Full Council Minutes 19th July 2007
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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING |
Membership:
| Councillor Mrs H Catley | Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Mrs J A Pell | Vice Chairman | Apologies |
| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Present | |
| Councillor M J Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs B A Gage | Present | |
| Councillor M G Gage | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs L Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor G Howlett | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs K A Little | Apologies | |
| Councillor H Messenger | ||
| Councillor T C Middleton | Present |
Also in attendance: M Murkin, Town Clerk
S Goodwin Minute Clerk
A Brett, Halstead Gazette
In the absence of the Chairman, Councillor Mrs H Catley and the Vice Chairman, Councillor Mrs J Pell, the Clerk asked for nominations for a Chairman for the meeting.
It was proposed and seconded that Councillor D Hume take the Chair for this meeting.
It was agreed to include an extra item, Fun Run, at the end of the public session.
29. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs H Catley, Councillor Mrs J Pell and Councillor Mrs K Little.
The Chairman advised that Councillor Mrs Little's husband is seriously ill. Members' thoughts are with her and her family.
The Chairman also advised that Councillor Mrs H Catley's grandchild has arrived and Councillor Mrs J Pell is on holiday.
30. 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 M Gage declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 14 - Halstead Town Football Club - He is President of Halstead Town Football Club.
Councillor Mrs B Gage declared a personal interest in item 5 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor.
31. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
There were no members of the public present.
32. MINUTES
The minutes of the Council meeting held on 7th June 2007, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
33. COMMITTEE MINUTES
(i) The minutes of the Amenities Committee held on 5th July 2007, previously circulated, were approved.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Item 24 - Halstead Cemetery
RESOLVED: That no further action is taken at present.
(ii) The minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 12th July 2007, were approved.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Item 30 - Mill House
RESOLVED: That the quotation from KD & Z Waller (Painters and Decorators Ltd) in the sum of £3960 be accepted.
34. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Councillor T Middleton, took the Chair for the planning items.
07/01309/LBC - 6 Head Street - Internal alterations. Members had no comment.
07/01362/FUL - The Chase, 49 Head Street - Demolition of kitchen and erection of single storey extension. Members had no comment.
07/01363/LBC - The Chase, 49 Head Street - Demolition of kitchen and erection of single storey extension. Members had no comment.
07/01215/FUL - Gate House, Parsonage Street - Erection of detached garage.
Members had no comment.
07/01411/LBC - 13-15 Hedingham Road - Conversion of 13 Hedingham Road back to a single dwelling. Members had no comment.
107/01411/LBC - 13-15 Hedingham Road - Conversion of 13 Hedingham Road back to a single dwelling. Members had no comment.
07/01426/FUL - 92 Trinity Road - Erection of boundary wall with balustrade railing, proposed block paved driveway and widening of vehicular access.
Members had no comment.
35. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS
Noted. It was also noted that the Judging Day (18th July) for Anglia in Bloom had been very successful with positive comments from the judges regarding community spirit. The results will be known at the ceremony in Colchester on 14th September 2007.
36. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO CAR PARK ATTENDANT'S HUT, CHAPEL STREET CAR PARK
Members received the quotations to supply electricity for lighting.
Just Lamps £580.00 +VAT
Partner Electrical £531.57 (inclusive of VAT)
Proposed By Councillor M Gage
Seconded by Councillor M Fincken
RESOLVED: That the quotation of Partner Electrical in the sum of £531.57 (inclusive of VAT) be accepted.
37. HALSTEAD BYPASS
The roadworks in the High Street have again raised the subject of a bypass for Halstead. The Clerk had been instructed to write to Essex County Council to again request a bypass for Halstead. The reply received from Tony Ciaburro, Director for Development, Highways and Transportation gives little optimism of a bypass before 2021.
Councillor D Hume, in Councillor Mrs Pell's absence, read her comments and request for members' support to hold a public meeting and the formation of a pro-bypass group.
Councillor M Fincken stated that he feels it is premature to hold a public meeting at present and suggested that the Town Council should be lobbying to gain support.
Councillor M Gage suggested the need to meet officers and to ensure that the Town Council has an agenda and policy to reflect that the town is in infrastructure deficit.
Proposed by Councillor M Gage
Seconded by Councillor M Fincken
RESOLVED:
(i) That Tony Ciaburro, Essex County Council, the Cabinet member and officers of Braintree District Council be invited to attend a meeting with Halstead Town Council within the next two months.
(ii) That the Clerk prepares a case for a bypass.
Proposed by Councillor M Gage
Seconded by Councillor G Howlett
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Clerk negotiates with all local press, including free publications, to print a short questionnaire to gauge public opinion.
(ii) That a Bypass Working Group is formed consisting of the Chairman of the Council, Vice Chairman of the Council, Chairman of Amenities and Chairman of Finance & General Purposes.
38. CCTV
The Chairman, read a report giving the background of requests and bids for funding for CCTV from Councillor Mrs J Pell, Chairman of Halstead Crime Prevention Panel. The Panel has campaigned for a CCTV system for many years and bids for funding have met with no success. The scheme is supported by the Police and Councillor Mrs Pell recently attended a meeting at Braintree where officers were investigating the upgrading of both Braintree and Witham CCTV systems although Halstead is still to receive its first system.
Proposed by Councillor M Gage
Seconded by Councillor Mrs B Gage
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Clerk explores costings for a CCTV system.
(ii) That the Clerk requests an item to be placed on Braintree District Council Halstead Area Committee agenda and the Police to be invited to attend this meeting.
(iii) That a Sub-Group consisting of Councillor G Howlett, Councillor Mrs S Diver and Councillor Mrs J Pell is formed to work on costing a CCTV system, to move it forward and to liaise with Halstead Town Strategy Panel.
39. HALSTEAD FUN RUN
Councillor D Hume gave an update. The Fun Run will be held on 7th October and will start and finish at King George V Playing Field, Kings Road. Halstead Road Runners are taking an active lead and it is hoped that the Fun Run will raise the profile of the town. There will be junior and senior routes.
40. 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.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.08 pm