Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 7.30 pm at Sayers Common Village Hall.

Also Present:  Sarah Groom, Clerk to the Council and Cllr Zeidler (MSDC).  Apologies from Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC).

In the absence of the Chairman Cllr Malcolm Llewellyn, Vice-Chairman Cllr Claire Majsai chaired the meeting.

C25/26.145: Apologies for Absence:  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Malcolm Llewellyn and Cllr Sarah Baldey, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Llewellyn and Cllr Baldey.

C25/26.146: Declarations of interest: Cllr Hole declared an interest in items: C25/26.151: Twinning Association Representative, as he was a member of the Association; C25/26.152: Application for Hire of Reeds Lane Rec as he was the applicant, and C25/26.156.1 (Draft Mid Sussex District Plan) as a landowner in Sayers Common, should any relevant matters arise.  Cllr Sampson declared an interest in C25/26.152: Application for Hire of Reeds Lane Rec.  Cllr Thompson declared an interest in C25/26.153: Application for Hire of Village Garden, as she was a member of the organising committee.

C25/26.147: Previous Minutes: Members received the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 March 2026, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council ADOPTS the minutes of 26 March 2026.

C25/26.148: Adjournment for Questions from the Public: There were 3 members of the public present, two of whom did not wish to speak.  One member of the public spoke of their intention to submit a TRO request for a 20 or 30mph zone on Gatehouse Lane and requested the Parish Council’s support.  The Parish Council would be considering the request later in the meeting.  The member of the public presented a very powerful argument as to why the lane should not be a national speed limit (up to 60mph).  At one time it was intended to be the main route into Burgess Hill until the Jane Murray Way was constructed and the A2300 widened.  Gatehouse Lane was now used as a quiet lane for cyclists, walkers and horse-riders but at 60mph limit, the road had never been busier.  Some drivers including those to the new padel courts (open from 7.30am to 10pm), employees of the Priory, and supercars visiting the garage all drive at dangerous speeds which was an accident waiting to happen.  The member of the public was thanked for their speech.

C25/26.149: Reports from Other Authorities: Members received reports from representatives of other authorities:

C25/26.149.1: Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC): Cllr Jackson reported that there had been no full Council meeting since the last Parish Council meeting.  The development of Clair Hall in Haywards Heath was moving ahead and the Ansty Farm (“Cuckstye”) development for new homes between Cuckfield and Ansty was going to appeal in the first week of June. 

Cllr Zeidler updated Members on the draft District Plan review.  The Planning Inspector had sent the planners a letter setting out areas for improvement in the Plan.  For Sayers Common/Albourne the Inspector felt the principle of 2,000 new homes etc was sound but that a demonstration of greater master-planning was required by all five developers, including a review of the impact of additional traffic on the High Street.  The Inspector also set a higher housing numbers target so numerous developers were requesting their sites be re-looked at. By 15 May 2026, MSDC will issue a list of new sites being considered, which will then be assessed.  In answer to questions, Cllr Zeidler confirmed that a new District Plan will be adopted before the new unitary council is formed in April 2028, and that Plan will protect further development for five years, until the plan has to then be reviewed again.  Cllr Dyke reported that the Hurstpierpoint Society was preparing a response to the Inspector on the issue of the High Street and that a village group had formed (“Keep Hurst a Village”), to fight the 75 homes proposed for College Lane.  Cllr Bedford asked Cllr Jackson to ensure the planning team and parking teams spoke to each other about increased traffic and parking pressures.

The Vice-Chairman thanked Cllr Jackson and Cllr Zeidler for their reports. 

C25/26.149.2: West Sussex County Council:  Cllr Dennis was not present.

C25/26.150: Committee Minutes: Members received and as appropriate, considered the recommendations of the:

C25/26.150.1: Planning Committee (30 March 2026): There were no recommendations for Council.

C25/26.150.2: Community Engagement Committee (9 April 2026): There were no recommendations for Council.

C25/26.150.3: Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (16 April 2026): There were two recommendations for Council:

(i) F25/26.142: Year End Adjustments: The Committee noted the year end adjustments made for creditors, debtors, accruals and receipt in advance, and for the transfers to or from the General Reserve and Earmarked Reserves and to recommend them to Council for approval and adoption, and it was:  RESOLVED:  That the Committee AGREED the year end adjustments made for creditors, debtors, accruals and receipt in advance, and for the transfers to or from the General Reserve and Earmarked Reserves, and to recommend them to Council for approval and adoption, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That Council AGREES the year end adjustments made for creditors, debtors, accruals and receipt in advance, and for the transfers to or from the General Reserve and Earmarked Reserves.

(ii) F25/26.143: Additional Burial Plots:  The Committee considered a briefing note with a proposal to bring into use six additional burial plots within the ‘S’ mound area of South Avenue Cemetery and to recommend them to Council for approval, and it was:  RESOLVED:  That the Committee AGREED the proposal to bring into use six additional burial plots within the ‘S’ mound area of South Avenue Cemetery and to recommend them to Council for approval, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That Council AGREES the proposal to bring into use six additional burial plots within the ‘S’ mound area of South Avenue Cemetery.

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

1. Planning Committee (30 March 2026)
2. Community Engagement Committee (9 April 2026)
3. Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (16 April 2026).

C25/26.151: Twining Association Representative:  Members considered appointing a Parish Councillor to be the Parish Council representative on the Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Town Twinning Association, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to appoint Cllr Shaun Hole as the Parish Council representative on the Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Town Twinning Association.

C25/26.152: Application for Hire of Reeds Lane Rec:  Members considered an application for the hire of Reeds Lane Recreation Ground (north) for the village fair on Saturday 13 June 2026.  It was noted that the road would be closed and marshals would be in place.  Cllr Dyke offered the use of other groups events equipment. and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to the hire of Reeds Lane Recreation Ground (north) for the village fair on Saturday 13 June 2026, and to waive any fee.

C25/26.153: Application for Hire of Village Garden:  Members considered an application for the hire of the Village Garden Recreation Ground for the Santa Funday on Saturday 28November 2026, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to the hire of the Village Garden Recreation Ground for the Santa Funday on Saturday 28November 2026, and to waive any fee.

C25/26.154: Gatehouse Lane Speed Limit: Members considered supporting an application to West Sussex County Council for a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce a speed limit on Gatehouse Lane, applied for by local residents.  Cllr Dyke wondered if continuing the 40mph zone from the Cuckfield Road junction may be more appropriate.  Cllr Majsai reminded Members that Danworth Lane was not able to secure a 20mph limit.  Cllr Street asked if there was any factual data to support the claims of speeding. Cllr Sampson supported the proposal for a 20mph zone.  With all in favour of supporting the request, it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to support an application to West Sussex County Council for a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce a 20mph speed limit on Gatehouse Lane, applied for by local residents.

C25/26.155: Reports from Representatives on Outside Bodies: Members received reports from representative on outside bodies as follows:

C25/26.155.1: Hurstpierpoint Society:  Cllr Dyke attended the meeting of the Society on 16 April 2026.  The Society feels the dog bin on St George’s Lane is not getting collected weekly (No. 317) by Mid Sussex District Council, and a yellow bag is still being left attached to it.  The Society are preparing a response to the Planning Inspector’s letter about the High Street.

C25/26.155.2: Sayers Common Village Society:  Cllr Thompson attended the last meeting of the Society who were all very pleased with the new play equipment which was being heavily used.  They may be a broken pipe from a neighbouring property forming a puddle on the Rec which is being investigated.  The Society discussed the draft District Plan, the upcoming traffic survey and the breakfast at the Village Hall raising funds for St Peter and St James Hospice.

C25/26.155.3: Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils (MSALC):  Cllr Jackson will be attending the next in-person meeting at Ansty Village Hall on 6^th May 2026.  Cllr Shorrocks asked Cllr Jackson to raise the issue of the Government’s decision on unitary councils being delayed.

C25/26.156: Members noted the following information items:

C25/26.156.1: Draft Mid Sussex District Plan: Members received a verbal update regarding the plans to install traffic loops on roads around Sayers Common, Hurstpierpoint, Albourne and Twineham to measure the current distribution of traffic in all directions, in and out of Sayers Common where the developments will take place for 2,000 new homes. This will provide a basis for estimating the traffic forecasts, which it is believed are vastly underestimated by the Planners and WSCC Highways.

There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.29pm.

Chairman