MINUTES of the meeting of the COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Committee on Thursday 15 November 2018 at 8.00 pm in the Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint.  

Members Present 

Also Present:   

Stephen Hoyles  CLERK TO THE COUNCIL 

CA18/015.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest:   The Committee received no apologies for absence.  The following declarations of interest made in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct:  Rosemary Burns personal interest  Item  CA18/020.  Parish Council Grant Applications – Torch House.   

CA18/016.  Minutes of the Community Affairs Committee Meeting held on 19 July 2018:  The Committee received and accepted the minutes which were then signed by the Chairman.  

RESOLVED:  Minutes of the Community Affairs Committee Meeting held on 19 July 2018  are approved.  

CA18/017.  Matters arising from Community Affairs Meeting held on 19 July 2018:  There were no matters arising from the Minutes, which were not covered elsewhere on this agenda.  

CA18/018.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There being no members of the public present the 

Committee was no required to consider whether to adjourn the Meeting in accordance with clause 1(d) of Standing Orders. 

CA18/019   Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Neighbourhood Panel:  There were no recent crime statistic reports to consider.  

CA18/020.  Parish Council Grant Applications:  The Committee considered and where appropriate approved Council grants to local  groups.  In the current year 2018/19, a budget of £4000  (Code 4108) was available for small grants, with  £2,900 remaining,  and £2,500 (Code 4108) for Hurst Festival 2018, which had been granted.  The Committee then approved grants 5, 6, 7, and 8 as follows:  

Previously approved 

For consideration:   

RESOLVED:  The Committee approves the grants as follows: 

(Ref 5)  Torch House:  £200 

(Ref 6)  Royal British Legion:  £151 

(Ref 8)  Sayers Common Village Society:  £1000 

CA18/021  Dementia Awareness project update:  The committee noted that two recent meetings had taken place  with  Rachel Beckett (Dementia Awareness) to carry on the work started previously.  It was confirmed that Councillors had agreed the importance of participating in a  Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Dementia Action Alliance and that the Council was now at the stage where actions should be put in place.  Rachel Beckett recommended that small steps were taken and to resist from trying to implement ‘too much too soon’.  As a next step it was suggested that contact be made with various businesses/organisations in Hurstpierpoint, such as retailers, library, cafes, and care homes  to gauge interest in them attending a session/workshop, to be led by Rachel.  This would be to educate in spotting signs of dementia, actions that could be taken, resources they may be happy to display.  Rachel also suggested contact with the group 

‘Befriended’ who she believes would be willing to run a session.  Any possible date would be in January/February 2019, perhaps when footfall lessens.   Rachel also attended the recent Patient Participation Group meeting that took place at the Village Centre and met Michael Bailey, who acts as liaison between the patient group and the surgery.   

The Committee consider the best method to connect with retailers and agreed that contact was made with MSDC as part of their retail training programme.  It was understood that many retailers were already aware of the dementia programme, but that further work could be done by direct contact.   

CA18/022   Age UK Centre – Hassocks:  The Committee noted that a meeting had taken place with John Rose,  Chairman of the Pauline Thaw Centre in Hassocks.  The purpose was to discuss the services offered to members of the elderly public and to find out details of their catchment area and any help and assistance they need to continue their valuable work to the community.  Their Welcoming Centre is open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 16.30pm and provides a daily three course meal, afternoon entertainment, hairdressing services, chiropody services and accompanied day trips, a group recently visited the Shard in London.  At present they financially secure, due to a substantial beneficiary recently received.  However the areas of assistance required is the search for new Trustees, as older Trustees are now stepping down, and volunteer drivers to take residents to and from appointments and volunteers who could provide entertainment in the form of informative talks, playing a musical instrument etc.   The new year sees their existing charity shop being extended and the creation of  a new Shop Frontage.  Regrettably due to lack of trained staff the centre is only open to people that can feed themselves and who have need for the immediate assistance of trained medical staff.  It was understood that a number of Hurstpierpoint residents are able to access the service.   

CA18/023.  NHS Pre-natal  services for the parish:  The Committee was asked to note that a discussion had taken place with Mid Sussex Healthcare about ante-natal care, to better understand the current services.  The care is made available following a self-referral to mypregnancymatters.co.uk at the Princess Royal, Haywards Heath. It was advised after contacting the department that 99.9% of women are able to access the care at the hospital, however in special circumstances, such as patients with a disability or are home bound the midwife will call at the patient’s home. Was advised each case would be decided on its’ own merit.  The Committee expressed concern that women were expected to travel to Hayward Heath for ante-natal care, when   a substantial health centre facility existed in Hurstpierpoint.  After discussion it was agreed that the Council would contact the Health Centre, asking why no such service was available.   

CA18/024.  Independent retailers training – 19 November 2018:  The Committee noted that MSDC  was holding 

a training session to assist retailers with their strategies and processes, to help their business growth.  The Parish Office was assisting in distributing the information leaflet.   (REF:  MSDC  email 7 November 2018  and leaflet  19 Nov 2018 )  

CA18/025. Publicity: The Committee noted the following: 

1. (1) Hurst Life – Following the decision of the Committee at its meeting 19 July 2018 the first of three one-page items was included in the November 2018 issue.   
2. (2) Newsletter – The Autumn 2018   issue was published September 2018.  There was a modest response to  the suggestions about Council spending in 2019/20.   
3. (3) Website –  There has been no further action on the redesign of the website.  (REF:  Briefing Note: DRAFT Terms of reference  New website   10 July 2018) 
4. (4) Social Media – The Parish Office is working to increase Facebook posts, with an aim of 3/4 per week going out. The page is also being monitored regularly for any comments/shares.   

CA18/026.  Christmas lights and High Street closure:  The Committee noted that the lights had been installed and would be switched on by Friday 30 November 2018.  The Village Garden Christmas tree would also be installed and lit by this date.  The High Street Traders group  had arranged for a road closure of the road from 3.00pm Saturday 8 December 2018 with a series of events culminating on the village Garden.   (REF:  BRIEFING NOTE  Christmas Lights 

2018 – proposed changes)   

CA18/027.  Hurstpierpoint Strategic Partnership :  The Committee noted the meeting of the Partnership.  (REF:  NOTES of Hurstpierpoint Strategic Partnership  mtg  18 June 2018) 

CA18/028.  Community Affairs Committee Budget 2019/20:  The Committee reviewed the Working Draft Budget for its sector (showing the Budget for 2018/19 and the initial proposals for 2019/20).  The Committee would set or confirm the expected spend and also consider which items might be deleted or added.  The Finance & General Purposes Committee would finalise budget proposals at its meeting on 6 December 2018 and perform a final review (following Tax Base data) and propose the budget and precept to Council at its meeting on 24 January 2019.  The Committee agreed to the following changes to the Draft budget v2 –  2 Oct 2018:  Hurst Life publication:  £1000 

Website:  £3000 

(Ref:  Community Affairs Committee Budget 2019/20 draft, ;  Parish Action Plan 2016 – 21) 

RECOMMENDATION to Finance + General Purposes Committee:  The Committee proposes its budget for 2019/20.   

CA18/029.  Community buildings:  The Committee was advised on current progress regarding the future management and operation of Hurstpierpoint Village Centre and Court Bushes Community Hub.   

CA18/030.  Information Items and Correspondence Received:  to note the receipt of the items below (all items available to be seen in the Parish Council Office).  No additional information.   

There being no other business the meeting closed at  9.30  pm      Chairman