MINUTES of a meeting of the Parkland Management Committee  held at 8.00 pm on Thursday 19 October 2017 in the Village Centre, Hurstpierpoint. 

Committee Members present:  

Allan Brown  (Chairman) 

Stephen Hand 

Malcolm Llewellyn 

Martin Machan 

  Julia Shorrocks 

Other Council Members present:  

Claire Majsai 

Steve Whitehead 

In attendance:  

Stephen Hoyles CLERK TO THE COUNCIL 

PA17/004.  Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interest:  There were no apologies for absence and no declarations of interest.   

PA17/005.  Minutes of the meetings of Parkland Management Committee 21 March 2017 and 18 May 

2017:  The Committee received and adopted the minutes which were then signed by the Chairman.   

PA17/006.  Adjournment for questions from the public:  There being no members of the public present the 

Committee was not required to consider whether to adjourn the Meeting in accordance with Clause 1(d) of Standing Orders.   

PA17/007.  Minutes of the meeting of Parkland Advisory Board 11 July 2017 :  The Committee noted the minutes.   

PA17/008.  Progress Report  No 3:  The Committee considered the Progress Report and a number of issues were raised:   

1. (1) Latchetts Lane, northern end of the Highfield Drive meadows area:   the effectiveness of the surface water drainage should be monitored.   
2. (2) Highfield Drive meadows:  consideration would be given to creating an access point in the NE corner, adjoining the existing public right of way.  The status of the boundary hedge would be investigated to ensure that legal access could be made.   
3. (3) Little Park meadows land transfer:  Further to Minute C17/035.3 (Council meeting 27 July 2017) the Committee was advised that the documentation had been signed but transfer had not yet taken place.  The delay had been due to the detail design of the access road through the woodland section adjacent to Iden Hurst.  Until  the design was finally approved by both WSCC and MSDC the developer Bovis was reluctant to transfer the section of woodland, in case a slightly different boundary was required.  It was understood that approval was imminent.  The Parish Council was keen to secure the two fields of Little Park, to enable the preparatory works to proceed before the winter.  In discussion with Bovis it had been suggested that the transfer of the two fields proceeds, followed by the woodland as soon as the Iden Hurst access was approved.  In the event of a two stage transfer it was proposed that the commuted sum would be split 75% for the fields and 25% for the woodland.  The Committee was therefore asked to agree to recommend to Council that it could proceed with the transfer in two stages, should this become necessary, and to  the split of commuted sum.  Ref:  Transfer 

Deed – Land at Little Park   WSX 374373 plan; BRIEFING NOTE Little Park Land Transfer  27 July 2017)   

1. (4) Little Park Orchard proposals:  It was agreed to proceed with the order of 40 saplings, to enable planting to take place autumn 2018, but the detailed layout and location of the orchard would be subject to further consideration.   
2. (5) Cyclepath:  a Member expressed concern at the lack of provision for a cyclepath through the meadows, although there would be specific access at Marchants Close in accordance with the planning permission.  It was acknowledged that the matter of a cyclepath through Hurstpierpoint was a much more substantive issue which should be addressed outside this Committee.  

(Ref:  BRIEFING NOTE Parkland Management Committee – Progress Report  No 3  11 October 2017;   

Highfield Drive Parkland: Scoping and progress report (11 October 2017);   

Little Park Parkland: Scoping and progress report (11 October 2017),  

BRIEFING NOTE  Orchard  23 August 2017)    

RESOLVED:  The Parkland Management Committee noted the progress report, with the following comments:  

1. (1) Highfield Drive meadows:  consideration would be given to creating an access point in the NE corner, adjoining the existing public right of way.   
2. (2) Little Park meadows:  to recommend to Council that the land transfer could proceed in two stages, the two fields first followed by the woodland, should this become necessary, and to the split of commuted sum 75%/25% respectively.   
3. (3) Little Park Orchard proposals:  It was agreed to proceed with the order of 40 saplings, but the detailed layout and location of the orchard would be subject to further consideration.   

(5)  Cyclepath:  that the matter of a cyclepath through Hurstpierpoint was a substantive issue which should be addressed outside this Committee.  

PA17/009.  Highfield Drive Hurst Meadows:  It was expected that the preparatory works would be completed by the end of October 2017, and the Parish Office would have undertaken its risk assessment.  It was intended that the temporary signs are installed at the main entrances and that the public were permitted access immediately thereafter.   

RERESOLVED:  The Committee agrees that Highfield Drive Hurst Meadows are opened to the public on completion of the works and the risk assessment.   

PA17/010.  Disabled parking:  Hurstpierpoint Society (Parkland Advisory Board meeting 14 March 2017) had suggested that some limited disabled parking should be provided.  In the initial concepts for the parkland the notion of carparking was rejected as not being in keeping with the objectives.  Also, the covenants attached to the parkland prohibit any construction that would require planning permission, other than that required for the maintenance of the areas.  In any event there were no obvious areas with satisfactory access that could be used.  However, the Parish Council holds a long lease on the St Georges Green (WSCC is landlord) expiring year 2998, for its future use as a cemetery, and the Committee considered this as a possible location a small parking area in the Green, for say up to 4 cars, accessed off St Georges Lane.  However, after discussion the Committee agreed that this would compromise the current use of the Green and would probably be unpopular with local residents.   It was therefore agreed to reject this option but to investigate other possible solutions around the Meadows.   (Ref:  Site location plan  9 August 2017  ATTACHED) 

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.03 pm    Chairman