MINUTES of the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday 12 February 2015 at 8.00pm in the Scout HQ Building, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint.  

Members Present 

  Also Present:   

Cllr Peter Griffiths  (WSCC Ward Member) (part meeting only) 

Cllr Colin Trumble (MSDC Ward Member) (part meeting only) 

Stephen Hoyles – CLERK TO THE COUNCIL  5  members of the public  

C690.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest:  The following apologies were received prior to the meeting and accepted:  Julia Shorrocks.  Tony Lank declared a personal interest in the Hurstpierpoint Bowling Club  (Minute C699).  There were no other declarations of interest.  

C691. Minutes and Confidential Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 15 January 2015:   The Minutes were received and accepted and signed by the Chairman.   

C692.  Matters arising from the Minutes of the Meetings of the Council held on 15 January 2015: The 

Council considered matters arising from the Minutes which were not covered elsewhere on this agenda: 

(1)  PARISH 2031 Neighbourhood Plan – Referendum (Minute C681(1)):  The Chairman expressed his thanks 

to members of the Council for their work in publicising the Referendum, and Cllr Peter Griffiths also added his congratulations on encouraging a strong interest within the community.  The Council was advised of the arrangements for 

the count, which was due to take place immediately after the vote.  The Chairman and VC, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group , and the Clerk were formal observers of the count.   

C693.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There was no request from the public present so the Council was not required to consider whether to adjourn the Meeting in accordance with clause 1(d) of Standing Orders,  to receive questions from members of the public in attendance.   

C694.  Reports from other authorities:  The Council received verbal reports from representatives of other 

Authorities:  

C694.1  Mid Sussex District Council   (MSDC):   Cllr Colin Trumble reported:  (1)  He noted the progress of the 

High Street Improvements Scheme and the intended July start date.  A meeting was due to take place on 24 February 2015 between MSDC and the Parish Council to discuss the allocation of s106 funds. (2)  Neighbourhood Plan:  if a yesvote was obtained, then the Plan would go before MSDC Council for formal adoption on 18 March 2015.  (3)  The District Plan revision and proposed housing targets were due to go before the MSDC Scrutiny committee  and then Council on 18 March 2015.  (4) Gatwick Airport second runway:  MSDC had lodged its objection to the proposals due to the emphasis on low-skills employment, which would not enhance the District.  (5) A2300 upgrade:  The LEP had agreed to grant £17 million for the upgrade, but the timetable for the work was not known.  (6) MSDC were staging a ‘help-to-buy’ open day on 18 March 2015.   A question was asked about the MSDC response to the ’Ham Fields’ planning application in Hassocks, and the forthcoming appeal public enquiry.  Cllr Trumble expressed his concern that the highway and environmental reasons fro refusal had been subsequently withdrawn.  It was noted that a second application had now been lodged for the site.   

C694.2  West Sussex County Council County Local Committee   (WSCC/CLC):  Cllr Peter Griffiths reported:  (1)  High Street Improvements Scheme:  Cllr Griffiths expressed his concern at the slow response from the technical departments of WSCC, which he had been investigating.  (2)  ‘Watershed:  it was noted that the Parish Council were now engaged with a possible small project at the Brighton Road, near Washbrooks.  (3)  Gatwick Airport: Cllr Griffiths reported that he had moved an amendment at the WSCC Council debate, to oppose the second runway but not the principle of expansion of the Airport.  (4) WSCC Social Services were developing better systems for the treatment and care of young people in the County with mental health issues.  (5)  A2300:  The upgrade is intended to improve traffic management and flows;  there is a possible start in 2016.  (6) ‘Be the business’ is a WSCC grant scheme to help support small businesses in the County.  (7)  The WSCC ‘Think Family’ scheme is working well, supporting and mentoring families with particular needs.  (8)  The next County Local Committee (CLC) meeting is 24 February 2015 in the Village centre, Hurstpierpoint.   Questions were asked about progress on changes to the highways maintenance Local Partnerships scheme, which was being currently negotiated; and the matter of damaged verges in the Willow Way area was raised.   

C694.3  Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils (MSALC):  Rodney Jackson reported that a meeting of 

MSALC took place on 11 February 2015 at which the Sussex Assistant Chief Constable Robin Smith attended.  The main topic of discussion was the impending budget issues, with cuts of £55 M required over the next 5 years.  There would be an impact on staff numbers and neighbourhood teams would be covering larger areas.  There was a planned modest increase in the Police precept for 2015/16.   

C695.  Accounts and finance: 

C695.1  Accounts:  Payments and receipts:  The Council was asked to RESOLVE the following:  

1. a) to approve the payment of accounts totalling £19,799.44 for month 11 (February) 
2. b) to  note receipts of £3,821.63 for month  10 (January).  

(Members are advised that the transactions have not yet been entered into the bookkeeping system, but this will be done by the time of the Meeting and the bookkeeping schedules will then be available.) (Ref:  Schedules 422, 423) 

RESOLVED:  The Council approves the schedule of payments of £19,799.44  for February 2015. 

C696.  Committee reports: 

The Council received and noted the Committee minutes to consider any RECOMMENDATIONS:  

C696.1  Planning & Environment Committee (22 January 2015 ) 

C696.2  Community Affairs Committee (29 January 2015) 

C696.3  Services Committee  (5 February 2015)  

C697.  Land north of Highfield Drive, Hurstpierpoint – s106 Agreement:  The Council was asked to authorise the Chairman and one other Member together to sign a s106 Agreement on behalf of the Parish Council.  The development for which permission has been granted (subject to engrossment of the s106 Agreement) is for 17 houses.  The Agreement provides for the transfer of the freehold of current farmland to become Country Open Space, to the Parish Council for a nominal sum of £1 plus the provision of £97,599 as a commuted sum for the accommodation works and ongoing maintenance for a 20 year period, as detailed in the Outline Landscape and Ecological Management Plan.  In all respects, insofar as the obligations and benefits of the Parish Council are concerned, the Agreement is the same as that referring to land at Highfield Drive, which was approved by Council at its meeting 13 June 2013 (Minute C470).  However, that earlier Agreement also included the land at Little Park, which is not in this latest version, hence the reason for requiring this authorisation.   A question was raised about the condition of the land as it was to be handed over to the Council.  It was noted that the commuted sum was intended in part to prepare the site for public access.  (Ref:  Planning application MSDC Ref 14/01515;  Highfield Drive s106Agreement version 8 Jan 2015 ) 

RESOLVED:  The Council authorises the Chairman and one other Member together to sign on behalf of the Council the final s106 Agreement relating to land north of Highfield Drive.  

C698.   High Street Improvements Scheme:  The Council was asked to note the delayed start date, to agree to a revision to the contract price for the works, and to review the possible contingency fund for signage and other mitigation of the impact of the works, as detailed in the Briefing Note.  It was noted that the TRO had been published, and that a 

meeting had taken place with Chairman and VC of Council with local retailers on 20 January 2015 to discuss the impact of the works.  There was some discussion on the provision of temporary carparking at the eastern end of the High Street and considerable concern was expressed by Members at a suggestion of the use of part of South Avenue Recreation Ground.  It was agreed that all options for temporary parking would be investigated.  (ref:  BRIEFING NOTE (Commercial in confidence) High Street Improvements Scheme – update  5 February 2015; Stilwell Partnership email 3 February 2015 )  

RESOLVED:   

1. (1) The Council notes the delay to the start of the Scheme and agrees that the works should now take place late July and August.  
2. (2) The Council approves the revised contract price  of £122,818.33 which included 10% contingencies. 
3. (3) The Council agreed that the £5,000 contingency fund for signage an mitigation methods would be delegated to Chairman and VC for review, taking due notice of the project budget.     
4. (4) The Council will consider possible options for providing additional temporary carparking at the eastern end of the High Street.   

C699.  Hurstpierpoint Bowling Club:  The Council was asked to agree in principle to an extension of the Bowling Green pavilion building and to consider a possible grant towards its construction.  The Chairman and Clerk met representatives of the Club on 15 January 2015 and were presented with sketch drawings of the single-storey extension to the west of the existing building.  The Council is landlord and therefore can agree to the new building.  The Club is an active part of the local community and is keen to extend its activities to include indoor bowls.   It was suggested that the Council agreed to grant permission to the extension, subject to approval of detailed designs and to planning permission being granted.  The Club estimates that the cost of the extension would be £130,000 and hopes that £75,000 will be sourced from the Sport for England  ‘Inspired Facilities Grant’, but is seeking further funds from elsewhere.  The s106 Agreement for the development of Chalkers Lane (south) (MSDC Ref: 13/03305 ) has £25,178 identified as Community Buildings, but at this stage no other applications have been made or projects identified against this fund.  It is therefore suggested that the Parish Council would support up to £25,178 from this fund towards the construction of the extension, and that the project is added to the Council’s Infrastructure Programme (as listed as non-Parish Council projects).  The Chairman of the Bowling Club was present and briefly explained the proposals, and it was noted that the sport was particularly keen to provide for disabled users.   Discussion took place on the merits of requesting MSDC to ‘earmark’ the s106 funds, and the necessity to ensure fairness of treatment with other possible future projects.  (Ref: Hurstpierpoint Bowling club ltr 15 January 2015;  HP&SCPC Record of s106 funds) RESOLVED:   

1. (1) In its capacity as Landlord the Council approves in principle the proposed extension to the pavilion building, subject to Council’s approval of detailed designs and to the granting of satisfactory planning permission.   
2. (2) The Council agrees to support the application by the Club for £25,178  from the Community Buildings s106 fund (from planning permission 13/03305) towards the construction cost and MSDC is requested to earmark the funds.   (3)  The project would be added to the Parish Council’s Infrastructure schedule.   

C700.  Information items, correspondence received and requests: The Council was asked to note the following matters and offer comment where appropriate:   

C700.1  Council Tax Support Scheme:  MSDC letter to MSALC  4 December 2014. 

C700.2  SDNPA: Dark Skies project:  SDNPA letter January 2015. 

C700.3  MSDC District Plan  Workshop:  The District Council is holding a workshop to explain the proposed Plan, at 

2.00pm Friday 27 February 2015 at MSDC offices and invites up to 2 representatives from the Parish Council.  The 

Council is asked to agree who should attend.  (Ref:  MSDC ltr District Plan 4 February 2015)   

RESOLVED:  The Council agreed to nominate John Wilkinson and Rodney Jackson to attend the Workshop.   

C700.4  CPRE – Sussex Countryside Trust:   A Seminar was to be held 10.00am  Saturday 28 February 2015 at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath.  Anyone is invited to attend.  One of the Council’s Assistant Clerks  would be attending.  (Ref:  

CPRE ltr  30 January 2015)   

C700.5  WSCC Watershed programme: The Council was advised that an approach had been made by a member of the public to seek the Council’s support in applying to WSCC for assistance to resolve flooding issues near Brighton Road, Hurstpierpoint.  A site meeting is due to take place and further reports will be brought to Council in due course.   C700.6  Action in Rural Sussex:   AiRS have issued an email seeking support for an online petition to government department DEFRA.  DEFRA is considering withdrawing future funding for the Rural Community council and its consequential impact on local organisations such as AiRS.  Individual Members are being invited to join the petition on: 

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/73418  (Ref:  AiRS email 8 January 2015) 

C701.  Chairman’s announcement:  The Chairman  John Wilkinson advised Council that he intended to step down as Chairman at the next meeting of Council.  His reason was only because of his intention to stand for the District elections in May.  The Council was advised that nominations for the post of Chairman would be invited.   

C702.  CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS:  

The Council agreed to determine to close the meeting to the public and the press under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960  to discuss the following  item: Christmas Lights: 

RESOLVED:  To close the meeting to the public and the press under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960. 

There being no other business the Chairman closed the Meeting at 10.10 pm.   Chairman