proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, and unanimously agreed.
Cllrs Fincken and Munday returned to the meeting.
Cllr Munday proposed suspension of Standing Orders to allow ECC Cllr Chris Siddall to speak. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Siddall said that he had met with Stephanie Kirby in the Centre. She had said that the nettles had been cut down by ECC, and that the shopkeepers would be prepared to maintain the area. Cllr Siddall had informed ECC that the wall needs to be surveyed. He asked that the Town Clerk should explore whether it would be possible for the shopkeepers to get a licence to maintain the area.
He said he had also raised the matter of the invisible mini roundabout at the entrance to Halstead coming from Braintree, and had written to the Cabinet member for Highways about it.
Cllr Munday proposed the reinstatement of Standing orders, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
110. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Munday proposed that the Mayor’s appointments be noted, seconded by Cllr Warren and unanimously agreed.
111. 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 September 2023
The Clerk had prepared a comparison between payments by card, phone and cash, which showed that cash was still used by 50% of those buying pay and display tickets. It was agreed that it might be possible to change the message at the carparks, to nudge users gradually away from cash.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Warren, approval of the income and expenditure report. This was unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the Lists of payments
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the lists of payments. This was unanimously agreed.
c) To receive the bank reconciliation for the previous quarter
Cllr Munday proposed approval of the bank reconciliation, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
d) To receive a report on outings in 2023
Cllr MacAndrews proposed that the outings should be offered again in 2024, but that during those outings opinions should be canvassed as to whether participants would like another outing earlier in the year in 2025. This was seconded by Cllr Nunn and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Warren proposed that the prices for the outings should be fixed at £17.50 for residents and £21.50 for non-residents in 2024.This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC accept the quote from Kings coaches, seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
e) To consider buying a new leaf blower
Cllr Fincken proposed that HTC on this occasion buys another petrol operated leafblower, while waiting for the new technology to improve and become cheaper. This was seconded by Cllr Warren and unanimously agreed.
f) To consider expenditure of the remaining S106 allotment fund
Cllr Munday proposed that the Clerk should prepare a report for the November meeting with quotes for a shed and combination lock. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
g) To note the external auditor’s report
Cllr Fincken proposed that the external auditor report be noted. This was seconded by Cllr Munday, with 5 in favour and 2 abstentions, Cllrs McCoyd and MacAndrews.
112. To receive reports from District councillors
Cllr Fincken spoke about the new corporate strategy being developed for 2024 – 28. There had been a public consultation, but there were concerns that the views expressed did not fully reflect the age range and means of all in the community.
He also said that the climate emergency appeared to be dropping in importance with BDC and was now low on the list of priorities.
The government is beginning to devolve more to local consortiums of councils, such as ECC, Thurrock and Southend. Such consortiums will have more funds and more responsibility.
There had also been a peer challenge, which had revealed that BDC was a very centralised council, with a lack of respect for opposition views.
Cllr Munday reported that he had attended a Members’ evening on risk, a Members’ Forum on planning and a planning meeting.
Cllr Munday proposed that the reports were noted, seconded by Cllr Warren and unanimously agreed.
113. To receive reports from Champions
a) Doctors’ surgery – no report.
b) Education – no report
c) Police – No report although the presence of police had been noted in the town
d) Open Spaces – at the BDC/HTC meeting there had been discussion of the S106 spending on the Riverwalk. It was recommended that the Clerk get to know the new landscape architect.
e) Tourism – Christmas events were being prepared
114. To note the Minutes of the Town Team funds meeting of 18 September
Cllr Fincken proposed that the minutes of the Town Team funds meeting be noted, seconded by Cllr Hilton. This was unanimously agreed.
115. To update the Health & Safety policy
Cllr Warren proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken that the updated Health & Safety policy be approved, subject to an amendment stating that 2 fire drills should be held every year. This was unanimously agreed.
116. To consider the dates for Full Council and SAC meetings for 24/25
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd that the dates suggested be agreed This was unanimously agreed.
117. 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 Fincken, that public and press be excluded from the meeting, and that Standing orders be extended until close of business. This was unanimously agreed.
Private session
118. The assets in the town were discussed.
119. The Halstead Community Fund was discussed
120. A Staff matter was noted.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 22.15