Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 23 January 2025 at 7.30 pm at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.

Members Present:

Also Present:  Sarah Groom, Clerk to the Council plus Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC), Cllr Geoff Zeidler (MSDC) and three members of the public.  Cllr Alison Bennett (MSDC) sent her apologies.

C24/25.117: To receive and accept apologies for absence:  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Sarah Baldey, Cllr Susan Dyke and Cllr Julia Shorrocks, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Baldey, Cllr Dyke and Cllr Shorrocks.

C24/25.118: To receive and record declarations of interest:  There were no declarations of interest.

C24/25.119: To receive and accept the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 12 December 2024:  Members reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2024.

C24/25.120: Adjournment for Questions from the Public: There were three members of the public present.  One member of the public spoke in support of finding a solution to prevent drivers mounting and parking on the pavement outside 102 High Street, Hurstpierpoint.

C24/25.121: Pavement Bollards in High Street:  Members considered a request from a resident for the installation of bollards outside 102 High Street, Hurstpierpoint where drivers are mounting and parking on the pavement.  Members also considered the requirement for double yellow lines, and the other locations where bollards may have been damaged and/or removed in the past in the High Street.  Members agreed to explore the residents request and to a meeting with the WSCC Highway Steward to discuss other missing bollards and existing road restriction in the High Street.

C24/25.122: Reports from Other Authorities: Members received reports from representatives of:

C24/25.122.1: West Sussex County Council (WSCC):  Cllr Dennis updated Members on the High Street closure to allow UKPN to complete emergency works.  Malthouse Lane had also been closed recently following another Southern Water burst sewer.  Cuckfield Road is also due to be closed for patching repairs in the next few weeks.  Cllr Dennis gave an update on the current devolution proposals.  The Chairman asked for an update on the public right of way improvements from Cuckfield Road to Hurst College and on the land parcel behind the Scout Hut on Brown Twins Road.

C24/25.122.2: Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC):   Cllr Jackson highlighted three main area of focus for MSDC including the National Planning Policy Framework changes, the devolution plans and the 2025/26 budget.  Cllr Zeidler has previously circulated two update reports.  The Chairman thanked Cllr Jackson and Cllr Zeidler for their reports.  Councillor Dennis and Zeidler left at 8.23pm.

 C24/25.123: Committee Minutes: Members received the minutes of the:

C24/25.123.1: Planning Committee (6 January 2025): There were no recommendations for Council. 

C24/25.123.2: Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (16 January 2025) There were no recommendations for Council, and it was:

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

1. Planning Committee (6 January 2025)
2. Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (16 January 2025)

C24/25.124: Final Council Budget 2025/26: Members re-considered the final Parish Council budget requirements for 2025/26 as provisionally agreed at the 12 December 2024 Council meeting (Minute Ref: C24/25.111: Draft Council Budget 2025/26), and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the final Parish Council budget requirements for 2025/26 as income of £110,591, expenditure of £442,452 and a precept required to balance the budget of £331,861.  Based on the tax base figure of 3350.6 this equates to a Band D (Precept) Council Tax payment of £99.05 (an increase of 3.95% on the 2024/25 figure of £95.28).

C24/25.125: Biffa Recycling Centre Visit:  Members considered whether to arrange a group visit for councillors to the material recycling centre in Ford, near Arundel.  Four expressions of interest were noted, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to arrange a group visit for councillors to the material recycling centre in Ford, near Arundel.

C24/25.126: Reports from representatives on outside bodies:  Members noted the reports as follows:

C24/25.126.1: South Downs National Park Authority:  Cllr Jackson attended the meeting of the SDNPA on 22 January 2025 in Midhurst, concerning their Partnership Management Plan engagement and the Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation.  The Chairman encouraged all Members to look at what was proposed and to comment as individuals as appropriate.

C24/25.126.2: Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils:  Cllr Jackson and Cllr Street had attended the recent MSALC meeting and had received a briefing from the Sussex Police Borough Commander, Chief Inspector David Derrick.  The Police and Crime Commissioner was no longer holding her focus groups and all Police liaison would now be via Chief Inspector Derrick.

C24/25.126.3: Sayers Common Village Society:  Cllr Thompson explained the Society was offering to have the Sayers Common village sign next to the pond, cleaned and repainted.

C24/25.126.4: Sayers Common Village Association:  Cllr Forster updated Members on the progress the Association is making on the designs for a new village centre. A meeting is to be arranged between the new Chair of the Association and the Parish Council.

C24/25.126.5: St Lawrence Fair:  Cllr Bedford confirmed plans are underway for the 2025 St Lawrence Fair.

C24/25.126.6: Hurstpierpoint Society:  Cllr Dyke had submitted a written update to the Clerk.  The Society was pleased to see the new lime trees planted in South Avenue Recreation Ground.   The Society were discussing their Design Awards for 2025 and had also discussed feed back on the MSDC proposal for charges in the Hurstpierpoint car parks.

C24/25.127: Information Items:

C24/25.127.1: West Sussex Road Safety Strategy: Members noted the West Sussex County Council consultation on a new West Sussex Road Safety Strategy, previously circulated, with a deadline of 2 February 2025.  Members were encouraged to respond individually.

C24/25.127.2: Draft Transport Strategy for the SE: Members noted the Transport for the South East consultation on a draft Transport Strategy, previously circulated, with a deadline of 7 March 2025.  Members were encouraged to respond individually.

C24/25.127.3: Parish Strategy:  Members received a written update on the development of the Parish Strategy.  Cllr Forster gave an outline of the proposals and Members agreed in principle with the structure and framework of the Strategy and the way forward.

C24/25.127.4: MSDC Parking Strategy:  Members received a verbal update on the consultation the Parish Council is undertaking concerning the introduction of parking charges in MSDC’s Trinity Road and Brown Twins Car Parks. The results of the St Lawrence School staff feedback have been received and a survey is being completed by residents.  The surveys will close on 31 January 2025.  Cllr Bedford is compiling all the results of all the surveys including the Traders, Pre-Schools, the Holy Trinity Church and the Health Centre, which will be collated to show the potential impact of the introduction of parking charges, supported by data. 

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:

C24/25.128: Methodist Church: Members received a verbal update in the sale of the venue at 42 Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint by auction on 7 February 2025.  Members agreed to have an extra ordinary meeting of the Council to be held on Monday 3 February 2025 on the conclusion of the Planning Committee meeting, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council AGREED to have an extra ordinary meeting of the Council to be held on Monday 3 February 2025 on the conclusion of the Planning Committee meeting, to discuss the sale of the old Methodist Church.

There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.40pm.

Chairman