Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 28 November 2024 at 7.30 pm at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.

Members Present:

Also Present:  Sarah Groom, Clerk to the Council and Cllr Geoff Zeidler (MSDC). One member of the public was present.

Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) and Cllr Alison Bennett (MSDC) sent their apologies.

C24/25.093: To receive and accept apologies for absence:  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Claire Majsai and Cllr Duncan Ranger, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Majsai and Cllr Ranger.

C24/25.094: To receive and record declarations of interest:  In relation to Minute Ref: C24/25.098.3 (Fees and Charges Review), Cllr Dyke noted her husband held an allotment and her employer (Befriended) was a user of the venues and who may be interested in using the Methodist Church in the future (Minute Ref: C24/25.103 Methodist Church).

C24/25.095: To receive and accept the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 24 October 2024:  Members reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2024.

C24/25.096: Adjournment for Questions from the Public: There was one member of the public present who did not wish to speak.  (Cllr Helen Bedford joined the meeting.)

C24/25.097: Reports from Other Authorities: Members received reports from representatives of:

C24/25.097.1: West Sussex County Council (WSCC):  Cllr Dennis had sent her apologies.  It was noted that the decision on the extension of the 20mph zone in Hurstpierpoint village centre was imminent. The Reeds Lane weight restriction was being investigated further by WSCC.  WSCC Officers had met with the Parish Council and prepared a proposal for greater parking restrictions around the medical centre on Trinity Road and in Brown Twins Road (see Minutes Ref: C24/25.100).  The marking of bus stops particularly at St George’s Lane and near No. 9 Cuckfield Road are being looked at further by WSCC.

C24/25.097.2: Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC):   Cllr Jackson advised that the 3% cap on Council Tax increases was still relevant and MSDC’s 2025/26 budget would fall within that limit.  Decisions had been made on the three main town centre car park charging arrangements so MSDC will move on to considering the village centre car parks, including Hurstpierpoint.  Three main groups will be consulted namely residents, employers and shoppers.  Cllr Bedford reminded Cllr Jackson that the Parish Council had already carried out consultation with the High Street employers and is also contacting St Lawrence Primary School and the Medical Centre.  Cllr Jackson confirmed there were already financial assumptions in the 2025/26 budget from village centre parking charges.  The Chairman stressed the need for the Parish Council and key stakeholder groups to be properly consulted so that the best option can be arrived at for Hurstpierpoint, which is very different from Hassocks for example, and hoped the District ward councillors would help influence the regime to be arrived at.

Cllr Zeidler had taken up the issue raised at the last meeting regarding lack of enforcement on planning conditions and has requested a meeting with the Deputy Chief Executive to look at specific cases.  Cllr Shorrocks requested an explanation of what constitutes temporary planning permission as one case has now lasted for 9 years.  Progress is being made on the Berrylands Pond initiative but not as quickly or as co-ordinated as hoped for. 

The Chairman advised Members that an email had come from the Programme Manager of the Mid Sussex District Plan Examination setting out the findings from the Stage 1 Hearings, which will be circulated.  The findings include the question as to whether there is capacity in rejected sites for additional housing to help meet the needs of neighbouring authorities.  The Parish Council is invited to respond by 5 December 2024.  The Chairman also reminded Cllr Jackson that the last Finance, Governance & Estates Committee had asked him to request the Section 106 funding spreadsheet was sent to the Parish Council in its entirety and not just a PDF copy that cannot be interrogated.  The Chairman continued to share his frustration that the Parish Council is not consulted on all Section 106 fund categories and for example the majority of funds for the 5 new executive homes on Gatehouse Lane, are allocated to sites in Burgess Hill.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Jackson and Zeidler for their reports and Cllr Zeidler left the meeting at 8.15pm.

C24/25.098: Committee Minutes: Members received the minutes of the:

C24/25.098.1: Planning Committee (4 November 2024): There were no recommendations for Council. 

C24/25.098.2: Community Engagement Committee (14 November 2024): There were no recommendations for Council. 

C24/25.098.3: Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (21 November 2024) There was one recommendation for Council:

F24/25.067: Fees and Charges Review for 2025/26:  The Committee reviewed the briefing note setting out the schedule of annual charges recommended for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.  The lock-up fee charged by Beacon will be double checked and the management fee paid by the Village Centre charity to the Parish Council will be investigated further, and it was:  RESOLVED:  That the Committee AGREED the schedule of annual charges recommended for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 and AGREED to recommend it to Council for adoption, subject to confirmation of the two items queried, and it was:  RESOLVED: That the Council AGREES the schedule of annual charges for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, subject to confirmation of the lock-up fee and the Village Centre Management Fee, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council RECEIVES the minutes of the following Committees, and AGREES the recommendations where appropriate:

1. Planning Committee (4 November 2024)
2. Community Engagement Committee (14 November 2024):
3. Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (21 November 2024)

C24/25.099: Remote Meetings and Proxy Voting Consultation:  Members considered responding to an on-line Government (MHCLG) consultation which seeks views on the detail and practical implications of allowing remote and hybrid attendance and proxy voting at local authority meetings in England (including parish councils), by the deadline of 19 December 2024.  Some Members had already responded individually.  There was general support for having the option to join meetings remotely but there was some concern that proxy voting should not be allowed as it requires a decision to be made in advance of hearing the debate of the subject under discussion at the meeting, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council AGREES to respond to the Government consultation by 19 December 2024.

C24/25.100: Trinity Road Parking Restrictions TRO:  Members considered submitting a Traffic Regulation Order application for the proposed amendments to parking restrictions around the Hurstpierpoint Health Centre and Brown Twins Road turning bay, subject to evidencing support, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council AGREES to seek community support for the proposed amendments to parking restrictions around the Hurstpierpoint Health Centre and Brown Twins Road turning bay and submit a Traffic Regulation Order application.

C24/25.101: Reports from representatives on outside bodies:  Members noted the reports as follows:

C24/25.101.1: Hurstpierpoint Society:  Cllr Dyke reported the Society will be paying for the new lime trees for South Avenue Recreation Ground and remain interested in the future of the Methodist Church.

C24/25.101.2: Sayers Common Village Society:  Cllr Thompson reported the three main areas of interest are the Christmas tree, the Berrylands Pond and the Reeds Lane closure works.

C24/25.101.3: Sayers Common Village Association:  Cllr Forster requested a meeting be arranged between the Chairman of the Association and the Chairman of Parish Council to discuss ideas for the village.

C24/25.101.4: WSALC/MSALC:  Cllr Jackson reported the WSALC AGM and conference was on 4 November 2024 with four main interesting talks on Policing, Transport for the South East, Planning issues and NALC.  It was attended by Cllr Jackson, Cllr Street and the Clerk.  MSALC has yet to arrange the date of their next meeting.

C24/25.101.5: Woodland Flora and Fauna Group:  Cllr Evans attended the last meeting and reported back that the groups had concerns over the tree felling in the Burgess Hill Brookleigh development.

C24/25.102: Information Items:  Members noted the following information items:

C24/25.102.1: Christmas Office Closing: Members noted the office will be closed from 1.30pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open at 9.30am on Thursday 2 January 2024.

C24/25.102.2: Santa Sunday: Members noted the Santa Sunday event on the Village Garden on 1 December 2024 from 11am-5pm and the road closure from 10-6pm, and all the hard work of the organisers.

C24/25.102.3: Hurst Meadows Cycle Way Closure: Members noted the closure of the permissive cycle path in Hurst Meadows on Christmas Day, to avoid it being classified as a public right of way.

Members RESOLVED that in view of the confidential nature of the following items, the press and public be excluded under section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

Confidential Matters:

C24/25.103: Methodist Church:  Members considered the updated draft business plan and revised costings for the potential purchase of the asset of community value.  Members noted that the community still needs more large spaces to hire in the parish.  Capacity at Court Bushes Community Hub is also being considered, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council AGREES to continue to collate information to help inform the decision to be taken on the potential purchase of the asset of community value.

C24/25.104: Staff Matters: Members noted the resignation of Assistant Clerk (AC1) and recorded their thanks to the Assistant Clerk for all her hard work over the last six and a half years and wished her well in the future as she would be missed.  Members agreed the arrangements to recruit a replacement Assistant Clerk and the temporary arrangement to cover the interim period, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council AGREED to record their thanks to the Assistant Clerk for all her hard work and AGREES the arrangements to recruit a replacement Assistant Clerk.

There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.17pm.

Chairman