MINUTES of the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday 24 March 2016 at 8.00pm in the Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint.  

Members Present 

Also Present:   

Stephen Hoyles – CLERK TO THE COUNCIL 

C15/104.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest:  The following apologies for absence were received before the meeting and accepted: Allan Brown,  Judith Marsh,  Julia Shorrocks,  Peter Griffiths (WSCC Ward Member),  Colin Trumble (MSDC Ward member),  Anthony Watts Williams (MSDC Ward member).   There were no declarations of  interest in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.   

C15/105.   Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 25 February 2016:  The Council received and accepted the minutes which were then signed by the Chairman.    

C15/106.  Matters arising from the Minutes of the Council held on 25 February 2016:     

(1)  Minute  C15/098.1   Community Affairs Committee (28 January 2016): (1)  CA462.  Police issues and information:  The Council was advised that a letter had been sent to the Police  and Crime Commissioner for Sussex.  (HP&SCPC ltr PCC  23 March 2016) 

C15/107.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There being no members of public present the Council was not required to consider whether to adjourn the Meeting in accordance with clause 3(e) of Standing Orders, in order to receive questions.   

C15/108.  Reports from other authorities:  The Council received verbal reports from representatives of other Authorities:  

1. (1) Mid Sussex District Council   (MSDC):  Cllr John Wilkinson reported on the following:  (1)  The draft District Plan was progressing towards formal submission, following meetings with the Council’s planning legal advisors it was now expected that the Plan would be inspected in April 2016. (2)  Devolution:  the two devolution bids were now expected to be considered by HMG after June 2016.  (3) South Avenue Playground:  MSDC had approved the allocation of s106 funds for the project.  (4)  Planning matters:  There was now advice that ‘countryside’ protection policies would be carrying less weight, in planning terms, than had previously been the case. (5) Science Park : a liaison meeting between the Parish  and District Council was planned for 7 April 2016.  (6)  Recreation Grounds: There was concern at the poor condition of the District Council pitches in the area, following the very wet winter, and some had not been playable for some months.  Cllr Wilkinson was seeking to convene a meeting to explore the provision of a ‘3G’ all-weather pitch in the parish area.  

The Council Chairman took the opportunity to note that this was the last meeting which Cllr Wilkinson would attend as a 

Parish Councillor, as he would be stepping down to focus attention on his District Council role.  The Council thanked John Wilkinson  for his 11 years of service as Member, Vice-chairman and Chairman, and in particular in seeing through the successful Neighbourhood Plan,  and wished him every success in his future role.  Cllr Wilkinson  expressed his thanks for the support of members over the years.   

1. (2) West Sussex County Council County Local Committee   (WSCC/CLC) :  Cllr Peter Griffiths was not present on this occasion and no report was made.  However, the Council noted two items of County Council interest:  (1)  Cycle Route Study: an application had been made by the Hurstpierpoint Community Partnership to WSCC CLC for funds to undertake a simple route study.  However, the application had been referred back as the study should have been under the direction of WSCC.  (2)  It was understood that a quiet road surfacing programme was to commence on sections of the A23.   

1. (3) Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils (MSALC) :  Rodney Jackson reported: (1) A meeting of MSALC took place 15 March 2016 at which Ms Anne Haligay was appointed Vice-chairman.  Trevor Leggo of SALC gave an update and Insp Paul Wood (Sussex Police) updated on the changes to PCSO teams.  MSDC Cabinet Member Norman Webster reported on health and wellbeing issues.  (2)  MSALC were planning an autumn conference and were asking for suggestions of topics.   

C15/109.  Committee and Working Group minutes:  The Committee Chairmen or, in their absence the Vicechairmen, introduced each Minutes, which the Council was asked to receive and where appropriate, consider the 

RECOMMENDATIONS:  

C15/109.1   Planning Committee (3 March 2016)  

C15/109.2   Parish Plan Working Group  (7 March 2016).  Reference was made to item in Minute C15/110.  Parish 

Plan.   

C15/109.3   Strategic Planning Working Group (8 March 2016) 

C15/109.4   High Street Economy Working Group (10 March 2016) 

1. (1) HS15/002.  Terms of Reference:  The Working Group requested that Cllr John Lowman be added to the Group. RESOLVED:  That Member John Lowman be added to the Working Group.   

1. (2) HS15/004.  Items for further action:  The Working Group had been asked to agree the items for further consideration which arose from the meeting between Members and District and County Members on 2 March 2016.  Discussion took place and the Working Group agreed that following matters be presented to Council:   

High Street Economy  priority action list:   

Level 1. (to be considered for evaluation (including cost) for possible implementation as soon as possible): 

1. a) Parking signs at each entry to the Village detailing car parks. 
2. b) Brown Twins 3 hour parking changes and/or 3-hour carparking on South Avenue.   
3. c) White line cross hatching on the unloading bay outside the New Inn. 
4. d) Modification to the ‘build-out’ in the pavement around the Mansion House steps. 
5. e) Traders ‘welcome bag’ to new residents should include parking discs funded by the Parish Council. 
6. f) Installation of posts/bollards on sections which are prone to cars mounting the pavements. 

Level 2. (to be medium term aspirations) 

1. a) Review of High Street traffic changes as a result, and in conjunction with, the upcoming WSCC post-scheme review. 
2. b) Review and consider all possible options for parking at the east end of the village. 
3. c) General enforcement issues, to include MSDC warden cover, and a community enforcement officer. 
4. d) Contact police regarding HGV limit enforcement and dangerous/antisocial driving practices in the village. 

Level 3. (To be longer term items requiring research and feasibility studies) 

1. a) Court Bushes Park and Ride possibilities. 
2. b) Street appearance improvements and changes. 

In discussion the Council agreed that a limit of 250 parking discs would be donated to the new resident ‘welcome bags’.  The cost of £250 would be met from the ‘tourism and attractiveness’ budget for 2016/17.  It was further noted that many of the items were subsequently referred to the Traffic  + Parking Working Group for more detailed consideration.  Reference was also made to a ‘public meeting’ that had been set up by a resident for 11 April 2016, to which all Parish and District Members were invited.  The Council agreed that it would be represented by Steve Whitehead, as the Council’s representative on the Traders’ Group.   RESOLVED :    

1. (1) The High Street Economy priority action list is adopted for detailed consideration.   
2. (2) 250 MSDC parking discs are donated to the new residents’ ‘welcome bags’ scheme.   

C15/109.5   Finance +General Purposes Committee (10 March 2016) 

C15/109.6   Community Affairs Committee  (17 March 2016)  

C15/109.7   Traffic + Parking Working Group (22 March 2016)   

1. (1) TP15/025.  High Street Scheme:  (2)  High Street Economy:  The Working Group  had considered the suggestions put forward by the High Street Economy Working Group at its meeting 10 March 2016, but Council agreed that these matters would be reviewed at the next meeting of Council.    
2. (2) TP15/026.  Progress review:   (1)  Cuckfield Road:  The Working Group Chairman reported that WSCC were now progressing plans for pothole and other repairs.  (2)  Chalkers Lane:  The Council agreed to explore the possibility of s106 funds being available to bring the project forward as a WSCC scheme.    

C15/110.  Parish Plan:   Community Affairs Committee reviewed the working draft Parish Plan at its meeting 17 March 

2016 and agreed that some amendments and additions were required.  It was then referred back to the Parish Plan Working Group and a draft Plan would be presented to Council in due course.  (Ref:  Draft Parish Plan  2016-21) 

C15/111.   Information items, correspondence received and requests:    The Council noted:  

(1)  Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC):  Election 5 May 2016.   

There being no other business the Chairman closed the Meeting at   9.23  pm.  

  Chairman