Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 27 February 2025 at 7.30 pm at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.

Members Present:

Also Present:  Sarah Groom, Clerk to the Council, plus Cllr Geoff Zeidler (MSDC) and two members of the public.  Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) sent her apologies.

C24/25.134: To receive and accept apologies for absence:  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Helen Bedford, Cllr David Evans, Cllr Claire Majsai, and Cllr Bob Sampson, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Bedford, Evans, Majsai and Sampson.

C24/25.135: To receive and record declarations of interest:  Cllr Jackson recorded a declaration of interest under Minute C24/25.141, Mid Sussex District Council Parking Charges, as he is currently Chairman of MSDC.

C24/25.136: To receive and accept the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 3 February 2025:  Members reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2025.

C24/25.137: Adjournment for Questions from the Public: There were two members of the public present who did not wish to speak.

C24/25.138: Reports from Other Authorities: Members received reports from representatives of:

C24/25.138.1: West Sussex County Council (WSCC):  Cllr Dennis was not present and had sent her apologies.  Cllr Avery queried the “sink-hole” in College Lane sic Wickham Hill.

C24/25.138.2: Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC): Cllr Jackson confirmed the MSDC 2025/26 budget was agreed with a 2.95% increase.  The capital programme had been maintained.  MSDC had increased fines for dog fouling on their land, the food waste trial will be expanded in the Autumn, football pitches will be available at The Arc in the Spring and commercial fly-tipping had increased.  MSDC Members had received briefings on Devolution.  The Applaud Awards have been announced again.  Cllr Zeidler confirmed figures have been included in the budget for village parking charges income but no further information was available to him. The Park Rangers have dog fouling responsibilities across the District.  The Chairman asked for an update on the District Plan as the Planners were now using the presumption of permission due to the lack of a 5 year housing supply.  Cllr Zeidler confirmed there was no update and Mid Sussex is now open to speculative development.  The Chairman raised the ongoing issue of the lack of a Parish Council input into the allocation of Section 106 funds prior to the agreements being made.  Cllr Thompson thanked Cllr Zeidler for the progress on the Berrylands Farm pond.  The Chairman thanked Cllr Jackson and Cllr Zeidler for their reports. 

C24/25.139: Councillor Co-option:  Members considered applications to co-opt councillors to fill the ordinary vacancy.  Two applications have been received by the deadline of 19 February which had been circulated confidentially to members of the Parish Council prior to the meeting.  A vote took place by a written ballot, and Helena Browne was duly elected, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council ELECTS Helena Browne to serve on the Hurstpierpoint ward.

Cllr Forster and Cllr Browne left the meeting at 8.10pm.

C24/25.140: Committee Minutes: Members received the minutes of the:

C24/25.140.1: Planning Committee (3 February 2025): There were no recommendations for Council. 

C24/25.140.2: Community Engagement Committee (13 February 2025): There was one recommendation for Council:

CE24/25.034. Budget Monitoring: Members reviewed the budget monitoring report for the Committee, and it was:  RESOLVED that the committee NOTED the budget monitoring report including: a) the Nominal Ledger and b) the Detailed Income & Expenditure as of 31^st January 2025 with: RECOMMENDATION to Council at year end that unspent funds from the festive lights budget be allocated to replenish the festive lights EMR in anticipation of the structural tests required in 2026, and it was:

RESOLVED: That Council AGREES, only if funds allow at year end, unspent funds from the festive lights budget be allocated to replenish the Festive Lights Earmarked Reserve in anticipation of the structural tests required in 2026.

C24/25.140.3: Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (20 February 2025) There was one recommendation for Council:

F24/25.101:  Reserves Policy: The Committee reviewed the Reserves Policy and agreed to recommend its re-adoption to Council, and it was:  RESOLVED:  That the Committee AGREED the Reserves Policy and to recommend it to Council for re-adoption, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That Council AGREES AND ADOPTS the Reserves Policy, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council RECEIVES the minutes of the following Committees, and AGREES the recommendations where appropriate or as amended:

1. Planning Committee (3 February 2025)
2. Community Engagement Committee (13 February 2025)
3. Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (20 February 2025)

C24/25.141: Mid Sussex District Council Parking Charges: Members considered a response to the letter from MSDC of 24 January regarding the introduction of parking charges in the Hurstpierpoint MSDC car parks.  Members thanked the Cllrs Bedford and Thompson for compiling the information gathered and the Clerk for drafting the covering letter but wished to strengthen the point about the lack of mobile coverage in the parish, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the response to the letter from MSDC of 24 January 2025 regarding the introduction of parking charges in the Hurstpierpoint MSDC car parks, as amended.

Councillor Zeidler left at 8.48pm.

C24/25.142: South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA): Members considered responding to the public consultation on the draft SDNPA District Plan consultation by 17 March 2025.  Members noted it was a well developed plan, and that developers were proposing new homes just over the boundary into Hassocks parish but ironically, right up against the National Park boundary, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES not to respond to the consultation on the draft SDNPA District Plan.

C24/25.143: Training and Development Plan:  Members considered a councillor and employee training and development policy for adoption by Council.  Members wished to see further detail on the councillor training opportunities included such as new councillor training, chairman training and committee specific training.  The tour of the parish will also be included, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to amend and re-visit the draft training and development policy before adoption by Council.

C24/25.144: South Lane UKPN Wayleave Agreement:  Members considered signing a wayleave agreement with UK Power Networks for installing new underground high voltage cables along South Lane to rectify the high number of electrical faults experienced in previous years, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to sign a wayleave agreement with UK Power Networks for installing new underground high voltage cables along South Lane to rectify the high number of electrical faults experienced in previous years.

C24/25.145: Reports from representatives on outside bodies:  Members noted the reports as follows:

C24/25.145.1: Hurstpierpoint Society:  Cllr Dyke had submitted a written update which had been circulated.  The Society asked when the Neighbourhood Plan was going to be refreshed.  The Chairman proposed that it would prior to the publication of the new District Plan, possibly later this year.  They had discussed how they could promote their grants.  The Society were unhappy with the planning proposals for the former Ladymead Care Home.

C24/25.145.2: Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils:  Cllr Jackson confirmed there was an MSALC Devolution Conference on 20 March 2025, which himself and the Chaiman would be attending.

C24/25.145.3: Sayers Common Village Society:  Cllr Thompson explained the Society was grateful for the Parish Council grant for the Christmas Tree and that the pond work was progressing.  The village sign is currently being refurbished in black as previously.

C24/25.145.4: Sayers Common Village Association:  The Chairman updated Members on his meeting with the Association and their new chairman Mark Wright.  The Association is making progress on the designs for a new village centre and will undertake some public consultation soon.

C24/25.146: Information Items:

C24/25.146.1: Members noted the current plans for a Mayoral Combined Authority for Sussex and Brighton including the consultation that the government is running, which is specific to the Sussex and Brighton region.  The Chairman encouraged all to complete their own survey.  The subject will also be on the next Parish Council agenda.  The Clerk will circulate the Government Survey questions for information.

Members RESOLVED that in view of the confidential nature of the following items, the press and public be excluded under section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

Confidential Matters:

C24/25.147: Kiddie Capers: Members considered a request from Kiddie Capers Childcare Capers to extend their exclusive use of the Club Lounge at Court Bushes Community Hub from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2029, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council AGREED a request from Kiddie Capers to extend their exclusive use of the Club Lounge at Court Bushes Community Hub from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2029.

C24/25.148: Methodist Church: Members received a verbal update in the sale of the venue at 42 Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint which had not sold at auction on 7 February 2025.  A Structural Surveyor was ready to examine the specific issues raised in the Building Condition Survey report when access was permitted.  Members noted the new guide price on the Auctioneers website, and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council NOTED the verbal update in the sale of the Methodist Church.

There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.40pm.

Chairman