Minutes of the Meeting of Newmarket Town Council

Minutes of the Meeting of Newmarket Town Council held on Monday 25th March 2024 at 6:15pm at the Memorial Hall

Attendance:

Councillor P Winter (Town Mayor) Councillor P Hulbert

Councillor J Berry Councillor J Jarvis

Councillor J Borda Councillor E Kavanagh

Councillor J Clover Councillor J McHugh

Councillor A Drummond Councillor R Nobbs

Councillor J Harvey Councillor S Perry

Councillor R Hood Councillor A Starkey

Councillor K Yarrow

Also Present: C Whitaker – Town Clerk, J Ashton – Minute Assistant, J Gilbert – Racing Centre and 1 Member of the Press.

                                                     Minute                                                        24/03/1 Welcome

The Chairman opened the meeting and read the fire safety notice and confirmed that proceedings were being recorded and asked if anyone else intended to record the meeting.

24/03/2 Apologies for Absence – LGA 1972, Section 85(1) & (2)

Apologies were received from Cllrs Crissall and Jones. Cllr Anderson was absent.

24/03/3 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

None noted. There were no requests for Member’s dispensation.

24/03/4 To Receive and Confirm the Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 26th February 2024 and any Matters Arising.

The Chairman presented the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 26th February 2024 and the following was agreed:

Cllr Clover joined the meeting.

24/03/4.01 Resolved

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26th February 2024 be adopted and signed as a correct record by the Town Mayor.

There were no matters arising.

J Gilbert and Cllr Berry joined the meeting.

24/03/5 Public Open Session

J Gilbert spoke to item 24/03/11.01 Resolved (F/24/03/6.01 Recommendation) and was available to take any further questions.

The Chairman proposed that item 11 F&P Minutes be brought forward and the following was agreed:

24/03/5.01 Resolved

That item 11 F&P Minutes be brought forward.

24/03/6 To Receive the Minutes and Consider and Approve any Recommendations from the Finance & Policy Committee Meeting held on 18th March 2024

The Vice Chairman of the Finance & Policy Committee presented the minutes and recommendations from the Finance & Policy Committee meeting held on 18th March 2024.

24/03/6.01 Resolved (F/24/03/6.01 Recommendation)

That NTC supports the proposal with a pledge of £4,000 (to be reviewed at year end with a report received before onward funding be approved) for the Racing Centre with the Primary Care Network. That the Racing Centre presents further details to Full Council and that a Stakeholder meeting be held within the Town.

24/03/6.02 Resolved (F/24/03/76.01 Recommendation)

That the ratification of the schedules of payments for the period 01/01/2024 – 31/01/2024 and 01/02/2023 – 29/02/2024 (Cash Book 1 - 4) be received and adopted.

24/03/6.03 Resolved (F/24/03/11.01 Recommendation)

That the Annual Model of Investment from 1st April 2024 be approved.

24/03/6.04 Resolved (F/24/03/11.02 Recommendation)

That the Medium-Term Financial Plan for NTC be approved and be reviewed annually at budget/precept setting. That delegated powers be given to the Chairman and Town Clerk to finalise the draft prediction spreadsheet to support the policy.

24/03/6.05 Resolved (F/24/03/12.01 Recommendation)

That NTC makes a pledge of £2,000 towards the Kings Theatre cinema facility from the 2024/2025 budget.

24/03/6.06 Resolved (F/24/03/13.01 Recommendation)

That the new H&S Consultancy Contract with C&C Consulting for an initial year from 1st April 2024 at a cost of £3,699 be approved.

24/03/6.07 Resolved (F/24/03/13.02 Recommendation)

That a local Employment Law Company be engaged on a as needed basis from September 2024, to be paid on an hourly rate be approved.

24/03/6.08 Resolved (F/24/03/14.01 Recommendation)

That the request for an annual subscription to support MARPA for £25pa be approved.

J Gilbert gave further information on the recommendation regarding a health hub at the Racing Centre and answered questions from the floor. Dentistry was not offered at this time. He will keep the Council informed of any progress.

24/03/7 Police Report

A written report from the Police Community Team (PCT) was noted.

24/03/8 Councillor Reports

Suffolk County Council (SCC) – Cllr Hood reported that the monthly newsletter had been sent out. Possible progress regarding the refurbishment of Rayes Lane. A meeting with the PROW team at SCC was held and the issue of access to the Laureate School Road path will be looked into, with an officer visit scheduled for next month.

Cllr Drummond reported that he and Cllr Hood had donated £5,000 collectively from Locality Budget to the cinema project and he had been dealing with WSC regarding the collapsed drain on Studlands. Town Clerk was asked to write to WSC to request that they conduct an audit on all drains at Studlands.

Ward – Cllr Yarrow reported that the Flagship meeting had finally been held and they were addressing resident’s issues to improve the lighting, tackling anti-social behaviour and to provide more parking by demolishing some of the garages. Icewell Hill, Churchill Court and Regents Court are considered now to be not fit for purpose; Flagship will consult residents before taking any further decisions. Acknowledgement of the Icewell area within the Neighbourhood Plan was given. The 20s Plenty project is a work in progress. Grass cutting schedules are now published weekly from WSC.

Cllr Hulbert reported that had attended a transport meeting and the lack of buses from Kennet to Newmarket was discussed. The issue of no buses in Newmarket on a Sunday and Bank holidays was also discussed and he had requested that action be taken on this issue. By 2026 all busses must be fitted with a system to make announcements to inform passengers what the next stop will be.

Cllr Borda reported that he had attended an Interfaith Forum meeting on 11/3/24, the Suffolk Justice Service On 17/3/24 and a Flagship meeting on 21/3/24.

Cllr Perry reported that kerb side recycling is a nationwide campaign to harmonise recycling in the UK and from April 2026 kerbside collections will includes food waste, glass, and tetra packs. From 2027 it will include plastic bags and film.

Outside bodies – None noted.

24/03/9 Mayors Announcements

The Mayor reported that, in addition to attending committee meetings, working groups and other meetings, her activities included the following:

17th March 2024 – Attended the Suffolk Justice Service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. 23rd March 2024 – Attended the Ceremony to mark the fourth Anniversary of the COVID pandemic lockdown.

24/03/10 To Receive the Minutes and Consider and Approve any Recommendations from the Development & Planning Committee Meetings held on 4th and 18th March 2024

The Chairman of the Development & Planning Committee presented the minutes and recommendations from the Development & Planning Committee meeting held on 4th and 18th March 2024. There were no recommendations.

24/03/11 To Receive the Minutes and Consider and Approve any Recommendations from the Community Services Committee Meeting held on 4th March 2024

The Chairman of the Community Services Committee presented the minutes and

recommendations from the Community Services Committee meeting held on 4th March 2024. There were no recommendations.

24/03/11.01 (C/24/03/07.01 Recommendation)

That the new Cemetery fees proposal from 1st April 2024 be approved.

24/03/11.02 (C/24/03/07.02 Recommendation)

That the new Cemetery Regulations proposal from 1st April 2024 be approved.

24/03/11.03 (C/24/03/07.03 Recommendation)

That memorial benches would continue to be provided with stricter controls and be administered by Town Council staff. That alternative options continue to be provided, such as memorial bushes and metal plaques to offset the costs of benches. That a policy be created.

24/03/11.04 (C/24/03/08.01 Recommendation)

That new annual contracts with the Jockey Club for additional outside services be approved.

24/03/12 Consultation

The SCC consultation regarding proposed Devolution Deal was considered and the following was agreed:

24/03/12.01 Resolved

That the SCC consultation regarding a proposed Devolution Deal be delegated to Cllrs Harvey and Yarrow to respond.

24/03/13 Correspondence

None noted.

24/03/14 Date of the next Meeting

Monday 29th April 2024 in the Memorial Hall.

Meeting closed at 6:43pm

Signed:       Cllr P Winter                        Date:        29/4/2024

Summary of Resolutions