Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 29 February 2024 at 7.30 pm at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.

Members Present:

Also Present:  Sarah Groom (Clerk), Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) and Cllr Geoff Zeidler (MSDC).

C23/24.126: To receive and accept apologies for absence:  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Forster and Cllr Shorrocks.  Apologies were also received from Cllr Alison Bennett (MSDC), and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Forster and Cllr Shorrocks.

C23/24.127: To receive and record declarations of interest:  There were no declarations of interest.

C23/24.128: To receive and accept the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 25 January 2024:  Members reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2024.

C23/24.129: Committee Appointments: Members considered the appointment of Cllr Forster to the Planning Committee and Finance, Governance and Estates Committee, and it was:

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES the appointment of Cllr Forster to the Planning Committee and Finance, Governance and Estates Committee.

C23/24.130: Adjournment for Questions from the Public: Members considered adjourning the meeting to receive questions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Orders.  There was one member of the public present who didn’t wish to speak.

C23/24.131: Reports from Other Authorities: Members received reports from representatives of:

C23/24.131.1: West Sussex County Council (WSCC):  Cllr Dennis provided an update on the WSCC budget which had been approved with no requirement to use Reserves and no reduction in services.  Cllr Dennis had met with Southern Water’s Chief Executive regarding Storm Water and local projects are in the pipeline.   School numbers will be published on 1 March 2024 which show Downlands School as oversubscribed but also that there is capacity at other local schools in and around Burgess Hill.  The Lane Rental Scheme where utility firms pay a daily rate to undertake road works during peak hours, shows time spent on road closures have reduced from approx. 5 days to 2-3 days which is considered a good result.  Cllr Dennis is pressing for permission for a proportion of the income from the Lane Rental Scheme to be spent on pot holes and pavement repairs.  A new WSCC team will be responsible for the enforcement of private land ownership responsibilities including the clearing of overgrown vegetation on roads and pavements and ditch clearance.  Improvements to local bus service frequencies will be announced shortly.  Cllr Majsai asked if WSCC were planning anything as a result of the high rainfall experienced currently and the likelihood the county may be in a drought by Summer.  Cllr Dennis confirmed that February 2024 had already recorded the highest rainfall in 200 years.  As many schools are now Academies, they are responsible for their own land and buildings.  The Chairman confirmed South East Water offer many water savings tips and products on their website and it was important that Planning Policies require all new builds to include both rainwater and grey water recycling schemes.  Cllr Majsai was concerned about children crossing at Stonepound crossroads and being impatient to wait for the pedestrian crossing lights to turn green.  Cllr Dennis confirmed the new lights were state of the art and the crossroads would have been subject to a full safety audit. Cllr Avery was pleased to note that residents can now be fined for parking on verges or across dropped kerbs and Cllr Dennis confirmed this was being reviewed by WSCC.

C23/24.131.2: Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC):  Cllr Jackson provided an update on the MSDC budget which had been approved with the use of a small amount of Reserves and no reduction in services.  Parking in town centres will be subject to increased charges but the villages will still be free parking for another year.  Cllr Jackson will be visiting the site of the Centre for Outdoor Sports and noted that the Parish Council had written to the Leader of MSDC with their concerns about the site including the facility mix and lack of accessibility via active travel routes within the Parish.  Cllr Zeidler’s written report had been circulated previously.  The Regulation 19 consultation on the District Plan was now closed and officers were collating all the responses.  MSDC must now appoint a Planning Inspector to review all of the comments and this will hopefully be announced within a month.

The Chairman thanked Cllrs Dennis, Zeidler and Jackson for their reports.  Cllrs Dennis and Zeidler left the meeting at 8.10.pm.

C23/24.132: Committee Minutes: Members received the minutes of the:

C23/24.132.1: Planning Committee (29 January 2024) There were no recommendations for Council.

C23/24.132.2: Community Engagement Committee (8 February 2024) There were no recommendations for Council.

C23/24.132.3: Highways, Cycleways and Footpaths Joint Council Working Group (19 February 2024) There were two recommendations for Council:

C23/24.132.3(i) The Working Group noted the proposal for an all-weather surface footpath from Cuckfield Road to Hurst College was at the feasibility stage, and a new proposal to extend the path from the College to the Latchetts Lane public right of way entrance on College Lane will be put before Parish Councillors to gauge their support.  RECOMMENDATION: That Council AGREES to apply to extend the proposal for an all-weather surfaced path from Hurst College to the Latchetts Lane public right of way entrance on College Lane, and it was:  RESOLVED: That Council AGREES to apply to extend the proposal for an all-weather surfaced path from Hurst College to the Latchetts Lane public right of way entrance on College Lane.

C23/24.132.3(ii) The Working Group noted a resident has raised concerns about exiting from Talbot Mead becoming more dangerous due to inconsiderately parked cars.  The Parish Council will consider submitting a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), at the 29 February 2024 Council meeting, for double yellow lines at the Chalkers Lane, Talbot Mead and Willow Way (north) junctions and on the roadsides directly opposite. RECOMMENDATION: That Council AGREES to submit a TRO for double yellow lines at the Chalkers Lane, Talbot Mead and Willow Way (north) junctions, and on the roadsides directly opposite the junctions, and it was: RESOLVED: That Council AGREES to submit a Traffic Regulation Order for double yellow lines at the Chalkers Lane, Talbot Mead and Willow Way (north) junctions, and on the roadsides directly opposite the junctions.

C23/24.132.4: Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (22 February 2024) There were two recommendations for Council as follows:

C23/24.132.4(i): F23/24.117: Reserves Policy:  The Committee reviewed the Reserves Policy and agreed to recommend it to Council for re-adoption, and it was:  RESOLVED:  That Council AGREES and ADOPTS the Reserves Policy.

C23/24.132.4(ii): F23/24.118: Savings and Investments Policy: The Committee agreed to recommend the Savings and Investments Policy to Council for re-adoption subject to an amendment required to clause 4.1, and it was:RESOLVED: That Council AGREES and ADOPTS the Savings and Investments Policy as amended.

RESOLVED:  That the Council RECEIVES the minutes of the following Committees and Working Group and AGREES the above recommendations:

1. Planning Committee (29 January 2024)
2. Community Engagement Committee (8 February 2024)
3. Highways, Cycleways and Footpaths Joint Council Working Group (19 February 2024)
4. Finance, Governance & Estates Committee (22 February 2024).

C23/24.133: Civility & Respect Pledge:  Members considered the call for local councils to adopt the Civility and Respect Pledge.  Following a discussion with a mix of views the matter was put to the vote with eight in favour, and one against, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to adopt the Civility and Respect Pledge.

C23/24.134: Dignity At Work Policy:  Members considered a draft Dignity at Work Policy to meet the requirement of the Civility and Respect Pledge, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES and ADOPTS the Dignity at Work Policy to meet the requirement of the Civility and Respect Pledge.

C23/24.135: Mid Sussex District Plan 2021-2039 Review Update:  Members noted the final version of the Parish Council’s response to the Regulation 19 consultation had been submitted on 23 February 2024, placed on the website and shared with key partners, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council NOTED the final response to the Mid Sussex District Plan Review and its submission 23 February 2024.

C23/24.136: Quiet Lanes:  Members considered a briefing note explaining the current position with regards to applying to West Sussex County Council for various lanes to be designated Quiet Lanes.  Members agreed that the Danworth Lane/High Hatch Lane was their priority, with Langton Lane second, Pookbourne Lane third and Pomper Lane fourth.  Bishopstone Lane followed these in order of priority.  Gatehouse Lane and Pangdean Lane are now protected in other ways.  It was agreed Policeman’s Lane, Jobs Lane and New Way Lane could be removed from the list, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to apply to WSCC to have Danwoth Lane / High Hatch Lane designated as Quiet Lanes.

C23/24.137: South Downs National Park Authority: Draft Settlements Facilities Assessment:  Members considered the three draft Settlement Facilities Assessments and amended Hurstpierpoint to show it had both a GP Surgery and a pharmacy, and it was: 

RESOLVED:  That the Council AGREES to submit the three Settlements Facilities Assessments to the South Downs National Park Authority, as amended.

C23/24.138: Reports from Representative on Outside Bodies: Members received reports from representative on outside bodies as follows: 

C23/24.138.1: Hurstpierpoint Society:  Cllr Dyke confirmed the Society had submitted a response to the Regulation 19 consultation on the District Plan review. The Society were looking for suitable projects to fund and welcomed applications from the Parish Council.  Cllr Dyke welcomed ideas, and the suggestions would be referred to the Finance, Governance and Estates Committee for consideration.  The Society would also welcome the referral of any grant applications to the Parish Council, that might be better suited to a grant from the Society instead.  The Society’s Annual General Meeting is on 6 June 2024.

C23/24.139: Information Items: 

C23/24.139.1: Assets of Community Value: Members noted the successful outcome to nominate the Methodist Church, Cuckfield Road as an Asset of Community Value and noted the next steps should the building be put up for sale.

C23/24.139.2: Annual Parish Meeting: Cllr Majsai gave a verbal update on the plans for the Annual Parish Meeting to be held on Tuesday 21 May 2024, including the speakers and themes.  The strap line is “Beyond Your Doorstep: Discover the Hidden Nature in our Parish”.

C23/24.139.3: MP Letter: Members noted the letter received from Andrew Griffith MP dated 20 February 2024.

C23/24.139.4: Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategy: Cllr Majsai attended a meeting hosted by East Sussex County Council and WSCC for town and parish councils to share information on the new Local Nature Recovery Strategies.  This statutory process will start by mapping existing nature recovery sites.

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:

C23/24.140: Job Evaluation:  Members considered the outcome of the independent Job Evaluation assessment for employees and which recommendations to approve, and it was: 

RESOLVED: That the Council AGREES the findings of the independent Job Evaluation assessment for employees as discussed.

There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm.

Chairman