Amenities Committee Minutes 5th July 2007
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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF AMENITIES COMMITTEE |
Membership:
| Councillor Mrs B A Gage | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor T Middleton | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs H W Catley | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S A Diver | Present | |
| Councillor M J Fincken | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs K Little | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J Pell | Present |
Also in attendance: Mr M Murkin, Town Clerk
Mrs S Goodwin, Minute Clerk
Two Members of the Public
15. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None. All members being present.
16. 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 or Part 2 of the Code of Conduct for Members and having taken appropriate advice (where necessary) before the meeting.
Councillor Mrs B Gage declared a personal interest in item 5 all planning applications as a Braintree District Councillor.
Councillor Mrs J Pell declared a personal interest in item 5, all planning applications as a Braintree District Councillor and also a personal interest in item 9 Queens Hall booking - many members known to her.
Councillor M Fincken declared a personal interest in item 10 - Halstead Cemetery - Governor of Ramsey College.
17. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
(i) Mr Gardner of 15 Paper Mill Cottages, Halstead asked members to give consideration to resiting the bottle banks in Chapel Street car park. His complaint is regarding the noise nuisance at all times of the day and night.
Members noted that this item was not on the agenda but would be mindful of Mr Gardner's comments. Notices have been displayed asking people to be considerate when using the bottle banks.
(ii) Mrs A Hume, Hume's Bakery, High Street, Halstead asked whether Councillors have any ideas to encourage more people to visit Halstead. Trade has been affected by the recent roadworks and Mrs Hume suggested that free car parking might be an incentive.
Councillor Mrs Pell replied that the Town Centre Strategy Group is aware and has a programme of street entertainment to promote Halstead. Free car parking is not a possibility. The roadworks should end shortly.
18. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 17th May 2007, in open session, having been previously circulated, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
19. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Councillor T Middleton, took the chair for the planning items:
Members noted the decisions made on the following applications at a Sub-Committee held on 28th June 2007, attended by Councillor T Middleton, Councillor G Howlett, Councillor Mrs H Catley and Councillor Mrs S Diver.
07/01130/OUT - Land Adjoining 4 Blue Bridge Cottages, Colchester Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2HD - Erection of detached dwelling. Members have reservations as it could be considered as ‘back yard development'. It will also increase the volume of traffic coming onto Colchester Road.
07/01132/FUL - Annexe R/o Red House, Colchester Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DZ - Partial demolition, conversion and extensions to form 2 residential units. Members had no comments to make.
07/01177/FUL - 1 Bullfinch Drive, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2GZ - Erection of two storey rear extension and single storey side extension. Members had no comments to make.
07/01206/FUL - Brookside, Chapel Hill, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1JP - Erection of two storey rear extension - variation of previous approval ref. 05/00235/FUL. Members had no comments to make.
07/01253FUL - 1 Wash Farm House, Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DW - Erection of single storey side extension. Members had no comments to make.
07/01254/LBC - 1 Wash Farm House, Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DW - Erection of single storey side extension. Members had no comments to make.
20. CAR PARK ANALYSIS
Noted at Full Council and Finance & General Purpose meetings. The new replacement car park machine in Chapel Street Car Park is now insitu and working.
21. QUEENS HALL
Members discussed a request from Mojo Community Arts (dance/drama classes) which has charitable aims, but is yet to obtain charity status, to receive a charity rate for the hire of the Queens Hall.
RESOLVED:
That members support the request for a rate of £11.00 per hour (charity rate)
subject to the group obtaining charity status.
22. QUEENS HALL BOOKING CONDITIONS
The revised booking conditions for hire following Health & Safety advice to include private parties had been circulated.
RESOLVED:
(i) That members had noted the changes made.
(ii) That the conditions, as amended, are adopted.
23. PUPPY TRAINING CLASSES AT QUEENS HALL
A request has been received to run puppy training classes, from a long established dog club, in the hall for two evenings each week from December 2007. Braintree District Council Health & Safety staff and the Dog Warden have been consulted for advice.
RESOLVED:
(i) That puppy training classes are permitted in the Queens Hall for a trial period of three months.
(ii) That the hirer meets the requirements to cover the floor to prevent mess and to stop dogs slipping.
(iii) That clients attending the classes should ensure that all mess outside the hall is cleared up correctly.
24. HALSTEAD CEMETERY
A complaint had been received that the gates into the Cemetery in Colne Road were locked at 5.30pm. The gates are opened at 9 am and locked at 3 pm weekdays during school term to prevent school children using the cemetery as a route to and from school due to the damage they have caused. The gates stay locked from 3pm as Braintree District Council is not able to fund additional locking and unlocking of the gates.
After discussion it was
RECOMMENDED:
That no further action is taken at present.
25. BRAINTREE DISTRICT COUNCIL LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
The full Council at their meeting on 7th June 2007 considered a number of points and key issues from the Framework which directly affect Halstead. It was felt that these issues should be tackled on an individual basis.
RESOLVED:
(i) That a Sub-Committee consisting of two members from Amenities Committee and two members of Finance Committee be appointed.
(ii) That Councillor Mrs J Pell and Councillor Mrs S Diver are representatives of the Amenities Committee on the Local Development Framework Sub-Committee.
26. CAR PARK MANAGEMENT
In accordance with earlier discussion in respect of excess penalty charges it was
RESOLVED:
(i) That legal proceedings are instigated through Essex County Council's Legal Services Department if the excess penalty charge is not paid within 14 days of the sub-committee's determination.
(ii) That the 36 cases outstanding since before 1st January 2007 be written off.
(iii) That a second digital camera be purchased (up to £100) to enable photographic evidence to be produced when demanded.
27. 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.
The meeting closed at 7.55pm