Community Services Minutes (Signed) 09-12-2019
Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Services Committee
Held on Monday 9th December 2019 at 6:00 pm at the Memorial Hall Newmarket
Attendance:
Councillor T Kerby (Chairman)
Councillor P Hulbert
Councillor J Borda
Councillor M Jefferys
Councillor S Caesar
Cllr I Kirk
Councillor J De’Ath
Councillor J Lay
Councillor A Drummond
Councillor C O’Neill
Councillor R Hood
Councillor R Yarrow
Also Present: Deborah Sarson – TCM, Cathy Whitaker – RFO, Julie Ashton – Minute Assistant, Jemma Colby – Administrator, 1 Member of the Press and 6 Members of the Public.
Minute Action by
C/19/12/1 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/19/12/2 Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Cllrs Anderson and Hirst. Cllr Bowen was absent.
C/19/12/3 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.
Cllr Jefferys declared a nonpecuniary interest in item 12.
C/19/12/4 To receive and confirm for accuracy the minutes held on Monday 11th November 2019 and any matters arising T
Members received the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 11th November 2019 and the following amendment was made:
Page 1 – Committee Membership list – Cllr Kirk was an observer at this meeting and not yet a Member.
Subject to the amendment being made, the following was agreed:
C/19/12/4.01 Resolved
That the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 11th November 2019 be adopted and signed as a true record by the Chairman of the Community Services Committee.
There were no matters arising.
Cllr Borda joined the meeting
C/19/12/5 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 made a proposal to hold a designer competition for the hanging baskets to encourage the community to contribute to making the Town attractive. Details could be published in the Journal for the public to vote on. The proposal was considered and although it was too late for this year, as plants were being planted now for the coming season, an item would be added to the next agenda.
A resident advised that street lighting was lacking in Woodditton Road in the Tattersalls area and asked if Tattersalls could be asked to take this into consideration when developing the yard. Cllr Lay agreed to contact Tattersalls.
A resident offered the free use of ferrets to control the rabbit population at the Cemetery.
A proposal was made to bring forward item 10 ii) and the following was agreed:
C/19/12/5.01 Resolved
That item 10 ii) be brought forward.
Cllr Borda declared a nonpecuniary interest in the following item.
C/19/12/6 To receive an update on the cemetery-item 10ii
To discuss the use of ferrets at the Cemetery.
The offer was considered and it was noted that 6 – 8 months would be required to allow the gas pellets to disperse before the ferrets could enter the rabbit burrows. The Chairman would consult the maintenance team to establish where the gas pellets had been used.
C/19/12/7 To receive the accounts for November 2019
RFO presented the accounts for November 2019 which were received and noted.
C/19/12/8 West Suffolk
The Chairman advised that he had not been able to arrange a meeting with the West Suffolk SLA manager as yet and would report back at the next meeting.
C/19/12/9 Street lighting
Members were advised that residents had requested that the lights on Aureole Walk be left on all night and the RFO was asked to confirm the costs and report back.
Members were advised that there was no street lighting on the junction at Freshfields and Rowley Drive. It was noted that this was the responsibility of SCC and Cllr Hood requested that the details be emailed to her SCC address for her to take forward.
C/19/12/10 Litter in Newmarket
This item had been added to this Committee from full Council and a proposal was made to set up a Working Group and the following was agreed:
C/19/12/9.01 Resolved
That a Working Group be set up to look into the litter issues in Newmarket comprising of Cllrs Borda, Caesar, Drummond, Hood, Hulbert and Kirby.
A resident advised that there was no dog bin on Paddocks Drive and Cllr Drummond agreed to take this up with West Suffolk. Rubbish was also being thrown onto the railway embankment, however Network Rail does respond to requests for clearing it. A request was made for the Acting TCM to be copied in to any further requests to Network Rail.
A member of the public left the meeting.
C/19/12/11 To receive an update on the cemetery
The emergency action taken by the acting TCM regarding damage in the Cemetery by chafer grubs was noted.
C/19/12/12 Additional budget items
The cost of replacing PIRs in the Memorial Hall and to reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour at the Pavilion would be deferred to full Council.
3 members of the public left the meeting.
Cllr Jefferys declared a nonpecuniary interest in the following item
C/19/12/13 To discuss the cleaning contract for the Bill Tutte Memorial.
Members considered the revised cost for the cleaning contract and were disappointed with the increase. The RFO agreed to contact West Suffolk to query the amount quoted for the cleaning contract and would copy the SLA manager into the correspondence. Alternative quotes would be obtained to pressure wash the area.
C/19/12/14 All Saints ward traffic issues
Members were advised that traffic in the narrow streets in the All Saints Ward needed to be looked at and the following was agreed:
C/19/12/14.01 Resolved
That a Working Group be set up to address the traffic issues in the All Saints Ward to look at proposals to be put to SCC Highways comprising of Cllrs De’Ath, Drummond, Jefferys, Kirby, Lay and O’Neill.
C/19/12/15 Transport matters
Acting TCM advised that she had not yet been able to contact Stagecoach, Mullys and Stevens. She would report back at the next meeting.
Members were also advised that there had been delays and cancellation of trains recently and enquires had been made.
C/19/12/16 Sid data
The SID data was issued and noted at the meeting. Acting TCM advised that the device had been deployed in Moulton Road, Fitzroy Street, Bury Road and Snailwell Road and the request to deploy the system in St Philip’s Road would be added to the schedule. The SID was currently undergoing a health and safety check. It was noted that 1 mobile device was insufficient and that another device should be requested. The following was agreed:
C/19/12/16.01 Recommendation
That a request for an additional device be submitted to SCC Highways and funding from SCC Cllrs Highways budgets be explored.
C/19/12/17 To receive an update on Newmarket market
Members were advised that the market was not being monitored and that some stall holders had traffic safety concerns since it had been moved to the High Street. The Committee were aware of West Suffolk plans to use Section 106 monies to improve the High Street and Cllr Lay agreed to contact West Suffolk for an update on the plans.
C/19/12/18 Correspondence
Hamilton Road/Birdcage Walk – the schedule of work planned for the kerbing and drainage of the junction was noted.
C/19/12/19 Date of next meeting
Monday 13th January 2020 6:00pm at the Memorial Hall.
C/19/12/20 Items for next agenda
• Bill Tutte cleaning contract
• Hanging Baskets design competition
• Litter Working Group
• All Saints Working Group regarding traffic issues
• Transport matters
• West Suffolk SLA
• Market update
Meeting closed at 7:27pm
Signed by Vice Chairman Date 09/12/2019