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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING |
Membership:
| Councillor M Radley | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor D Gronland | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Miss J Atkinson | Present | |
| Councillor P Caulfield | Apologies | |
| Councillor P Claydon | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S Dingle | Apologies | |
| Councillor M Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Present | |
| Councillor Miss L Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor G Warren | Apologies |
Also in attendance: Tony Lister
Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
055. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Smith and Cllr Munday sent their apologies, due to work commitments. Cllr Dingle, Cllr Caulfield and Cllr Warren sent their apologies due to other commitments.
Cllr Radley proposed acceptance of these apologies, seconded by Cllr Gronland and unanimously agreed.
056. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: .
Cllr Pell declared NPI Item 5,21/01720/HH as agent known to her, 7b and 7b(a) as a member of CSGMC and BDC, 13 as a trustee of the Halstead daycentre, and 8 as a trustee of H4C. . Cllr Claydon declared NPI items 7b and 7b(a) as member of CSGMC.. Cllr Hume declared NPI item 5 21/01720/HH, 21/01814/HH, and 21/01691/HH as agents known to him, 7b and 7b(a) as secretary of CSGMC, 13 as Past president of the Rotary club, and Ambassador for guiding. Cllr Atkinson declared item 5, 21/01717/HH as owner is known to her, and 13, as a member of HDLHS. Cllr Radley declared item 7b(a) as a member of BDC.
057. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Tony Lister asked a question concerning the Anaerobic Digester at Bluebridge industrial estate. He commented that when it was built it was said that it would take household waste and would be of benefit to Halstead, but that it was noticeable only from the smells it produced. He asked whether the Council could clarify how the digester was of benefit to Halstead. The Town Clerk said that in the original application, it had been stated that the digester would feed electricity into the national grid. Cllr Pell said that it had been set up to get rid of food waste. Cllr Radley asked the Town Clerk to contact ECC to ask whether there was any other intended benefit.
Tony Lister also commented that BDC was allowing planning applications to go through which then overburdened the Halstead surgery. He asked whether those coming from houses outside the boundary could be redirected to Earls Colne surgery, but he was told that this was not possible.
058. MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 14 June 2021, and of the Annual Town and Annual Town Council meetings held on 4 May 2021. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of June 2021 and of the 2 Annual meetings was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Claydon. The motion was carried by 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
059. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Cllr Hume led discussions for this part of the meeting.
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, were to be considered at the Council meeting
21/01814/HH – 1 Greenwood Court, Mill Chase, Halstead, Essex – Proposed single-storey side extension
21/01639/HH – 122 Nether Court, Halstead, Essex – Erection of single-storey side extension and alterations to existing window openings on rear elevation including removal of entrance porch.
21/01856/LBC – 18 Weavers Row, Halstead, Essex – Installation of conservative type roof light to rear pitched roof and removal of the internal horizontal ceiling to create an internal pitched roof.
21/01717/HH – Janda, 15 Chaffinch Way Halstead, CO9 2HW – Erection of single storey rear extension
21/01720/HH – Langley Gage, 5B Chapel Hill, Halstead, CO9 1JJ – Erection of single storey rear extension
21/01888/HH – 41 Nether Court, Halstead, Essex – Erection of front porch
21/01691/HH – Trafalgar House, 4A Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex – Demolition of part of the existing single storey rear extension and erection of single storey rear extension with flat roof.
The 7 applications above were considered en bloc, as there were no objections to any of them. Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Gronland, and agreed unanimously.
21/01909/FUL- 1 Maple Close, Halstead, Essex – Conversion of 4 bed dwelling house to 1 x ground floor and 1 x first floor 2 bed maisonette.
Cllr Radley proposed objection to this application, on grounds of insufficient parking, and it being an inappropriate conversion for the residential area. This was seconded by Cllr Gronland and unanimously agreed.
060. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Radley reported that he had attended an excellent concert by Halstead Choral with Bocking Brass band at Marks Hall. He had also attended a performance by the band Revolver in the park on 18 July. He thanked Steve Barber, Lorraine Dover and the Town Clerk for all their efforts to ensure that there was a band even after the original band dropped out on the Friday afternoon.
061. FINANCE Cllr Claydon took this part of the meeting
Cllr Claydon commented that the income and expenditure report for June was very encouraging. In addition, the VAT records were up to date, figures had been submitted digitally and the VAT would be paid in July. The reconciliation showed no unreconciled figures. Cllr Radley commented that the new bookkeeper, Wendy Olgilvie, had done an excellent job.
a) To approve the income and expenditure report for June 2021.
Cllr Claydon proposed approval of the income and expenditure report, seconded by Cllr Gronland and unanimously agreed.
b) To approve the List of payments to be made in July
Cllr Claydon proposed approval of the list of payments, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
c) To approve the Bank reconciliation
Cllr Claydon proposed approval of the bank reconciliation for June, seconded by Cllr Gronland, and unanimously agreed.
d) To approve the reinvestment of savings
Cllr Claydon proposed approval of the reinvestment of the Lloyds 2-year fixed term bond, seconded by Cllr Gronland, and unanimously agreed.
062. H4C
Cllr Pell reported that there might be some news soon, and that H4C, HTC and BDC should meet. HTC had recently held a meeting of the working group.
063. To receive reports from District Councillors
Cllr Hume reported that he had attended Member development, and would be attending a meeting of the Corporate Governance group.
Cllr Pell reported that she had also attended Member development, and the Community development group, and Cabinet. There had been much talk of the cycling strategy. She also stated that there had been many queries from residents, and that she was working with the residents of Greenbanks on SUDS.
Cllr Radley reported that he had chaired a performance management meeting, and said that BDC had managed to have a surplus of £800,000 over the past financial year, due to receipt of government grants. However, BDC has a shortfall of £1.6 m. over 4 years. He also reported that he is now a member of the appointments committee. He had also submitted a written report on the Housing supply, and would send a letter to Cllr Gabrielle Spray expressing his concern over the overdevelopment in Halstead, if Council approved.
Cllr Fincken commented that there had been far more development in the other 2 larger towns of Braintree and Witham over the past 30 years. He also said that the new Planning Bill would make it more difficult for Local government to oppose planning applications. Cllr Atkinson suggested that the Town Clerk should write to the MP to ask his opinion on planning.
Cllr Radley requested Council to endorse the letter to Cllr Gabrielle Spray. This was seconded by Cllr Pell and unanimously agreed.
Reports were noted
064. To receive reports from Champions
Police – Cllr Warren had sent a written report saying that he had been trying to establish the current state of recruitment of specials. He said that he had 4 volunteers for speedwatch so far, and had contacted Cllr Munday over the speedwatch equipment.
Surgery – Cllr Gronland reported that plans at the Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery were moving forward
Open spaces and environment – Cllr Fincken reported that he was planning a meeting with Cllr Atkinson and the Town Clerk after 2 August. Cllr Atkinson stated that there was a feasibility study being carried out on the cycle route EC2K, and that there was to be a fundraising ball at the Colne Valley Golf club on 29 August.
Education – Cllr Hume reported that he and Cllr Caulfield were writing to Cllr Siddall about S106 monies for education. The children at Holy Trinity school had suggested names for new roads at Mount Hill.
Tourism – Cllr Pell said there was nothing to report.
Champions’ reports were noted
065. FOOTBRIDGE UPDATE.
There was no update. Town Clerk to contact Cllr Munday for an update on the underwater work.
066. To approve a report objecting to the Boundary reorganisation
Cllr Fincken proposed approval of the comprehensive report prepared by the Town Clerk, for it to be submitted to the Boundary Commission. This was seconded by Cllr Claydon, and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Pell said that she would like to use the report for her BDC report.
067. Grant applications
Cllr Claydon proposed approval of the recommendations put forward by the Grant applications working group, seconded by Cllr Fincken. This gave £500 to the Halstead Day Centre, £500 to the HDLHS, £540 to the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, £350 to the Rotary Club and £500 to the Community Fridge. There were 6 in favour and 1 abstention.
Cllr Fincken proposed that for 2021 only there should be a second tranche of grants awarded after a closing date of 30 October 2021. Those in receipt of a grant already in 2021 would not be eligible to apply again. This should be widely publicised. This was seconded by Cllr Atkinson, with 5 in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention.
068. Update on Electric vehicles
Report was noted
069. 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 Radley proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken that the public and press be temporarily excluded from the meeting, and this was unanimously agreed.
PRIVATE SESSION
070. A staff matter was discussed
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20.54