Halstead Town Council

Membership:

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

258.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.  
            Received from Cllr M Gage

259.    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

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

261.    MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th May 2010 were unanimously adopted.

262.    PLANNING  APPLICATIONS
Cllr Mrs S Diver took the chair for this section of the meeting.
There were no new planning applications to consider.  Existing application that had been circulated to all members was noted:
10/00850/FUL 28A White Horse Avenue, Halstead, Essex. CO9 1AH.
To form new crossover and vehicle hardstanding to enable safe access and use of the premises by a registered disabled person.
It has been reported electronically to Braintree District Council that 
Members raised no objections.

Cllr Mrs S Diver again voiced concerns about the system of electronic viewing and reporting of plans.  Cllr Diver said that the system simply is not  working as some plans are very difficult to view electronically and therefore sufficient consideration is not being given to applications.  At present there is no update on any changes to this system, Clerk was asked to write again to Braintree       District Council to voice these concerns.  Clerk was also asked to contact the Essex Association of Local Councils to seek views on this situation.  It was unanimously felt that at present proper consultations were not taking place and Cllr Diver said that she would request hard copies of all planning applications until the situation is resolved.

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

264.    FINANCIAL  MONITORING
Report was read; appended note 2 showed that the Chapel Street Car Park machine was out of order for part of the month, but that some of the loss would be recouped through insurance claim.  Clerk reported that replacement machine had failed on several occasions and therefore supplier's invoice had only been part paid.
Cllr Mrs J Pell asked if the extra hours worked to cover the car park before a new ticket machine was installed would be covered by insurance, and assurance was given that this was the case.
An error on one heading of the report was noted.  It was also noted that the income and expenditure figures for March were not included.  Report will be amended and sent in the post to Councillors.
Cllr D Hume said that these matters raised questions about accuracy of reports.
Cllr Mrs J Pell asked if money taken on Excess Charge Tickets was ringfenced for special projects.  Clerk explained that at present the money was taken into general income as the Budget Working Group was in abeyance.  It was said that this money should be accounted for separately and used for environmental projects.  Clerk said that cash taken for Excess Charge Tickets in April amounted to £720 and in May £540.  It was said that these figures will be important at future discussions on car parking issues. 
It was said that provision of cycle racks are not in the remit of Halstead Town Council, but could be dealt with by Halstead Town Strategy Panel.
Cllr J Pell asked if all financial matters are being dealt with in-house and was assured that this was the case.

265.     MONTHLY  PERFORMANCE
Report was read and it was noted that there were zero figures for receipt of parking permits in Rosemary Lane in May.  It was said that permits are renewed every  6 months and that none may have been due for renewal in April and May. Clerk to check.
It was noted that bookings for Queen's Hall are fewer than in previous years.  It was felt that this may be due to the current financial climate but could also be due to the hot weather.  It was said that the cost of air conditioning for the hall was prohibitive.  Clerk will investigate the cost of installing fans.
It was noted that bookings for Mill House have increased, although some of these bookings are on a free-of-charge basis for charity groups.
     

266.    RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS SINCE LAST MEETING
Reports for May 2010 were shown.
Cllr D Hume queried the unpresented cheque report and it was said that these cheques were probably raised on the last day of the month.  It was also noted that no standing orders had been paid - Clerk advised that these are due in July.
It was noted that two sums of car parking cash for 28^th May and 29^th May had not been banked and it was said that these sums were taken over a Bank Holiday weekend at the end of the month.  Clerk said that he had investigated paying cash in the Post Office, but that large payments of cash were difficult for them to handle.
RESOLVED that Finance and General Purposes Committee acknowledged and accepted the Receipts and Payments Report for May  2010

Report was signed by Chairman of the Committee.

267.    REQUEST  FOR A GRANT - Home Start

A request had been received from Mrs K Butler, Scheme Manager for Home Start for a grant of £1949 for the financial year ending 31^st March 2011.
Clerk pointed out that the budget for grants in this financial year is £2000 of which £350 has already been committed.
Various correspondence and figures had been provided by Home Start showing that currently 4 families in the Halstead area are receiving support   It was not known if these families are actually in Halstead town.  It was noted that various other funding had been granted.  It was noted that a grant of £203 had been made in the previous financial year, and the charity also benefited from the Mayor's fund to the tune of £1360.  Money had also been raised for the charity by St. Andrew's School, Halstead.
It was proposed that a grant of £200 be made to Home Start and that the charity should be advised that they could seek funds from other parishes within the district.
RESOLVED that grant of £200 from budget be made

268.    PARISH  SUPPORT  GRANT

Letter had been received from Earls Colne Parish Council, sent to Chairmen of all Parish and Town Councils in Braintree District regarding the proposal by Braintree District Council to remove the Parish Support Grant in a bid to reduce expenditure.  Earls Colne Parish Council felt it important to encourage all town and parish councils to address this matter and lobby their respective District
Councillors accordingly.
Cllr Mrs J Pell said that it was important to support Earls Colne Parish Council and also that Halstead Town Council make representation to Braintree District Council.
It was asked if any members of Halstead Town Council had attended the Annual General Meeting of Braintree Association of Local Councils.  It was noted that details of this event had appeared on the weekly sheet, but Cllr Mrs S Diver stated that the importance of this meeting had not been recognised by the newer members of Halstead Town Council so there had not been representation.  Cllr K Paisley said that he had attended the meeting on the previous year, but had felt out of place as he had insufficient knowledge of the proceedings and it was said that such meetings were often attended by Council staff who could contribute to discussions.  It was suggested that Mr Butland, Leader of Braintree Council be invited to attend a Halstead Town Council meeting, and Cllr Mrs J Pell voiced concerns that withdrawal of the support grant from Halstead and Witham Town Councils would not be fair.  It was said that in previous years it had been noted that Halstead budget had a healthy balance but this had been gained through prudent financial dealings and that withdrawal of the grant would mean that the Parish Precept for Halstead council tax payers would have to be raised by 11% to cover the shortfall.
Cllr Mrs J Pell put forward a motion that Halstead Town Council should write to Earls Colne to support their stance and to say that Halstead would be disadvantaged against Braintree Council if the Parish Support Grant was withdrawn.  This motion was seconded and unanimously adopted with  RECOMMENDATION that this matter be discussed at the next meeting of Full Council.

269.    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.