Minutes of the meeting of the council held on Thursday 25^th July 2019 at 8.00 pm in the Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint. 

Members present 

Also present:   

Joy Dennis (WSCC Ward Cllr)   

Alison Bennett (MSDC Ward Cllr)  

Andy Beams (Clerk) 

C19/031 Apologies for absence and declarations of interest: The following apologies for absence were received before the meeting and accepted: Cllrs Michael Avery, David Evans, Malcolm Llewellyn, Martin Machan, Julia Shorrocks, Colin Trumble (MSDC Ward Cllr). There were no declarations of interest.   

C19/032 Minutes of the meeting of the council held on 27 June 2019: To receive and accept the minutes.    RESOLVED:  The minutes of the meeting of the council held on 27 June 2019 are adopted  

C19/033 Matters arising from the minutes of the council meeting held on 27 June 2019: Cllr Jee questioned whether the correct procedure had been followed in allowing Cllr Griffiths to be involved in the meeting of 27 June following his co-option. The Chairman confirmed that once co-opted, Cllr Griffiths was entitled to take up his seat.  

C19/034 Adjournment for questions from the public: The council shall consider whether to adjourn the meeting in accordance with clause 70 of Standing Orders, in order to receive questions from members of the public in attendance. There were no members of the public present. 

C19/035 Reports from other authorities: To receive verbal reports from representatives of other authorities:  

C19/035.1 West Sussex County Council County (WSCC)    Cllr Dennis reported:  

• • There were some issues identified with the signage for the Stonepound crossroads, and an inspection by the Highways Officer had been completed today with a report due to her tomorrow. The Highways Officer visit had also identified the problems in New Way Lane. The Chairman expressed the view that the council would still like to see four-way working and the closure lifted.  
• • There was a planned closure of Malt House Lane for a few hours on 12 August for highway works. (Cllr Griffiths declared a personal interest as a resident of Malt House Lane). Councillors agreed that they would like this work postponed until after the Stonepound crossroads works were completed, and Cllr Dennis agreed to report this back to WSCC. 
• • There was further information due regarding the A2300 and associated Burgess Hill program of works, and it was agreed this would be a separate agenda item for discussion at the September meeting. 
• • There are discussions about resurrecting the quiet lanes program, and Cllr Dennis would like to see Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common involved as a ‘guinea pig’. Councillors were in support of this proposal. 
• • Expressions of concern have been received about Hickstead roundabout and the build-up of DPD vans both on the roads and parked around the area. 

C19/035.2 Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) Cllr Bennett reported:   

• • Discussions continue regarding Gatwick Airport expansion, although MSDC’s position is unchanged, as is the parish council’s. 
• • Approval has been given to update the Dolphin Centre. 
• • There is a call to support ‘Silver Sunday’ in October, which is an event primarily aimed at older people. Detailed information is available on the MSDC website. 
• • There are a number of children’s’ play days scheduled in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath for August – details on the MSDC website. 
• • Approval has been granted for the planning application for Friars Oak Field in Hassocks. 
• • When questioned about the future resurrection of Haywards Heath College, Cllr Bennett confirmed that MSDC were supporting its re-opening in 2020. Cllr Dennis confirmed WSCC were also in support. 
• • Cllr Bennett was also questioned over the promised dialogue with individual parishes regarding the ongoing local plan. She confirmed that since the election, the Strategic Sites Working Group had yet to meet. 

Cllr Jackson reported:  

• • Information on the company used by MSDC for property security had been provided to Nick Sinclair. 
• • The section 106 agreement for Reeds Lane included £92,000 for play areas. 
• • The new Chairman of Mid Sussex Association of Local Councils (MSALC) was Tony Steer of Bolney Parish Council. 
• • MSALC had received a talk from Police Inspector Pete Dommett, who had provided information on the complaints received and the focus areas for the police, which were hate crime, fraud (particularly in relation to elderly victims) and county lines. Councillors agreed it would be useful for the Inspector to come and talk to the council as a whole and the Clerk was asked to arrange this for half an hour prior to the October meeting. 

Cllrs Bennett and Dennis left the meeting at 8.40 pm. 

C19/036 Committee and Working Group minutes: The committee chairmen will introduce each minutes, which the council is asked to receive and where appropriate, consider the recommendations:  

C19/036.1 Finance and General Purposes Committee (11 July 2019)   

(1)  F19/024.2 Hurst Meadows, Highfield Drive: The committee was asked to note that advice had been received from the previous owners of the fields an easement for drainage pipes passes over part of the land now in the council’s ownership. In order that the pipes could be adopted Southern Water requires a Deed of Discharge to be issued by the council. The matter had been referred to the council’s solicitors and their response was that the council is under an obligation to grant the discharge. It was considered that there were no apparent risks to completing the Deed and that a RECOMMENDATION to council was made to that effect.  (Ref: MWB email 19 June 2019; Draft Deed of discharge; Plan of easement June 2019; Rydon Homes ltr 28 May 2019)  

RECOMMENDATION to council: The Southern Water Deed of Discharge (Highfield Drive, 

Hurstpierpoint) is confirmed and that in accordance with clause 22 of Standing Orders the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of council are authorised to sign on behalf of the council.  

 RESOLVED:  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of council are authorised to sign on behalf of the council.   

C19/036.2 Planning Committee (18 July 2019)– nothing to report. 

C19/037 Members’ Code of Conduct: The council is asked to review the Council’s Code of Conduct. This was previously adopted 26 July 2018 and based on the Mid Sussex District Council template of April 2018 and no 

changes are proposed. (Ref:  HP&SCPC Code of Conduct for Members – July 2019 attached)  RECOMMENDATION:  Council adopts the Code of Conduct for Members – July 2019.    RESOLVED:  The council adopts the Code of Conduct as circulated.   

C19/038 Complaints Procedure: The council is asked to review and adopt the Complaints Procedure which is based on the NALC guidelines for Handling Complaints 2008. This was last approved by council on 26 July 2018 and no changes have been made since. (Ref: HP&SCPC Complaints Procedure July 2019 attached; NALC Complaints Guidelines 2008) 

RECOMMENDATION: Council adopts the Complaints Procedure and NALC guidelines. 

It was agreed that the council would like to see a more personalised version specific to Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council, including a flow diagram of the process for residents to follow. The Clerk agreed to draft a version for review at the next meeting. 

C19/039 Bank signatories:  Council is asked to approve the revised signatories to the accounts and cash 

deposits to regularise the position. (Ref: briefing note Bank signatories 12 July 2019 attached)  RECOMMENDATION:  Council approves the bank signatories as follows:  

1. (1) Nationwide Accounts:   

  Add:  Allan Brown, Bob Sampson and Tony Lank 

  Remove:  John Wilkinson and Matthew Stokes 

1. (2) CCLA  

  Add:  Allan Brown, Bob Sampson & Tony Lank  Remove:  John Wilkinson and Matthew Stokes  (3)  Unity Trust Bank: 

  Remove Judith Marsh 

  RESOLVED:  The bank signatory changes were approved as above.   

C19/040 Information items, correspondence received and requests: Council is asked to note: 

C19/040.1 WSCC County Local Committees: The county council are surveying stakeholders on the future role of the CLCs. (Ref: WSCC email 9 July 2019 attached).  

It was agreed that those with previous involvement with the CLC’s would pool their thoughts and produce a response on behalf of the council. The submission deadline of 30 September was noted. 

C19/040.2 MSDC Applauds: Nominations are open for the MSDC awards programme and Parish Councils are encouraged to nominate residents, with a closing date of 31 August 2019. (Ref: MSDC Email 2 July 2019)  The Chairman encouraged all councillors to think of suitable nominations and forward these to the Clerk before the submission deadline of 31 August. 

C19/040.3 South Downs National Park Authority – Local Plan: The Local Plan has been adopted. (Ref: SDNPA email 10 July 2019)   

There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.51 pm.  

  Chairman