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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF ANNUAL TOWN MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 29 April 2024: at 19:15 |
In attendance: Cllr Jackie Pell, Cllr Andy Munday, Cllr Janet Atkinson, Cllr James Bond ,Cllr Malcolm Fincken, Cllr Linda Hilton, Cllr Gemma MacAndrews, Cllr Grahame McCoyd, Cllr Felix Preston, Cllr Linda Smith Cllr Garry Warren, Essex County Councillor Chris Siddall, Keith Brownlie, Jim Davies, Adrian Corder Birch, Dave Gronland, Claire Cannon, Julia Smith, Sam Conway, Tony Wade, Sharon Vinter, Nicky Hill, Jan Mackintosh, Eileen Penn, Tony Jones, Emily Hume, Derek Holmes, Bill Pell, Steve Cooke, Kevin Pryke, Heather Pryke, Deborah Purdham, Julia Langley, Christine Lawrence, Martin Lawrence, Wendy Pickess, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE received from Cllr Nunn due to work commitments. Cllr Munday proposed acceptance of the apologies, seconded by Cllr Warren and unanimously agreed.
Apologies had also been received from Jean Willis, representing the Baptist church, and Margaret Tyler, representing the Brownies and Guides.
2. MINUTES Cllr Munday proposed acceptance of the Minutes of 24 April 2023, seconded by Cllr Fincken. This was agreed with 7 in favour and 4 abstentions.
All reports available below
3. HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL’S REPORT. Halstead Mayor, Cllr Jackie Pell, gave the annual Town Council report. She also congratulated the Town Council on reaching 50 years.
Cllr Munday proposed approval of the report, seconded by Cllr Bond, and unanimously agreed
4. A report from Halstead Town Clerk had been written and circulated.
Cllr Munday proposed approval of the Clerk’s report, seconded by Cllr Atkinson, and unanimously agreed.
5. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS.
Cllr Pell had sent a report on her duties at District Council.
Cllr Munday had sent a report on his duties at District Council.
Cllr Fincken had sent a report on his duties at District Council
Cllr Bond had sent a report on his duties at District Council.
Cllr Fincken proposed that all District Council reports be noted, seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
6. COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr Siddall had sent his County Councillor’s report.
Cllr Munday proposed that the county councillor report be noted, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Adrian Corder Birch requested that Highway clear away a broken safety barrier on Hedingham Road.
7. GRANT REPORTS
Reports had been received from those who had received grants in 2023, including Halstead History Museum, Wonderkids Halstead, the Halstead Day Centre, Halstead Community Fridge, Hope for Tomorrow, the Empire Theatre, Halstead W.I,,Sunnydays Baby and Toddler group
Cllr Fincken proposed acceptance of the grant reports, seconded by Cllr Munday and unanimously agreed.
8. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
There were no public questions
9. REPORTS FROM LOCAL CHARITIES
1. Rotary club – Keith Brownlie
Keith gave a brief summary of the Rotary, an international organisation, which is 75 years old.
Their role is to support and raise funds for local charities. Recent fundraising has provided funds for warm coats, for Ukraine, for Gaza, and for the Edith Borthwick school.
Keith also represents the Joshua Nunn Freemasons lodge.
2. History society – Adrian Corder Birch and Jim Davies
Adrian explained that the History Society had been established in 1976, and became a charity in 1984, to advance education by the study of history, in Halstead and 40 surrounding villages. Currently there are 160 members who pay £18 p.a to be members. Adrian thanked the Town Council for accommodating the Museum without cost at the Town Council offices, and for its support of the History society.
3. Earls Colne and Halstead Educational charity- Cllr Jim Bond
Cllr Bond explained that the charity was created after the closure of the local grammar schools in 1975, in order to provide grants for young people aged 5 -25, who must have lived in the area for at least a year. Applications are considered in February, July and November.
4. Courtaulds Homes of Rest – Adrian Corder Birch
The homes were set up in 1923 by Samuel Courtauld, who remained a director for 56 years until his death. There are 20 almhouses, which can accommodate up to 40 people. There are currently 29 residents. To be eligible, applicants need to have lived/worked in Halstead for more than 25 years.
5. Community Shed – Dave Gronland
This organisation was originally formed in 2023 as the Halstead Mensshed, due to the much higher rate of suicide amongst men, and in particular in men over 55. The concept has now been broadened to provide wellbeing and physical and mental activity for older members of the population who may feel isolated, The old Ambulance station was bought with a grant from the BDC Halstead Community Fund. It now hosts Hearing Help Essex, Essex Sight, Yoga, Senior keep fit, a ladies’ craft group and eventually traditional Mensshed activities. All funds raised are ploughed back into providing more for the community. The shed has also installed 26 solar panels and a storage battery. It has no intention of running any commercial activities or weddings.
6. St Andrews League of Friends – Claire Cannon
The League was set up in the 1990s to ensure that funds were available to repair the church if needed. They organise the Christmas Tree festival and other small events, and receive grants and sponsorship from businesses in the town. They have recently given the church £40k to repair the roof above the organ.
7. Halstead in Bloom – Julia Smith
HiB was set up in 1999 as a voluntary movement by local businessman Michael Portway, taking over responsibility from HTC. Some of the troughs and containers around the town belong to HiB and some to HTC. Since then it has provided floral displays all over the town, and also frequently entered the Anglia in Bloom and Britain in Bloom awards, and won numerous awards. They continue to provide colour throughout the town every year, but now need a little more help from HTC, as volunteers are not getting any younger.
8. Halstead Community choir – Sam Conway, Tony Wade
The choir started as a Ramsey Academy outreach project in 2016, and were able to purchase equipment with a grant from BDC. Now they have a core of 35-40 singers, and are independent of the Ramsey. They moved to using the Empire Theatre in 2022, where they also run the Dementia friendly choir, where membership is free.
9. Scope – Sharon Vinter, Nicky Hill, Jan Mackintosh
This charity is aimed at achieving equality for those with a disability, in terms of their getting into work. It started in 1952. They now have 2 staff members and 28 volunteers in Halstead and offer Year 10 experience for Gosfield school students. They have 155 shops in England and Wales. They sell pre-loved clothes and new gifts.
10. 21st Century group – Eileen Penn
This group was set up in 2013, to protect open spaces, when a threat appeared to the Land East of the High st.
Eileen also represents Greenway N. Essex, which aims to provide sustainable walking and cycling from Halstead to Kelvedon, the Friends of Holy Trinity church, which aims to bring the church back into use and to raise funds to repair the church, and Halstead Rivercare group, which aims to work on the first Sunday of every month to clear the river of rubbish.
11. Travel Aid for Parents of sick children (TAPS) – Cllr Jackie Pell
The main message from TAPS is to let parents know that the funds are available to get parents to hospital with their children.
12. Royal British Legion- Tony Jones
RBL was established by Lord Haigh and Tom Lister on 15 May 1921 to support ex-service men and women and their families. There are 180,000 members in the UK. The poppy appeal in Halstead in 2023 raised £11k. Anyone can be a member.
13. Sunnydays Baby and Toddler group – Emily Hume
This group has been running for just a year, and Emily has now opened a new offering to mothers of babies aged up to 6 months, as well as her existing groups in Halstead and Gosfield. This will offer advice and support to new mothers on breastfeeding, sleep, reflux, and more.
10. GRANT FORMS
The Clerk provided forms to apply for the next round of grants to be offered in 2024. Halstead charities can apply for up to £500, and forms must be returned to the clerk by 30 June 2024.
11. DIRECTORY OF INFORMATION ABOUT HALSTEAD
Wendy Pickess from Halstead Library suggested that she, Emily Hume and the Town Clerk should work together to collect all information which can be useful to Halstead residents.
There was no further business. Meeting closed at 20.48
Available Reports
County Councillor –
District Councillors –
Grant Report –
Charities Reports –
Courtaulds Homes of Rest Report
Earls Colne & Halstead Educational Charity Report