Full Town Council Minutes Signed 30-01-2023

Attendance:

Councillor P Winter (Town Mayor)

Councillor J Harvey

Councillor J Berry

Councillor P Hulbert

Councillor J Borda

Councillor M Jefferys

Councillor L Crissall

Councillor J Lay

Councillor A Drummond

Councillor S Perry

Councillor K Yarrow

Also Present: C Whitaker – Town Clerk, T Symonds – Deputy Town Clerk, J Ashton – Minute Assistant, Cllr Soons – WSC, 1 Member of the Press and 2 Members of the Public

Minute

23/01/1 Welcome
The Chairman opened the meeting and read the fire safety notice and confirmed that proceedings were being recorded.

23/01/2 Apologies for Absence – LGA 1972, Section 85(1) & (2)
Apologies were received from Cllrs Anderson, Clover, De’Ath, Ferries, Hood and O’Neill. Cllr Hall was absent.

23/01/3 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
Councillor Yarrow declared an interest in item 23/01/11 F&P Committee Recommendations. There were no member dispensation requests.

Cllr Borda joined the meeting
23/01/4 To Receive and Confirm the Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 19th December 2022 and any Matters Arising.
The minutes of the meeting held on 19th December 2022 were presented and the following was agreed:

23/01/4.01 Resolved
That the minutes of the meeting held on 19th December 2022 be adopted and signed as a correct record by the Town Mayor.

There were no matters arising.

Cllr Berry joined the meeting
23/01/5 Presentation – M Cave Vogue Athletics
Mr Cave gave a short presentation on plans for a new facility for cheerleading training in Newmarket. It will be a not-for-profit enterprise and he was seeking a letter of support for his venture from NTC; to assist him with an application for a discretionary 80% discount on business rates. He needs to collect evidence that the gym and activities would provide a community benefit that it is needed. The gym will move from Soham to Newmarket in July 2023 and will attract members within a 45-mile radius of Newmarket.

Cllr Soons joined the meeting
It was noted that this would fit in with the Youth Strategy and Health and Wellbeing work of the Town Council and the following was agreed:

23/01/5.01 Resolved
That NTC provides a letter of support to confirm that Vogue Athletics and a cheerleading training facility will provide a benefit to the community of Newmarket.

23/01/6 Public Open Session
No members of the public wished to speak.

23/01/7 Councillor Reports
Suffolk County Council (SCC) – Cllr Drummond reported that the monthly newsletter had been sent out. He also reported that the request to SCC Highways for 20mph for Fordham Road was not successful due to the category of the road.
Cllr Perry asked Cllr Drummond what support there was for solar panels on business premises. Cllr Drummond confirmed two factories at least have installed, or were in process of installing the panels.

West Suffolk Council (WSC) – Cllr Lay reported that the police precept will be going up to cover costs. Suffolk is the least funded County by Government in the Country and calls to the 999 call centre are up 20 %.

Cllr Soons reported that Studlands Electric Vehicle Charging Consultation has gone out and the Laureate Primary School has a vacancy for a Governor.

Cllr Soons left the meeting
Ward – Cllr Perry – reported that she had asked the Aldi Deputy Manager to do a litter pick and this is being looked at. The request for Newmarket Brook to be cleared; although some work had been done, the area was still unsatisfactory. The Willie Snaith bench had been repaired and is now back in situ.

Cllr Hulbert – reported that Radio Cambs had asked if free parking at Newmarket railway station would help commuters but as most walk to the station it would be better if the trains ran every half hour and to a later time.

Cllr Yarrow – reported that the Flagship meeting with the Sales Manager was still to be arranged and that housing stock sales continue. Photos of the damage to the verges in Windsor Road due to parking on the grass were presented. He will email Cllr Hood to ask if the SCC SEND compensation payments to families have been paid and what they are doing to cover the 40 % of overdue reviews of individual health plans.

Cllr Lay – reported that grass parking has been discussed at a D&P meeting and from enquires he had established that by-laws can be introduced to prevent parking on all open spaces but this would take about 12 months. Town Clerk is looking into installing posts on the verges.

Cllr Berry – thanked Cllr Drummond for the quick response to the request for parking restrictions being applied in Corsican Pine Road.

Outside bodies – None noted.

23/01/8 Mayors Announcements
The Mayor reported that, in addition to attending committee meetings, working groups and other meetings, her activities included the following:

18th January 223 – Presented Soapbox Derby cheques to the Day Centre.

15th February – Will be the official opening of the recently refurbished small play area at the Memorial Gardens at 2pm.

23/01/9 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the D&P Committee Meetings held on 19th December 2022, 9th & 23rd January 2023
The Chairman of the Development & Planning Committee presented the minutes and recommendations from the Development & Planning Committee meeting held on 19th December 2022, 9th & 23rd January 2023. There were no recommendations.

23/01/10 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the Leisure Services Committee Meeting held on 9th January 2023
The Mayor presented the minutes and recommendations of the Leisure Services Committee meeting held on 9th January 2023. There were no recommendations.

23/01/11 To Receive the Minutes and Consider any Recommendations from the Finance & Policy Services Committee Meeting held on 23rd January 2023
The Chairman of the Finance & Policy Committee presented the minutes and recommendations of the Finance & Policy Committee meeting held on 23rd January 2023.

Cllr Yarrow declared an interest in the following item and abstained from the vote.
23/01/11.01 Resolved (F/23/01/6.01 Recommendation)
That the grant request from Newmarket Community Arts for £1,000 be approved.

23/01/11.02 Resolved (F/23/01/7.01 Recommendation)
That the ratification of the schedules of payments for the period 01/11/2022 -31/12/2022 (Cash Book 1 – 4) be received and adopted.

23/01/11.03 Resolved (F/23/01/10.01 Recommendation)
That a grant request from NewsTalk for £250 be approved.

23/01/11.04 Resolved (F/23/01/11.01 Recommendation)
That this item be deferred to March 2023. That a Task and Finish Working Group be set up consisting of Town Clerk, Cllrs Harvey, Perry, Drummond and Hood with a remit to review the policies and make recommendations to the Committee.

23/01/11.05 Resolved (F/23/01/12.01 Recommendation)
That the Committee Terms of Reference be received and approved.

23/01/12 Suffolk Constabulary PCSO
The monthly PCSO report was received and noted.

23/01/13 Youth Strategy
A proposal to create a Newmarket Youth Action Group (NYAG); to be co-ordinated and chaired by the Town Council was presented and considered. The following was agreed:

23/01/13.01 Resolved

That a Newmarket Youth Action Group (NYAG) be created and be chaired by Cllr Jefferys. That liaison with Will Wright (WSC) continues to progress the Youth Strategy to completion. That the Town Clerk liaises with the Haverhill Town Clerk.

23/01/14 Transport
Bus Contracts – TC gave verbal update and reported that on 25th January there was a recommendation on the Combined Authority website to approve that the current bus contract be extended for 12 months. Town Clerk to seek confirmation on the services in Newmarket.

A request for help to provide a bus service from Laureate School to Town was considered and the following was agreed:

23/01/14.01 Resolved
That a letter be sent to Stephensons to request that the current route down Fordham Road be changed to run along Exning Road and stop at the Laureate School and Newmarket Hospital.

Road User Disruption – the action that NTC could take to mitigate unnecessary disruption to road users was considered and the following was agreed:

23/01/14.02 Resolved
That NTC writes to SCC Highways and request that any work on the roads is carried out as quickly as possible and that any traffic contraflows are removed immediately after work has been completed.

23/01/15 West Suffolk Council
The general level of service given to the Town by WSC was discussed and it was noted that WSC SLA is out for tender. It was suggested that photos of jobs before and after are taken.

Cllr Lay reported that at a WSC budget meeting for the next 4 years the amount of funding allocated to Newmarket was very poor. There is not enough investment in Newmarket and WSC should ensure that are needs are met.

23/01/16 Car Boots
A report on the 2023 car boot session was presented and considered and the following was agreed:

23/01/16.01 Resolved
That the venue location for the car boot sales be moved back to the Severals for 14th & 28th May,11th & 25th June, 16th & 30th July and 13th & 27th August 2023. That NTC provides support to charities to promote their car boot sales.

23/01/17 Cemetery
Cemetery Fees – The revised Cemetery fees for 2023/2024 were presented and the following was agreed:

23/01/17.01 Resolved
That the revised Cemetery fees for 2023/2024 be received and adopted.

Cemetery Regulations – The Cemetery Regulations were presented and the following was agreed:
23/01/17.02 Resolved
That the revised Cemetery Regulations for 2023/2024 be received and adopted.

23/01/18 Pavilion
A request to use the Pavilion from the Newmarket Charitable Foundation to hold the Newmarket Summer Nights Walk on Saturday 17th June was considered and the following was agreed:

23/01/18.01 Resolved
That the request from the Newmarket Charitable Foundation to use the Pavilion free of charge to hold the Newmarket Summer Nights Walk on Saturday 17th June be approved.

23/01/19 Cost of Living Fund
Contributing to the Newmarket Charitable Foundation Cost-of-Living Fund was considered and the following was agreed:

23/01/19.01 Resolved
That NTC contributes an initial £2,000 to the Cost-of-Living Fund and consider a further contribution if it is requested/required.

23/01/20 Weatherby Crossing
Town Clerk confirmed that the Council’s third Statement of Case submission as a response to Network Rail’s further objection had been submitted.

The behaviour of Network Rail and the costs involved in objecting was discussed and the following was agreed:

23/01/20.01 Resolved
That an FOI be made to establish the full Network Rail’s costs of the Weatherby Crossing Inquiry and the details to be published in a press release.

23/01/21 Rights of Way
The blocked public path between Laureate School Road and Willie Snaith Road was discussed and the following was agreed:

23/01/21.01 Resolved
That an application for a DMMO for the original footpath to be recorded be submitted.

A member of the public left the meeting.
23/01/22 Correspondence
Recycling Centre – The correspondence from SCC confirming that it was not financially viable to open a recycling centre in Newmarket was noted. Cllr Perry will press ahead with further enquiries and start up a dialogue.

Teen Chill Project – an update on the project was given and noted.

CAB Newsletter – The CAB Winter Newsletter was received and noted.

23/01/23 Date of the next Meeting
Monday 27th February 2023 in the Memorial Hall

The Mayor presented a plaque to Cllr Drummond for past services to the Council.

Meeting closed at 7:55 pm

Signed: By the Chairman Date: Monday 30th January 2023

Summary of Resolutions

Resolution	Resolution Wording
23/01/5.01 Resolved	That NTC provides a letter of support to confirm that Vogue Athletics and a cheerleading training facility will provide a benefit to the community of Newmarket.
23/01/11.01 Resolved (F/23/01/6.01 Recommendation)	That the grant request from Newmarket Community Arts for £1,000 be approved.
23/01/11.02 Resolved (F/23/01/7.01 Recommendation)	That the ratification of the schedules of payments for the period 01/11/2022 -31/12/2022 (Cash Book 1 – 4) be received and adopted.
23/01/11.03 Resolved (F/23/01/10.01 Recommendation)	That a grant request from NewsTalk for £250 be approved.
23/01/11.04 Resolved (F/23/01/11.01 Recommendation)	That this item be deferred to March 2023. That a Task and Finish Working Group be set up consisting of Town Clerk, Cllrs Harvey, Perry, Drummond and Hood with a remit to review the policies and make recommendations to the Committee.
23/01/11.05 Resolved (F/23/01/12.01 Recommendation)	That the Committee Terms of Reference be received and approved.
23/01/13.01 Resolved	That a Newmarket Youth Action Group (NYAG); to be co-ordinated and chaired by the Town Council be created
23/01/14.01 Resolved	That a letter be sent to Stephensons to request that the current route down Fordham Road be changed to run along Exning Road and stop at the Laureate School and Newmarket Hospital.
23/01/14.02 Resolved	That NTC writes to SCC Highways and request that any work on the roads is carried out as quickly as possible and that any traffic contraflows are removed immediately after work has been completed.
23/01/16.01 Resolved	That the venue location for the car boot sales be moved back to the Severals for 14th & 28th May,11th & 25th June, 16th & 30th July and 13th & 27th August 2023. That NTC provides support to charities to promote their car boot sales.
23/01/17.01 Resolved	That the revised Cemetery fees for 2023/2024 be received and adopted.
23/01/17.02 Resolved	That the revised Cemetery Regulations for 2023/2024 be received and adopted.
23/01/18.02 Resolved	That the request from the Newmarket Charitable Foundation to use the Pavilion free of charge to hold the Newmarket Summer Nights Walk on Saturday 17^th June be approved.
23/01/19.01 Resolved	That NTC contributes an initial £2,000 to the Cost-of-Living Fund and consider a further contribution if it is requested/required.
23/01/20.01 Resolved	That an FOI be made to establish the full Network Rail’s costs of the Weatherby Crossing Inquiry and the details to be published in a press release.
23/01/21.01 Resolved	That an application for a DMMO for the original footpath to be recorded be submitted.