Halstead Town Council

Membership:

Also in attendance:   Councillor T Middleton

                                 M C Murkin, Town Clerk

68.       Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Hume.

69.       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 of Part 2 of the Code of Conduct for  Members and having taken appropriate advice (where necessary) before the meeting.

Councillor Mrs J Pell declared a personal interest in item 72 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor. 

70.       Public Question Time

There were no members of the public present.

71.       Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th March 2008 and 8^th May 2008 were approved.

72.       PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Councillor Mrs S Diver took the chair for this item.

08/00886/FUL - 15 Warren Road, Halstead, Essex - Erection of two-storey rear extension.  Members raised no objection to this proposal.

08/00905/LBC - 9 Bridge Street, Halstead, Essex  - Display of advertisement signage.  Members raised no objection to this proposal.

73.       REFERRALS FROM AMENITIES COMMITTEE

            None. 

74.       FINANCIAL MONITORING

The strong financial position was noted.  Members expressed their thanks to the Budget Working Group and to the office staff for all their efforts to achieve this.

75.       MONTHLY PERFORMANCE

The report was noted.  The higher level of sickness days off should be referred to the Staff Review Group.                                                                                                   

76.       CAR PARK MONTHLY ANALYSIS

Members noted the report but requested that in future the statistics should be in monetary value rather than number of tickets sold and that the previous year should be shown for information.

77.       FRIENDS OF HISTORIC ESSEX

A request from the Friends of Historic Essex for a grant was considered.

It was unanimously

RESOLVED: that the requested grant of £10 be made.

78.       GULLEY IN BUTLER ROAD

The Clerk reported that a member of the public had tripped on a raised gulley.  Inspection had shown that some 14 gullies were raised and in need of attention.  The clerk has met with Colne Contracts, who are shortly to resurface footpaths in the churchyards for the Town Council, and they have quoted £590 to rectify these gullies.

In the interests of safety, it was proposed by Councillor Mrs J Pell, seconded by Councillor Mrs S Diver, and

RESOLVED:  to

a) suspend standing orders to allow consideration of only one tender; and

b) to accept the quotation from Colne Contracts for £590 plus VAT.

79.       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 be excluded from the meeting.

The meeting closed at 8.15pm