MINUTES of the meeting of the Community Affairs Committee on Thursday 17 March 2016 at 8:00 pm in the Village Centre, Hurstpierpoint. 

Members Present: Bob Sampson (Committee Chairman)  

  Rosemary Burns 

  David Evans     

  Tony Lank 

  Pam Mitchell 

  Matthew Stokes 

Also Present: Stephen Hand (Parish Councillor) 

  Rodney Jackson (Parish Councillor) 

  Stephen Hoyles, Parish Clerk 

CA471.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest: 

CA471.1  There was an apology given prior to the meeting by Cllr S Whitehead. CA471.2  There were no declarations of interest given. 

CA472.  Minutes of the Community Affairs Committee Meeting held on 28 January 2016:  The minutes of the meeting was agreed and signed. 

CA473.  Matters arising from Community Affairs Meeting held on 28 January 2016:  There were no matters arising from the Minutes of 28 January 2016, which were not covered elsewhere on the agenda. 

CA474.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There were no members of the public present at the meeting; therefore the meeting was not adjourned.   

CA475.  Police issues and information:  A report on crime figures for the period 28 January to 16 March 2016  in the Parish which was reviewed.  It was noted that 8 PCSOs have been appointed in Mid Sussex (as reported to MSALC). 

CA476.  Parish Council Small Grant Applications:  Small Grants applications are considered at every Community Affairs Committee meeting.  £4000 which was available for the current year 2015/16 has been spent.  A few grant applications have been received but will be kept until the May Community Affairs Committee meeting when the new 2016/17 budget will be available. 

CA477.  Parish Plan – Community Life 2016 – 21 update:  A meeting of the Parish Plan Working Group took place on 7 March 2016 to review the draft Parish Plan document.  The Committee reviewed the latest version of the draft document and provided comments as follows:  

1. a) The source of the photos was discussed and it was noted that the daughter of a member of staff was offering to produce a portfolio following her recent college course.  A fee had yet to be agreed but the Committee supported this arrangement.   
2. b) There was concern that the tone of the Plan was only aspirational and lacked sufficient specifics. 
3. c) It was agreed that a schedule of current Aims (from the Neighbourhood Plan) and projects (from the Infrastructure Programme) should be included, to ensure that all currently agreed elements were included in the Plan.   d)  Quiet Lanes:  it was agreed that the following would be added:   

To merge the concepts of Quiet Lanes, a local heritage trail, and parkland footways into a connected network for enjoying the environment around the villages of Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common, for the benefit of walkers, riders and cyclists.  

1. e) Police and Crime issues:  The Plan should state that it supported the expansion of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes, but the Council should not be the instigator.   
2. f) Parking:  The text should ensure that aspects of deliverability and economics were properly taken into account.  
3. g) Willow Way community hub:  reference should be made to the current work and the potential role of the Council in supporting new initiatives.  

It was agreed that the Parish Plan Working Group would take on these points and revise the draft accordingly.  (Ref:  Draft Parish Community Life Plan 2016 – 2021) 

CA478.  Hanging Baskets for High Street.  Quotes were requested from three contractors.  However only one contractor, Martin Dean, Greenscene Landscapes, replied with a quote, both for one year and three years.  The 

Committee approved the quote received from Greenscene Landscapes and decided to instruct the contractor for a three year contract.  (Ref:  Hanging Baskets 2016 Briefing Note, 07.03.16) 

RESOLVED: that the Committee agreed with the quote received by Greenscene Landscapes for hanging baskets/plantings on the High Street, Hurstpierpoint and the Sayers Common Community Shop/Hall for summer 2016, and decided to instruct the contractor for a three year contract. 

  Page 1 

CA479.  Hurstpierpoint Food Bank.  The Committee received information on the newly formed Hurstpierpoint Food Bank, part of the Burgess Hill Food Bank.  The members agreed that the Parish Council office can provide vouchers for members of the public for the Hurstpierpoint Community Food Bank.  (Ref:  Hurstpierpoint Food Bank Briefing Note, 07.03.16) RESOLVED: that the Parish Office would issue vouchers under the direction of the Foodbank.   

CA480.  Website update.  The Committee received the following update:   The work recommended by our website designer, Simon Goodwin, to update the Parish Council website, will be done in March or early April 2016.  Photos for the website will be updated.  

CA481.  Older Persons’ Event update:  The Committee received the following update:  The tea party took place on 10 March 2016 at Harvesters on the Albourne Road, Hurstpierpoint.  The numbers of people attending this tea party went down to 9, mostly due to illness and other commitments.  However the hostess provided a magnificent spread of sandwiches and cakes which everyone enjoyed to a backdrop of flute music played by D. Mynett.   

To date, the cost of the tea parties (from August 2015 – March 2016) has been £362.37, leaving £137.63 from the Parish Council grant given of £500; the main costs were for transportation (minibus or taxi) as well as a small donation of £50 to the Torch for their wonderful Christmas tea party. 

It was noted that some lonely people are still not being reached, which is an ongoing effort. 

CA 482.  Operation Watershed update:  The Committee received the following update:  Operation Watershed was established in 2013 in response to county-wide flooding in June 2012 and the extreme weather and further flooding over the winter of 2012/13.  WSCC’s Cabinet created ‘Operation Watershed’ with a commitment to invest in highways, drainage and environmental improvements in areas of the county worst affected by floods. 

The take up by parishes and groups outstripped expectations and the range of schemes and enthusiasm of the groups to take on management and delivery of works deemed a resounding success.  Due to this success, a further Operation Watershed Active Communities Fund of £500,000 has been approved for 2016/17 to continue to build upon community engagement in emergency and resilience planning, especially focused on flood related issues.  (Ref:  WSCC Environmental and Community Services Select Committee agenda for meeting of 11 March 2016, Report by the Interim Executive Director of Residents’ Services and Interim Director of Highways and Transport.) 

CA 483.  Albourne Road Allotments.  The Committee received the following update:  All plots are filled with one plot to be vacant near the end of March 2016.  The waiting list is very short at the moment with 7 people listed. 

CA 484.  Information Items and Correspondence Received:  The Committee noted the receipt of the items below (all items available to be seen in the Parish Council Office).  

CA484.1   Consultation on the future of the 3 in 1 Card concessionary travel scheme.  WSCC is running an online public consultation on the future of the 3 in 1 Card scheme.  This scheme is for young people aged from 5 – 19 year olds, offers savings on bus travel at any time of the day or week.  The consultation period runs until Fri 8 April 2016.    Go to link:  https://haveyoursay.westsussex.gov.uk/highways-and-transport/3in1card.  Email sent by Jo Kenworthy, WSCC Information Officer, Transport Bureau.  18 February 2016.   

CA484.2  Bus Service Changes – April 2016.  From 3 April 2016, the Sussex Bus.com shopping bus service WG1, from Lindfield (through Hurstpierpoint) to Worthing has been withdrawn.  Email from Andy Warton, WSCC Senior Passenger Transport Planner.  8 Feb 2016. 

CA484.3  Bus Service Changes – April 2016.  From 3 April 2016, the Sussex Bus.com 33 service, from Haywards 

Heath (through Hurstpierpoint) to Brighton will be changed.  The section of route between Hurstpierpoint and Brighton will be withdrawn on Mondays to Fridays.  The new route and timetable can be seen on the Sussex Bus website.  Email from Andy Warton, WSCC Senior Passenger Transport Planner. 19 Feb 2016. 

CA484.4  The Woodland, Flora & Fauna Group, Supporters News Sheet 2015-16.  The WFF Group has 

achieved completion of the biodiversity study commenced in October 2004.  In January 2016, the last activity for digitising the survey results and uploading to the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre (SxBRC) database was finished.  This information is now on the SxBRC database as well as in the Group’s own archives and will provide the evidence required to help protect valuable areas of countryside from future damage.  News Sheet provided by Michael Nailard.  A copy is in the Hurstpierpoint Library, Parish Council office or contact Michael Nailard, Chairman of the Group. 

CA484.5  Thank you card from Hurstpierpoint Traders for the Parish Council grant towards the Hurst Welcome Bag Scheme.  Sent by Ann Winney, 07.03.16. 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9:20 pm.   

 _______________________     Chairman