Publication

Neighbourhood Plan Minutes signed 17-01-2022

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Attendance:

Councillor K Yarrow (Chairman)

Councillor J Harvey

Councillor L Crissall

Councillor P Hulbert

Councillor A Drummond

Councillor P Winter

Councillor M Jefferys

R Wood

Also Present: C Whitaker – Town Clerk

J Ashton – Minute Assistant

Richard Fletcher – NHRM Trustees

1 Member of the Press

and 2 Members of the Public.

Minute

N/22/01/1  Chairman to Read the Fire Safety Notice and Announce that Proceedings May be Filmed or Recorded

The Chairman opened the meeting read out the fire safety briefing and announced that no fire alarm was planned and that the meeting may be filmed or recorded.

N/22/01/2  Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs De’Ath, Ferries, Hall, Hood and O’Neill.

N/22/01/3  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 Harvey declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 9.  There were no requests for dispensations.

N/22/01/4  To Receive and Confirm for Accuracy the Minutes of the Meeting Held on Monday 13th December 2021 and Any Matters Arising

Members received the minutes of the Neighbourhood Plan Committee Meeting held on Monday 13th December 2021 and the following was agreed:

N/22/01/4.01 Resolved

That the minutes of the Neighbourhood Plan Committee meeting held on Monday 13th December 2021 be adopted and would be signed as a true record by the Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Committee.

There were no matters arising.

N/22/01/5  Public Open Session

Richard Fletcher wished to speak to item 9.

The Chairman proposed that item 9 be brought forward and the following was agreed:

N/22/01/5.01 Resolved

That item 9 be brought forward.

N/22/01/6  Town Museum

A report on the Working Group’s investigation into premises for a Town museum was presented and noted.

Richard Fletcher – NHRM trustees, raised the following points:

  • The NHRM trustees support the proposal to establish a separate Community Museum in Newmarket.
  • If the Community Museum was located in the Old Coach House in Palace Street, the NHRM sees there being mutual benefit for the two museums and would be prepared to consider offering professional advice and assistance.  We understand that West Suffolk Council takes the view that without such professional interest, the concept of a Community Museum is unviable.
  • The NHRM is aware that West Suffolk Council refused NTC’s current offer of £7,500 pa rental for the Old Coach House for such a purpose, although they might be prepared to accept a higher offer.  Meanwhile, search for alternative premises will continue but without much hope of finding such a suitable location.
  • The NHRM recognises that it might take some time to locate and obtain suitable premises and to establish a properly managed Community Museum.  In the meantime, it is prepared to offer the Newmarket LHS space in Palace House for a limited local history exhibition and to assist in its preparation.  Such an interim exhibition could help gauge interest in the concept of a Community Museum and thereby assist in the preparation of a meaningful business plan.  The NHRM could benefit from additional community interest and footfall.
  • Whether or not an interim local history exhibition is mounted, the NHRM is prepared to offer the Newmarket LHS suitable space for the temporary storage of records and artefacts that are currently in unsuitable locations.  (This offer could be extended to the Newmarket Journal who is also understood to be seeking suitable storage space for their archives.)

He believed that the NHRM’s interest in this matter had been misrepresented in some quarters and welcomed the opportunity to set the record straight.

R Wood joined the meeting.

It was noted that the business case for the Community Museum that was submitted to West Suffolk Council had not been approved by full Council.  The Committee felt they had to submit it to get a response due to the amount of expenditure involved.

A proposal was made to appoint Cllr Harvey as the Chairman of the Community Museum Working Group and the following was agreed:

N/22/01/6.01 Resolved

That Cllr Harvey takes the role of Chairman for the Community Museum Working Group.

N/22/01/7  To Receive the Accounts

The accounts for December 2021 were received and noted.

R Fletcher and a member of the public left the meeting.

N/22/01/8  Working Groups

Reports from the Working Groups were presented as follows:

Affordable Housing Working Group – reported on the activities of the group and that a consultation on a Community Land Trust will be held in March 2022.

Public Realm Working Group – reported on the activities of the group and that there was disappointment at the lack of progress made.  They had planned to use a previously agreed budget amount to plant replacement trees and the work had been costed, however the SCC Tree Officer disagreed that the Cherry trees were dead.  The work of the group to date was noted and enquiries would continue.

All Saints Car Parking Working Group – reported that the closing date of the parking zone survey had passed and that the data was being analysed by SCC and West Suffolk Council.  A report was awaited to set out the next steps to address the parking issues in the area.

N/22/01/9  Community Action Priorities

The results of priorities to form a 5-10-year plan were presented as follows:

Market 5 votes

Trees 3 votes

Waste 3 votes

Community land trust 3 votes

Leisure facilities 3 votes

A suggestion regarding the Market Charter was raised and there would be a future agenda item to discuss this issue further.

A proposal was made to use the Neighbourhood Plan Bio-diversity Community Action to select a species each year for a 3-year plan to focus on; e.g., swift bird nesting sites in the Town.  The following was agreed:

N/22/01/9.01 Recommendation

That the bio-diversity Community Action be discussed as a priority.

A request was made to link the SCC tree planting project to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tree planting project.

A proposal was made to add Public rights of way to the Community Action priorities and the following was agreed:

N/22/01/9.02 Recommendation

That a Public Rights of Way Working Group be set up to take this Community Action forward.

N/22/01/10 Correspondence

West Suffolk Newmarket Shop Survey Report November 2021 – was noted.

N/22/01/11 Date of Next Meeting

Monday 14th February 2022.

N/22/01/12  Items for Next Agenda

  • Community Museum
  • Newmarket Market – discussion regarding the Charter
  • Public Rights of Way Working Group

 Meeting closed at 6:48 pm

Signed by the Chairman    Date  14th February 2022

Recommendation Recommendation Wording
N/22/01/6.01 Resolved That Cllr Harvey takes the role of Chairman for the Community Museum Working Group.
N/22/01/9.01 Recommendation That the bio-diversity Community Action be discussed as a priority.
N/22/01/9.02 Recommendation That a Public Rights of Way Working Group be set up to take this Community Action forward.