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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 16 June 2025: at 19:15 |
Membership:
| Councillor Andrew Munday | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor James Bond | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Janet Atkinson | Apologies | |
| Councillor Malcolm Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor Gemma MacAndrews | Present | |
| Councillor Grahame McCoyd | Present | |
| Councillor Paul Nunn | Present | |
| Councillor Jackie Pell | Present | |
| Councillor Felix Preston | Apologies | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Apologies | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Apologies |
Also in attendance: Darren Tansley, Wayne Shepherd, Brian Farren, Neil Williams, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
026/25 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr Smith and Cllr Preston sent apologies due to work commitments, Cllr Atkinson and Cllr Warren sent apologies for personal reasons
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, acceptance of the apologies. This was unanimously agreed.
Chairman’s statement 16 June 2025
This month the focus is very much on my efforts to help Dementia activities in Halstead. Over the past year around £4500 has been raised through the Mayor’s charity towards helping those with Dementia in the town. I have decided to make this the Mayor’s charity once again in the year 25/26. The first Dementia drop-in morning took place on 6 June at Queens Hall and this will be repeated every first Friday of the month.
At a recent meeting with Braintree District Council, the management of the Courtaulds Sports ground going forward was discussed. It is hoped that the Town and District Councils can jointly find a way to move forward on expanding facilities and modernising what is offered at the sports ground.
In addition I just wanted to let you know that our insurers are dealing with a claim from a resident.
027/25 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS:
Cllr Fincken declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee. Cllr Munday declared NPI item 5, as a member of BDC planning committee. Cllr Pell declared NPI, item 5a as a member of CSGMC, item 7a , as a member of H4C.
028/25 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Darren Tansley, Wilder Rivers & Protected Species Manager Essex Wildlife Trust spoke about the work of the Essex Wildlife Trust, which is a membership charity. There is 1 wildlife trust per county. He talked about the barriers in rivers to fish migration, which can often be bypassed, and which result in cleaner water below the barrier. He offers advice to Witham and Colchester.
029/25 MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 19 May
2025, and the Annual Town Council meeting held on 19 May 2025, and the Events group meeting held on 19 May. Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council and Annual Town Council meetings of 19 May 2025, and of the Events meeting of 19 May was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr McCoyd and agreed, with one abstention from the Events meeting vote.
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030/25 PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Cllr Pell, Lead for planning
The following Planning Applications, which were received and circulated electronically, were considered at the Council meeting.
Cllr Fincken and Cllr Munday left the meeting.
25/01170/FUL – Land Adjacent, 24 Sloe Hill, Halstead
Erection of two self-build dwellings and associated infrastructure.
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, no objection to this application, as long as there were no later alterations. This was unanimously agreed. Councillors commented that it was one of the best presented applications they had seen, totally in sympathy with the surrounding houses.
25/00887/FUL – Solar Superstore, 12 Weavers Court, Halstead
Proposed two parking spaces for click and collect with single canopy
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Nunn, no objection to this application. This was unanimously agreed. It was agreed that blue would be a more appropriate colour.
To consider the Biodiversity net gain plan put forward by BDC
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Hilton, no objection to the Biodiversity net gain plan put forward by BDC for the tennis courts at Courtaulds Sports Ground. This was unanimously agreed.
To consider the naming of roads off Bournebridge Hill
Cllr Nunn proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, naming the roads after textiles, such as silk, cotton, in view of the area’s link to the Courtauld’s silk factory and other textile business. This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fincken and Cllr Munday returned to the meeting.
031/25 MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Munday confirmed that he would be attending the BDC Armed Forces day on 27 June, the RBL in Halstead’s Armed Forces day on 28 June, and the Halstead Choral concert on 5 July. He would also attend the Sudbury Civic service on 5 October.
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the appointments be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
032/25 FINANCE
Finance – Cllr Munday, Lead for Finance, led this part of the meeting.
All members of the Council are members of the Finance section
a)2024/25 Financial accounts and current assets
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond that the Financial accounts and current assets be noted. This was agreed, with 1 against.
b) To approve the Annual governance statement
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Nunn, approval of the Annual governance statement. This was agreed, with 1 against.
c) To approve the Accounting statements for audit
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, approval of the Accounting statements for audit. This was agreed, with 1 against.
d) To approve the bank reconciliation and explanation of variances
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the bank reconciliation and explanation of variances be approved. This was agreed, with 1 against.
e) To approve the list of payments
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the list of payments be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
f) To consider income and expenditure for May
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond that income and expenditure for May be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
g) To consider allocation of Earmarked reserves
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Nunn, that the proposed allocation to Earmarked reserves be approved. This was agreed, with 1 against
h) To consider attendance at Management training for Cllr Bond and the Clerk
Cllr MacAndrews proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd that Cllr Bond and the Clerk attend Management training provided by EALC on 16 July. This was unanimously agreed.
i) To consider repairs to wall & steps at Trinity churchyard
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Nunn, that Quote 1 be accepted. This was unanimously agreed.
033/25 DISTRICT COUNCILLORS gave their reports
Cllr Fincken said that the most significant matter this month was that the Local Plan subcommittee accepted the officers’ recommendations on the minor applications. The cycleway must be included in the consideration of the Land east of the Bluebridge site.
Cllr Munday had attended the Local Plan subcommittee and a planning meeting.
Cllr Bond had attended Full Council and a meeting of the Scrutiny committee, which had consisted of a thorough investigation of the work carried out by NEPP
Cllr Pell had attended the Local Plan Subcommittee, and a meeting on Devolution, and Cabinet. She had also attended a Buckingham Palace Garden Party, and received her British Empire Medal from the Lord Lieutenant of Essex.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that District councillor reports be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
034/25 To receive reports from Champions
Surgery – Cllr McCoyd reported that there is one doctor vacancy at Courtauld surgery, and that care home patients now have to phone in for appointments. He also said that testing for prostate cancer is not available on demand, and that patients have to make an appointment with a doctor for their need for the test to be assessed.
Open Spaces – Cllr Fincken reported that the cycle route had been awarded a £100k grant by Active England. The routes have been agreed, and the cycling and walking plan accepted by ECC. He said that there would be a village to village walk on 7 July.
Tourism – It had just been agreed that Halstead young farmers’ club will provide their tractors to act as mitigating vehicles at the torchlight procession.
035/25 To receive an update on the proposed Community Arts Centre project
Cllr Bond reported on the very productive meeting which had just been held with the Trustees and executive committee of the Empire Theatre. The plan is to set up an independent charity with support from the Empire, and specifically qualified experts.
Cllr Bond and the Clerk will be working on establishing the appropriate charitable body and the architects’ design. A full report will be prepared for the July meeting.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Hilton, that the report be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
036/25 To approve an update to the Member & Officer protocol
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the update to the Member & Officer protocol be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
037/25 To approve an update to the Complaints procedure
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond that the update to the Complaints procedure be approved. This was unanimously agreed.
038/25 To consider a Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure agreement with Essex County Council
Cllr Fincken proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that HTC should approve the agreement with ECC. This was agreed, with 1 against.
Cllr Munday proposed extension of Standing Orders until close of business. This was seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
039/25 To consider taking over the allotments
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that HTC agree to take over the management and ownership of the allotments. This was unanimously agreed.
040/25 Items for next Council meeting
- To check on the 6 month rule for attendance at Council meetings
- To consider a microphone system to improve audibility in Queens Hall
- To consider marketing of Queens Hall
- To question the public on the use of cash (August meeting)
041/25 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”.
042/25 A car park matter was discussed.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.50