Halstead Town Council

Membership:

Also in attendance:   Mr M C Murkin, Town Clerk, 
                                 Mr C Trim, Town Centre Development Manager
              

328.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr M J Fincken.

329.    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.
Cllr Mrs B Gage declared a personal interest in planning applications as member of Braintree District Council Planning Committee.

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

331.    Presentation by Mr C Trim, Town Centre Development Manager
Mr Trim outlined his role for the three towns of Halstead, Braintree and Witham.  His appointment is up to March 2011 and he will prepare a long-term strategy to improve the three towns.
He has secured grant funding to promote markets, e.g. the visiting continental markets, and has commissioned two videos to promote the towns.  He is also installing electricity for the regular market traders and is investigating the transfer of the market charter.
A "SWOT Analysis" has been produced to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats by discussions with traders and members of the public, but not with any town councillors.  Town councillors were requested to give feedback on this to Mr Trim during the next few weeks.
Following the presentation, town councillors felt the town council should have been included when plans for the future are being discussed and it was felt that the youth element was overlooked.
Although in the minority, one town councillor suggested there should be much less emphasis on the small number of market traders who visit and emphasis given to the more important issues facing the town.

332.    COUNCIL MINUTES
Minutes of the Council meeting held on 15^th July 2010, having been previously circulated, were unanimously approved and adopted. 

333.    COMMITTEE  MINUTES
(i) The minutes of Amenities Committee, minutes 234-241 of 2^nd September  2010, having been previously circulated, were unanimously approved and adopted.    
There were no recommendations from that Committee.
 (ii) The minutes of Finance and General Purposes Committee, minutes 271-284 of 7^th September 2010, having been previously circulated, were unanimously approved and adopted.
The recommendations in minute 283 and 284 were both confirmed and adopted.

334.    PLANNING  APPLICATIONS.
Cllr Mrs S Diver, Chair of Planning, took the Chair for this part of the meeting.

10/00196/PLD - 170 Colchester Road, Halstead - Proposed certificate of lawfulness for a proposed development - erection of a log cabin to be used as ancillary accommodation.  It was agreed to object to this certificate as it was felt the proposal should be considered as a separate dwelling.

10/01024/FUL - 39 High Street, Halstead - change of use of first floor retail and storage to form three flats.  This has previously been considered and there appeared to be little change.  It was agreed to object as there is no provision for car parking.

10/01285/FUL - Former Birkett Long car park land at Manfield, Halstead - erection of four terraced dwellings.  It was agreed to object as this proposal was over-development of a small site.

10/01117/FUL - 1 Brewery Drive, Halstead - relocation of boundary wall and erection of a conservatory.  Although no objects were raised there were concerns over sightlines and it is recommended that Essex CC Highways be consulted.  

335.    MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
The report was noted.  Cllr Mrs Pell deputised for the Mayor to meet Mr Moon on 18^th September and she spoke of her praise for Mr Moon's fund-raising activity for Dr Barnardo's and her disappointment that there were so few people in Halstead to support this activity.  Town councillors commented that they were not aware of this event.

336.    REVIEW OF STRUCTURE FOR COUNCIL BUSINESS.
The report was noted.  It was agreed to defer this to the next full council meeting.

337.    STREET LIGHTING
Essex CC are considering turning off some of the street lights after midnight. Cllr Mrs Pell had obtained a list of exceptions and the general feeling was that the list was sensible.
It was stated that Essex CC would hold a public consultation and it was suggested that when this happens the Town Council should organise a public meeting and invite a representative from Essex CC to attend.

338.    YOUTH COUNCIL
Following on from discussions at Amenities Committee, it was agreed to write to Mr P Taylor at Ramsey College to invite him and student representatives to attend the next full council meeting on 18^th November so they can see how the Town Council operate.  Other groups in the town will also be contacted to keep them advised and be invited at a later date.
It was also agreed that Councillors Hume and Mrs Hilton, the Town Clerk and Mr Taylor should liaise to ensure that maximum advantage is gained from this visit.

339.    STOP STANSTED EXPANSION
A letter from the Stop Stansted Expansion group was noted.

340.    HALSTEAD MARATHON
It was agreed to continue sponsorship of the Halstead Marathon and it was RESOLVED to make a payment of £500.     

341.    STREET  NAMES
Knight Developments Ltd had asked for Town Council approval on choice of a name for properties to be built on the site of Greenbanks on Mount Hill.  The suggested name was "Greenbanks"and it was RESOLVED to agree this suggestion.

342.    QUEENS HALL ENTRANCE DOORS
After considering quotations it was RESOLVED to accept the lowest quotation from A & B Glass to replace the entrance doors at a cost of £1,078 plus VAT subject to the Clerk ensuring that ‘push bars' are not required on this door.

343     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.

Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25 pm