MINUTES of the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday 24 November 2016 at 8.00pm in the Village Hall, Brighton  Road, Sayers Common.  

Members Present 

Stephen Hand  –  Chairman  John Lowman 

Allan Brown Martin Machan  

Rosemary Burns  Pam Mitchell  

David Evans  Bob Sampson 

Amanda Geel  Julia Shorrocks 

Rodney Jackson Steve Whitehead 

Tony Lank  Also Present:   

1  Member of the public 

Colin Trumble (MSDC Ward member)  

Anthony Watts Williams (MSDC Ward member)  

Joel Havicon  –  PCSO Sussex Police   

Stephen Hoyles  CLERK TO THE  COUNCIL  

C16/064.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest:  The following apologies for absence were received before the meeting and accepted:  Judith Marsh, Peter Griffiths (WSCC Ward member),  John Wilkinson (MSDC Ward member).  John Lowman declared a personal non-pecuniary interest in item C16/072.  Village Centre,  and Amanda Geel declared a personal non-pecuniary interest in item C16/071.  Litter-picking  –  volunteer group.  There were no other declarations of interest.   

C16/065.  Minutes of the Meetings of the Council held on 27 October 2016:  The Council received and accepted the minutes which were then signed by the Chairman.    

RESOLVED:  The Minutes and Confidential Minutes of the Council meetings of 27 October 2016 are approved. 

C16/066.  Matters arising from the Minutes of the Council held on 27 October 2016:    

(1)  Minute C16/054  Councillor Vacancies:  The Council was asked to note that no applications had been received for co-option to Council.  It was therefore proposed that the process is extended by two months to the following dates:  

Councillor information session:  7.00pm Wednesday 8 February 2017  

Application deadline:  Monday 13 February  2017 

Candidate interviews: Tuesday 21 February 2017  (undertaken by the Staff and Governance Panel)  Proposal to Council:  Thursday 23 February 2017.   

The Council is asked to confirm these arrangements.  (Ref:  Local Government Act 1972 s87) 

RESOLVED:  The Council confirms the revised arrangements for the co-option of a Member of Council.   

There were no other matters arising from the Minutes which are not covered elsewhere on this agenda.  

C16/067.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There was no request from the public present so Council was not required to consider whether to adjourn the Meeting in accordance with clause 70 of Standing Orders.  The Chairman proposed and the Council agreed that the Sussex Police PCSO would make a brief presentation.  He had attended the Neighbourhood Panel meeting immediately prior to the meeting of Council.  PCSO Havicon tabled the routine Crime Report (24 November 2016).  It was reported that the PCSO numbers had been reduced from about 330 to 170, with a new establishment of 12 in Mid Sussex, of which 9 were currently in post.   

C16/068.  Reports from other authorities:  The Council received verbal reports from representatives of other Authorities:  

1. (1) Mid Sussex District Council   (MSDC):  Colin Trumble reported as follows:  (1)  The current major focus was on the District Plan  Examination, starting 29 November 2016.  (2)  The Budget 2017/18 was in preparation, and was required to take account of the diminishing support grants from central government.  The council was looking for opportunities for revenue-raising projects which also brought community benefits.  (3)  MSDC had granted permission for 600 houses at Pease Pottage.   In addition Cllr Anthony Watts Williams reported: (1) The inquiry on the Kingsland Laines appeal  (120 houses)  had been called, but no date  set, and it was expected that MSDC would be making representations.  In discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council’s planning consultant would liaise with the MSDC Case Officer for the application.  A question was raised about MSDC’s withdrawal from the South Downs National Park  Authority planning agreement, to which the meeting was advised that SDNPA had requested the change and that the cost to MSDC was a factor.   
2. (2) West Sussex County Council County Local Committee   (WSCC/CLC) :  Cllr Peter Griffiths was not present on this occasion.   
3. (3) Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils (MSALC) :  Rodney Jackson reported that the SE region  of the Association of Local Councils took place on 24 November 2016, and a new chairman is to be appointed in December.  Cllr Jackson had attended the SDNPA workshop and this would be reported to the next meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee.  

C16/069.  Committee and Working Group minutes:  The Committee Chairmen introduced each Minutes, which the Council was asked to receive and where appropriate, consider the RECOMMENDATIONS::  

C16/069.1   Planning Committee (3 November 2016)  

C16/069.2  Community Affairs  Committee  (17 November 2016)  The Council was asked to consider a Member to fill the current vacancy.  The possibility of either reducing the size of the Committee or co-opting noncouncillor members was noted for consideration at the Annual Meeting of Council in May 2017.   RESOLVED:  The Council appointed Amanda Geel as  a Member of the Community Affairs Committee.  

C16/069.3  Finance + General Purposes Committee (10 November 2016) 

C16/069.4  Strategic Policy Working Group  (8 November 2016)  

C16/069.5  Parkland Advisory Board  (15 November 2016 )   

C16/070.  Mid Sussex District Plan Examination:  Further to Council meeting 24 October 2016  (Minute 

C16/058) the Council noted that the Strategic Policy Working Group  (8 November 2016) approved the Council’s submission to the Inspector to the District Plan Examination.   Members of the Strategic Policy Working Group met Ward District Members John Wilkinson and Anthony Watts Williams on 15 November 2016 to seek assurances that the District Council would strongly oppose the additions of strategic sites or urban extensions, such as west Burgess Hill, as part of the District Plan process.  The Chairman of Council, Chairman of Strategic Policy WG and the Clerk attended a briefing by MSDC on 22 November 2016.  It had been reported that MSDC were under considerable pressure from developers on housing targets,  that the Northern Arc developers were asking for modifications which could impact on the Parish area, and that Thakeham Homes had submitted broad proposals for 1500 homes in ‘west Burgess Hill’, also within the Parish.  The Parish Council would be attending the Examination in an observing capacity.   (Ref:  Planning Inspectorate ltr – District Plan  Initial Questions  15 September 2016;  MSDC ltr  Inspector’s Initial Questions – 29 September 2016; Planning Inspectorate email 13 

October 2016 – MSDC District Plan;  HP&SCPC ltr to Inspector 4 November 2016 ) 

RESOLVED:  The Council notes the representation letter sent to the District Plan Examination Inspector 4 November 2016.   

C16/071.  Litter-picking  –  volunteer group:   The Council was asked to agree to a request from the 

Hurstpierpoint Woodland Flora and Fauna Group to take over the management of the volunteer litter-picking in lanes around the parish.  The matter was initially reported to the Strategic Policy Working Group (Minute SP16/16   4 October 2016)  and the Council is now asked to approve taking on the management of the volunteer litterpicking group  with effect 1 April 2017.  (Ref:  Litter-picking schedule of activity – 2016 – 7 Sept 2016;  Michael 

Nailard email 23 Sept 2016;  BRIEFING NOTE  – Litter-picking  16 November 2016 )   

RESOLVED:  The Council agrees to taking on the management of the volunteer litterpicking group  with effect 1 April 2017. 

C16/072.  Village Centre :  The Council was asked to note that the Management Committee of the Hurstpierpoint Village Centre Association (HVCA) had asked the Council to consider managing the bookings system.  The Parish Office currently acts as the collection and delivery point for users’ keys, without charge to the HVCA, but the bookings system would require use of staff resources and a charge would be made to HVCA.  A meeting had taken place with representatives of the Management Committee on 22 November 2016 at which proposals were discussed.  Specific proposals would be taken  to the Finance and General Purposes  Committee of Council in due course.   

C16/073.   Information items, correspondence received and requests:    The Council  noted:  

(1)  Sussex Police – consultation:  The Police were consulting on their proposed precept rise for 2017/18 of about £5.00 per household.  Closing date 6 January 2016.  (Ref:  www.sussex–pcc.gov.uk)  (2)  SSALC  Newsletter  (November 2016) 

(3)  DEVO1 and DEVO2:  It was reported that Amanda Geel would be shortly attending meetings on these devolution proposals.   

There being no other business the Chairman closed the Meeting at 9.19    pm.  

  Chairman