The MINUTES of the Meeting of the COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE held at 7.30pm on Thursday 12^th February 2026 at The Village Centre, Hurstpierpoint.

Also present:                                     Viv Aloy, Assistant Clerk

Absent:                                                 Cllr Claire Majsai, Cllr Sarah Baldey             

CE25/26.030. Apologies for Absence: Apologies were received for Cllr Majsai and Cllr Sarah Baldey, and it was:

                RESOLVED: That the Committee ACCEPTS the apologies for absence from Cllrs Majsai and Baldey

CE25/26.031. Declarations of Interest: Cllr Avery declared an interest in the grant application for Age Concern as a regular user of the service.

CE25/26.032. To receive and accept the minutes of the Community Engagement Committee meeting held on 13^th November 2025: Members reviewed the minutes, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES the minutes of the 13^th November 2025 meeting

CE25/26.033. Adjournment for Questions from the Public:  There were no members of the public present.

CE25/26.034. Members reviewed Version 4 of the 2025/2026 action plan, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES:

i)             to Version 4 of the 2025/26 Action Plan

ii)            for the Assistant Clerk to update Version 4 of the 2025/26 Action Plan as per the                 committee discussions and bring it to the next meeting as Version 5 of the 2025/26 Action                 Plan

CE25/26.35 Budget Monitoring: Members reviewed the budget monitoring report for the Committee, including:

1. The Nominal Ledger (Year to Date) and
2. Detailed Income & Expenditure as of 31 January 2026, and it was:

RESOLVED That the Committee NOTED the budget monitoring report for the Committee including:

a)            the Nominal Ledger (year to date)

b)            the Detailed Income & Expenditure as of 31January 2026

CE25/26.036 Grant Applications: The Committee noted that, while there were insufficient funds remaining across the grant budget lines to cover all the applications received, the Parish Council’s Financial Regulations do allow for the Committee to use funds from other budget lines if required. It was:

   RESOLVED That the Committee AGREED to discuss all applications in detail, prior to awarding any grants, and that funds could be moved across budget lines if necessary

CE25/26.036.1 New Small Grant Applications to be considered 2025/26: Members noted the Grants Budget 2025/26 was £4,500 with £1,050 remaining.

There was one Small Grant Application received:

The Committee reviewed the updated accounts and emailed response regarding the high level of reserves. The value provided by the service was recognised by all councillors, however some concerns remained about the level of reserves held, particularly in relation to the amount required for this specific project. It was also noted that Hassocks Parish Council awarded £354 in 2025, but that more Hassocks residents than Hurstpierpoint residents use the service. The Assistant Clerk will provide feedback on the application as outlined above. It was:

RESOLVED that Committee AGREES to AWARD £500 to Age Concern

CE25/26.36.2 Community Events Grant Applications to be considered 2025/26 Members noted the Community Events Budget for 2025/26 was £4,500 with £0 remaining.

There were no Community Events Grants Applications received.

CE25/26.036.3 Health & Wellbeing Grants application to be considered 2025/26 Members noted the Health & Wellbeing Grants Budget for 2025/26 was £1,000 with £0 remaining.

There was one Health & Wellbeing Grant application received.

The Committee discussed the application, councillors were unanimous and it was:

RESOLVED that Committee AGREES to AWARD £500 to St Catherine’s Hospice from the Small Grants Budget

CE25/26.036.4 Sustainable Communities Grants applications to be considered 2025/26. Members noted the Sustainable Communities Grants budget for 2025/26 was £1,500 with £243.20 remaining.

There was one Sustainable Communities Grant application received:

The Committee discussed the application in detail, noting that it was originally sent to the office inbox in October, when the Assistant Clerk was on leave, but not received. Enquiries to be made with the IT provider by the Assistant Clerk as to reasons why this may have occurred.

One councillor asked if there would be value in house martin cups or swift boxes for Sayers Common. The Assistant Clerk will forward this on to Hurst Rethink for consideration. Councillors were unanimous and it was:

RESOLVED that Committee AGREES to AWARD £500 to Hurst Rethink for their house martin cups project

CE25/26.036.5 Health & Wellbeing Projects 2025/2026.  Members noted the Health & Wellbeing Projects Budget was £1,000 with £0 remaining.

There were no new Health & Wellbeing Projects received.

CE25/26.037 Information Items, Correspondence Received and Requests:

CE25/26.037.1 Hurstpierpoint Orchard Wassail Review: The Committee received the review of the Orchard Wassail, noting the high attendance this year, particularly from residents who do not usually engage with Parish Council events. It was also noted that, should the Council agree to run the event again in 2027, the Events Working Group will need to consider how best to manage attendance numbers. Thanks were expressed to the Assistant Clerk for planning and managing the event, and to Hurst Rethink for their support with lighting and volunteers.

CE25/26.037.2 Reeds Lane Recreation Ground Phase 2 update: The Committee received an update from the Assistant Clerk that the proposed start date has reverted to the original of 23^rd February, noting the challenging ground conditions on site.

CE25/26.037.3 High Street Update: Cllr Thompson provided a verbal update on the High Street. Santa Sunday went ahead as planned on 7^th December, but unfortunately the weather was very wet again. The 2026 event is planned to take place on Saturday 28^th November. It was noted by Committee that this will mean that the Christmas Lights will need to be installed earlier, and this should therefore be highlighted as an essential requirement to whichever lighting contractor is appointed.

CE25/26.037.4 External Communication: The Assistant Clerk provided a verbal update on External Communication. Hurstpierpoint is now live as a destination on the Metrobus “days out” webpage. The Parish Council Instagram account is beginning to grow, particularly following videos and photographs shared of the Wassail, and “verified status” has been applied for.  Councillors requested that the Instagram link be added to the website and that consideration be given to the account name.

For 2026/27 the aim is to put out weekly positive news stories across social media platforms, incorporating text and photographs from our Hurst Life articles, feedback and photographs from grant recipients and signposting to other local authorities, support groups and sources of information. Time sensitive content, such as road closure notifications, will continue as normal.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 20:46.