MINUTES of the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday 11 August 2016 at 8.00pm in the Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint.  

Members Present 

Also Present:   

Stephen Hoyles – CLERK TO THE COUNCIL 

Charlotte Kempson – Assistant Clerk  

C16/040.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest:  The following apologies for absence were received before the meeting and accepted:  David Evans, Tony Lank, Judith Marsh, Bob Sampson and Steve Whitehead.  

The Council noted that this was an extra meeting in the schedule, called only to consider a recommendation relating to the Little Park Parkland.   

C16/041.  Land at Little Park Farm, Hurstpierpoint:  The Council was asked to consider the offer of land and funds from Bovis Homes Ltd, in accordance with Clause 9.2  of the Section 106 Planning Agreement dated 18 December 2013, and relating to the granted permission for 140 houses at Little Park Farm.  The process set out by the s106 Agreement is as follows:  

1. a) The Country Open Space Area 2 (COS2) land (about 50 Ac of meadow and woodland) to  be offered to the Parish Council, freehold and free of charge, before commencement of construction on site.  
2. b) The Council shall formally accept the transfer of land within 6 months of offer. 
3. c) The transfer then to complete within 3 months of acceptance 
4. d) 40% of the commuted sum (total is £305,125) to be paid to the Council on transfer of land. 
5. e) 30% of commuted sum to be paid prior to completion of 34^th market house 
6. f) 30% of commuted sum to be paid prior to completion of 65^th market house 
7. g) The Parish Council is responsible for carrying out the preparatory works detailed in the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP).   

The acquisition of the Little Park ‘Parkland’, along with the smaller area of the Highfield Drive ‘Parkland’ is a key element of the Council’s Neighbourhood Plan and a consequence of detailed negotiations with developers  during the Neighbourhood Plan  development process.  The public consultations confirmed strong support for securing the parkland areas, to be owned and managed by the Parish Council, in perpetuity and with strict covenants and planning limitations as to its use.  The objective is to secure the parkland areas against future development, to provide open access for the public, and to provide for conservation and preservation of natural habitats.  

In discussion Members of the Council noted that this was a remarkable and positive outcome for the Parish Council to the considerable benefit for the wide community of the Parish, and for which there had been encouraging comments from the public.  

It was therefore recommended that the Council  accepts the offer of land transfer from Bovis Homes, and instructs the Council’s retained solicitors to act in the conveyance.   

(Ref:  Ltr  and plan Land at Little Park Farm, Hurstpierpoint – Bovis Homes – 22 July 2016;  LEMP  Land plan 

16.01.15;  Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP)  November 2012;  s106 Planning Agreement 18 December 2013  ) 

RESOLVED:  The Council accepts the offer of land and funds for the Country Open 

Space area 2, in accordance with the s106 Planning Agreement  18 December 2013 for Little Park  Farm development, and instructs the retained solicitors to act for the Council in the conveyance.   

There being no other business the Chairman closed the Meeting at   8.17  pm.  

  Chairman