Full Council Minutes 22nd November 2007
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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF FULL COUNCIL |
Membership:
| Councillor Mrs H Catley | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Vice Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Present | |
| Councillor M J Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs B A Gage | Present | |
| Councillor M G Gage | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs L Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor G Howlett | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs K A Little | Apologies | |
| Councillor H Messenger | Present | |
| Councillor T C Middleton | Present |
Also in attendance: Inspector M Pitcher, Essex Police
M C Murkin, Town Clerk
The Chairman, Councillor Mrs H Catley, opened the meeting by welcoming Inspector M Pitcher.
60. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J A Pell,
Mrs K A Little and M Gage
61. Declarations 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 of Part 2 of the Code of Conduct for Members and having taken appropriate advice (where necessary) before the meeting.
Councillor Mrs B A Gage declared an interest in all planning applications as she is on Braintree DC's planning committee.
All councillors declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the planning application for the Empire filling station site as Halstead Town Council is the landlord.
62. Public Question Time
There were no members of the public present.
63. MINUTES
The minutes of the Council meeting held on 4th October 2007, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
64. COMMITTEE MINUTES
(1) The minutes of the Amenities Committee of 4th October were approved.(2) The minutes of the Amenities Committee of 8th November 2007 were approved after adding a sentence to hold a review in 6 months of the operation of the policy on 18th and 21st birthday parties.
(3) The Finance & General Purposes Committee of15th November was declared inquorate, and the following recommendations were approved:
(i) Request for a grant - Citizens Advice Bureau.
Proposed by Councillor M Fincken
Seconded by Councillor H Messenger
RESOLVED: that a grant of £400 be made from the Section 137 budget.
(ii) Request for a grant - Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign.
Proposed by Councillor H Messenger
Seconded by Councillor M Fincken
RESOLVED: that no grant be given to this organisation.
(iii) Trees in car parks - three quotations received from:
Mortimer Tree Work Contractors £570
E F Mayes £540
Colne Valley Tree Care £650
Proposed by Councillor M Fincken
Seconded by Councillor H Messenger
RESOLVED: that the quotation of Mortimer Tree Work Contractors is accepted because of the known quality of work and a more detailed appraisal of work to be undertaken.
(iv) Rural Community Council of Essex - membership renewal of £105.
Proposed by Councillor H Messenger
Seconded by Councillor Mrs B Gage
RESOLVED: that this membership is not renewed as information received from RCCE is available elsewhere.
65. Inspector M Pitcher, Halstead Police
The Inspector introduced himself by giving his career history and outlined improvements in Halstead since 2005. He considered this generally to be a safe and well policed part of Essex.
Councillors raised the issue of vandalism, with particular reference to the Kings Road park area, and the difficulty of getting through on the telephone via the new call centre. Inspector Pitcher outlined his proposals for dealing with vandalism and sympathised with difficulties over the call centre which was beyond his control.
Although not enthusiastic about public meetings, Inspector Pitcher said he was happy to meet people to discuss specific problems and invited concerned residents to join the Neighbourhood Action Panel. Other actions being considered were having a "drop-in centre" at Mill House where residents could meet PCSO's in a non-police station environment -Cllrs G Howlett and M Fincken agreed to identify residents who could contribute to the Panel. They will also use a mobile police station by parking it in problem areas and encouraging local residents to air their concern.
Councillors suggested that the police generally did not publicise their successes, e.g. when a problem is reported and resolved, the complainant is not told of the action taken. Inspector Pitcher said he hoped to instigate a reply system shortly.
66. Planning Applications.
The Chairman of the Planning, Councillor T Middleton took the chair for the planning items.
07/02248/COU - Former Ford showroom, Trinity Street - change of use to Class A1 (Shops). Members had no comments to make.
07/02242/LBC - Barclays Bank, 36 High Street - installation of new external signage. Members had no comments to make.
07/02294/LBC - 7A High Street - fire precautions and insulation works. Members had no comments to make.
07/02322/FUL - Halstead Service station - installation of ATM and bollards. Members had no objections but expressed concern over possible congestion and parking difficulties.
07/02358/COU - Empire Filling Station - full decommissioning and change of use to car wash. The Town Council owns this site and Members are unable to comment on this application.
Note: The Town Clerk advised members on the temporary works carried out in 2006 to make the site safe after the petrol station closed.
67. Mayors Appointments and Announcements
Noted. It was also noted that the Mayor had fixed dates to deliver Christmas cakes, to attend the opening of Daniel Robinson's new Chapel of Rest, and to attend a concert by the Choral Society.
68. To consider any referrals from the Amenities Committee
None.
69. Precept for 2008/2009
A detailed examination of the budget for 2008/09 took place at the Budget Seminar.
Proposed by Councillor D Hume
Seconded by Councillor T Middleton
RESOLVED: that
(i) a baseline budget of £173,775 is accepted.
(ii) a precept of £153,627 (after deduction of the Parish Support Grant) is set.
(iii) Officers are thanked for the considerable amount of thought and time needed to prepare this budget.
70. Wards, Halstead Town
Members debated the apparent inequitable allocation between the two St Andrews wards. It was
Proposed by Councillor H Messenger
Seconded by Councillor Mrs B A Gage
RESOLVED: that Braintree District Council be asked to apply to the Electoral Commission to review the allocation of seats, in line with the statistics showing current and possible allocations, within the St Andrews wards without giving a recommendation.
71. Polling Districts and Polling Places
Although there was sympathy for some voters having to travel across town, it was felt that to have voters from two wards at one polling station could lead to confusion and error.
Proposed by Councillor D Hume
Seconded by Councillor Mrs B A Gage
RESOLVED: that no change is recommended to Braintree District Council.
72. Committees - Quorum
Following two recent meetings where there were insufficient members to form a quorum, it was
Proposed by Councillor M Fincken
Seconded by Councillor H Messenger
RESOLVED: that Halstead Town Council Standing Orders be amended to show "The quorum is three or one-third of the total membership, whichever is the greater" (Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12, Paragraph 12)
73. Halstead Town Regeneration
It was reported that Councillors Mrs J A Pell and M Gage would attend as Braintree District Councillors.
Proposed by Councillor Mrs H Catley
Seconded by Councillor Mrs B A Gage
RESOLVED: that Councillors M Fincken, Mrs S Diver and Mrs L Hilton represent the Town Council.
74. Exclusion of Public and Press.
To give consideration to adopting the following resolution: - "That pursuant to the provisions of section 1(2)-of the Admission to Meetings Act 1960, in view of the next item to be conducted, the press and public to be excluded from the meeting.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 2100hrs.