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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 |
Apologies |
| 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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Apologies
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| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Present | |
| Councillor M J Fincken | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs L J Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor S Kirby | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs K A Little | Present | |
| Councillor A Munday | Present | |
| Councillor K Paisley | Absent | |
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Also in attendance: Cllr Mrs J Sutton (BDC)
Mr Brian Chambers (Public)
Mrs Eileen Penn (Public)
Mrs J Wilson
Mr P Stokes
Mrs D Stokes
Councillor Mrs J Pell took the Chair for this meeting.
268. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs J Allen, Cllr D Hume, Cllr M Fincken
269. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr S Kirby declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 4 as member of BDC Planning Committee.
270. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Cllr Pell passed on that in response to the Town Council request for a public meeting that both the developer (Tamar) and Essex CC had declined to be present. The developer correspondence was read out but the correspondence received from Essex CC had a confidentiality clause at its end and was therefore not read out. Permission to copy this letter to the public will be requested, and if permission is received. copies of the correspondence from both parties will be sent to all who attended this Town Council meeting.
During PQT it was said that:
- that there had been a lack of engagement with the community by Essex County Council although this issue had already been highlighted by both Braintree District Council and Halstead Town Council in previous correspondence.
- Letters regarding the original planning application were only sent to selected households in 2010.
- Essex County Council had decided that there would be no major environmental impact with the initial application and no survey was therefore carried out.
- the Traffic Assessment requested by Halstead Town Council was not properly carried out.
- Mrs Penn noted that for previous large applications in Halstead traffic surveys had been carried out, and it was queried whether the site of this application fell only within the boundaries of Halstead Town Council or if part was in the Greenstead Green area.
– Chairman pointed out that Greenstead Green should have been consulted, as was Halstead Town Council, but permission was given by Essex County Council. It was said again that Halstead Town Council only had a remit to act in an advisory category. - Concerns were raised about health and safety on the site and in the surrounding areas since issues have been found on the Continent that are, or likely could be, linked to AD Processing Plants.
– Chairman pointed out again that Halstead Town Council has no power to stop or delay construction and that Braintree District Council will be responsible for monitoring environmental issues. It was pointed out that health issues were found in early plants of this type, but technology has moved on since that time. Odour and ash will be monitored. - Concerns were raised about a public footpath near the site and also a bridle path area.
- Questions were raised about a by-pass for Halstead and it was said that this is still in abeyance.
- The question was asked about what is going to be disposed of at the plant. Halstead Town Council to enquire with Tamar.
271. PLANNING APPLICATIONS.
Cllr S Kirby remained at the meeting but declared that he would not vote.
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.
After discussions Chairman proposed acceptance of item no. 2 on the list of changes to the design of the originally permitted scheme (attached herewith)
and this proposal was seconded by Cllr Mrs S Diver.
A vote was taken and there were 5 votes for the proposal and 1 vote against.
A further proposal was made by Chairman to accept items 1 and 3 to 13 on the list of changes to the design of the originally permitted scheme (attached herewith)
This proposal was seconded by Cllr Mrs K Little
A vote was taken and there was a unanimous vote for the proposal.
It was therefore decided that items 1-13 on the list of ammendments to the design of the originally permitted scheme (attached herewith) should be accepted with the following observations:
- The Town Council are concerned that the nearby residents have not been consulted as they should have been during the formulation of the original application.
- Additional vehicle movements will have a significant effect on congestion through the town and in particular Colchester Road, and that the effect of this increased traffic pattern raises further the need for a relief road scheme to be put in place.
- It should be noted that there is a footpath and a bridal path to the immediate northern aspect of this development and that all HSE protocols should be put in place to ensure there is no adverse affects to these.
- With the change in technology occurring as a result of this amendment application the Town Council re-iterates the need for stringent safeguards for residents, namely:
- there should be regular monitoring of both noise and odour for at least the first 18 months of operation
- the hours of operations should be defined and monitored
- all vehicle movements should be logged and reported to the Town Council
Cllr Mr A Munday stood down from the Chair
Cllr Mrs J A Pell resumed Chair of the meeting
There were no other matters to discuss
Chairman closed the meeting.