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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF FULL COUNCIL MEETING HALSTEAD, Essex. CO9 1ET
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Membership:
| Councillor D Hume | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs J Allen | Present | |
| Councillor M Day | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs S Dingle | Present | |
| Councillor C Fox | Present | |
| Councillor D Gronland | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs E Penn | Present | |
| Councillor M Radley | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J Sutton | Present |
Also in attendance: Public – Mrs L Hilton, Mr M Prince, and Mr B Slade
Mr M C Murkin – Town Clerk
56. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from Cllr M Day
57. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr D Hume declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 3b Presentation and Agenda item no.11 Halstead Market, as Mike Prince is a fellow Rotarian, a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/00937/FUL, as the applicant is known to him, a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7e Request for a Grant, as he is a trustee of Homestart, a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 7f Courtaulds Sports Ground Pavilion extension, and 7g, Courtaulds Sports Ground – Scarifier, as he is secretary to Courtauld Sports Ground Management Committee.
Cllr Mrs J Allen declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7e Request for a Grant, as she is a Homestart rep and a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 7f Courtaulds Sports Ground Pavilion extension, as she is a member of Braintree District Council Mi Community Committee which has given grant funding.
Cllr Mrs S Diver declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7f Courtaulds Sports Ground Pavilion extension, and 7g Courtaulds Sports Ground – Scarifier, as she is a member ofCourtauld Sports Ground Management Committee.
Cllr Mrs S Dingle declared a pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7d List of Payments to be approved, as she is the beneficiary of an expense claim.
Cllr A Munday declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/00987/FUL, as the applicant is known to him, a pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7d(a) List of Payments to be approved, as he is the beneficiary of an expense claim and a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7f Courtaulds Sports Ground Pavilion extension, and 7g, Courtaulds Sports Ground – Scarifier, as he a member of Courtauld Sports Ground Management Committee.
Cllr Mrs J Pell declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 5 Planning 15/00923/FUL and 15/00935/FUL, as they can be seen from her house, a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.8 Community Hall, as she is Chairman of the Halstead Community Centre Charitable Company and a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7f Courtaulds Sports Ground Pavilion extension, and 7g, Courtaulds Sports Ground – Scarifier, as she Chairman of Courtauld Sports Ground ManagementCommittee.
Cllr M Radley declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.7f Courtaulds Sports Ground Pavilion extension, and 7g, Courtaulds Sports Ground – Scarifier, as he is a member of Courtauld Sports Ground Management Committee and a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 11 Halstead Market as he is the Halstead Town Council representative on the Town Team Committee.
Cllr D Gronland declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.11 Halstead Market, as he is Vice Chairman of the Town Team
58. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mrs Linda Hilton gave her support for the Halstead Market. She voiced her disappointment that the toilets refurbishment has still not started and would like to see them up and running by the end of November. She is pleased that Halstead Town Council will be taking ownership of Ramsey Road playing field and pleased the community hall has been granted planning permission. Mrs Hilton asked if everyone could help to promote the Fun Run that is being held on 6th September by means of adverts on social media or with any clubs that councillors are associated with. She advised that there will be a tug of war being organised and suggested the Councillors could enter a team. Mrs Hilton expressed her thanks to the staff of the council for their help and support.
Mr Mike Prince from the Halstead Town Team gave a presentation on Halstead Street Market. He stated that there was a definite increase in footfall on the days the market was held. Results of a survey showed that traders on the left hand side of the high street felt there was a slight increase in trade, but traders on the right hand side of the market did not see any increase. Mr Prince gave a short talk on the history of the market dating back to a charter by King Henry III in 1251.
The market is currently managed by Haylock Investment & Management Services (HIMS) and the Town Team, who would like to see it expand and increase in diversity, with the Town Council taking over some of the management.
Cllr Mrs Jackie Pell proposed and Cllr D Hume seconded that Agenda item no. 11 be moved to the next item to be discussed – Carried
59. HALSTEAD MARKET
Discussion took place on the proposal for Halstead Town Council to take over some of the running of the market. The question was asked as to whether the Lord of the Manor has confirmed that he will pay 50% of the cost of the Town Council’s expenditure; this will be confirmed if the Town Council show a commitment. The additional work would probably be covered by existing staff.
Cllr Mrs J Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs S Diver seconded to agree to a pilot scheme with no cost to Halstead Town Council until 31st March 2016 and look to have the Lord of the Manor’s commitment in writing, with an annual review. This to be considered as part of the budget setting process for 2016 /17 – carried
60. MINUTES
To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13th July 2015
Proposed by Cllr Mrs S Diver and Seconded by Cllr Mrs J Pell that the minutes be approved. Minutes were approved
61. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Cllr A Munday took the chair for this part of the meeting
Cllr Mrs J Pell left the room
15/00923/FUL – 19 South Close Halstead Essex CO9 1NJ – Erection of two storey side extension.
Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr M Radley that members raised no objection – carried.
15/00935/FUL – 73 Tidings Hill Halstead CO9 1BJ – Creation of a large rear dormer window.
Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr Mrs E Penn that members raised no objection – carried.
Cllr Mrs J Pell returned to the room
15/00937/FUL – 4 Elm Drive, Halstead, CO9 1NU – Erection of new garage to replace existing.
Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr Mrs E Penn that members raised no objection – carried.
Cllr A Munday left the room
Cllr Mrs S Diver took the chair of the meeting
15/00987/FUL – 3 The Pippins. Beridge Road, Halstead, CO9 1JY – Proposed roof lights to front and rear roof slope.
Proposed by Cllr D Hume and seconded by Cllr M Radley that members raised no objection – carried.
Cllr A Munday returned to the room
Cllr D Hume resumed Chair of the meeting
62. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cllr D Hume confirmed the date of the Torchlight Procession is Wednesday 9th December 2015.
Report was noted
63. FINANCE –
A) Financial Monitoring.
Cllr M Radley raised concerns that the income was significantly down and estimated a deficit of £30,000-£40,000 by the end of the financial year.
Cllr Mrs S Diver proposed and Cllr Mrs J Sutton seconded that the Town Clerk look at the issue and see what scope there may be to reduce the deficit – carried
Report was noted
B) Monthly Performance (Car Parks).
Report was noted
C) Monthly Performance (Lettings/Sickness)
Report was noted
D) List of Payments to be approved
Cllr Mrs S Diver proposed and Cllr Mrs J Pell seconded that the payments be approved – carried
E) Request for a grant – Home-Start
Cllr D Hume left the room
Cllr Mrs S Diver took the chair
Discussion took place on how much to grant. Cllr Mrs J Allen advised that it was a good charity that supported a lot of Halstead residents.
Cllr Mrs J Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs J Allen seconded that a grant of £2,500 was given on the proviso that the money was spent in Halstead and cannot guarantee any grants in future years – Four votes in favour and Five votes against
Cllr Mrs Julia Allen proposed and Cllr Mrs J Pell seconded that a grant of £2,000 was given on the proviso that the money was spent in Halstead and cannot guarantee any grants in future years – carried
Cllr D Hume returned to the room and took the chair
F) Courtaulds Sports Ground Pavilion extension
Cllr Mrs E Penn Proposed and Cllr C Fox seconded that £2,109 be set aside from the capital receipts to fund the extension – carried
G) Courtaulds Sports Ground – Scarifier
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr Mrs J Pell seconded that members accept the quotation of £3,750.00 from Berewood Grass Machinery Ltd.; thank the Bowls Club for their generous offer; and finance the balance of £1,127.00 from capital receipts – Carried
64. COMMUNITY HALL
Report was noted
65. YOUTH
Cllr A Munday gave a verbal report. The Youth Council went paintballing at Southend on Thursday 6th August. The AGM is scheduled for 17th September 2015 at the Resource Centre, Parsonage Street and councillors were invited to attend. Cllr Munday said they were struggling to find new members and get more young people involved. He said they no longer get support from the Ramsey Academy. They do have a twitter account and it was asked if this is regularly updated. It was suggested that the current members could let others know what they are involved in on Facebook and Twitter.
Cllr Munday said hewould welcome guidance from Halstead Town Council to get ideas on what they wanted out of the Youth Council. A copy of the constitution of the Youth Council would be circulated.
Report was noted
66. TOWN TEAM
Cllr M Radley said there was some confusion over the Town Council’s role in organising and arranging the town tours. It was previously agreed at Council that HTC would take booking for tours and payments only. The Town Clerk will speak with Annette Randall (from Halstead Town Team) to clarify.
Cllr Mrs S Diver was concerned that the Town Team Minutes stated that she had volunteered to help at the Town Team Christmas Fayre, which she has not done.
Report was noted
67. WHERE DOES WATER GO? PROJECT
Cllr Mrs E Penn said that the project was to discover and map, where water in the town goes. She stated that Halstead Town is liable to flooding and there are additional building works around town putting in more drains and gutters. Cllr Mrs Penn thinks it would be good to get involved and support the project. The Town Clerk will ask staff members if they would be interested in getting involved and if any other councillors wish to should contact the Town Clerk. Cllr Mrs J Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs S Diver seconded that Cllr Mrs E Penn be nominated to represent the Council for the project – carried
68. PROJECTS UPDATE
Report was noted
69. 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”.
70. THERE WERE NO ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.55pm