|
HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 9 February 2026: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Andrew Munday | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor James Bond | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Present | |
| Councillor Malcolm Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor Gemma MacAndrews | Present | |
| Councillor Grahame McCoyd | Present | |
| Councillor Paul Nunn | Apologies | |
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Apologies | |
| Councillor Felix Preston | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Apologies |
Also in attendance: Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
165/25 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs Smith and Nunn sent apologies due to work commitments, and Cllrs Pell and Warren sent apologies for personal reasons.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, acceptance of the apologies. This was unanimously agreed.
Chairman’s statement
Cllr Munday thanked Cllr Preston for adjusting the clock.
He thanked Cllr Fincken for managing the Local Plan meeting on 4 February, and giving such a clear explanation to the 90 attendees, and fielding around 20 questions from the floor. He thanked the Clerk for displaying the information as clearly as possible.
166/25 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Fincken declared an NPI item 5 as a member of BDC planning committee. Cllr Munday declared an NPI item 5 as a member of BDC planning committee.
167/25 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
There were no public questions.
168/25 MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 12 January Minutes had been circulated. A proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 12 January 2026, was put forward by Cllr Munday, seconded by Cllr Fincken, and was agreed unanimously, subject to the word “approved” being removed from 153/25 k, and being replaced with “noted”. Ths item should also be brought back to Council on 9 March.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the Minutes of the CSG users group be noted, seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed.
169/25 PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Bond, Deputy Chairman
Cllrs Munday and Fincken left the meeting.
26/00074/HH – 18 Churchill Avenue, Halstead, Essex
Proposed single storey rear extension, insertion of 3 No. rooflights and associated internal alterations
Cllr Atkinson proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Hilton and unanimously agreed.
25/02878/FUL – Aparthotel At, 61 Kings Road, Halstead
Proposed conversion of 8 No. self-contained serviced suites ( Class C1 ) into 8 No. residential dwellings with associated parking.
Cllr Bond proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Preston, but highlighted the important advice from the Fire Service, which will need to be taken into consideration in any decision. This was unanimously agreed.
25/02892/FUL – Mill House , The Causeway, Halstead
Proposed summerhouse to replace existing outbuilding
Cllr Atkinson proposed no objection, subject to following the advice of the Heritage building consultant. This was seconded by Cllr McCoyd and was unanimously agreed.
25/02833/HH – 4 Crossfields, Halstead, Essex
Retention of outbuilding.
Cllr Atkinson proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Hilton. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllrs Munday and Fincken returned to the meeting
170/25 MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Munday has been called away due to family commitments, and had had to cancel his attendance at the re-opening of Cedar Place carehome. He had had no other appointments.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the appointments be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
171/25 FINANCE
Finance – Cllr Munday Lead for Finance, led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
a) To consider income and expenditure for January
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that income and expenditure for January be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the lists of payments
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, that the lists of payments be approved. This was agreed unanimously.
c) To approve the balance sheet, and EMR report
Cllr McCoyd proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday, that the balance sheet and EMR report be approved. This was agreed unanimously.
d) To consider new flooring at Courtaulds Sports ground pavilion
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Munday that the matter of replacing the flooring at Courtaulds pavilion be deferred until after the next user group meeting on 27 April 2026.
e) To consider buying a wood floor scrubber for the Queens Hall floor
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that HTC should buy the scrubber for the Queens Hall floor. This was agreed, with 1 against. It was noted that this decision was made under a suspension of Standing Orders, as only 1 quote was obtained.
f) To consider the internal audit report
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson that the internal audit report be approved. This was approved with 1 abstention.
Cllr McCoyd proposed noting matters raised in relation to the internal auditor report, and suggested that the insurance value of all property and buildings be determined. This was seconded by Cllr Munday and agreed unanimously.
Cllr Fincken proposed that the internal auditor be reappointed, seconded by Cllr Bond and agreed unanimously.
g) To consider reducing the height of 2 sycamores at Courtaulds sports ground.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that quote 1 be accepted.
h) To consider charitable hiring of Queens Hall
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond that charges be simplified for booking at Queens Hall, and that there be one rate for all charities, voluntary organisations and public bodies, of £13.50 per hour during the week and £18 per hour at weekends. This was unanimously agreed.
i) To consider registering Queens Hall with Land Registry
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, that Queens Hall be registered with Land Registry. This was unanimously agreed.
j) To consider training for the Administration Officer
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken that the Administration Officer take part in the Rialtas training on managing allotments, paid out of surplus funds.
172/25 DISTRICT COUNCILLORS gave their reports
Cllr Bond had attended the Local Plan meeting, and Cabinet where the budget was discussed.
Cllr Fincken had attended the Local Plan subcommittee meeting, where most councillors voted in favour. He said that there would be a 6-week consultation period from mid February. He also stated that the budget for BDC will be frozen for the coming year.
Cllr Munday had been unable to attend any meetings due to family matters.
Cllr Munday proposed that the BDC reports be noted. This was seconded by Cllr Preston and unanimously agreed.
173/25 To receive reports from Champions
Cllr McCoyd reported that 2 trainee doctors had finished their training and moved on, and that a further 4 trainees were now in training.
Cllr Fincken reported that the Head boy and Head girl from Richard de Clare school had ben invited to speak on the community award at the April meeting.
Cllr Atkinson requested that police matters be reassigned to a different councillor, as she cannot attend the online meetings.
Cllr Fincken reported that a speaker had been invited to speak to Halstead Community Connections at the Annual Town meeting on 20 April.
Cllr McCoyd reported that BALC had appointed Stephanie Gill as Clerk and treasurer to BALC, and that the meetings were useful.
Cllr Munday proposed that the reports be noted, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed.
174/25 To note the update on the proposed Community Arts Centre project
Cllr Bond reported that the level of work is now increasing, and that the trustees designate have been extremely lucky in being offered for free the services of a young graduate in project management, who would like to get some experience. Fundraising is now becoming the main task. The trust will also be looking at local sponsorship. The application for the trust to become a registered charity has been completed, but the decision may not be made until September. The architectural drawings should be ready by July, and then progress can be made on the planning application.
Cllr Munday proposed that the report be noted, and that the utilities survey of £1066.96 Quote 3 be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and agreed unanimously.
175/25 To consider an update to the Risk Management policy
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the update to the Risk Management policy be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
176/25 To consider an update to Standing Orders
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, that the update to Standing Orders be approved. This was agreed unanimously. It was also agreed that the Clerk should provide clarity in July when updating the Financial Regulations, on what is statutory and what is optional.
177/25 To consider training requested by the Clerk
Cllr Preston proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that Cllr Atkinson be funded to attend session 1, and the Clerk be funded to attend sessions 2 and 3 of the training to be provided by Councilwise, from unallocated surplus. This was unanimously agreed.
178/25 To consider an update on events organised so far
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the events organised be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
179/25 Items for the next Council meeting
- The Local Plan consultation – papers will be sent out
- Internal control report
- The Events group reorganisation
180/25 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 Bond, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting. This was unanimously agreed
181/25 To consider an aspect of the Christmas lights
The Christmas lights in the town for the next 3 years were discussed.
182/25 To consider an event
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, that the Christmas Fair event be run by Council staff in 2026. This was agreed with 1 abstention
183/25 To consider a contract
A property contract was discussed.
184/25 The purpose and importance of the Code of Conduct for councillors was discussed
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.15