Halstead Town Council

Membership:

Also in attendance:   Cllr Mrs. B Gage
                                 Cllr Mrs. L Hilton
                                 M C Murkin Town Clerk, 
                                 Mrs. J. Smith, Minute Clerk

289.    APOLOGIES  FOR  ABSENCE.  
Received from Cllr D Hume

290.   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 J A Pell declared possible interest in Agenda Item No. 9 as hirer of the Queen's Hall for personal event
Cllr Mrs B Gage declared interest in all planning items as member of Braintree District Council Planning Committee

291.   PUBLIC  QUESTION  TIME 
Mrs. Julia Smith, Secretary of Halstead in Bloom, read a statement that is appended to these minutes.
Chairman noted the statement, and stated that matter would be carried forward to Full Council meeting; he asked for information on costs of capital items to be available.
It was suggested that there may be money available from Halstead Area Committee and that Kitty Barrett should be asked to e-mail a form that would need to be returned by 30^th November countersigned by a Halstead Councillor - suggested that Cllr H Messenger should sign the form.

292.    MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 7^th September 2010 were unanimously adopted.

293.    PLANNING  APPLICATIONS

Cllr Mrs S Diver, Chair of Planning Committee, took the chair for this part of the meeting

10/01477/FUL - Pitchards, Trinity Street, Halstead, Essex. CO9 1JH. Application for removal or variation of condition no. 3 planning consent 04/00341/FUL.   Members noted that this is a Grade II listed building. 
Members raised no objections

Cllr Gage resumed Chair of the meeting
            

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

295.    FINANCIAL  MONITORING
Report was noted.  Income from car parks  was questioned and will be checked.

296.     MONTHLY   PERFORMANCE
Report was noted. 
                       

297.    RECEIPTS  AND  PAYMENTS  SINCE  LAST  MEETING
Reports 9a and 9b Summary for August and September were shown and unanimously accepted.  Reports were signed by the Chairman.

298.    REQUEST  FOR  A  GRANT - 8 Students from Ramsey College
A request had been received from 8 students from Ramsey College for a grant towards the cost of a trip to Morocco in summer 2011.  Aims of the project are to increase life skills and team building and increase in understanding of different cultures and religions.  Cost of the trip is £2245 each, and some fund raising has already taken place.   It was asked if all 8 students live in Halstead, but there was no information on this point.  It was suggested that a sum of £500 be granted and a vote was taken.  There were 4 votes for this proposal and 1 abstention.
It was AGREED that  £500 be granted to the 8 students for this project.  Clerk to also suggest that they should apply to the Earls Colne Educational Trust for funds.

299.    PARISH  COUNCIL  CONSULTATIONS
A verbal report was given by Cllr Mrs J Pell who had attended the consultation on behalf of Mayor Cllr D Hume. 
Braintree District Council and Parish Council expenditure was discussed and it was said that the Parish Support Grant for 2010/11 would not be changed.  
Cllr Mrs Pell had asked for confirmation in writing of this and also asked for a copy of the presentation given and minutes of the meeting.  Cllr D Finch (Essex County Council) had offered to attend a Halstead Town Council meeting to give explanations of all matters discussed, and it was agreed that this would be helpful       and that an invitation should be extended to Cllr Finch; matter to be discussed at Full Council meeting. 
Chairman spoke about a one-day seminar of the Rural Community Group to be held on 25^th November at Feering at which the ethos of ‘Big Society' will be discussed and how Councils can engage with the community to put this idea into being.

300.    GENERAL  DISCUSSION  ON  NEW  METHODS  OF  PROVIDING  SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. 
A general discussion took place on various matters.  It was agreed that there would be some changes in the way that Councils  deliver services and that there may be some devolution of power to Parish Councils in future; it would then be necessary to engage and empower the community which could lead to some necessity for Council staff training.
It was said some local Parish Councils might look to Halstead Town Council for guidance and for provision of some services - such as grass cutting, playing field maintenance, etc.
It was agreed that there is some frustration at present at the slow workings of District Council, and that devolution could help to enhance and speed desired changes.  Cllr K Paisley said that he felt all Councils would need to become more business like and there was general concern that Halstead's representation is very much in a minority on Braintree District Council.

a) Financial Considerations: Chairman said that if HTC took on more responsibilities there would be a need to employ more staff and therefore there would be more responsibility and more expense.  Town Clerk was concerned that if Town Council took on more responsibilities there would be more expense involved and the general public would not have a reduction in District Council tax to offset increased Town Council tax.
Cllr B Gage said that more volunteers would be required, but it was agreed that there is a limit to the amount that volunteers can undertake.  As volunteers they would not be a reliable workforce and there is a diminishing pool from which volunteers can be drawn.

b).  Shared Services.  It was agreed that some consultation should take place with Parishes to see what might be required and what Halstead Town Council could offer.

It was AGREED that Cllr Mrs S Diver and Cllr Mrs L Hilton should attend a seminar in Feering on 25^th November - Town Clerk to book places.  Cllrs were asked to report back to Council.

It was RECOMMENDED that Council ask Cllr David Finch to attend a meeting to appraise members of proposals for change.
Clerk asked if he should also invite Councillor Joe Pike to attend and it was agreed that Cllr Joe Pike, ECC member for Halstead, be invited.
It was RECOMMENDED that Council discuss possibility of a public meeting with other parishes to talk about shared services.
          

301.    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  8.35 p.m.