Full Town Council Minutes Draft 24-04-2023

Attendance:

Councillor P Winter (Town Mayor)

Councillor J Harvey

Councillor M Anderson

Councillor P Hulbert

Councillor J Borda

Councillor M Jefferys

Councillor L Crissall

Councillor J Lay

Councillor A Drummond

Councillor S Perry

Councillor J Ferries

Councillor K Yarrow

Also Present: C Whitaker – Town Clerk, T J Ashton – Minute Assistant, 1 Member of the Press and 6 Members of the Public

Minute

23/04/1 Welcome
The Chairman opened the meeting and read the fire safety notice, confirmed that proceedings were being recorded and asked if anyone else was planning to record.

23/04/2 Apologies for Absence – LGA 1972, Section 85(1) & (2)
Apologies were received from Cllrs Berry, Clover and Hood. Cllrs De’Ath, Hall and O’Neill were absent.

23/04/3 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
Cllr Ferries declared that he hac been appointed as the Chairman of the Studlands Residents’ Association. There were no member dispensation requests.

23/04/4 To Receive and Confirm the Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 27th March 2023 and any Matters Arising.
The minutes of the meeting held on 27th March 2023 were presented and the following
was agreed:

23/04/4.01 Resolved
That the minutes of the meeting held on 27th March 2023 be adopted and signed as a correct record by the Town Mayor.

There were no matters arising.

23/04/5 Public Open Session
No members of the public wished to speak.

23/04/6 Councillor Reports
Suffolk County Council (SCC) – Cllr Drummond reported that the monthly newsletter had been sent out. He had formerly reported that the Chairman of SCC had introduced an award scheme for SCC Councillors to nominate individuals who have contributed to the community and he was pleased to announce that he had nominated Cllr Jefferys in
recognition of his dedication, commitment and contributions to the Community via the
Town Council for over 25 years. The award was presented to Cllr Jefferys.

West Suffolk Council (WSC) – Cllr Drummond reported regarding the WSC weed control policies: there is now a ban on using glyphosate from April 2023, with the exception of the invasive Japanese knot weed. Regarding grass cutting, the different councils (SCC and WSC) have differing schedules. The Mayor responded that SCC are responsible for the highways and footpaths of Newmarket and the weed control work had been contracted out. NTC were not happy with the standard of the work and it was decided that NTC would be responsible for spraying the High Street, Sun Lane, Market Street, Crown Walk and Wellington Street for a year’s trial. The weeds were sprayed two weeks ago and will be sprayed again when necessary. SCC are responsible for all other areas and these will be monitored by the Town Council with representation made to SCC if necessary.

Ward –
Cllr Yarrow (Freshfields) reported that he had been discussing the speeding issues on Exning Road with residents in relation to the installation of a Speed Indicator Device (SID). He had still not had a response from Flagship. A WSC report on social housing needs in Newmarket is woefully inadequate.

Cllr Perry (Severals) reported that the SCC website stated that the spraying of weeds in Newmarket would be done by 10th April, but this is believed not to have been done. She had reported a blockage in the Newmarket Brook to Anglian Water. They had inspected it, but were not able to remove the blockage manually. She feels that Anglian Water needs to put in writing what its responsibilities are regarding the waterway. She had made enquiries with SCC and WSC regarding the bent parking direction signage in Fred Archer Way. She had attended a Newmarket Community Network meeting at the Racing Centre: there will be a Newmarket in Colour event from 25th May to 26th October where art will be displayed around the town, the Racing Centre have opened a Community Pantry facility and there will be a Horse Racing Community Day on 25th May 2023 to litter pick areas around the town. The Leisure Centre will be holding an event to encourage youngsters to try different sports on 19th May.

Cllr Ferries (Studlands) reported that parking on the Studlands green was still a big issue and that the old Forest Heath signs that were found have been reported to WSC to check if the parking bylaw still stands. The Management Company that manages the estate will be holding an AGM in May. There had been an improvement regarding littering issues and the bins are emptied every morning. There had been fewer antisocial behaviour incidents. He gave thanks to Cllr Jefferys for the support he had given him and acknowledged his invaluable knowledge and experience.

Cllr Hulbert (Studlands) reported that he had attended a meeting with MARPA and was still pushing for night trains to run out of Cambridge and asked them to do a trial on Friday and Saturday nights. He also asked for announcements to be made when a train is due and when it arrives and to put on extra trains for the Guineas festival. The requests will be
considered. He gave his thanks for Cllr Jefferies.

Cllr Anderson (Studlands) reported that the parking posts on the green had been replaced and that the Management company for Studlands had not been very helpful with issues historically. Residents are not able to be represented by councillors at their AGM.

Outside bodies – Cllr Borda reported that he had attended a Ukrainian Easter service at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral as a representative of Churches Together.

23/04/7 Mayors Announcements
The Mayor reported that, in addition to attending committee meetings, working groups and other meetings, her activities included the following:

21st April 2023 – hosted the Mayor’s Civic Reception at the Memorial Hall
23rd April 2023 – attended the St George’s Day Parade and Church Service at St Marys.

23/04/8 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the D&P Committee Meetings held on 3rd & 17th April 2023
The Chairman of the Development & Planning Committee presented the minutes and recommendations from the Development & Planning Committee meetings held on 3rd & 17th April 2023. There were no recommendations.

23/04/9 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the Community Services Committee Meeting held on 3rd April 2023
The Chairman presented the minutes and recommendations of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 3rd April 2023.

23/04/9.01 Resolved (C/23/04/9.01 Recommendation)
That the offer of the kind gift to plant 700 trees be supported in principal and that efforts be made to enable the planting and maintenance.

23/04/10 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the Performance & Audit Committee Meeting held on 17th April 2023
The Chairman of the Performance & Audit Committee presented the minutes and recommendations of the Performance & Audit Committee meeting held on 17th April 2023.

23/04/10.01 Resolved (P/23/04/7.01 Recommendation)
That the following Community Actions be referred to the following Committees to action:

C2 – Refer to D&P Committee to consider the parking issues in Windsor Road and Willie Snaith Road
C3 – Refer to Community Services Committee to consider a tree audit by the tree wardens of NCNR (Newmarket Community Nature Reserve)
C4 – Refer to Community Services Committee to ask WSC what else they were doing to improve air quality and also regarding further installations of fast EV charging points
C5i – Refer to D&P Committee to consider a recycling facility
C5ii – Refer to Community Services Committee to consider dog litter issues
C6 – Refer to the climate change working group to consider Biodiversity issues

23/04/11 Budget 2022/2023
The final outcome report and the EMR transfer recommendations for the 2022/2023 budget for Newmarket Town Council was presented and the following was agreed:

23/04/11.01 Resolved
That the final outcome report and the EMR transfer recommendations for the 222/2023 budget for Newmarket Town Council be received and approved.

23/04/12 Correspondence

West Suffolk Citizen’s Advice Bureau – email regarding unrestricted reserves and office opening times was noted and the thanks for continued support was welcomed. The CAB Newsletter for 01/04/2022 – 28/02/2023 was also noted.
23/04/13 Date of the next Meeting
Thursday 11th May 2023 in the Memorial Hall; being the Annual Meeting of the new council. There will be an Ordinary Meeting of the council on Tuesday 30th May. Both meetings will start at 6.15pm.

23/04/13 Date of the next Meeting
Thursday 11th May 2023 in the Memorial Hall; being the Annual Meeting of the new council. There will be an Ordinary Meeting of the council on Tuesday 30th May. Both meetings will start at 6.15pm.

Meeting closed at 6:42 pm

Signed: __________________                     Date: ____________________

Resolution	Resolution Wording
23/04/9.01 Resolved (C/23/04/9.01 Recommendation)	That the offer of the kind gift to plant 700 trees be supported in principal and that efforts be made to enable the planting and maintenance.
23/04/10.02 Resolved (P/23/04/7.01 Recommendation)	That the following Community Actions be referred to the following Committees to action:   C2 – Refer to D&P Committee to consider the parking issues in Windsor Road and Willie Snaith Road C3 – Refer to Community Services Committee to consider a tree audit by the tree wardens of NCNR (Newmarket Community Nature Reserve) C4 – Refer to Community Services Committee to ask WSC what else they were doing to improve air quality and also regarding further installations of fast EV charging points C5i – Refer to D&P Committee to consider a recycling facility   C5ii – Refer to Community Services Committee to consider dog litter issues C6 – Refer to the climate change working group to consider Biodiversity issues
23/04/11.01 Resolved	That the final outcome report and the EMR transfer recommendations for the 222/2023 budget for Newmarket Town Council be received and approved.