The MINUTES of the Meeting of the COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE held at 7.30pm on Thursday 9^th April 2026 at The Village Centre, Hurstpierpoint.

Also present:                                      Viv Aloy, Assistant Clerk and 1 member of the public

Absent:                                                 Cllr Annette Street, Cllr Helen Bedford, Cllr Lindsay Thompson, Cllr Bob Sampson

                                                                Cllr Sarah Baldey                

CE25/26.038. Apologies for Absence: Apologies were received for Cllr Street and Cllr Bedford, and it was:

                RESOLVED: That the Committee ACCEPTS the apologies for absence from Cllrs Street and Bedford.

CE25/26.039. Declarations of Interest: Cllr Ranger declared an interest in item 7.4 due to a personal link with the grant applicant.

CE25/26.040. To receive and accept the minutes of the Community Engagement Committee meeting held on 12^th February 2026: Members reviewed the minutes, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES the minutes of the 12^th February 2026 meeting

CE25/26.041. Adjournment for Questions from the Public:  The member of the public present was there to talk about the Hurst Festival Grant application, and it was:

                RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES to move forward item 7.2 on the agenda, resolution recorded

                under minute reference CE25/26.044.2

One member of the public left at 7:50pm

CE25/26.042.1 Members reviewed Version 5 of the 2025/2026 Action Plan, noting the completed actions for the year, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES to version 5 of the 2025/2026 Action Plan

CE25/26.042.2 Members reviewed DRAFT Version 1 of the 2026/2027 Action Plan, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES for the Assistant Clerk to update DRAFT Version 1 to FINAL Version 1 of the 2026/27 Action Plan as per the committee discussions

CE25/26.43 Budget Monitoring: Members reviewed the budget monitoring report for the Committee, including:

1. The Nominal Ledger (Year to Date),
2. Detailed Income & Expenditure as of 28 February 2026,
3. Updated Nominal Ledger (sent 9^th April) and,
4. Detailed Income & Expenditure as of 31 March 2026 (sent 9^th April)

It was:

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

a)    Nominal Ledger (Year to Date),

• Detailed Income & Expenditure as of 28 February 2026,
• Updated Nominal Ledger and
• Detailed Income & Expenditure as of 31^st March 2026

CE25/26.044 Grant Applications: Councillors noted that this meeting is in the 2025/2026 council year but the 2026/2027 financial year and therefore grants for consideration will come from the agreed 2026/2027 Community Engagement budget.

CE25/26.044.1 New Small Grant Applications (5240) to be considered 2026/27: Members noted the Grants Budget 2026/27 was £4,500 with £4,500 remaining.

There was one Small Grant Application received:

The Committee reviewed the application in detail. Councillors were unanimous and it was:

RESOLVED that Committee AGREES to AWARD £496.40 to Hurst Colts towards training equipment

CE25/26.44.2 Community Events Grant Applications (5630) to be considered 2026/27 Members noted the Community Events Budget for 2026/27 was £4,500 with £4,500 remaining.

A representative from Hurst Festival spoke about their grant application as well as the broader benefit to the village provided by the festival.  The grant requested is to support the free Super Sunday community event on South Avenue Recreation Ground.  The event is open to all and there is no charge for the entertainment and activities provided, only for any food and drink purchased from independent vendors or from the Hurst Festival Bar. Councillors highlighted that there had been no increase to the Community Events Grant Budget, and it was therefore suggested that the grant awarded to Hurst Festival should also not increase from last year. Councillors were unanimous and it was:

         RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES to AWARD £2,000 to Hurst Festival for the free Super Sunday event.

CE25/26.044.3 Health & Wellbeing Grants (5640) application to be considered 2026/27 Members noted the Health & Wellbeing Grants Budget for 2026/27 was £1,000 with £1,000 remaining.

There were no Health & Wellbeing Grant applications received.

CE25/26.044.4 Health & Wellbeing Projects (5650) 2026/2027.  Members noted the Health & Wellbeing Projects Budget for 2026/27 was £1,000 with £1,000 remaining.

There was one Health & Wellbeing Project received.

The Committee discussed the application in detail, noting that we have previously paid the room hire directly to the Village Centre charity as Knit and Natter does not have a bank account. Cllr Ranger abstained due to his previously declared interest, the remaining Councillors were unanimous, and it was:

                RESOLVED: That the Committee AGREES to AWARD £266.40 to Knit and Natter for room hire 2026/2027

CE25/26.044.5 Sustainable Communities Grants (5610) applications to be considered 2026/27. Members noted the Sustainable Communities Grants budget for 2026/27 was £1,500 with £1,500 remaining.

There were no new Sustainable Communities Grant applications received:

CE25/26.045 Events Working Group: The Committee received the notes from the Events Working Group held on 27 February 2026.

CE25/26.046 Information Items, Correspondence Received and Requests:

CE25/26.046.1 Community Allotment Plot Update: The Committee NOTED the most recent update regarding the Community Allotment Plot.

CE25/26.046.2 High Street Update: Cllrs Bedford and Thompson absent so no update received.

CE25/26.037.4 External Communication: Councillors received a verbal update on communication, noting a communications strategy meeting will be planned for May.  Consideration to be given again to the offer from Hurst Life to create a short social media video promotion for the councillor vacancies, which will be highlighted in May’s edition and at the APM.

There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 20:22