MINUTES of the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday 29 June  2017 at 8.00pm in the Village Centre, Trinity  Road, Hurstpierpoint.  

Members Present 

Also Present:   

Colin Trumble (MSDC Ward member  

Stephen Hoyles  CLERK TO THE  COUNCIL  

C17/016.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest:  The following apologies for absence were received before the meeting and accepted:  Rosemary Burns, Amanda Geel,  Judith Marsh,  Joy Dennis (WSCC Ward member),  John Wilkinson (MSDC Ward member),  Anthony Watts Williams (MSDC Ward member.   The following declared a personal non-pecuniary interest in item  C17/022.3  Parkland – Little Park:  Land transfer:  Rodney Jackson.  There were no other declarations of interest.   

C17/017.  Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 18 May  2017:  The Council received and accepted the minutes which were then signed by the Chairman.    

RESOLVED:  The Minutes of the Council annual meeting of 18 May 2017 are approved. 

C17/018.  Matters arising from the Minutes of the Council held on 18 May 2017:  There were no matters arising from the Minutes which are not covered elsewhere on this agenda.  

C17/019.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There being no members of the public present, the Council was not required to consider whether to adjourn the Meeting in accordance with clause 70 of Standing Orders.   

C17/020.  Reports from other authorities:  The Council received verbal reports from representatives of other Authorities:  

1. (1) Mid Sussex District Council   (MSDC):   Cllr Colin Trumble reported:  (1) District Plan:  Examination in public hearings were due to recommence 25  July 2017, with a review of the housing targets.  The MSDC target of 876 dpa has been accepted by the Inspector, but the 5-year housing Land Supply calculation has not yet been resolved.  (2) Devolution:  The Government objective has now been withdrawn but the three counties  3SC group (East and West Sussex and Surrey) were continuing to explore opportunities for some elements of the devolution to be taken forward.  (3) Grenfell Tower tragedy:  MSDC had reviewed its buildings; three were over 18m high but none clad with the material of concern.   (4) Court Bushes community building:  The current tenants had held an EGM on 22 June 2017  to consider their future at the building and agreed to continue.  MSDC were monitoring the matter.  (5) Play spaces:  a scoping study was being undertaken  to appraise standards for all leisure facilities, spaces and buildings.   (6)  Conservation area (Hurstpierpoint):  the review was nearing completion by MSDC.   
2. (2) West Sussex County Council County Local Committee   (WSCC/CLC) :  Cllr Joy Dennis had submitted a written report which was tabled. (Ref:  HP&SCPC update – Joy Dennis  29 June 2017)  A question was raised about progress on the Quiet Lanes.   
3. (3) Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils (MSALC) :  Rodney Jackson reported:  (1) There would be an MSALC AGM in July (no date yet set).  (2) NALC were currently reviewing Neighbourhood Plans; the potential impact of caps on Parish precepts, if these were introduced; and the introduction of sanctions on those who had committed breaches of code of conduct.   

C17/021.  Committee and Working Group minutes:  The Committee Chairmen or, in their absence the Vice-chairmen, introduced each Minutes, which the Council was asked to receive and where appropriate, consider the RECOMMENDATIONS::  

C17/021.1   Planning Committee (1 June 2017).  The matter of incomplete information lodged with planning applications, and the apparent lack of weight being given to the Parish Neighbourhood Plan, were now being raised with MSDC and a meeting had been arranged between Chairman of Council, Planning Committee Chairman, and senior representatives of MSDC on 6 July 2017 to discuss the issues.   

C17/021.2  Community Affairs Committee  (25 May 2017)  

C17/021.3  Finance + General Purposes Committee (6 June 2017) 

C17/022.  Hurstpierpoint Parkland:   

C17/022.1  Parkland – Highfield Drive:  Land transfer:  The Council was asked to authorise in accordance with Clause 22 of the Standing Orders  the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, acting on behalf of the Council, to sign the Transfer Deed for the acquisition of the Highfield Drive Parkland, Land Registry Title number WSX378743, referred to as COS1 in the s106 planning agreement.  Council had previously approved the transfer of the land (Meeting 28 July 2016  Minute C16/035) but in the meantime there had been discussion about a possible wayleave for a drainage outfall, and this had now been dismissed.   (Ref:  Transfer Deed – Land north Highfield Drive   WSX378743  plan ).  

RESOLVED:  In accordance with Clause 22 of the Standing Orders, Council authorises Chairman and Vice-chairman acting on behalf of the Council, to sign the Transfer Deed for the acquisition of the Highfield Drive Parkland, Land Registry Title number WSX378743. 

C17/022.2  Land north of Highfield Drive, Hurstpierpoint –  Section 106 Agreement  Deed of variation:  MSDC were seeking a Deed of Variation of the original S106 Agreement of 11 June 2015. The request for Variation has been made by developer Rydon Homes to vary the Affordable Housing provisions contained at Clause 4.8 of the Agreement, to which MSDC have agreed.  The Deed of Variation therefore solely provided for some relatively minor amendments to those provisions, as set out in Schedule 2, and did not directly affect the Parish Council.  However, as one of the signatories to the s106 Agreement, the Parish Council was required to also sign the Deed. (Ref:  MSDC email 12 June 2017;  Section 106 Agreement  11 June 2015,  

Planning Reference: 14/01515/FUL;  Deed of Variation ) 

RESOLVED:  In accordance with Clause 22 of the Standing Orders, Council authorises Chairman and Vice-chairman acting on behalf of the Council, to sign the Land north of Highfield Drive s106 Agreement Deed of Variation relating to clause 4.8.   

C17/022.3  Parkland – Little Park:  Land transfer:  The Council was asked to authorise in accordance with Clause 22 of the Standing Orders  the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, acting on behalf of the Council, to sign the Transfer Deed for the acquisition of the Little Park Parkland, Land Registry Title number WSX378743, referred to as COS2 in the s106 planning agreement.  Council had previously approved the transfer (Meeting 23 February 2017   Minute C16/070.7), but WSCC had requested that the access width from Iden Hurst is widened by approximately 2m and this has resulted in the redrawing of the boundary lines on the transfer plan.  A reauthorisation was therefore required by Council.  However, the Council was concerned at the lack of information about the reasons for the increased access width, and asked for details of the revised access before agreeing to the revised transfer.  (Ref:  Transfer Deed – Land at Little Park   WSX 374373 plan). 

C17/023.  Mid Sussex District Plan:  Council noted that the Examination in Public of the District Plan is scheduled to reconvene on 25 July 2017 to further consider the District Council’s proposals for housing targets.  (Ref:  Inspectors note ID24,  25 May 2017)   

C17/024.  Maintenance Officer:  The Council was advised that Maintenance Officer Cliff Everest had decided to retire and will be leaving the staff team at the end of July 2017.  The Council expressed its thanks to Cliff for his considerable contribution to the maintenance of the Parish since his appointment in 2010.  With respect to the replacement, it was intended to advertise and a proposal would be brought to Council in due course.  The Governance + Staff Panel were due to meet 5 July 2017  to consider the matter.   

C17/025.  Resignation of Councillor:  It was reported that Member Judith Marsh had resigned from 

Council, effective 30 June 2017, due personal circumstances.  The Council expressed its thanks to Judith for her term of service and the significant contribution she had made to the life of the Parish.  The Council also noted that Member Richard Barker had resigned from Council with effect 22 June 2017, following his co-option in March 2017,  due to a change of personal circumstances.  Notices of Election were being posted for the vacancy, as required by s87 of the 1972 LGA.  If no petition was received within the required timescale then a co-option will take place.  (Ref:  Local Government Act 1972  s87) 

C17/026.  Finance:  Nationwide Building Society Account:  This matter was brought to Council (and not to Finance + General Purposes Committee as would be normal) due to the limited timescale.  The Council currently holds £52,140.42  in the Nationwide  Business Saver Fixed Rate account, with the term expiring 6 July 2017.  The building society has offered a further term of 1 year at 0.75% fixed and it is recommended that this was accepted.  (Ref:  Nationwide  ltr 9 June 2017)   

RESOLVED:  Council continues the deposit of £52,140.42  in the Nationwide  Business Saver Fixed Rate account, with the term expiring 6 July 2018. 

C17/027.  Grass-cutting  in verges:  The Council was asked to approve a trial for additional grass-cutting in verges in Trinity Road, Brown Twins Road, and Cuckfield Road, to supplement that already undertaken by the County Council.  For some time there had been concern that the reducing frequency of verge grass-cutting by WSCC has led to poor appearance of the streetscene and, when the grass is cut its length leaves to a poor finish and untidy arisings.  It is understood that WSCC now cut 3 or 4 times a year (there have been two so far)  , when it was previously 7.  Arrangements had been made with Burgess Hill Town Council (with whom the Council has a current arrangement  for some highway maintenance) to carry out cuts on these three roads at £400 per cut.  It was proposed to carry out a trial  for three additional cuts in 2017  at a cost of £1200.  If the trial proved successful then a more comprehensive programme could be introduced in 2018/19.  Members expressed some concern that WSCC were not adequately maintaining the verges and there was also concern about potential overlap between the Parish  and WSCC cutting schedules.  (Ref:  Burgess Hill  TC  email  22 June 2017)   

RESOLVED:  A trial for additional grass-cutting in verges in Trinity Road, Brown Twins Road, and Cuckfield Road is undertaken with Burgess Hill TC for a cost of £1200 in 2017/18.   

C17/028.   Information items, correspondence received and requests:    The Council was asked to note:  

1. (1) Co-op shop – High Street:  The store operator had advised that a planning application has been lodged for the extension of the fire-damaged shop  in the High Street, Hurstpierpoint, and that they plan to re-open  in early 2018.  )(Ref: Co-op Estates email  14 June 2017)   
2. (2) Seafarers UK:  This charity was encouraging parish councils to fly the ‘Red Ensign’ on flagpoles on Merchant Navy Day 3 September 2017.  The Council agreed to participate in this particular event.   (Ref:  Seafarers UK ltr 26 May 2017)   

There being no other business the Chairman closed the Meeting at  9.31 pm.  

  Chairman