Membership:

Also in attendance:        Councillor G Howlett 
                                       Mr P Tetley, Town Clerk 
                                       Mrs S Goodwin, Minute Clerk

3.     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

        An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs J Pell

4.     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 H Catley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in application 07/00946/FUL - 44 Nether Court - lives opposite.

Councillor S Diver declared a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application 07/00906/TPO - 46 Sudbury Road - close friends.

Councillor T Middleton declared a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application 07/00868/FUL - 1 Harvey Street - lives in close proximity.

Councillor Mrs B Gage a personal interest in item 5 all planning applications as a Braintree District Councillor.

5.     PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

        There were no members of the public present.

6.     MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2007 and 10^th May 2007, in open session, having been previously circulated, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

7.     PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Councillor T Middleton, took the chair for the planning items:

Councillor Mrs S Diver left the room for discussion of the next application.

07/00906/TPO - 46 Sudbury Road - Notice of intent to carry out works to trees protected by TPO 5/77.  Reduce horse chestnut tree by 30%.  Members had no comments to make.

Councillor Mrs Diver rejoined the meeting.

07/00924/COU - Unit 3, 5 Second Avenue, Bluebridge Industrial Estate - Retrospective consent for change of use to provide hand car wash facilities to the rear car park/service area.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00894/PLD - 8 Neale Road - Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed use of development - Erection of single storey extension with pitched roof incorporating existing brick built shed.  Members had no comments to make.

Councillor Mrs H Catley left the room for discussion of the next application.

07/00946/FUL - 44 Nether Court - Erection of two storey side extension.  Members had no comments to make.

Councillor Mrs H Catley rejoined the meeting.  

07/00745/FUL - 11 Kestrel Rise - Repositioning of boundary fence to edge of pathway and construction of one parking space to rear of garden.  Members are concerned that removing the shrubbery and repositioning the boundary fence spoils the aesthetic appearance of the road.

Councillor T Middleton left the room for discussion of the next application.

07/00868/FUL - 1 Harvey Street - Erection of single storey front extension.  Members object to this application on the grounds that it is out of keeping with the rest of the street.

Councillor T Middleton rejoined the meeting.

Councillor Mrs K Little joined the meeting.

07/00911/FUL - 49 Trinity Road - Erection of front porch.  Members had no comments to make.

Members noted the decisions made on the following applications at a Sub-Committee meeting on 11^th April 2007, attended by Councillor Mrs G McCoyd, Councillor Mrs C Burne and Councillor Mrs K Little.

Members expressed concern regarding application 07/00413/FUL - 27-29 High Street -Installation of satellite dish.  (This application is within the Conservation Area) and although comment had previously made, the Clerk agreed to look at the application again and pass any comment to Braintree District Council.      ACTION TOWN CLERK

07/00413/FUL - 27-29 High Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2AA - Installation of satellite dish.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00615/FUL - 4 Bays Drive, Halstead, Essex,CO9 2PQ - Erection of single storey extension/conservatory.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00609/FUL - Wade International (UK) Ltd, Third Avenue, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2SX.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00681/OUT - Land adjoining Bluebridge Industrial Estate, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2HA - Proposed industrial development.  Members voiced concern over increased traffic onto Colchester Road and additional parking in Bluebridge.

07/00662/FUL - 31 Churchill Avenue, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2BE - Erection of single storey rear extension for the provision of new office.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00680/FUL - Former Greenwood School, Mill Chase, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DQ - Erection of 11 no. dwellings.  Members stated that extra lighting is required along Bois Field Terrace (Section 106 Agreement) and the lighting survey which has already been carried out must be looked at.  Bushes should be removed from the site and replaced by trees to screen Bois Field Terrace.  Road access to the site should be angled to make it easier to access from Hedingham Road and not from Head Street.

Members noted the decisions made on the following applications at a Sub-Committee meeting on 30^th April 2007, attended by Councillor Mrs G McCoyd, Councillor D Hume and Councillor T Middleton (and two members of the public, Mr and Mrs Richmond).

07/00736/ADV - Saffron Building Society, 38 High Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2AP - Display of non-illuminated signage.  Members object to illuminated signage and the glow illumination in a conservation area.

07/00725/OUT - Land Adjacent Frosts Mill, Mill Chase, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DQ - Demolition of existing garage and erection of two storey detached dwelling and single garage.  Members object on the grounds of overcrowding and overdevelopment and felt it was not in keeping with Frost Mill and North Mill Place.  They were also concerned over more traffic onto Head Street.

07/00726/LBC - Land Adjacent Frosts Mill, Mill Chase, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DQ - Demolition of existing garage and erection of two storey detached dwelling and single garage.  Members object on the grounds of overcrowding and overdevelopment  and felt it was not in keeping with Frost Mill and North Mill Place.  They were also concerned over more traffic onto Head Street.

07/00709/FUL - Land Adjacent 22 Bois Field Terrace, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DF - Erection of Bungalow with associated landscaping.  Members are concerned over traffic exiting on Bois Field Terrace and then onto Head Street/Hedingham Road.  They were also concerned with overcrowding on the site.                                                                                               

07/00710/FUL - 37 Bois Hall Gardens, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2HX - Erection of boundary wall/fence to enclose garden.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00657/FUL - Annexe R/o Red House, Colchester Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DZ - Partial demolition, conversion and extensions to form 2 no. flats.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00749/FUL - 57 High Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2JD - New windows to rear outbuildings.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00750/LBC - 57 High Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2JD - New windows to rear outbuildings.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00767/FUL - Land Adjoining Greenbanks, Mount Hill, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1AD - Demolition of existing garage and erection of 6 no. detached dwellings and garages with associated ground works.  The Council object to this application.  Houses will overlook existing properties & access to and from properties may cause danger for road users.  Consideration should also be given to objections received from neighbouring properties.  (Copy of letter attached).

07/00768/FUL - Blackthorns Elderly Persons Home, 21-29 Dooley Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1JW - Erection of extension to create 10 additional bedrooms.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00781/FUL - Land Adjacent 170 Colchester Road, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2EU - Erection of single dwelling.  Members had no comments to make.

07/00769/FUL - Bung Chapel Museum, Adams Court, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1LF - Change of use from museum to residential and addition of new first floor.  Members had no comments to make.

8.         CAR PARK ANALYSIS

Members noted the report for the year April 2006 to April 2007.  The figures for ticket sales are healthy and April 2007 is slightly up on April 2006.

9.         QUEENS HALL

Recently the Queens Hall was hired for an 18^th birthday party and late in the evening a group of uninvited youths gatecrashed the party, assaulted two of the organisers, broke a window in the Queens Hall and also in a neighbouring house. This disturbance resulted in three letters of complaint.  

As a result of the Council's current health and safety review, changes have been made to clauses 10, 11 and 12 of the conditions of hire with effect from 1^st April 2007 and the level of deposit increased from £50 to £100.  Inspector Sale has been consulted and has offered to have the area patrolled if notified.  The hiring for private parties is to be kept under review and members to be notified of any further serious incidents.

RECOMMENDED:

(i)         That Members note the changes made to date.

(ii)        That clause 13 is amended to include private parties.

(iii)       That the conditions, as amended, are adopted.

10.       CAR PARK MANAGEMENT

The Car Park Attendants issue Excess Charge tickets to car park users when they fail to display a valid ticket or season ticket. They have been issued with guidance to adopt a common sense approach to encourage car park users to purchase a ticket.  At present to encourage prompt payment, the excess charge of £60 is discounted to £30 for payment within 7 days of the ticket being issued.  During this period a small number of people appeal to the office and occasionally, the excess charge is cancelled.  Most appellants will accept the decision which is made following their appeal but some refuse to pay.  The Clerk gave the following figures for approximately 16 months: 515 excess charge tickets issued; 319 of these paid; 104 of these cancelled in the office; 81 of these remain unpaid.

The legal services department of Essex County Council have the following recovery service: Prepare a solicitor's letter -  £4; Issue of Proceedings -  £35;

Enforcement - £35. These figures assume that there is no defence.

RECOMMENDED;

(i)         That to ensure a consistent approach, that only the Town Clerk should at the outset deal with an appeal.  If the appeal cannot be resolved, it should then be considered by a sub committee, to be formed, to hear appeals and to authorise proceedings to legal recovery stage.

(ii)        That members accept the proposals from Essex County Council for the legal recovery of excess charge debts.

It was agreed that the Town Clerk should look at current appeals and take action to recover the bad debts.                                                   ACTION TOWN CLERK

11.       ESSEX PLAYING FIELDS ASSOCIATION

Members considered a request from Essex Playing Fields Association asking Halstead Town Council to join the Association.   Members agreed that the town has an important asset in Courtauld Sports Ground and services of the Association might be needed at some time.

RECOMMENDED:

That Halstead Town Council join Essex Playing Fields Association at an annual membership cost of £25.

12.       STREET TRADING POLICY

Braintree District Council is undertaking a consultation exercise with various interested parties throughout the district on their proposals to amend the existing Street Trading Policy.  The draft policy is available for inspection in the Town Council Office and the Town Clerk will feedback any comments to Braintree District Council.

13.       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 meeting closed at 8 pm.