Halstead Town Council

Membership:

Also in attendance:   M C Murkin Town Clerk, 
                                 Mrs. J. Smith, Minute Clerk

244.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.  
           Received from Cllr M Gage

245.    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.
            None declared

246.    PUBLIC  QUESTION  TIME 
           There were no members of the public present.

247.   MINUTES
         The Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th March 2010 and minutes of the Annual Town Council Meeting were unanimously adopted.

248.    PLANNING  APPLICATIONS
          Cllr Mrs S Diver took the chair for this section of the meeting.
          To report planning applications dealt with since last Council Meeting.
          Report was noted.

            Cllr Mrs Diver voiced concerns that the system of electronic reporting that was put
            in place by Braintree District Council recently and approved by Councillors was 
            not working well.  Feedback was inconsistent and it was feared that some issues
            might not be raised in time for them to be considered by planners.  It was felt that
            debate with all relevant plans to hand was important and valuable. 
            RESOLVED that a recommendation be put to next Full Council meeting that Halstead Town Council wish to revert to the former system for planning consultations.

249.    REFERRALS FROM AMENITIES COMMITTEE
           There were no referrals from this committee

250.    FINANCIAL  MONITORING
           Report for first month of the year 2010/11 was noted

251.     MONTHLY  PERFORMANCE
            Report was presented, but it was noted that figures for March 2010 had not been added.  These figures will be added and the amended report circulated.
Discussions took place regarding the recent theft from ticket machine in Butler Road Car Park.  An acetylene torch had been used to cut through the metal security bars and estimate of cash taken was £500.00.
Cllr Mrs J Pell said that it was important that the machine was replaced as soon as possible so that revenue should not be lost and Council would not lose Public confidence.  Clerk said that estimates for replacement had been sought, both for a replacement of similar machine and for replacement with the type of machine used in Colchester.
Loss Adjusters for the insurance company had visited the site, and Clerk was now awaiting the go-ahead from the Insurance company to purchase a new machine.  It was agreed that in the mean time Council staff should continue to take payments manually and a rota would be issued to ensure that revenue is still collected and other car parks are patrolled.  Clerk was given permission to pay extra hours for existing staff or to engage temporary staff to cover this rota.  It was said that clearing of the car park and other duties should not be neglected.
It was said that in future ticket machines should be emptied on Saturday and Clerk to investigate whether it would be possible to bank cash as Post Office on Saturday afternoon.
It was noted that bookings for Mill House had increased.

252.    RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS SINCE LAST MEETING
           Reports for February, March and April 2010 were shown.
RESOLVED that Finance and General Purposes Committee acknowledged and accepted the Receipts and Payments Report for February, March and April  2010
Report was signed by Chairman of the Committee.

253.    REQUEST  FOR A GRANT - Miss Victoria Crane
A request had been received from Miss Crane, a Member of 5^th Halstead Trinity Guides to assist with her expenses for a visit to the World Jamboree in Sweden to be held in July 2011.

Discussion took place about amounts of grants and it was felt that at this stage of the year, when budget for grants had been halved for 2010/11, an offer of £100 towards expenses should be made.  Clerk was also asked to advise Miss Grant that she would be eligible to apply to the Local Committee for a grant.  Clerk was also ask to request feedback from Miss Grant after her visit to the Jamboree
RESOLVED that grant of £100 from budget be made

254.    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.

Meeting closed at  8.05p.m.