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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES 19 MAY 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 | Present | |
| Councillor Linda Smith | Present | |
| Councillor Garry Warren | Apologies |
Also in attendance: Michael Harman, Emily Hume, Sarah Greatorex (Town Clerk)
009/25 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 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.
010/25 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 and NPI item 7b & 7b(a), as a member of BDC and Empire Theatre, and item 16 as a member of the Empire. Cllr Pell declared NPI , item 5 25/00550/FUL as an objector and those living in the area are known to her, items 7b, 7b (a), 7c,7e and 7f as a member of BDC and CSGMC, and having a connection to EDF. Cllr McCoyd declared NPI item 5, 25/00952/HH as applicant is a neighbour. Cllr MacAndrews declared NPI item 7d as her employer owns several permits.
011/25 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Michael Harman of Holmes and Hills solicitors spoke about the re-building of their offices and clientele in Halstead, and how the firm would very much like to be involved in community events, and to support the Town Council in any way they can.
Cllr Bond stated that Cllrs Fincken and Bond, along with the Town Clerk met with representatives of HRIG to catchup on work to produce more information about the group’s work to improve, enhance and maintain the river by the mill. Cllr Bond has funded, from his Councillor’s grant, the cost of an information board to be placed along the causeway and we were shown the latest draft version which it is hoped will be installed by July. As reported previously HTC offered support with relevant manual tasks if required which HRIG advised they will not need this year but may next year(i.e. large tree cutting etc). Discussion included ways to reduce litter within the river and how to identify those responsible – especially commercial waste. It was a very helpful and productive meeting.
012/25 MINUTES To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 14 April 2025
Minutes had been circulated and proposal to adopt minutes of the Full Town council meeting of 14 April 2025 was put forward by Cllr Fincken, seconded by Cllr Bond, and agreed with 2 abstentions.
013/25 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.
25/00552/FUL – Stone Lakes , Sloe Hill, Halstead
Proposed erection of a life-size sculpture of a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, no objection, and this was agreed with 2 abstentions.
25/00952/HH – 19 Sudbury Road, Halstead, Essex
Proposed single storey side extension with associated works and landscaping.
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr MacAndrews, no objection, and this was agreed unanimously.
25/00886/ADV – 12 Weavers Court, Halstead, Essex
Proposed signage to include :-
6 No. Non-illuminated Fascia,1 No. Internally illuminated Fascia, 1 No. Internally
illuminated Projection sign, 4 No. Vinyls & 3 No. Dibond.
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Nunn, no objection, but asked that the visibility of the illuminated signs be considered, particularly at night. This was agreed with one abstention.
25/00893/FUL & 25/00894/LBC – 1 High Street, Halstead, Essex
Retrospective planning application for the change of use from restaurant to takeaway and erection of external extraction unit and flue
Cllr Pell proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Hilton and unanimously agreed.
25/00841/HH – 20 Warren Road, Halstead, Essex
Proposed front porch to replace existing
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, no objection, and this was unanimously agreed.
25/01048/FUL – 41-44 Parker Way, Halstead, Essex
Provision of parking spaces & dropped kerb.
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Hilton, no objection, and this was unanimously agreed.
014/25 Local Plan Review -Response by Greenstead Green and Halstead Rural PC
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Hilton, that HTC support Greenstead Green and Halstead Rural Parish Council in their view on planned development under the Local Plan. Their view would include:
- A co-ordinated and managed fund which all housing developers would be expected to sign up to, to deliver the bypass in phases;
- Support from BDC and ECC to enable the bypass to be properly designed and toute options carefully considered.
- A recognition of some of the s106 monies for community infrastructure should be set aside to GG & HR PC.
This was agreed, with Cllr Bond using his casting vote, with 5 in favour and 4 against.
Cllr Fincken and Cllr Munday returned to the meeting.
015/25 MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr McCoyd, that the Mayor’s appointments be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
016/25 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) To consider income and expenditure for April
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond that the income and expenditure report be approved. This was agreed with 2 abstentions.
b) To approve the Lists of payments to be made in May
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the lists of payments. This was unanimously agreed.
c) Direct debits for 2025/26
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, approval of the direct debits for the financial year 25/26. This was unanimously agreed.
d) To consider remarking parking spaces in Rosemary Lane carpark
Cllr Bond proposed, seconded by Cllr Pell, that Quote 3 be chosen, and that the company also be asked to mark the extra bays at Courtaulds Sports ground. This was agreed with one abstention.
e) To consider buying a new sprayer for Courtaulds
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Fincken, that the new sprayer be bought for Courtaulds, using Capital reserves. This was unanimously agreed.
f) To consider moving the CCTV at the Public toilets
Cllr Nunn proposed, seconded by Cllr Pell, that HTC approves the repositioning of the current 2 cameras on the pole set back from the pavement, and the repainting of the pole green, using earmarked reserves set aside for property maintenance. A new sign should also be made to let the public know that there is CCTV in the area. This was agreed with one abstention.
g)To note the internal auditor’s report
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Preston, that the internal auditor’s report be noted. This was unanimously agreed.
017/25 DISTRICT COUNCILLORS gave their reports
Cllr Pell had attended 2 Fit for the future meetings, relating to Devolution, and the BDC AGM. She had had a 1:1 with the CEO, and attended a members’ evening on the Local plan, and a group leaders’ meeting on waste.
Cllr Bond had also attended the BDC AGM, and reported on the new contract awarded to Freedom Leisure at the Halstead Leisure Centre, which has met with approval from staff, who will keep their jobs under TUPE.
Cllr Fincken had attended a final meeting on Waste and recycling. He also mentioned the important meeting of the Local Plan subcommittee on 28 May.
The Clerk was asked to forward the briefing notes for this meeting to all councillors before the meeting.
Cllr Munday had attended the AGM, a planning meeting and the Governance and Audit committee. He commented on the fact that the Local Palan states that 1227 homes will need to be built in the District every year until 2041.
District councillor reports were noted.
018/25 To receive reports from Champions
Education – there is reported now to be a new Head at Ramsey school.
Events – it was felt that there should be bunting in the town over the summer.
019/25 To receive an update on the proposed Community Arts Centre project
Cllr Bond asked councillors to read and reflect on the papers put forward on the current state of the project, and to consider the Vision for the next meeting. There will also be a need to meet with the Empire, to discuss how the project is to be managed – either by the Empire or HTC or a CIO. The working group will need councillors able to give time to the project, but also will need experts experienced in financial management and strategic management.
Cllr Munday proposed extending Standing orders until the close of business, seconded by Cllr Fincken and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Munday proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the selection of the working group be deferred until the June meeting, along with discussion of the Vision statement and the route to funding, but that hopefully this could be done earlier in the meeting. This was unanimously agreed.
020/25 To consider an IT policy
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the IT policy be adopted. This was unanimously agreed.
021/25 To consider allotment management
Cllr Pell proposed, seconded by Cllr Bond, that the allotment report be noted, but that the allotments should be brought back to a later meeting when there is more information to be shared. This was unanimously agreed.
022/25 Items for next Council meeting
- HTC should consider adopting the BDC revised declaration of interests form
- The Riverside bridge needs to be repainted
- EMR and general reserves situation to be clarified
Cllr Munday proposed suspending Standing Orders to allow Michael Harman to speak. Cllr Bond seconded this, and it was unanimously agreed.
- Michael Harman proposed that there be a Local business Champion added to the list of champions speaking for issues in the town, especially since the demise of the Chamber of Commerce.
Cllr Munday proposed reinstating Standing Orders, seconded by Cllr Bond and unanimously agreed.
023/25 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”.
024/25 A Staff matter was discussed.
025/25 2 Property issues were discussed.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.40