Full Town Council Minutes Signed 20-12-2021
Attendance:
Councillor M Jefferys (Town Mayor)
Councillor J Ferries
Councillor J Berry
Councillor J Harvey
Councillor J Borda
Councillor P Hulbert
Councillor J Clover
Councillor C O’Neill
Councillor L Crissall
Councillor P Winter
Councillor J De’Ath
Also Present: C Whitaker – Town Clerk
T Symonds – Deputy Town Clerk
J Ashton – Minute Assistant
and 1 Member of the Press
Minute
21/12/1 Welcome
The Chairman opened the meeting and read out the Fire Safety Notice and confirmed that proceedings were being recorded.
21/12/2 Apologies for Absence – LGA 1972, Section 85(1) & (2)
Apologies were received from Cllrs Appleby, Hall, Lay and Yarrow. Cllrs Anderson, Drummond and Hood were absent.
21/12/3 Declaration of Members Interests & to Remind Councillors of the Need to Keep up to Date Their Register of Member’s Interests and to Consider any Requests Received for Member’s Dispensation
None noted. There were no member dispensation requests.
21/12/4 To Receive and Confirm the Minutes of the Town Council Meetings held on 22nd November 2021 and any Matters Arising.
The minutes of the meeting held on 22nd November 2021 were presented and the following amendment was made.
Page 2 – 21/11/5 “A resident spoke to item 8” was changed to read “A member of the public spoke to item 8”
It was noted that members of the public acting for organisations should be recorded.
Subject to the amendment being made the following was agreed:
21/12/4.01 Resolved
That the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd November 2021 be adopted and signed as a correct record by the Town Mayor.
There were no matters arising.
21/12/5 Public Open Session
None noted.
21/12/6 Councillor Reports
SCC – None noted.
West Suffolk Council (WSC) – None noted.
Ward – Cllr Hulbert reported that he attended the opening of the new Soham Railway Station on 13/12/21.
Cllr Yarrow provided a report (presented by the Chairman) on the rat issue at Freshfields and the Asset Management Team were taking the lead and liaising with Environmental Health. Anglian Water had confirmed that there were no collapsed drains and no areas where rats could gain access. Essex and Suffolk Pest Control had capped off potential access points and reported no further issues. The situation will continue to be monitored and any necessary action will be taken.
Outside bodies – There was nothing to report.
21/12/7 Mayors Announcements
The Mayor reported that in addition to normal Committee meetings and Working Groups his activities included the following:
3rd December – Presented cheques to Open Door and the SOS Bus
6th December – Helped to the judge the Best Christmas Shop Display
9th December – Awarded the 1st prize of the shop window competition to Martha V
17th December – Assisted the Inter-Faith Forum lunch at Kingfisher House
17th December – Attended Carols at Tattersalls
18th December – Visited the Christmas Events: Yellow Brick Road Trail; Carols around the Christmas tree at the Bill Tutte Memorial and the children’s arts workshop in the Memorial Hall. It was a super day and there was a great atmosphere with smiles all round. Thanks were given to all staff and Cllrs that helped, to the Newmarket Choir, Town Band and to Bill Butcher for taking on the role of Santa in the snow globe.
21/12/8 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the D&P Committee Meetings held on 6th December 2021
The Mayor presented the minutes and recommendations from the Development & Planning Committee meetings held on 6th December 2021.
21/12/8.01 Resolved (D/21/12/8.02 Recommendation)
The Committee continues to support the outline planning application and look forward to seeing the detailed plans.
21/12/9 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the Community & Leisure Services Committee Meeting held on 6th December 2021
The Chairman of the Community and Leisure Services Committee presented the minutes and recommendations of the Community & Leisure Services Committee meeting held on 6th December 2021.
21/12/9.01 Resolved (CL/21/12/7.01 Recommendation)
That the C&L Budget for 2022/2023 be approved.
21/12/9.02 Resolved (CL/21/12/10.01 Recommendation)
That the location of the car boot sales be relocated to the George Lambton Field for a trial period in the 2022 summer season.
21/12/10 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the Neighbourhood Plan Committee Meetings held on 13th December 2021
The Mayor presented the minutes and recommendations from the Neighbourhood Plan Committee meetings held on 13th December 2021.
21/12/10.01 Resolved (N/21/12/7.01 Recommendation)
That the draft Neighbourhood Plan committee budget for 2021/2023 be approved.
21/12/11 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the F&P Committee Meetings held on 13th December 2021
The Vice Chairman of the Finance & Policy Committee presented the minutes and recommendations from the Finance & Policy Committee meetings held on 13th December 2021.
21/12/11.01 Resolved (F/21/12/6.01 Recommendation)
That the ratification of the schedules of payments for the period 01/11/2021 – 30/11/2021 (Cash Book 1 – 4) be received and adopted.
21/12/11.02 Resolved (F/21/12/11.01 Recommendation)
That a workshop for all Members be arranged before 22nd May 2022 to find a way to improve the Council procedures.
21/12/12 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the Human Resources Committee Meetings held on 13th December 2021
The Chairman of the Human Resources Committee presented the minutes and recommendations from the Human Resources Committee meetings held on 13th December 2021. There were no recommendations.
21/12/13 Suffolk Constabulary
The monthly PCSO report was received and noted.
21/12/14 Parking Working Group Report
Cllr Harvey gave a verbal update on the consultation for an All Saints Resident Parking Zone which had attracted a lot of interest at the drop-in sessions at the Memorial Hall. The consultation closed on 13th December 2021 and the results are awaited.
21/12/ 15 Weatherby Crossing Inquiry
Town Clerk presented a report on the Statements of Case for NTC and Network Rail following the Network Rail objection to the Planning Inspector’s decision from the 2020 Inquiry along with the details for the Inquiry to be held on 1st February 2022.Due to the COVID situation, it is likely that the Inquiry will be held remotely online, with the NTC team being situated at the Memorial Hall.
The legal costs for the work on the Inquiry were also presented and there are sufficient funds in the Legal Expense account to cover the outstanding invoices.
21/12/16 Bury Road and St Mary’s Square Horse Walks
The Jockey Club’s plans to improve horse and traffic safety were welcomed and noted and would be referred to the D&P Committee to consider further. An invitation will be sent to the Jockey Club Estates to attend a meeting in January 2022 to present the plans.
21/12/17 Correspondence
None noted.
21/12/18 Date of the next Meeting
Monday 31st January 2022 in the Memorial Hall.
21/12/19 Items for the next Agenda
None noted.
The Mayor thanked staff and Councillors for their work and achievements so far and wished everyone a Happy Christmas.
Meeting closed at 7:15pm
Signed by the Chairman Date: 31st January 2022
| Resolution | Resolution Wording |
| 21/12/8.01 Resolved (D/21/12/8.02 Recommendation) | The Committee continues to support the outline planning application and look forward to seeing the detailed plans |
| 21/12/9.01 Resolved (CL/21/12/7.01 Recommendation) | That the C&L Budget for 2022/2023 be approved. |
| 21/12/9.01 Resolved (CL/21/12/10.01 Recommendation) | That the location of the car boot sales be relocated to the George Lambton Field for a trial period in the 2022 summer season. |
| 21/12/10.01 Resolved (N/21/12/7.01 Recommendation) | That the draft Neighbourhood Plan committee budget for 2021/2023 be approved. |
| 21/12/11.01 Resolved (F/21/12/6.01 Recommendation) | That the ratification of the schedules of payments for the period 01/11/2021 – 30/11/2021 (Cash Book 1 – 4) be received and adopted. |
| 21/12/11.01 Resolved (F/21/12/11.01 Recommendation) | That a workshop for all Members be arranged before 22nd May 2022 to find a way to improve the Council procedures. |