Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Monday 3 February 2025, following the conclusion of the Planning Committee meeting at 7.30pm at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre.
Members Present:
| Cllr Malcolm Llewellyn (Chairman) Cllr Michael Avery Cllr Helen Bedford Cllr Susan Dyke Cllr Claire Majsai | Cllr Duncan Ranger Cllr Bob Sampson Cllr Julia Shorrocks Cllr Lindsey Thompson |
Also Present: Sarah Groom, Clerk to the Council and Gemma Porteous, Assistant Clerk.
C24/25.129: To receive and accept apologies for absence: Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Sarah Baldey, Cllr David Evans and Cllr Barry Forster, and it was:
RESOLVED: That the Council ACCEPTS the apologies for absence for Cllr Baldey, Cllr Evans and Cllr Forster.
C24/25.130: To receive and record declarations of interest: There were no declarations of interest.
C24/25.131: To receive and accept the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 23 January 2025: Members reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting, and it was:
RESOLVED: That the Council AGREES the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2025.
C24/25.132: Adjournment for Questions from the Public: There were no members of the public present.
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:
C24/25.133: Methodist Church: Members considered a briefing note regarding the sale of the old Methodist Church at 42 Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint via an on-line auction from 4-6 February 2025. Members had reviewed the Business Case, RICS Valuation and Building Condition Survey and considered both the community and the financial implications of the decision, and it was:
RESOLVED: That the Council unanimously AGREED not to bid at the 6 February 2025 auction for the purchase of the old Methodist Church or to request a loan from the Public Works Loan Board at this time, due to the significant costs and financial risks associated with a poorly maintained building, and despite the excellent community facility it could provide. Should the building not sell at the auction for any reason, the Clerk is authorised to ask the auctioneer for access to the building for a Structural Survey.
There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.15pm.
Chairman