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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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DRAFT MINUTES OF FULL COUNCIL MEETING HALSTEAD, Essex. CO9 1ET
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Membership:
| Councillor D Hume | Chairman |
Present |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Vice Chairman | Present |
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Councillor Mrs J Allen Councillor Mrs H W Catley
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Present
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| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Present | |
| Councillor M J Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs L J Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor S Kirby | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs K A Little | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor K Paisley | Apologies | |
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Also in attendance: Cllr Mrs J Sutton (BDC)
Mr Brian Chambers (Public)
Mrs Eileen Penn (Public)
Mr M C Murkin – Town Clerk
Mrs J Smith – Minute Clerk
252. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Paisley
253. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr Mrs J Pell declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 11 as Chairman of Halstead Community Centre Charitable Trust. Cllr Mrs Pell declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 9 a Chairman of Halstead Community Centre Charitable Trust. Cllr Mrs Pell declared pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 6, planning item 13/00007/FUL (Revised) as Trustee of Day Centre that owns part of the building.
Cllr Mrs H Catley declared pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 6, planning items nos. 13/00004/FUL (Revised) and 13/00770/FUL (Revised) as husband is working for contractors.
Cllr S Kirby declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 6 as member of BDC Planning Committee.
Cllr Mrs J Allen declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 6, planning item no. 13/00813/FUL as members of the family live in Pretoria Road. Cllr Mrs J Allen declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 13 as is Halstead’s representative for Home Start.
Cllr M Fincken declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 13 as is a fund-raiser for Home Start.
Cllr D Hume declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 6, planning item no. 13/00813/FUL as applicant is neighbour. Cllr Hume declared non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 13 as has acted in the past as referee for Home Start charity.
254. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Cllr Mrs J Sutton asked why Halstead Town Council had not objected strongly to the initial planning application for the proposed anaerobic digester plant at Bluebridge Industrial Estate and said that she had concerns about the lack of public consultation. There were also concerns about environmental issues and about hours proposed to be worked.
Cllr Mrs J Pell pointed out that the planning application was passed by the planning authority and that the Town Council is only a consultee. The Town Council had taken advice on the environmental issues and looked at the measures planned to ameliorate any difficulties. Cllr Pell pointed out that the pending planning application is for alterations to parts of the original application only.
Cllr Mrs J Sutton spoke again about the proposed traffic movements to the plant and also about other anaerobic digester plants in this country and on the continent and gave her opinion that the plant would not be safe.
Mr Brian Chambers asked if the Town Council has sleepwalked into the decision to grant the original application and felt that there had not been sufficient consultation with residents – the law had been complied with but this had not allowed for wider consultation of near by residents. He said that there had not been a traffic consultation for the town, merely for the Bluebridge Industrial Estate and he felt that Essex County Council had not kept residents fully informed; no public meetings had been called and Mr Chambers felt that Halstead Town Council should take Essex County Council to book over this issue. He felt that in all instances National guidelines had not been followed.
Chairman pointed out that Halstead Town Council could not answer for Essex County Council and he said that he was aware that Mr Chambers would be speaking to the local MP on this subject.
Cllr Mrs Pell pointed out that Halstead Town Council was not in a financial position to challenge the planning decision at this late stage as if the decision should be overturned large sums of compensation could be claimed.
Cllr Mrs Sutton said she felt that the Town Council has a duty of care to residents and that she has written to Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Goverment on this matter.
Cllr Mrs S Diver, who was Chair of Planning at the time of the original application, said that traffic consultations had been requested at the time of the original application and the Town Council had acted in the proper manner over this application.
Cllr Mrs Hilton asked if the Developer could be invited to come to a future Town Council meeting to discuss their plans and to give answers to questions raised.
Members of the public would obviously then be able to make statements about the issue.
Cllr S Kirby suggested that the views of Braintree District Council on this application be sought.
It was proposed and unanimously agreed that a meeting of all parties concerned be requested
All Councillors will be kept fully informed and the proposed meeting will be public.
237. PRESENTATIONS
- a) Police there was no Police attendance.
255. MINUTES. To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13th June 2013. Minutes were unanimously approved
256. PLANNING APPLICATIONS.
Cllr S Kirby left the meeting
Cllr A Munday took the chair for this part of the meeting
ESS/28/13/BTE – Land North of Bluebridge Industrial Estate, Halstead, CO9 2SZ – Continuation of development for an anaerobic digestion plant including combined heat and power with associated offices and new access without compliance with condition 2 (Compliance with Submitted Details) and 15 (Provision and Maintenance of Parking Area) attached to planning permission ES/25/10/BTE to allow amendments to the design of the scheme.
It was agreed that this is a contentious issue, and none of the Councillors present had been able to access the application on the BDC web site. It was therefore decided that an extension for comment be requested beyond the date of the next Council Meeting (8th August) so that this application could be fully discussed.
13/00663/FUL – Blamsters Farm, Mount Hill, Halstead, CO9 1LR. – Erection of 4no. residential units as extension to existing care home and creation of 4no. additional car parking spaces. Transferred from 13.06.13 Council Meeting.
Chairman said that a sub-committee had met to discuss this application – Cllrs Mrs J Pell, Mrs B Carr, M Fincken, A Munday and Mrs S Diver, and had made recommendation to strongly object to this application on the following points:
a) application is outside the current Local Development Framework. b) the application is not in keeping with the surrounding area of natural beauty and visual amenity. c) on issues of Highway access and increased traffic and d) there is unused accommodation for residents with these needs in other parts of the town.
A vote was taken on this proposal: there were two absentions, one vote against the proposal and seven votes for the proposal. Motion was carried.
13/00621/FUL – 9 Mount Pleasant, Halstead, Essex. CO9 1DX – Erection of a single storey front extension, hallway into a porch.
Members raised no objections to this application
13/00714/FUL – Beauty Room at Oak House, Oak Road, Halstead, Essex. CO9 2LX – change of use of a building containing an indoor pool to commercial use.
Members raised no objections to this application, but asked that ECC Highways look at traffic flow along this narrow road.
13/00726/FUL – Land at Second Avenue, Bluebridge Industrial Estate, Halstead, Essex – Erection of workshop building and office building and use of site for plant hire with vehicle servicing and storage.
Members raised no objections to this application
Cllr Mrs H Catley left the meeting at this point.
13/00004/FUL (REVISED) – Land Stansted Road, Halstead, Essex – Erection of 7 x 2 bed two and a half storey houses with integral garages and parking thereto and 1 x 3 bed two and a half storey house with attached garage and parking thereto.
Members noted that revised plans had addressed the issues this Council had raised at a previous application.
Members raised no objections to this application.
13/00770/FUL – Land adjacent 137 Kings Road, Halstead, Essex – Erection of new 3 bedroom dwelling.
Members raised no objections to this application.
Cllr Mrs H Catley returned to the meeting
13/00788/LBC – 5-7 Head Street, Halstead, Essex. CO9 2AT – Proposed painting of render green and timber windows cream.
Members raised no objections to this application.
Cllr Mrs J Pell left the meeting at this point
13/00007/FUL (REVISED) – 24-34 Bridge Street, Halstead, Essex – Conversion of
first floor offices to create 8 no. 1 bed flats and new roof terrace and allocated spaces for residential and retail parking. New cycle store and bin store.
Members noted that several retailers in shops underneath the proposed development had concerns about parking and about deliveries and rubbish disposal.
It was agreed that members have no objections to this application, but asked that ECC Highways look at parking and that BDC look at provision for retailers and residents to have rubbish bins. It was also agreed that there should be consultation with the Day Centre about access for their ambulance and vehicles. It was agreed that this Council should support retailers and press for their concerns to be addressed.
Cllr Mrs J Pell returned to the meeting
Cllr D Hume left the meeting
Cllr Mrs J Allen left the meeting
13/00813/FUL – Land adj The Chase, Pretoria Road, Halstead, Essex. CO9 2EG – Erection of detached bungalow with garage.
Members objected to this application on grounds of back land development and lack of highway access.
Cllr Mrs J Allen, Cllr D Hume and Cllr S Kirby returned to the meeting
Cllr D Hume resumed Chair of the meeting.
257. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Chairman noted the hard work done by members of the Fun Run team and thanked them for their efforts. He said there had been positive feedback from members of the public.
Chairman noted that Halstead would be judged by Anglia in Bloom on 15th July and by RHS Britain in Bloom on 1st August.
Chairman announced his charities for 2013/14 to be Mencap and the Acorn Children’s Centre.
The report was noted.
258. FINANCE –
A) Financial Monitoring
Cllr Mrs J Pell noted that targets are not being met; Town Clerk noted that income and expenditure were both reduced.
Report was noted
B) Monthly Performance (Car Parks)
The significant drop in revenue at Chapel Street Car Park was noted, and it was suggested that the Free After Three initiative was having some impact. Town Clerk said that monitoring would be done in August, and after discussion it was decided that this should be done in August and September. Cllr Mrs J Pell said that any cessation of the Free After Three initiative should be given plenty of notice.
Report was noted
C) Monthly Performance (Lettings/Sickness).
It was noted that Mill House bookings are down, and it was suggested that the facility be advertised in conjunction with Queen’s Hall.
Report was noted
259. LIST OF PAYMENTS TO BE APPROVED
Payment to Artful Splodgers was queried – this is for Summer Fun entertainment.
Payments to Ann Cartwright were queried and it was said that these were for secretarial services to the Community Hall Trustees and would be set against this budget.
Payments were unanimously approved.
260. EMERGENCY PLANNING REPRESENTATIVE AND OTHER COUNCIL POSTS.
Cllr Mrs B Carr had volunteered to take on the role of Emergency Planning Officer
This appointment was unanimously agreed.
It was agreed to defer the second part of this item until Agenda item no. 14.
261. COMMUNITY HALL
Cllr Mrs J Pell said that matters were now moving with some speed and that trustees were planning visits to other community halls. A consultation letter would be sent to interested groups in Halstead regarding use of the Hall.
Report was noted.
262. YOUTH.
Cllr Mrs L Hilton reported that the recent charity event was not successful and a total of 85p. had been raised. It was said that there was difficulty engaging with some young people and that no other similar events were planned. The present committee would be standing down at the end of term on 18th July and a new committee would be formed in September. Cllr L Hilton said that she would be standing down from her duties with Youth, and she was thanked for her efforts. She was asked to defer leaving until May 2014. A team building day is planned for later in July.
Report was noted
263. REQUEST FOR A GRANT – Home Start
Discussions took place about this request, and about Home Start in general. It was said that Home Start funding by Essex County Council had been cut. It was proposed that a grant of £1000 be made, with a review after 6 months when another £1000 could be granted. After discussion it was proposed that a grant of £2000 be made to Home Start, with the proviso that this grant be used for families in Halstead. A vote was taken; there were two abstentions and motion was carried.
264. BANNERS
Report had been produced giving the guidelines from Department for Communities and Local Government regarding banners and ‘temporary advertisements’. It was agreed that common sense should prevail, and noted that banners should be of good quality and clean and should be tidily erected in suitable places.
Regarding the continuation of an Events Committee and it was agreed that this should be an Agenda item at next meeting.
265. CHAPEL STREET TOILETS
Town Clerk said that a survey of drains had been done and a report was awaited. Jason Bedlow had indicated that drains had been found to be in poor condition and may need to be re-lined – work to be costed. An Architect had been contacted and had viewed the building saying that it was structurally sound, but in poor condition internally and would have to be gutted and re-built to modern specifications.
Cllr Mrs J Allen questioned the need for toilets in the town but Cllr S Kirby said that, as a retailer in Halstead, he felt that toilet provision is vital for visitors and also for market traders.
Cllr H Catley asked if Sainsbury’s had been contacted regarding purchase of the present toilets; Town Clerk said he had acknowledgement of his letter but nothing further. It was suggested that perhaps Sainsbury’s might like to make a contribution if the present toilets are to be refurbished.
It was agreed that more information and costings are required and matter would be discussed again at next meeting. Report was noted.
266. SUMMER EVENTS
Planned events were noted and Cllr L Hilton asked that thanks be given to Ms K Cooper who had arranged the events.
Report was noted
267.Exclusion of P ublic 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.”
There were no other matters to discuss
Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10 p.m.