Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 23 July 2026 at 7.30 pm at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.

Not Present:  Cllr Sarah Baldey.

Also Present:  Sarah Groom, Clerk to the Council, and Cllr Lyn Williams and Cllr Zeidler (MSDC).   

C26/27.054: Apologies for Absence:  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Helen Bedford, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Bedford.

C26/27.055: Declarations of interest: Cllr Bob Sampson declared an interest in Minute Ref:  C26/27.063: Hire of South Avenue Recreation Ground as he was a Trustee of the Hurst Festival.

C26/27.056:  Previous Minutes: Members received the minutes of the annual meeting of the Council held on 25 June 2026, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council ADOPTS the minutes of 25 June 2026.

C26/27.057:  Adjournment for Questions from the Public:  There were no members of the public present.

C26/27.058:  Reports from Other Authorities: Members received reports from representatives of other authorities:

C26/27.058.1: West Sussex County Council (WSCC):  WSCC Cllr Jackson had submitted a written report which had been circulated before the meeting.  A Traffic Regulation Order for the Danworth Lane/High Hatch Lane was to be applied for by residents.  It was noted that the Parish Council had recently supported an application for a reduced speed limit on Gatehouse Lane, applied for by residents there, and a previously unsuccessful application by residents for Danworth Lane.  There were no further questions.

C26/27.058.2: Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC):  MSDC Cllr Jackson had submitted a written report which had been circulated before the meeting.  Cllr Zeidler had also submitted a written report on 24 June 2026.  Cllr Williams gave a verbal update on the draft District Plan.  The MSDC Officers are now subject to the Planning Inspector’s instructions.  When the Inspector announces public consultation on the extra new sites, residents will be encouraged to respond to him, especially on quality of life factors.  The Chairman explained that the Parish Council’s Planning Consultant will draft a response for the Members to consider and approve via email, as it is unlikely that the public consultation will extend beyond the date of the next Parish Council meeting.  By submitting a written response, the Parish Council will then be allowed to attend any public hearings that may follow.  Cllr Majsai urged residents to comment on biodiversity issues too. 

MSDC Cllr Jackson believes that the village centre car parking charges have been delayed further as the new Portfolio Holder for WSCC Highways, Cllr Erike Woodhurst-Trueman wishes to review the proposal with a more holistic approach taking into account the impact on on-street parking.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Jackson, Cllr Williams and Cllr Zeidler for their reports. 

C26/27.059:  Committee Minutes: Members received and as appropriate, considered the recommendations of the:

C26/27.059.1: Planning Committee (6 July 2026): There were no recommendations for Council.

C26/27.059:2: Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (17 July 2026): There were no recommendations for Council, and it was:

             RESOLVED: That the Council RECEIVES the minutes of the following Committees:

1. Planning Committee (6 July 2026)
2. Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (17 July 2026).

C26/27.060:  Casual Vacancy:  Members considered a timetable to co-opt councillors to fill two vacancies and noted some positive interest generated at the St Lawrence Fair.  It was agreed that the co-option advert is displayed from 24 July to 16 September 2026, and to aim to fill the vacancies at the 24 September 2026 Council meeting, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES that the co-option advert is displayed from 24 July to 16 September 2026, with the aim of filling the vacancies at the 24 September 2026 Council meeting.

C26/27.061: Cleaning Contract:  Members considered a briefing note setting out quotations for the new cleaning contracts to start from 1 September 2026 for Court Bushes Community Hub and the public toilets, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to appoint Contractor A (Atlas Facility Management) to provide the future cleaning of Court Bushes Community Hub and the public conveniences, from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2032 (five years and 7 months, at a cost of £2,080.28 and £3,120.42 respectively, from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, and then £4,351.91 and £6,527.87 respectively from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, and thereafter for the annual fee to be agreed in line with inflationary increases.

C26/27.062:  Village Centre Velux Windows: Members considered a briefing note setting out proposals to replace the seven velux windows in the Village Centre.  The works would be funded from monies reclaimed from HMRC by the Parish Council (for the VAT paid by the Village Centre charity, via its 126 VAT claim mechanism permitted under Section 23 of the 1994 VAT Act), acting as sole Trustee of the charity, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to appoint Sussex Roof Windows Ltd to install seven Velux windows wired into the mains power, with external blackout anti heat blinds at the Village Centre, at a total cost of £13,107.00 plus VAT.

C26/27.063:  Hire of South Avenue Recreation Ground:  Members considered an application from the Hurst Festival Committee to hire South Avenue Recreation Ground on Sunday 20 September 2026.  It was agreed to waive the hire fee for Recreation Ground but to introduce a £400 good order deposit, refundable if the ground was left in a good condition.  This would align the Hurst Festival hire with arrangements applied to the St Lawrence Fair, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to permit the hire of South Avenue Recreation Ground on Sunday 20 September 2026 to the Hurst Festival, and to waive the normal hire fee but introduce a good order deposit of £400.

C26/27.064: Reports from Representatives on Outside Bodies: Members received reports from representative on outside bodies as follows:

C26/27.064.1: Town Twinning Association:  Cllr Hole outlined the plans for the Association’s visit to France in August 2026.

C26/27.064.2: Hurst Festival:  Cllr Sampson announce that tickets were on sale for the Hurst Festival from 12 September to 27 September 2026.

C26/27.064.3: Hurstpierpoint Society:  Cllr Dyke wasn’t able to attend the Society’s AGM but it had gone very well, and the Chairman had attended.  The Society is focusing on the draft District Plan and has established a working group to encourage residents to respond to the public consultation when it is announced.

C26/27.064.4: South Downs National Park Authority:  Cllr Dyke and Cllr Jackson had attended the Parish Council Liaison Meeting on 1 July 2026.  The SDNPA talked about their Regulation 19 consultation on their draft “District” Plan and Cllr Dyke wondered whether the Parish Council would wish to respond.  The SDNPA are also able to provide support on affordable housing strategies.

C26/27.064.5: West Sussex Association of Local Councils:  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman had attended the WSALC Chairman’s meeting on 14 July 2026.  Items covered included Business Plans, upcoming Police and Crime Commissioners Focus Group and discussions around Local Government Reorganisation.

C26/27.065:  Other Information Items

C26/27.065.1:  Cllr Jackson noted that the MSDC Section 106 spreadsheet for 2026/7 had been circulated.

C26/27.065.2:  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman had attended a WSCC/Metrobus 273 Route meeting on 15 July 2026 which reviewed our submission of 2 March 2026, regarding suggestions for additional bus shelters with real-time passenger information boards on the route.  WSCC was quite positive about our Orchard Way suggestion but felt that Wickham Hill and outside the Methodist Church would require some careful thought.  New shelters are expected in Sayers Common opposite the LVS School and outside the Coombe Farm development.  Metrobus have also agreed to look at running a later bus to/from Brighton.

There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.46pm.

Chairman