MINUTES of the meeting of the Community Affairs Committee on Thursday 25 May 2017 at 8:00 pm in the Village Centre, Hurstpierpoint. 

Members Present: Bob Sampson (Committee Chairman)  

  Richard Barker 

  Allan Brown 

  Rosemary Burns    

  Amanda Geel 

  Tony Lank 

  Steve Whitehead 

Also Present:  11 members of the public      

  Roberta Taylor (Assistant Clerk) 

CA17/004.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest:  Apologies for absence were received prior to the meeting by:  David Evans.  No declarations of interest were given at the meeting. 

CA17/005.  Minutes of the Community Affairs Committee Meetings held on 16 March and 18 May 2017: The Committee received and accepted the minutes which were then signed by the Chairman.    

CA17/006.  Matters arising from Community Affairs Meetings held on 16 March and 18 May 2017:  There were no matters arising.    

CA17/007.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There were 11 members of the public present; however the Committee was not required to adjourn the meeting in accordance with Clause 1(d) of Standing Orders.  

CA17/008.  Police issues and information:  The Committee was not able to receive the crime figures for the Parish.  PCSO Joel Havicon sent his apologies and said that due to being extremely busy, he had been unable to get the figures together for the month since he last presented the crime data to the April Council meeting. 

CA17/009.   Parish Council Small Grant Applications:  Small Grants applications are considered at every 

Community Affairs Committee meeting.  £4000 is available for the current year 2017/18.  See attached list of past grants. 

(Ref: List of Community Grants Awarded by Parish Council in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017: January, March, and requests for May 2017) 

Budget for Grants 2017/18: £4000.   

Amount granted:  £700.  Amount remaining in 2017/18 budget:  £3300. 

RESOLVED:  that the Committee agreed to grant the following amounts:  West Sussex Mediation Service £200; St Lawrence Fair £500. 

CA17/010.  Short Presentation by Cheri McCarthy and Wendy Baldwin, Hurstpierpoint Food Bank.  The 

Committee received an update from Cheri McCarthy (Co-ordinator) and Wendy Baldwin from the Hurstpierpoint Food Bank.  The Hurstpierpoint Food Bank is in its second year, with a presence at the Willow Way Social Club on Wednesdays from 9:00 – 11:30 am, to provide food and other necessities for those people in need.  They feel that it is going well both with getting donations and with distributing the food; however they are concerned about the future of the Social Club and what might happen to the Food Bank if the building closes.  Cheri, Wendy and one other volunteer help collect the food donations and distribute the food/other items either at the Social Club (and sometimes deliver the items if needed).   The Food Bank is located in a place in the north part of the Parish and is very comfortable for residents; however they realise that this location is quite far for some of the residents especially if they do not have a car.   

CA17/011.  Bus Service to Brighton in the Parish.  A resident had expressed her concern about the lack of bus service in Hurstpierpoint, particularly service to Brighton or Worthing.   Suggestions were made that the Compass 100 bus service, from Burgess Hill (via Albourne and Muddleswood) to Horsham, could detour along Albourne Road through Hurstpierpoint to the Church and then along the B2117 to re-join the current stop at Muddleswood.  Another suggestion is that the Stagecoach 17 bus service from Horsham (through Henfield) to Brighton be diverted through Hurstpierpoint.  Discussion took place about the lack of good bus service to Brighton, and from Sayers Common to Hurstpierpoint and return.   

The Committee agreed that the office staff investigate these concerns with WSCC (involving new County Councillor Joy Dennis) and the bus companies, with the suggestion that a meeting be arranged between the interested parties.  Members of the public that attended the meeting suggested that older residents pay a set amount (e.g. £20/year) towards their Senior Bus Pass.  Residents expressed their wish that they are kept up-to-date. 

RESOLVED:  that the Parish Council office investigates ways of providing better bus services through Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common, by working together with WSCC and the bus companies.   

CA17/012.  Sayers Common Community Shop update.  The Committee received an update given by Cllr B 

Sampson.  The Community Shop has 1 full-time paid manager and 3 part-time paid staff as well as a team of dedicated volunteers.  They are doing very well and have exceeded what they expected their financial intake to be when they set up the shop.  The shop is open 11 hours/day during the week and 7 hours/day at the weekend.  After expenses have been paid, the shop committee is able to provide grants to local groups from their profit. 

CA17/013.  St Lawrence Fair, Parish Council stall.   The Committee received an update:  The St Lawrence Fair will take place on Saturday 1 July and the Parish Council have requested one stall (cost of £30/stall including a table) as done in previous years. 

CA17/014.  Litter picking for Nature project update.  The Committee received the following update:  The Parish 

Council has taken responsibility for the Litter Picking for Nature project.  The group of 4 volunteers started the weekly litter picking in early April.  In the most recent report, they collected 3 blue sacks of rubbish including some broken glass.  In addition, there was a sack of cement, large screens, plastic trays, wooden fencing slats and a small tyre.  This was left for MSDC collection, arranged by the Co-ordinator.  There are two sites of a large amount of rubbish on private land; MSDC is aware of these locations.  An article on the litter picking group and its activities is due in Hurst Life magazine in June. 

CA17/015.  Parish Councillor Surgeries.  The Committee received the following update:  The first Surgery took place on Saturday 8 April in Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.   Cllrs S Whitehead and A Geel were present and spoke with about 5 people about a variety of concerns including bus service in the Parish, a rusted dog bin, the High Street (a wide variety of issues), Pitt Road ladies toilet and why it is closed, vandalism, housing development and the recent refurbishment to the street lights.  A summary of the Surgery discussions was written and distributed to all Councillors.  It was noted that if residents wished to have feedback on their concerns, contact details must be provided. 

The Surgery on Saturday 13 May was not able to take place because the Conference Room was mistakenly in use by a group using the other Village Centre rooms; the Councillors did not want to disrupt the group’s event and did not know the background as to how the mix up had occurred. 

CA17/016.  Community 21 project.  The Committee received the following update:  The Council had been approached by Community 21 with an offer to run a project of engaging local children and young people into planning for the future of their community.  Community 21 is a non-profit Brighton-based organisation, borne out of a venture from Brighton University and Action in Rural Sussex.  They have undertaken previous projects for towns and parishes in East and West Sussex.  

A meeting took place with Cllrs S Hand, B Sampson, S Whitehead, Mr M Stokes and Ms S Lord Soares (Community 21) to get some clarification on questions.  Discussion took place about what activities could be provided and how it was envisaged that the project would be organised.  A main point was that the project should be sustainable – for the Parish Council, the young people and the community.  A proposal is being prepared by Ms Lord Soares, to be considered by the Council. 

CA17/017.  Hanging Baskets 2017.  The Committee received the following update:  A list of about 30 shops on the 

High Street and Sayers Common Community Shop has been compiled and all forms have been returned.  Martin Dean, Greenscenes Landscaping, has the baskets prepared and is planning on taking them to the shops at the end of May. 

CA17/018.  Albourne Road Allotments.  The Committee received the following update: There are currently 3 vacant plots on the allotments. The waiting list has17 people listed.  Spraying of the Horse Tail weed (by Greenscenes Landscaping) on plot 42A took place this week and the contractor will check the plot again in 2 weeks. 

CA17/019.  Older Persons’ Tea Parties 2017.  The Committee received the following update:  A tea party took place on 10 April 2017.   It was a beautiful sunny day which encouraged people to go out – there were 16 people who attended and enjoyed lovely food and piano playing/singing.  Another tea party followed on 16 May 2017 where again the weather was bright and pleasant – 16 people attended, enjoying the wonderful food (6 cakes), drink and keyboard/organ music entertaining them.  The organising group greatly appreciates the efforts of the tea party hosts in making this event such a success. 

A discussion about the people attending the tea parties took place, including suggestions of ways to reach those people who are isolated and/or lonely. 

CA17/020.  Information Items and Correspondence Received:  to note the receipt of the items below (all items available to be seen in the Parish Council Office).  

CA17/020.1  Health and Wellbeing Report for Town and Parish Councils in West Sussex, email from 

Elizabeth Leggo, SSALC, 10 April 2017.  A leaflet (Opportunities for Parish & Town Councils to Support 

Health & Wellbeing in West Sussex) and a report (Opportunities for Parish and Town Council Involvement in Health and Wellbeing in West Sussex, Final Report, January 2017) were attached and are available to be seen. 

CA17/020.2  St Lawrence School Village Week 7 – 9 June 2017, email sent by Anna Soanes, Geography Co-ordinator at St Lawrence C of E Primary School, 1 May 2017.  Ms Soanes has asked the Parish Council to be involved with their Village Week, the focus being historical and geographical enquiry with each year group getting out and investigating their chosen topic.  The Parish Clerk has responded and is waiting for a reply from Ms Soanes after consulting with her colleagues about the plans for Village Week. 

CA17/020.3  Befriended, a new group organised by Gail Millar and Helen Watkin, local organisers, the Point Church.  Aim is to reduce loneliness and to help people feel more connected, through volunteers visiting people on a regular basis.  www.befriended.org  

CA17/021.  Any Other Business.  Cllr Burns asked when the Waste and Recycling trips will take place as there are other groups that might be interested in going, e.g. Woodland, Flora & Fauna Group and the Litter Picking for Nature group.  The Parish Council office will arrange the trips as soon as is possible. 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9:30 pm.     

_______________________________     Chairman