Community Services Minutes (Signed) 12-08-2019

Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Services Committee
Held on Monday 12th August 2019 at 6:00 pm at the Memorial Hall Newmarket

Attendance:
Councillor S Caesar (Chairman)                                      Councillor R Hood
Councillor J Borda                                                              Councillor P Hulbert
Councillor O Bowen                                                            Councillor J Lay
Councillor J De’Ath                                                             Councillor K Lindsay – Resigned
Councillor W Hirst                                                              Councillor C O’Neill
Councillor R Yarrow

Also Present: Bobby Bennett – TCM, Julie Ashton – Minute Assistant, Cllrs Starkey and Sharp – ECDC, Steven Parissien – Palace House, Graham Philpot – Newmarket BID, 2 Members of the Press and 4 Members of the Public.

C/19/08/1 Chairman to read fire safety notice and announce that proceedings may be filmed or recorded.
The Chairman opened the meeting and read out the Fire Safety Notice and announced that proceedings may be filmed or recorded.

C/19/08/2 Apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from Cllrs A Drummond and Kerby.

C/19/08/3 Declaration of members interests and to remind councillors of the need to keep up to date their register of members interests and to consider any requests received for members dispensation.
None noted.

C/19/08/4 To receive and confirm for accuracy the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 8th July 2019 and any matters arising.
Members received the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 8th July 2019 and the following was agreed:

C/19/08/4.01 Resolved
That the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 8th July 2019 be adopted and signed as a true record by the Chairman of the Community Services Committee.

Matters arising:
Page 3 – C/19/07/11 – TCM advised that the food bank would be launched in September.
Page 3 – C/19/07/12 – TCM advised that she was still disappointed with the work of West Suffolk regarding the SLA and was having daily talks with them to make improvements.

Graham Philpott joined the meeting
C/19/08/5 The Chairman proposed that item 6 – Palace House be brought forward and the following was agreed:

C/19/08/5.01 Resolved
That item 6 – Palace house be brought forward.

C/19/08/6 To receive an update on Palace House
Steven Parissien gave an update on Palace House and advised that the visibility of the Museum was poor and there were plans to build up the business. They had secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage fund for marketing campaigns both locally and Nationally. The Marketing would stress the links with Royalty and big themed exhibitions would be put on.

2 members of the press joined the meeting
There were plans to work with the BBC next year to help raise the profile locally and Nationally.

The Mayor gave thanks on behalf of the Council and welcomed the planned activity. Steven left the meeting.

C/19/08/7 Public participation an invitation to members of the public to put questions/statements of not more than 3 minutes duration. No resolutions can be made but councillors are very happy for matters to be brought to their attention.
A resident advised that there were 30- 40 travellers at St Felix School and there were a number of children there but there were no toilet facilities. He suggested that toilets should be provided.

Than Mayor advised that the land belonged to SCC and that she had already informed them. She would pass on the comments.

Cllr Starkey advised that she and Cllr Sharp were looking to work with NTC on projects that would benefit Newmarket. She and Philippa Winter would be happy to Chair a working group for the Clock Tower project.

A member of the public joined the meeting
Graham Philpot advised that he was happy to take any questions on the Christmas lights and he queried what the permanent structure for the market related to.

C/19/08/8 To receive accounts for July 2019
TCM advised that The accounts for July 2019 were not available and would be circulated when the end of month had been completed.
C/19/08/9 To receive an update on the following
Yellow Brick Road – No further update available

Skate Park Project – No further update available

Newmarket Market – TCM advised that a meeting would be held tomorrow and would look at the continuation of the market

Weatherby Crossing – TCM advised that the Planning Inspectorate hearing would be held 18th March 2020 at the football club. NTC would be taking the lead to provide evidence regarding the crossing being a public right of way by 11th November 2019 and that there was no budget set for legal representation.

A member of the press left the meeting
It was noted that the crossing was on the border of East Cambs and any help from ECDC would be greatly appreciated and the following was agreed:

C/19/08/9.01 Recommendation
That NTC continue to support the evidence of the crossing being a public right of way and work with ECDC Cllrs to keep the crossing open.

A request was made for the timetable to be circulated.

C/19/08/10 To consider the next steps for the clock tower project
Cllr Starkey gave on overview of the Clock Tower project and presented a report with a recommendation that the tender from Pro-Scape for £45,000 be accepted. A working group would be set up comprising of the Community Services Chairman, Vice Chairman, TCM and Philippa Winter and chaired by Cllr Starkey. The following was agreed:

C/19/08/10.01 Recommendation
That Members read the report and pass any comment to the TCM and that delegated power be given to the working group.

C/19/08/11 To consider a quotation from collaboration 23
TCM presented the quote form collaboration 23 for additional work to repair the Cemetery wall that had been identified. The quote was considered and the following was agreed:

C/19/08/11.01 Recommendation
That the quote from Collaboration 23 for £4,050 to repair two parts of the Cemetery wall be accepted.

C/19/08/12 To consider quotations for the War Memorial
The Chairman presented two quotes to repair the War Memorial and the following was agreed:

C/19/08/12.01 Recommendation
That the quote from Grantham Groundworks & Building Ltd for £6,808 + VAT to repair the War Memorial be accepted.

TCM to ensure that the work would be completed before November 2019.

C/19/08/13 To consider quotations for bus shelters
TCM presented two quotes for bus shelters and advised that there was no current budget. Members considered the quotes and the following was agreed:

C/19/08/12.01 Recommendation
That the quote from SCC for £3,898 including insurance, maintenance and repairs to provide a bus shelter be accepted.

TCM would look to see how the funds could be raised.

C/19/08/14 Weatherby crossing E
This item was discussed at item 9.

C/19/08/15 Suffolk County Council street lighting
TCM advised that SCC switch the street lights off at 11:00pm and that West Suffolk leave them on all night at Studlands. Enquiries would be made for the lights at the Yellow Brick Road.

C/19/08/16 To consider a quote for the Christmas lights
TCM presented a quote for the Christmas lights at the Clock Tower and confirmed that Newmarket BID would provide £3,000 towards the costs.

C/19/08/17 Correspondence
West Suffolk – Refusal to the Community Right to Bid for the purchase of the Palomino Public House was noted. The Community group would continue to look for an alternate venue.

C/19/08/18 Date of next meeting
Monday 9th September 2019 6:00pm at the Memorial Hall.

C/19/08/19 Items for next agenda
• Newmarket Museum
• Street Lighting
• Clock Tower
• Weatherby crossing

Meeting closed at 7:05pm

Signed ______________________________      Date ______________________