Membership:

Also in attendance:   M C Murkin, Town Clerk
                                  S  Goodwin Minute Clerk
                                  A Brett, Halstead Gazette

The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming Anna Brett of the Halstead Gazette.  It was agreed to take an additional item - Halstead Marathon request for sponsorship.

71.       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Gage and G Howlett.

72.       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 Mrs B Gage declared a personal interest in item 6 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor and 08/00083/FUL - 24 Well Field.  Lives nearby.

Councillor Mrs J Pell declared a personal interest in item 6 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor, a personal and prejudicial interest in application 08/00011/FUL - 58 Parker Way - owns a property in Parker Way, a personal interest in item 12- CCTV - member of Crime Prevention Panel, a personal interest in item 20 - Courtauld Sports Ground - Chairman of Management Committee and a personal interest in additional item Halstead Marathon - connected with two of the recipient charities.

Councillor D Hume declared a personal interest in item 20 - Courtauld Sports Ground - is secretary to the Courtauld Sports Ground Management Committee.

Councillor K Little declared a personal interest in item 6 Planning application

08/00001/FUL - 12 Spansey Court - relative lives nearby.

73.       PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

None. 

74.       MINUTES

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 22^nd November 2007, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

75.       COMMITTEE MINUTES

The minutes of the Amenities Committee held on 10^th January 2008, previously circulated, were approved.

76.       PLANNING APPLICATIONS

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

Councillor Mrs J Pell left the room for discussion of this application

08/00011/FUL - 58 Parker Way - Erection of two storey rear/side extension.

Members had no comment.

Councillor Mrs J Pell rejoined the meeting.

08/00003/FUL - 17 Butler Road - Variation to  approved scheme - 07/02179/FUL - Extension and sub division of ground floor to provide 2 no. 1 bedroom flats and provision of amenity space, storage and drying facilities for 2 no. ground floor and 2 no. 1^st floor flats. Members had no comment

Councillor Mrs K Little left the room for discussion of this application

08/00001/FUL - 12 Spansey Court, Windmill Road - Erection of single storey front extension.  Members had no comment

Councillor Mrs K Little rejoined the meeting.

Councillor Mrs B Gage left the room for discussion of this application

08/00083/FUL - 24 Well Field - Demolition of existing rear sun   lounge/conservatory and erection of two storey rear extension.

Members had no comment

Councillor Mrs B Gage rejoined the meeting.

08/00099/COU - Blamsters Farm, Mount Hill - Defining of land area at Blamsters Farm with C2 residential care.  Members had insufficient information to make comment.

77.       MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Noted.  Councillor Mrs Catley drew attention to the Mayor's Quiz on 7^th March.  Councillor Mrs J Pell requested that a letter of condolence is sent to Wickham St Paul Parish Council on the tragic death of their Chairman.            

78.       REFERRALS FROM AMENITIES COMMITTEE

            None.

79.       FINANCIAL MONITORING

Noted. Councillor David Hume, Chair of Finance, asked that the data is presented in larger print for the next meeting and also to have the figures circulated in advance of the meeting.  It was noted that due to the failure of the computer, the staff were not paid full wages in December.  This has been adjusted in January.

80.       MONTHLY PERFORMANCE

Noted.  Councillor David Hume, Chair of Finance, again asked that figures are circulated in advance of the meeting.  Car park income is down for Chapel Street for September, October and December and Butler Road for September, October, November and December.  The Town Clerk to check the reasons and in future record any machine failure etc on the report.                                                                                                       

81.       CAR PARK MONTHLY ANALYSIS

Noted.  Councillor David Hume, Chair of Finance, will compare year on year     figures for the next finance meeting.                                  

82.       CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV)

Members noted that Braintree District Council is proposing a four-camera system for Halstead and has funding available for its purchase and installation.  Additional cameras could be added to the system if funding is forthcoming from either business or the Town Council.  The following costs have been supplied by Braintree District Council.

(a) Running costs of servicing and line rental to be paid by Halstead Town Council at £3,500 per annum.

(b)  Each additional CCTV camera (installed at the same time as the original four) £4,500 plus £1,000 for electricity supply - assuming the camera is mounted on a 6 metre pole - if it can be fixed to an existing building the cost would be reduced.

(c) Each additional camera would cost a further £200 per annum for maintenance.  Monitoring costs would not be increased if additional cameras installed with the original four.

Discussion took place on the various sites and funding for the cameras including approaching Somerfield Supermarket, Greenfields Housing Association and Solar Supermarket to request a contribution. 

Proposed by Councillor M Fincken

Seconded by Councillor Mrs L Hilton

RESOLVED:

(a)  That a sub-committee consisting of  Councillors Mrs J Pell, Mrs S Diver, Mrs B Gage and G Howlett is formed.

(b) That the sub-committee is given delegated authority to move the project forward.

83.       FUN RUN AND HALSTEAD MARATHON 2008

            (a) Fun Run

The 2007 Fun Run was organised jointly by Halstead Road Runners, Braintree District Council and the Town Council.  A debriefing has been held.  Concerns were raised about the junior race and have been taken on board.  It was noted that Braintree District Council now wish to step back from the detailed organisation so much of the organisation will fall on the Town Council.

Councillor Mrs J Pell declared an interest in the following item:

(b) Marathon

The Town Council has been invited by Halstead Road Runners to become a sponsor for the Halstead Marathon which is due to be held on Sunday 11^th May 2008.  The Halstead & Essex Marathon has been ranked in the top ten races in the UK by the magazine "Runner's World" and it is hoped to attract 500 competitors in 2008. 

For the 2007 event the Town Council's name and logo appeared on the entry forms, race numbers and tee shirts given to entrants, but no trace of a donation/sponsor fee being paid can be found.

Proposed by Councillor M Fincken

Seconded by Councillor H Messenger

RESOLVED:

(a)  That members support the staging of a Fun Run in 2008.           

(b)  That the Town Council continues to promote Halstead by becoming a sponsor of the Halstead Marathon on Sunday 11^th May 2008 at a cost of £500. 

84.       BYPASS

A meeting was held on 7^th December 2007 to clarify the current position on the likelihood of a bypass for Halstead.  Attendees at the meeting included Sir Alan Haselhurst, Joe Pike and Tony Ciaburro, Director for Development of Essex CC Highways.  Mr Ciaburro had outlined in a letter the government's criteria for a bypass request to be considered for inclusion in the 10 year programme of funding.  For the period 2007 to 2016 some 10 schemes had been selected out of 160 bids.  The remaining 150 bids will remain for the next round (2017 to 2025) and Halstead could compete for this.  However, Mr Ciaburro thought it unlikely that Halstead would be successful unless there was a "significant" increase in population.

It was also stated that although some councillors had mentioned the possibility of a bypass there had been no visible campaign from the town as a whole and also that a recent poll in the Halstead Gazette did not show an overwhelming desire for this.

Members expressed their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and the last paragraph of the letter " stating that although some councillors had mentioned the possibility of a bypass there had been no visible campaign from the town as a whole." Halstead Town Council has always supported a bypass which is evidenced in Minutes going back through several councils.

Proposed by: Councillor M Fincken

Seconded by Councillor Mrs J Pell

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the Clerk writes to Tony Ciaburro expressing members' dissatisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and pointing out that the last paragraph of his letter is incorrect.  

(b)  That a copy of this letter together with supporting copies of Minutes is sent to Sir Alan Haselhurst, Joe Pike and all those involved.

85.       EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

            Members noted the successful completion of the audit for 2006/7.

86.       DRAFT COUNCIL DATES 2008/9

Members agreed the Committee Dates for 2008/9 with the exception of the Annual General Meeting which was changed from 7^th May to 30^th April 2009.

87.       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 9.05 pm