Halstead Town Council

Also in attendance:        Councillor  Mrs S A Diver  

                                       Mr. M. Murkin, Town Clerk 

                                       Five members of the Public

72.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None

73.       DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

To declare any ‘personal' or ‘personal and prejudicial' interests relating to items on the agenda having regard to paragraphs 7 to 11 inclusive or Part 2 of the Code of Conduct for Members and having taken appropriate advice (where necessary) before the meeting.

Councillors Mrs J Pell and Mrs B Gage declared personal interests in item 5 Planning Applications as Braintree District Councillors.

Councillors Mrs J Pell and T Middleton declared a personal interest in the planning application for 26 Ashlong Road.

Councillor H Messenger declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the planning application for 26 Ashlong Road and left the room during discussion of this item.

74.       PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Mrs J Thompson, on behalf of the Allotment Holders Association addressed the meeting to outline the reasons why the Town Council should not support the proposal for Braintree District Council to let St John's Ambulance have a small piece of allotment land.

Councillor Mrs B Gage advised Mrs Thompson of the current waiting list for allotments and Councillor Mrs Pell outlined some of the recent expenditure.

Mr Wilder asked why this item was to be discussed in private session and the clerk explained that it was because a proposed lease was being considered.

75.       MINUTES

The Minutes of the meetings held on 6^th March and 8^th May 2008, in open session, having been previously circulated, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

76.       PLANNING APPLICATIONS

08/00803/FUL - Millbanks - 91 Colchester Road - Erection of three bed bungalow to the rear of the existing property.  Councillors were concerned that this was over-development of this site as there was no separate frontage to the road.  It was also felt that Essex CC Highways should be consulted over the additional traffic flow onto Colchester Road.

08/00857/FUL - 14 26 Ashlong Grove - Erection of two-storey and single-storey side extensions with dormer windows to existing roof.

Members had no comments.

77.       BAYER SITE

A letter had been received from the developers asking for two suggested road names.

RESOLVED:  That "Evans" be put forward as first choice to recognize a benefactor to the town, and that "Hobbs" be a second choice as a former owner of the Bayer site.

78.       DONATION OF PICTURES

Former Councillor Mrs Celia Burne has given two pictures to the council. 

RESOLVED:  That Mrs Burne is thanked for her kind gesture and the Clerk arranges for them to be hung in Mill House.

79.       CURTAINS IN COUNCIL CHAMBER

In an attempt to improve the appearance of the council chamber with a view to increasing lettings, quotations have been sought to renew the curtains with a flame-proof material.  The quotations are:

            Halstead Carpet Co Ltd                   £675.00
            C & S Curtain Design                    £1000.00

It was proposed by Councillor H Messenger, seconded by Councillor Mrs K Little that these two quotations be refused and that ready-made curtains be sought.  Upon a vote this proposition was lost.

On a proposition by Councillor M Fincken, seconded by Councillor Mrs J Pell, and carried by 5 votes to 2 it was

RESOLVED: To accept the quotation from Halstead Carpet Co Ltd at £675.00

80.       BENCH SEAT

Following the redevelopment of the riverside at the bottom of Chapel Street car park, we have a black bench seat which does not fit in with the colour or style of the riverside.

            RESOLVED: That the Clerk be authorised to find a suitable location.

81.       CAR PARK PERMITS

Representations have been made by a business near Butler Road asking for more season tickets (permits) to be made available in the Butler Road car park.  Currently there are 41 spaces in this car park and  18 permits have been issued.  There is a waiting list of 6 for permits.

All spaces in Rosemary Lane and Hedingham Road car parks are permit only and all permits are taken.

The Clerk reported that monitoring of Butler Road car park for a month has shown that the least number parked was 13 and the highest 28, with an average of 19.

RESOLVED: that no change is made to the permit/public ratio in Butler Road at present and the situation will be monitored in six months.

82.       EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

The following resolution was carried:

RESOLVED:  That pursuant to the provisions of section 1(2) of the Admission to Meetings Act 1960, in view of the next items to be conducted, the press and public to be excluded from the meeting.

The meeting closed at 8.10pm.