|
HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
MINUTES OF FULL COUNCIL MEETING HALSTEAD, Essex. CO9 1ET
|
Membership:
| Councillor D Hume | Chairman |
Present |
| 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 | 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 | Present | |
|
|
Also in attendance: Mr M C Murkin – Town Clerk
Mrs L Dover – Minute Clerk
400. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs J Allen and Cllr Mrs B Carr
401. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr S Kirby declared a non-pecuniary interest in all planning as he is a member of Braintree District Council Planning Committee
Cllr Mrs J Hilton declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 9. List of Payments to be Approved, as a payee is related to her
Cllr Mrs J Pell declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no 9, List of Payments to be Approved, and Agenda item no.11, Community Hall, as she is Chairman of the Community Centre Charitable Trust.
402. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
There were no members of the public present
403. PRESENTATIONS
Police. There was no police presence at the meeting. The Town Clerk read out a report from PCSO B Edwards. The Stats for February were 11 house burglaries, 3 Shed/Garage Burglaries, 3 Criminal Damage, 2 Nuisance and 1 Shoplifting.
Report was noted
404. MINUTES
To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13th February 2014. Minutes were approved
405. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Cllr A Munday took the chair for this part of the meeting
Cllr S Kirby left the meeting
14/00242/FUL – Halstead Studio, 41-43 High Street, Halstead, CO9 2AA – Installation of standard gas meter to boundary wall within curtilage of Listed Building. Members raised no objection
14/00252/ELD – 103A Hedingham Road, Halstead, CO9 2DW – Application for an Existing Lawful Development Certificate – 1 no. ground floor residential flat. Members raised no objection
Cllr S Kirby returned to the meeting
Cllr D Hume resumed Chair of the meeting
406. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cllr D Hume said he was preparing the Annual Town Meeting joint report and if anyone had anything to add, it would need to be passed to him to include. It was suggested that the meeting be published in the Neighbourhood News.
Report was noted
407. FINANCE –
A) Financial Monitoring. The Town Clerk explained there were still problems with the Car parking machine and it may need to be replaced. Cllr J Pell asked if we should consider a machine that will accept credit card payments. The Town Clerk confirmed that once the problem was solved, we can expect some reimbursement for loss of takings through the Insurance claim
Report was noted
B) Monthly Performance (Car Parks)
Report was noted
C) Monthly Performance (Lettings/Sickness) The need to advertise the hire of the rooms at Mill House was raised
Report was noted
408. LIST OF PAYMENTS TO BE APPROVED
Payments were unanimously approved.
409. CHRISTMAS OFFICE HOURS
It was confirmed that the Town Council Offices would be open for a full day on 23rd December and the staff Christmas meal would take place the week before.
Report was noted
410. COMMUNITY HALL
Cllr Mrs J Pell Chairman of the Trust said that all the Trustees had now signed the transfer deeds and was just waiting for the donor of the land to sign. The Trust was grateful for the speed at which the site was cleared and there has been comments on the excellent job that was done
Report was noted
411. YOUTH
Cllr Mrs L Hilton reported that two ex members had re-joined. The Youth Council are going to hold a social evening every three months
Report was noted
412. TOWN TEAM
The AGM will be held on the 19th March. The Chairman, Richard Cook will be standing down and Lisa Taylor will be standing down as Secretary.
Report was noted
413. LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME
Report was noted and Councillors resolved to allow the following post-holders to join the Local Government Pension Scheme:
- The post of Town Clerk
- The post of Administration Officer
- The post of Finance Officer
- The post of Administrator/Receptionist
- The post of Handyman
- The post of Groundsman
- The post of Caretaker
- The post of Car Park Attendant
414. WORLD WAR 1
Members discussed the proposed memorial suggested from the British Legion led committee. Members present felt that it would be better to celebrate the end of the war rather than its commencement, but did agree that Halstead Town Council could commemorate 1914 by commissioning a brass plaque to add to the current war memorial. Cllr Mrs S Diver will represent Halstead Town Council at the next meeting with the British Legion Members agreed to consider further when they have more information.
415. REQUEST FOR A GRANT – WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE IN JAPAN
Although there is grant money still available, it was the Council’s policy to support groups not an individual. Members agreed not to give a grant and to carry the amount still available to next year’s S137 budget.
416. 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.”
There were no items to be discussed in private session.
Chairman closed the meeting at 8.02 p.m.