Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 18 December 2025 at 7.30 pm at the Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.

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

C25/26.097: Apologies for Absence:  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Sarah Baldey, Cllr Helen Bedford, Cllr Claire Majsai and Cllr Julia Shorrocks, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Baldey, Cllr Bedford, Cllr Majsai and Cllr Shorrocks.

C25/26.098: Declarations of interest: There were no declarations of interest.

C25/26.099: Previous Minutes: Members received the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 27 November 2025, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council ADOPTS the minutes of 27 November 2025.

C25/26.100: Adjournment for Questions from the Public: There were no members of the public present.

C25/26.101: Reports from Other Authorities: Members received reports from representatives of other authorities:

C25/26.101.1: West Sussex County Council:  Cllr Dennis was not present.

C25/26.101.2: Mid Sussex District Council: Cllr Jackson updated the Parish Council on the development of the draft Mid Sussex District Plan.  A new Planning Inspector has been appointed to continue the hearings and the “duty to co-operate” has been removed. A new joint venture deal has been signed for the redevelopment of Burgess Hill town centre.  A 2.95% increase in Council Tax is expected.  The roll-out of the new 1-2-3 waste, food composting and recycling scheme is still experiencing teething problems.  Cllr Dyke asked when the cycleway access from Hurstpierpoint will be opened up at the Arc.  Mature trees are still laying around on site and are yet to be planted.  Cllr Jackson will investigate.  Cllr Avery asked about the blocked gulleys in Malthouse Lane which had not yet been cleared.  Other Members had seen the larger street cleansing vehicle around the parish making a better attempt to clear some of the surface detritus.  The Chairman thanked Cllr Jackson for his report.

 C25/26.102: Committee Minutes: Members received and as appropriate, considered the recommendations of the:

C25/26.102.1: Planning Committee (5 December 2025): There were no recommendations for Council:

C25/26.102.2: Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (11 December 2025): There was one recommendation for Council set out under Minute C25/26.104 below:

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

1. Planning Committee (5 December 2025)
2. Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (11 December 2025)

C25/26.103: Pension Consultation: Members considered the consultation that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched on changes to the LGPS in England and Wales and the introduction of a “Fair Deal”.   The consultation closes on 22 December 2025.  Members noted the increase in retirement age from 55 to 57 years on 1 April 2026.  Members also noted that Town and Parish Councillors were excluded from the LGPS scheme and it was agreed that the Parish Council would request that Town and Parish Councillors be included in the LGPS scheme, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council NOTES the changes to the LGPS in England and Wales and will request that Town and Parish Councillors be included in the LGPS scheme.

C25/26.104: Final Council Budget 2026/27: Members considered the Parish Council budget requirements for 2026/27 as recommended by the Finance, Governance & Estates Committee of 11 December 2025.  Members noted the requirement for funds to help cover the costs of the resurfacing the Parish Council section of South Avenue and the ongoing cost of repairing vandalism and removing graffiti.  It was noted that the Community Events Grant budget would not be increased, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the final Parish Council budget requirements for 2026/27 as income of £118,702, expenditure of £478,306 and a precept required to balance the budget of £359,604.  Based on the tax base figure of 3386.6 this equates to a Band D (Precept) Council Tax payment of £106.18 (an increase of 7.21% on the 2025/26 figure of £99.05).

C25/26.105: Calendar of Meetings 2026/27 Members considered a provisional list of meeting dates for 2026/27 to be ratified at the May 2026 Council meeting, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREED the provisional list of meeting dates for 2026/27, to be ratified at the May 2026 Council meeting.

C25/26.106 Reports from Representatives on Outside Bodies: Members received reports from representative on outside bodies as follows.  Cllr Jackson asked about the Green Circle Group and will establish whether it still exists.

C25/26.106.1: Hurstpierpoint Society:  Cllr Dyke reported that the sale of Christmas cards by the Society had gone very well.  The Society had taken on board the suggestion from the Village Centre Trustees and their new social media manager will promote their street tree planting scheme more widely.  Cllr Dyke had reminded the Society that the Parish Council supports the Museum Group’s archive held in the workshop and container. A new ten year agreement for the Village Centre display cabinets is being considered.  The Society is also keen to conclude the Latchets Lane signage project and are willing to fund the costs of the new signage.

C25/26.106.2: MSLAC:  A meeting of the Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils has been set for 22 January 2026.   Cllr Jackson will attend, although it does clash with the next Parish Council meeting.

C25/26.106.3: Santa Sunday:  Despite the poor weather conditions and the possibility of being cancelled, Cllr Thompson explained that the event on 7 December 2025 was very well planned this year.

C25/26.106.4: Sayers Common Village Society:  Cllr Thompson reported that the Society are still keen for Mid Sussex District Council to agree to dredge the Berrylands Farm pond.  The Parish Council had already enquired about MSDC fencing in the pond following a resident’s request.  The estate agents’ signs that had proliferated there recently have been removed.  Another resident will be enquiring whether MSDC will allow a bench at the pond.

C25/26.107: Members noted the following information items:

C25/26.107.1: MSDC Draft District Plan: Members received a verbal update from the Chairman on the draft Mid Sussex District Plan.  It has been confirmed that the Planning Inspector has been replaced and the Stage Two public hearings will continue in the new year.  The two Position Statements have been published by MSDC that set out policies they hope developers will adhere to until the draft Plan is made later in 2026.  Three of the four smaller developments have now been applied for in Sayers Common and work continues to co-ordinate them with the main Berkeley/Latimer development of some 2000 new homes.  That application is expected to be submitted next Summer.  A public consultation exercise will be held in Sayers Common Village Hall at the end of January 2026. 

The Parish Council continues to work with Albourne and Twineham Parish Councils, the Sayers Common Village Society and the Watchdog Against Intrusive Local Development (WILD) to put pressure on MSDC and the developers to create a master plan for Sayers Common that focuses on drainage, transport and connectivity between the new sites, the established villages, and the wider area.  The next Sayers Common Liaison Group meeting is on 14 January 2026.

There being no other business, the Chairman wished everyone a happy Christmas and closed the meeting at 9.09pm.

Chairman