MINUTES of the meeting of the COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Committee on Thursday 21 March 2019 at 8.00 pm in the Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint.
Members Present
| Steve Whitehead (Chairman) Rosemary Burns Allan Brown Stephen Hand | David Evans Claire Majsai Bob Sampson |
Also Present:
Helen Valler ASSISTANT CLERK
Barbara Scorer ASSISTANT CLERK
CA18/031. Apologies for absence and declarations of interest: The Committee received no apologies for absence. The following declarations of interest were made in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct: Bob Sampson personal interest Item CA18/035. Parish Council Grant Applications – Hurst Festival and Hurst Players.
CA18/032. Minutes of the Community Affairs Committee Meeting held on 15 November 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 15 November 2018 are approved.
CA18/033. Matters arising from Community Affairs Meeting held on 15 November 2018:
(1) Mid Sussex Health Care – Anti-natal services (Minute CA18/020) : The Committee was asked to note the letter sent by the Council and the response from Mid Sussex Health Care. In discussion it was reported that Councillor Claire Majsai recently attended two local Care Quality Commission meetings and suggested following up this matter with a letter to CQC regarding Anti-Natal Services. It was agreed that Chairman of Council would sign the letter. (REF: HP&SCPC ltr 4 December 2018; Mid Sussex Health Care ltr 2 January 2019)
CA18/034. Adjournment for questions from the public: There being no members of the public present the
Committee was not required to consider whether to adjourn the Meeting in accordance with clause 1(d) of Standing Orders.
CA18/035. Parish Council Grant Applications: The Committee was asked to consider and where appropriate approve Council grants to local groups. In the current year 2018/19, a budget of £4000 (Code 4108) was available for small grants and £2,500 (Code 4108) for Hurst Festival 2018, making a total of £6,500. Commitments to date £3,951 leaving £2,549 available. It was suggested by a member of the Committee that Sayers Common Community Shop would, on occasion, provide funds for local groups.
Previously approved
| Organisation | Amount Requested | Grant Request for: | Grant approved | Date | |
| 1 | Cancervive | £500 | The grant will go towards core funding and ongoing running costs. Have expanded by 20 clients this year, whilst taking many more telephone calls from prospective clients. | £500 | 19.07.2018 |
| 2 | West Sussex Mediation Service | £100 | To support the ongoing provision of services to those living within this parish, suffering conflicts in their lives. Each case we service costs our charity around £400. Budget this year is £90,000. | £100 | 19.07.2018 |
| 3 | St Lawrence Fair | £1500 | Note: this request has already been considered at Council Meeting dated 17th May 2018. The Council granted £500 to this event (ref minute C18/017) | £500 | 19.07.2018 |
| 4 | Hurst Festival | £2500 | Contribution towards 2018 events. (approved by Finance + General Purposes Committee 6 Sept 2018.) | £2500 | 06.09.2018 |
| 5 | Torch House | £200 | Contribution to Older Peoples’ Christmas Tea Party. (REF: R Burns email 29October 2018) | £200 | 15.11.2018 |
| 6 | Royal British Legion | £151 | Payment for road closure signs for Remembrance Day parade 11 November 2018. (Due to the constraints of time the Council has already ordered and placed the signs.) | £151 | 15.11.2018 |
| 7 | Hurst Monthly Social Group | £500 | Towards costs of starting new group for residents of 18 years and over. The Committee felt that the costs were high considering the numbers who might benefit, and would wish to see greater numbers before considering any grant. | No grant | 15.11.2018 |
| TOTAL COMMITTED | £3,951 |
The following applications were then considered:
| Organisation | Amount Requested | Grant Request for: | Grant approved | Date | |
| 8 | Hurst Festival (for 2019/20 year) | 2,500 | 2019 Event – support of ‘Super Sunday’ (Note: Grant would be issued in 2019/20 financial year, and specific budget provision has been made) | 2,500 | 21.03.2019 |
| 9 | Albourne + Sayers Common PCC | 700 | Contribution toward grounds maintenance of Christchurch Sayers Common. | 350 | 21.03.2019 |
| 10 | Woodland Flora + Fauna Group | 420 | Installation of dormouse boxes | 420 | 21.03.2019 |
| 11 | Victim Support | 150 | Recruit, train and support volunteer | 150 | 21.03.2019 |
| 12 | Hurstpierpoint Players | 1000 | Contribute towards refurbishment of theatre | 1000 | 21.03.2019 |
| 13 | Monday Group | 500 | Maintain and improve public rights of way | 500 | 21.03.2019 |
| 14 | St Catherines Hospice | 500 | Contribute to operating costs | 500 | 21.03.2019 |
| 15 | Knit and Natter | 250 | Special taxi for people with sight and mobility issues | 250 | 21.03.2019 |
| TOTAL (excl Hurst Festival which would be paid in 2019/20) | £3,520 | £3,170 |
(REF: Grant applications 8 – 15)
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee approves the grants as appropriate.
CA18/036. Dementia Awareness update: The Committee was asked to note that meetings had taken place in
February and March 2019 with representatives of the local Dementia Alliance, resulting in their proposals to operate a
‘memory café’ at the new Court Bushes Hub. Details were being developed, but it was understood that some modest financial support was being made available to start up the cafe. In discussion the Committee was also advised that ‘Know Dementia’ wish to use Court Bushes Community Hub from 6 June 2019 for regular cafes. They had been made aware bookings are provisional until lease finalised. The group had requested reduced room hire rates at Court Bushes, but the Parish Council had recommended they apply for a grant for financial help setting up and running the café. Other initiatives being considered were signs in public toilets and shops.
CA18/037. . High Street Hanging Baskets 2019: The Committee was asked to confirm that baskets would not be provided free of charge to High Street traders in 2019. The matter was considered by the Finance + General Purposes Committee at its meeting 7 February 2019 (Minute F18/072.4 ) and it was concluded that the baskets did not represent good value and the funds would be better directed to improving the appearance of the Village Garden in the High Street.
(REF: BRIEFING NOTE High Street Hanging Baskets 2019 17 January 2019 )
RESOLVED: The provision of free hanging baskets to High Street traders is not continued and the available funds are directed towards enhanced planting in the Village Garden.
CA18/038. . Publicity: The Committee was asked to note the following:
- (1) Hurst Life – Following the decision of the Committee at its meeting 19 July 2018 there had now been pages published in three issues, starting in the November 2018 issue. As agreed by Council, future pages will be published each issue, starting with the May 2019 issue, being after the election ‘purdah’ period.
- (2) Newsletter – The Winter 2018 issue was published December 2018. The Spring 2019 issue will be published May 2019. In discussion it was suggested that a piece on the work of the Monday Group might be included.
- (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) Social Media – The Parish Office was 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.
CA18/039. . Information Items and Correspondence Received: to note the receipt of the items below (all items available to be seen in the Parish Council Office).
- (1) Mid Sussex Older Peoples’ Council (MSOPC) – Newsletter Winter 2018/19.
- (2) HKD Group: The Committee Chairman reported he had recently attended a meeting of HKD Transition Group (Hassocks, Hurst, Keymer, Ditchling). The Committee were asked to be aware of local climate changes issues.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.54 pm Chairman