Community Services Minutes (Signed) 10-02-2020
Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Services Committee held on Monday 10th February 2020 at 6:00 pm at the Memorial Hall Newmarket
Attendance:
Councillor T Kerby (Chairman) Councillor R Hood
Councillor J Borda Councillor P Hulbert
Councillor S Caesar Councillor M Jefferys
Councillor J De’Ath Councillor I Kirk
Councillor A Drummond Councillor C O’Neill
Councillor Y Fitzgerald Councillor R Yarrow
Also Present: Cathy Whitaker – RFO, Julie Ashton – Minute Assistant, Cllr Appleby – NTC, 1 Member of the Press and 1 Member of the Public
Minute
C/20/02/1 – Chairman to read fire safety notice and ask if anyone intends to film or record the meeting
The Chairman opened the meeting and read out the Fire Safety Notice and asked if anyone intended to film or record the meeting. There were no requests made.
C/20/02/2 – Apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from Cllrs Hirst and Lay. Cllrs Anderson and Bowen were absent.
C/20/02/3 – Declaration of member’s interests and to remind councillors of the need to keep up to date their register of member’s interests and to consider any requests received for members dispensation.
Cllr Borda declared a nonpecuniary interest in items 8 &9 and Cllr Jefferys declared a nonpecuniary interest in item 14
C/20/02/4 – To receive and confirm for accuracy the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 13th January 2020 and any matters arising
Members received the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 13th January 2020 and the following amendment was made:
Page 1 – Attendance list – Cllr Kirk was added to the list
Subject to the amendment being made, the following was agreed:
C/20/02/4.01 Resolved
That the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 13th January 2020 be adopted and signed as a true record by the Chairman of the Community Services Committee.
Cllr Hood joined the meeting
There were no matters arising.
C/20/02/5 – 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 spoke to item 16 and urged NTC to object to the West Suffolk proposal to increase parking charges and to extend the end of chargeable time from 4:00 to 6:00pm. This would impact on residents attending activities in the evening.
The Committee were disappointed that West Suffolk had not consulted NTC on the proposal and the Mayor advised that she had made it clear that the poor standard of the car parks needed to be addressed before any increase to charges were considered. The proposal estimated that the increases would give West Suffolk an additional £400K per year and this would effectively result in an additional tax on residents. It was noted that there were no planned increases for Mildenhall and Brandon.
The proposal would be considered by West Suffolk Cabinet tomorrow evening and this item would be added to the next full Council agenda for debate and comment.
C/20/02/6 – To receive the accounts for January 2020
RFO advised that the third quarter invoice for the SLA had been received. The accounts for January 2020 were received and noted.
C/20/02/7 – West Suffolk sla
RFO advised that the Acting TCM had met with the SLA manager and that a further meeting would be arranged with the Facilities Manager to look at monitoring and reporting. The poor standard of the cleaning of the Bill Tutte area had been reported and would be addressed.
C/20/02/8 – Car boot sales
Members considered the Conditions of Use and Hire for car boot sales and it was suggested that item 3 should be amended to add that the type of event would be considered by the Events Manager and the Leisure Services Committee.
C/20/02/9 – Cornerstone project
RFO advised that NALC and SALC had both advised that the current legislation was unclear, and it would be unwise to spend on land/buildings belonging to the Church which could be challenged in the Courts.
C/20/02/10 – Clock tower floodlighting
RFO advised that it had been reported that the lights were not bright enough and this was due to when the lights changed colour. They could not be altered due to the location being on a busy road junction. A proposal was made for NTC to take control of the lights and for a Clock Tower Lighting Policy. Further enquiries would be made to ascertain who currently controls and selects the colour of the lights.
C/20/02/11 – Street lighting on Studlands park
RFO presented a report from Suffolk Highways with various options with costs for the Street lights at Studlands Park. It was felt that savings could be made if the lights were changed to energy saving LED. A loan would be required to purchase the lights, but this would be offset by the savings made and be better for the environment in the long term. The following was agreed:
C/20/02/11.01 Resolved
That further enquiries be made into the possibility of upgrading the Street lights at Studlands Park to LED lights with full costings and savings.
C/20/02/12 -Litter in Newmarket
The report from the Litter Working Group was noted and the next meeting would be held on Friday 14th February 2020 at 6:00pm in the Memorial Hall Council Chamber.
C/20/02/13 – To consider a design competition for the hanging baskets 2021
Members were advised that there was an urgency regarding holding a competition as the planting would need to be done now to allow the results to be judged in September for a competition in 2021.
C/20/02/14 – Bill Tutte Memorial
RFO presented a photo of the Bill Tutte area after it had been cleaned and advised that the poor standard had been reported which would be addressed. NTC and the Bill Tutte Committee needed to know when the area is due to be cleaned and the Mayor agreed to take this up with West Suffolk.
C/20/02/15 – All saints ward traffic issues
The Working Group report was received and noted. The following was agreed:
C/20/02/15.01 Recommendation
That NTC accepts the Working Group recommendations to introduce several one-way systems to the Streets in the All Saints Ward and submit them to Suffolk Highways.
C/20/02/16 – Transport matters
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
C/20/02/17 – Dog fouling at the Paddocks
RFO presented the cost for a dog bin and the following was agreed:
C/20/0217.01 Resolved
That a dog bin be purchased for Paddocks Drive at a cost of £124 and be emptied by West Suffolk for £2.96 per week.
C/20/02/18 – Additional sid device
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
C/20/02/19 – To receive an update on Newmarket market
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
C/20/02/20 – Newmarket BID
Members were advised that at the last meeting held on 23rd January 2020 the BID looked at Governance and electing a new Chairman. The election would be held at the next meeting on Wednesday 12th February 2020.
C/20/02/21 – High street vision
Members were advised that the Section 106 monies could be used now to improve the area for the market stalls, and this would be looked at by the Working Group. Further details of the Newmarket Vision were available on the West Suffolk website.
C/20/02/22 – Correspondence
None noted.
C/20/02/23 – Date of next meeting
Monday 9th March 2020 6:00pm at the Memorial Hall.
C/20/02/24 -Items for next agenda
• Street Lighting – Studlands Lighting Upgrade proposal
• Clock Tower Lighting Policy
• Newmarket Vision
• Transport matters
• A142 Pedestrian Crossing
• SID update
• Market update
• West Suffolk SLA
• Hanging baskets
• BID update
Meeting closed at 7:00pm
Signed ______________________________ Date ______________________