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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 | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S Dingle | Present | |
| Councillor C Fox | Apologies | |
| 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 J Giffould, Mr R Richmond, Mr B Slade, Mrs H Wolf
Mr M C Murkin – Town Clerk
88. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Fox
89. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr A Munday declared a pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 7e List of Payments to be approved, as he is a receiver of expenses
Cllr Mrs J Pell declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 7h Halstead Marathon, as they are a recipient of Charity money and a non pecuniary interest in Agenda item no.9 Community Hall, as she is Chairman of the Halstead Community Centre Charitable Company
Cllr Mrs J Sutton declared a pecuniary interest in Agenda item no. 7e List of Payments to be approved, as she is a receiver of expenses
90. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mrs H Wolf asked if there were any plans for MP James Cleverly to attend any of the Town Council meetings. Cllr Hume said that Monday evenings is a difficult time for MP’s but he is going to meet with Mr Cleverly and will extend an invitation to him
91. MINUTES
To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21st September 2015
Cllr Mrs J Pell said that the minutes were inaccurate as the planning application 15/01012/FUL was seconded by Cllr C Fox
Cllr Mrs J Pell proposed and Seconded by Cllr Mrs S Diver that the minutes be approved with this amendment – carried
92. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Cllr A Munday took the chair for this part of the meeting
15/01165/FUL – Head Street Studio Head Street Halstead Essex – Change of use of store room to kitchen Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr M Day that members raised no objection – carried.
15/01223/FUL – 2 East Mill Halstead Essex CO9 2EJ – Erection of first floor rear bedroom extension Proposed by Cllr A Munday and seconded by Cllr M Day that members raised no objection – carried.
Cllr D Hume resumed Chair of the meeting
93. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cllr D Hume read out a letter he received from the Chief Clerk to HM the Queen, thanking him for his letter. Cllr Hume also received thanks from Cllr Owen, Mayor of Sudbury for the letter sent regarding the fire at Sudbury. Cllr Hume presented Trophies at the Halstead Photographic Society presentation evening. He thanked everyone that attended the Jazz Concert at the Queens Hall held to raise money for the Mayors Charities and raised £152. The Remembrance Sunday Service will be held on 8th November.
Report was noted
94. FINANCE –
A) Financial Monitoring.
Report was noted
B) Earmarked and Capital Reserves
Report was noted
C) Monthly Performance (Car Parks).
Report was noted
D) Monthly Performance (Lettings/Sickness)
Report was noted
E) List of Payments to be approved
Report was noted
F) Request for a grant – Air Ambulance
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr Mrs J Allen seconded that grant of £1,500 be awarded – 4 councillors voted for ,6 councillors voted against – motion lost
Cllr Mrs J Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs S Diver seconded that grant of £1,000 be awarded – 6 councillors voted for, 2 councillors abstained – carried
G) Audit of Accounts 2014/15
Report was noted
H) Halstead Marathon – Request for Sponsorship
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr Mrs S Diver seconded that Halstead Town Council continue to support the Marathon by providing portable toilets in line with our financial support in 2015 – carried
95. ESSEX CYCLE STRATEGY
Discussion took place on how best for Halstead Town Council to respond to Essex County Council’s Cycle Strategy. Town Councillors are able to make their own personal contribution by completing the on-line survey. It was agreed that the Town Clerk would send a Supportive letter to Essex County Cycle Strategy to show positive support.
96. COMMUNITY HALL
Cllr Mrs J Pell advised that the Trustees had met with MP James Cleverly and this would be reported in their next meeting
Report was noted
97. YOUTH
Cllr A Munday reported that the Youth Council has received a £400 donation from Halstead Women’s Institute. The Queen’s Hall has been booked for 9th February 2016 for a HYPE night. The Youth Council will be making a guy for the Guy Fawkes trail on 1st November. Cllr Munday said that they want direction from the Town Council as to where they want the Youth Council to go and he also asked for an update on the Ramsey Park land transfer
Report was noted
98. TOWN TEAM
Cllr D Gronland reported that the Application for the Great British High Street was unsuccessful. The next Food and Craft Market is being held on Saturday 17th October and the Christmas Fayre is being held on Saturday 28th November. Cllr Munday raised a point about the minutes of the Town Team which stated that there was going to be a raffle to win the chance to turn on the Christmas Lights. Cllr Hume clarified that children nominated from the local schools would be invited to turn on the lights.
Report was noted
99. TOWN PLAN
At the previous meeting a presentation from Jan Stobbard was given about the possible funding opportunities to help to formulate a Town Plan. Discussion took place on the need for a town plan and it was felt that the idea in principle was good idea but there was concern about the costs involved, where it will go and how it will benefit the town. It was pointed out that any such plan should reflect things we can deliver and achieve together with what we already have.
Cllr Mrs J Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs S Sutton seconded to form a working group – carried with one abstention.
Councillors were asked who would like to be in the working group, Cllr Mrs S Diver, Cllr Mrs E Penn Cllr Mrs J Pell and Cllr M Radley volunteered with Cllr A Munday wanting to be closely involved
100. COUNCIL COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
Cllr D Hume gave the background information on when the pattern of council meetings were changed to monthly and confirmed that all meetings were open to all councillors. Cllr A Munday did not want a separate Planning meeting as he is concerned they will not be well attended. It was felt that the current frequency worked well. There was discussion on holding a separate Finance meeting or have a Finance committee or sub group to look at the finances before it is reported at Full Council. It was pointed out that the current budget had been set by the previous council and so some councillors had not been through the process. Once they had, it was felt that procedures would be clearer.
Cllr Mrs Pell proposed and Cllr Mrs S Dingle seconded that it is deferred until the next meeting held after the Budget Seminar
5 councillors voted for, 4 councillors voted against – carried
101. 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”.
Proposed by Cllr Mrs Pell and seconded by Cllr Mrs S Diver – carried
102. EMPIRE THEATRE
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr M Radley seconded not to accept the quotation from the surveyor at this stage. The Town Clerk and D Hume meet with the Empire Trust to work out what both sides want– carried
Cllr Mrs Pell proposed and Cllr D Gronland seconded that the Town Clerk effect insurance cover for the theatre on the same basis as BDC with a premium 100% recharged to the Empire Theatre Trust – carried
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr Mrs J Allen seconded that we replace part of the fence alongside the access road. Cost of materials being £281 – carried
Under Standing Orders 1 (b) and 22(s)
Cllr Mrs J Pell proposed and Cllr A Munday seconded that the meeting be extended for an additional fifteen minutes – carried
103. CHAPEL STREET TOILETS
Cllr A Munday proposed and Cllr D Gronland seconded That Halstead Town Council publicise an apology to Horizon in the Halstead Gazette and ask Horizon to start work quickly – 5 councillors voted for, 3 councillors abstained – carried
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.35pm