Amenities Committee Minutes 10th January 2008
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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF AMENITIES COMMITTEE |
Membership:
| Councillor Mrs B A Gage | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor T Middleton | Vice Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Mrs H W Catley | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Present | |
| Councillor M J Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs K Little | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J Pell | Present |
Also in attendance: Councillor D Hume
Mr M Murkin, Town Clerk
Mrs S Goodwin, Minute Clerk
Four Members of the Public
Councillor Mrs Gage welcomed the members of the public to the meeting.
53. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
An apology for absence was received from Councillor T Middleton.
54. 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.
Councillor Mrs B Gage declared a personal interest in item 5 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor.
Councillor Mrs J Pell declared a personal interest in item 5 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor.
Councillor Mrs S Diver declared a personal interest in item 7 Town Twinning - her husband is Vice Chairman of the Twinning Association.
55. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mr Jepps of Mayda Close made a statement regarding planning application 07/02563/OUT - Land at Mayda Close, Halstead - erection of 1 no. one bedroom bungalow and parking space.
Mr Jepps objects to the application on the following grounds:
The position of the proposed bungalow is not clear.
The development would overlook their property.
The residents of Mayda Close have a right of way to form a turning.
The development would make a precedent for development of backland in Mayda Close.
Mrs Rayner of Mayda Close made a statement regarding planning application 07/02563/OUT - Land at Mayda Close, Halstead - erection of 1 no. one bedroom bungalow and parking space.
Mrs Rayner objects to the application on the following additional grounds: The development is out of character with other properties in the road.
56. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 8th November 2007, in open session, having been previously circulated, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
57. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
In the absence of the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Councillor T Middleton, Councillor Mrs B Gage took the chair for the planning items:
07/02466/LBC - 15 Weavers Row, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2JX - Replace gas boiler and reposition in kitchen (currently in bathroom). Members had no comments.
07/02581/LBC - 48 Head Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2BX - Proposed garage doors to be fitted in outbuilding to form cart lodge. Members had no comments.
07/02640/COU - 62 Broton Drive, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1HB - Retrospective consent for change of use to mortuary. Members had no comments.
07/02600/FUL & 07/02601/LBC - 1 Wash Farm House, Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DW - Erection of single storey side extension. Members had no comments.
07/02548/FUL - Land at Manfield, Halstead, Essex - Erection of 5 no. flats on existing wasteland. Members object on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site and concerns regarding the exit onto the highway.
07/02563/OUT - Land at Mayda Close,Halstead, Essex, CO9 1EE - Erection of 1 no. one bedroom bungalow and parking space Members object on the grounds of insufficient information, possible encroachment onto the right of way, the size of development on a small plot which could also set a precedent for development of backland.
07/02611/FUL - 14/15 Clovers, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1DE - To remove/demolish archway linking 14 and 15 Clovers. Members request that BDC Planning investigate other possibilities and suggest alternatives to the removal/demolition of the archway.
Members noted the decisions made on the following applications at a sub-committee meeting held on 19th December, attended by Councillor T Middleton, Councillor Mrs S Diver, Councillor M Fincken, Councillor G Howlett and Councillor Mrs K Little
Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Councillor D Hume, Councillor Mrs H Catley and Councillor Mrs B Gage, Councillor Mrs J Pell, Councillor Mrs L Hilton, Councillor H Messenger and Councillor M Gage.
07/02359/FUL - 3 First Avenue, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2EX - Erection of extension to existing factory. Members had no comments.
07/02338/FUL & 07/02339/LBC - 7 High Street, Halstead, Essex - Erection of single storey extension in rear yard for use as toilet accommodation to serve the shop. Members had no comments.
07/02407/FUL - Land Adjacent to 22 Bois Field Terrace, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DF - Erection of one and a half storey dwelling with carport and associated parking. Members object on the ground of over-development of the site.
07/02018/FUL (REVISED PLANS) - The Bayer Site, Colchester Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DX - Mixed residential development comprising 43 units. Members had no comments.
07/02462/ADV - Boots Chemist, 69 - 71 High Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2JD - Replacement fascia and projecting sign. Members object to illuminated sign.
07/02423/FUL - 13 Second Avenue, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2SU - Erection of rear canopy and strengthening and remedial works. Members had no comments.
07/02484/OUT - Land Adjacent to 17 Sloe Hill, Halstead, Essex - Erection of one detached two storey dwelling. Members had no comments to
07/02513/FUL - 101 Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DW - Extension and alterations to create a one bedroomed apartment. Members had no comments to make.
07/02514/FUL - 3 Ashlong Grove, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2QH - Erection of conservatory. Members had no comments.
58. ALLOTMENTS LEASE
The Town Council has received the draft lease from Braintree District Council. The Town Council agreed to take this lease to give security for 20 years to the allotment holders. It was understood, at the time, that Braintree District Council would bear all the costs in drawing up the lease and that the Town Council would limit its costs by not engaging solicitors to check the lease. The Clerk and Chairs of Amenities and Finance and General Purposes Committees have checked the lease and the only matter arising is a fee of £150 payable by the tenants to register the lease. The District Council is not prepared to pay this fee. Councillor Mrs Gage expressed disappointment regarding the payment of this fee.
In paragraph 2.3 of the draft lease, Councillors asked for the wording "kept free from weeds" to be replaced with something more attainable such as "kept as far as possible free from weeds..." or "kept in a good state...".
After discussion it was:
RECOMMENDED:
That the Town Council accepts and signs the lease as drafted, subject to the suggested amendment, and pays the registration fee of £150.
Councillor Mrs S Diver declared an interest in the following item.
59. TOWN TWINNING
2008 marks the 25th Anniversary of the twinning links with Haubourdin. A visit to Haubourdin is planned for 16 - 18 May and a return visit for 19 - 21 October.
Councillor Mrs J Pell suggested the following to mark this anniversary:
(a) That as Nokes Foundry had cast the original medal to mark the first visit; they should be approached to cast a commemorative medal to mark this occasion.
(b) That glass engraved plates should also be considered. A local company on Bluebridge Industrial Estate undertakes this work.
(c) That a civic reception is held
It was also suggested that Dr Trevor Allin, founder of the Twinning is invited to celebrate this occasion.
RECOMMENDED:
(a) That the Town Clerk investigates costings for commemorative medals and glass engraved plates.
(b) That a Civic Reception is arranged.
60. CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION
Members noted that Braintree District Council is proposing a four-camera system for Halstead and has funding available for its purchase and installation. Additional cameras could be added to the system if funding is forthcoming from either business or the Town Council. The following costs have been supplied by Braintree District Council.
(a) Running costs of servicing and line rental to be paid by Halstead Town Council at £3,500 per annum.
(b) Each additional CCTV camera (installed at the same time as the original four) £4,500 plus £1,000 for electricity supply - assuming the camera is mounted on a 6 metre pole - if it can be fixed to an existing building the cost would be reduced.
(c) Each additional camera would cost a further £200 per annum for maintenance. Monitoring costs would not be increased if additional cameras installed with the original four.
RECOMMENDATION:
(a) That the Town Council forms a small sub-committee to meet local businesses and to move the project forward.
(b) That consideration is given to funding additional cameras (if the need is identified) from Capital receipts.
61. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The following resolution was proposed and seconded:
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 8.00pm.