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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 | Apologies |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs J Allen | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs B Carr | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs H W Catley | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Apologies | |
| Councillor M J Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs L J Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor S Kirby | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs K A Little | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor K Paisley | Apologies | |
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Also in attendance: Public – Mr P Penn, Mrs E Penn, Mrs J Atkinson, Miss M Rhodes, Miss E Caton, Mr J Peach
Mrs A Jennings, Cllr C Siddall – Braintree District Council
Mr M C Murkin – Town Clerk
Mrs L Dover – Minute Clerk
95. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs J Allen, Cllr Mrs B Carr, Cllr Mrs S Diver, Cllr D Hume, Cllr S Kirby and Cllr K Paisley
96. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr Mrs H Catley declared a pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.18, Allotment Rent, as her husband rents an allotment
Cllr Mrs J Pell declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.11 Community Hall, as she is Chairman of the Halstead Community Centre Charitable Company.
97. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mrs Eileen Penn questioned whether Halstead Town Council was consulted about the Centenary Field Scheme and commented that no proposals were put forward by the council. It was pointed out that Halstead Town Council only own the Courtaulds Sports Ground and therefore could not put forward land it did not own. Mrs Penn said there were other areas the need protection from development and questioned why Ramsey Road was picked and not the areas such as the King George V playing fields. It was suggested that Mrs Penn liaise with the Town Clerk to find out who owns the land.
Mrs Janet Atkinson stated that not many people know about the scheme and therefore have not put suggestions forward.
98. MINUTES
To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 11th September 2014
Minutes were approved
99. PRESENTATIONS
Mrs Alison Jennings and Cllr Chris Siddall gave a presentation on the Regeneration Update on Progress and Future Plans on Halstead. They discussed the need to improve pedestrian circulation and public spaces in the High Street. The way shown was to use “build outs” on the A131 road which runs through the high street to slow traffic and make is safer to cross. A crossing has been ruled out as there is a need to keep traffic moving on the road as it is a major trunk road. Another area that was discussed was the need to look at the Town Centre signage to see what needs to be put into place. There is funding available from Braintree District Council but they need to work with Essex County Council Highways. There will be a public consultation held once they have an idea of what is going to be done, once the plans are firmed up.
Mrs Alison Jennings and Cllr Chris Siddall left the meeting
100. YOUTH COUNCIL
This item was brought forward
Emily Caton, Megan Rhodes and Jake Peach introduced themselves to members and gave a brief overview on their roles within the Youth Council. They mentioned that this year they have arranged the HYPE event at the Queen’s Hall, attended a Crime Prevention Meeting, made a Guy for the event in the Public Gardens and had a very successful Team Building exercise at Southend. They are still trying to get the Skate Park renovated and have forwarded details of a skate ramp to Nick Day at Braintree District Council
Report was noted
101. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Cllr A Munday took the chair for this part of the meeting
14/01154/FUL – Chapel Street Halstead – Refurbishment of existing Toilet Block – Members felt that plans should be available, but did not feel it appropriate to comment, as we are the applicant
14/01276/FUL – 49 High Street, Halstead, CO9 2JD – Change of use of existing property to tanning salon and sale of beauty products – Members raised no objection
14/01248/FUL & 14/01249/ADV – 1 – 3 Weavers Court, Halstead, CO9 2JN – Change of use from a vacant shop to a mixed class coffee shop A1/A3 use. Members raised no objection
14/01263/FUL – Land Adjacent The Griffin PH, Parsonage Street, Halstead, Essex – Erection of 2 No. two storey, semi-detached dwellings. Members reiterate their previous objections, in that they concur with the comments made by Essex County Council and the architectural specialist, that the proposed development is not in keeping with the historic building (The Griffin) and could cause parking difficulties
Cllr Mrs J Pell resumed Chair of the meeting
102. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cllr Mrs J Pell said that the mayor, Cllr D Hume was attending the Britain in Bloom Presentation at this exact moment in Bristol. Cllr Mrs J Pell read out a letter from Mrs Sarah Crow, widow of Mr Melvin Crow, thanking the Mayor on behalf of the town, for his support.
Report was noted
103. FINANCE –
A) Financial Monitoring.
Report was noted
B) Monthly Performance (Car Parks).
Figures are keeping up well
Report was noted
C) Monthly Performance (Lettings/Sickness)
Report was noted
104. LIST OF PAYMENTS TO BE APPROVED
Payments were unanimously approved.
105. HOME START REPRESENTATIVE
Cllr Mrs Jackie Pell nominated Cllr D Hume as Representative
Members voted and unanimously agreed
106. COMMUNITY HALL
Cllr Mrs J Pell Chairman of the Trust reported that the Architects picked for the Community Hall development were Matthews Sargeant from Rayleigh. They attended a meeting today and it was agreed that there will be two public consultations and one for invited guests of the Mayor, on the draft drawings, arranged in December, with planning permission put in after Christmas.
Report was noted
107. TOWN TEAM
Report was noted
108. QUEEN’S HALL CHAIRS
Members agreed to purchase 35 Stakka chairs at £20.50 in a colour to match the current chairs
109. REPLACEMENT/NEW EQUIPMENT
Mower
The Town Clerk reported that the cost of repair to the current mower would be over £200.00 and the current mower was only valued at £200.00.
Members agreed to purchase the Honda Mower HRH536HX from Ernest Doe and Sons for £1,113.34 plus VAT and take the cost from Earmarked Reserves.
Leaf Vacuum
Members agreed to purchase the KV650SPH Leaf Vacuum from Ernest Doe & Sons for £1,070.00 plus VAT and take the cost from the the Earmarked Reserves
Mill House CCTV
Members agreed to purchase the unit capable of taking 16 cameras for £824.00 from the Mill House Budget
110. LIGHTING AT HEDINGHAM ROAD CAR PARK
Members deferred this item
111. REPLACEMENT BARRIER BASKETS AT MILL HOUSE
Members agreed to purchase four replacement barrier baskets from Amberol for £114.00 each plus £20 delivery and take the cost from the Environment Budget
Cllr Mrs Helen Catley left the meeting
112. ALLOTMENT RENT
It was noted that allotments are not as popular and if the rent was increased, we may lose allotment holders.
Members agreed to keep the rental at the current rate of £3.00 per 5.03 metres from September 2015.
Cllr Mrs Helen Catley returned to the meeting
113. COMPLETION OF THE AUDIT FOR THE YEAR TO 31st MARCH 2014
Report was noted
114. HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
The draft newsletter was passed to members to look at and explained that it was intended to publish and distribute it yearly, to explain Halstead Town Council’s activities.
115. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
To give consideration to adopting the following resolution: – “That pursuant to the provisions of section 1 (2) – of the Admission to Meetings Act 1960, in view of the next item to be conducted, the press and public to be excluded from the meeting.”
116. THERE WERE NO ITEMS TO DISCUSS
Chairman closed the meeting at 9.00 p.m.