Grounds & Environment Committee

Agenda

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To:      All Members of the Grounds & Environment Committee (Kristian Berggreen, David Bunting, Frances Gaudencio, Bill Hatton, Sue Hatton, Peter Richardson, Paul Shepherd and Ian Weir) with copies to all other Councillors for information.

A meeting of the GROUNDS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE will be held on 4 September 2025 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Parish Clerk 28 August 2025

1. TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. TO ACCEPT DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

3. MINUTES. To accept the Minutes of the Grounds and Environment Meeting held on 17th July 2025. (Previously circulated).

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

5. OFFICER’S REPORT. (Appendix 1)

6. GROUNDSPERSON REPORT. (Appendix 2)

7. LITTER BIN: The committee is asked to consider the purchase of a new litter bin. (Appendix 3). To view Appendix 3 please click here.

8. TREE SURVEY Members are asked to consider the contents of the tree condition report and subsequent quote to complete the recommended work. (Appendix 4-6)

9. ADASTRA PARK MASTERPLAN. Verbal Update (Cllr David Bunting)

9.1 NEW FENCING NORTH FIELD (Appendix 7-8)

Members are asked to consider two quotes received to install additional fencing along north/east boundary of Adastra Park.

On Tuesday 19th August Cllr Bunting met with two fencing contractors to discuss a quote for installation of a new section of fencing along the north boundary, by the stream.

Two quotes have been received:

a) Jasper Fencing (Appendix 7). To view Appendix 7 please click here.

b) Knight Fencing – installed the Allotment gate earlier this year. (Appendix 8). To view Appendix 8 please click here.

RECOMMEMDATION: The committee agree to instruct one of the contractors to complete the work. There is no agreed budget for this work, so works will be subject to release of funds from general reserves and approval from the council.

10. PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY (PROW). Verbal Update. (Appendix 9&10)

11. OPERATION WATERSHED Verbal Update.

12. URGENT MATTERS at the discretion of the Chair for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.

13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Thursday 23rd October at 7.30pm.

Please Note:
All members of the public are welcome to attend meetings of the Parish Council and its Committees. Item 5 – a period of 15 minutes will be set aside for the public statements and questions relating to the published non-confidential business of the Meeting.
It may be necessary to consider particular items in confidential session and where this arises, these items will be considered at the end of the agenda.

FILMING, RECORDING OF COUNCIL MEETINGS AND USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. During this meeting members of the public may film or record the Committee and officers from the public area only, providing it does not disrupt the meeting. The Confidential section of the meeting may not be filmed or recorded. If a member of the public objects to being recorded, the person(s) filming must stop doing so until that member of the public has finished speaking. The use of social media is permitted but members of the public are requested to switch their mobile devices to silent for the duration of the meeting.

Appendix 1

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To: Grounds & Environment Committee                    

Date: 4th September 2025

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 5 – Officer Report

Water Charges – Allotments

At the previous Grounds & Environment committee meeting on 17th July the committee agreed to increase the charges for water to:

Water usage half plot                   £10.00

Water usage quarter plot                £5.00

South East Water have now issued a bill for the period Dec 24 – July 25. Due to dry weather in the spring and the increase in the charges from 1st April, taking account of the direct debit paid the outstanding debt is:

  • Balance on 03 Jan 25 £59.02 in credit
  • Payments £21.00 x6
  • New charges for this bill £429.39
  • Your new balance £244.37

Due to the usage being considerably higher than the same period last year we were recommended by SE Water to complete checks to establish whether there was a leak at the water tap or meter at the allotment. Conclusion was that there was no leak present.

To clear this debt SE Water will be increasing our direct debit to £90.00 per month, to pay this off by the time the next bill is issued in December 2025. By that time, the water will be switched off for the winter so the direct debit amount can be reviewed and possibly reduced until March/April 2026 when the water is switched back on.

The Terms & Conditions of the allotment tenancy agreement states that any above inflation increase requires one year notice. This use of water during the spring/summer will be highlighted to the Allotment Association to request that they inform plot holders during the AGM, which takes place in November, to encourage careful use of water and the installation of a water butt where possible. The water charges will need to be increased again in 2026.

Appendix 2

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To: Grounds & Environment Committee                                

Date: 4th September 2025

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 6 – Grounds Person Report

  • Pitch power inspections have been submitted to the GMA (Grounds Management Association). All 6 pitches are being analysed by the GMA in the meantime and they will soon produce a report with bespoke advice. The report for our pitches will explain our pitch quality and offer recommendations for improvement. These recommendations can help us as a parish council qualify for funding through the Football Foundations Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund to support necessary maintenance and enhance pitch quality.
  • The rain garden has been restored and bought back to its desired appearance. It had been fenced off by Adastra Hall contractors Brixter for a couple of months and became quite overgrown and untidy.
  • Myself and Elaine met with the Gardening Club Volunteers and made some plans for the two circular flower beds at the top of the Garden of Remembrance. The beds have been neglected and haven’t contained any plants nor been maintained for a while. We all agreed the challenges we face here because it’s not easy to grow plants or grass due to its shaded location. The beds have been prepared for planting in recent weeks and will be planted in October with snowdrops and ferns. Plants will be purchased using the remainder of the Grounds Projects budget.
  • Hedge cutting has been completed along Orchard Lane and on our other major hedges amongst the park as part of the end-of-summer hedge cutting round after nesting season.
  • Usual day to day maintenance such as litter picking, bin emptying and grass cutting has continued to remain in high demand as the summer holidays comes to an end.

Appendix 4-6

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL                                                                                 

To Grounds & Environment Committee                                

Date: 4th September 2025

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 8 – Tree Survey results

Members are asked to note the contents of the survey and subsequent quote for works from James Wilson Tree Care. The work is covered within the existing budget.

There are two trees within Parklands Copse that the surveyor was unable to access due to overgrown brambles. Access should be possible from the Scout hut/Kiddie Capers nursery. Surveyor to return on 2nd September to complete.

Please note:

NT4 & NT5 are on MSDC land so they have been informed.

Appendix 5 – Tree survey results – PJC Consulting. To view Appendix 5 please click here.

Appendix 6 – Tree report quote – James Wilson Trees. To view Appendix 6 please click here.

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL                         

Appendix 9&10

To: Grounds & Environment Committee                                

Date: 4th September 2025

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 10 – PROW works

PROW Project

The provisional date for the works are as follows:

Project 1, PROW 8K & 9K (Hassocks to Ditchling):  9 days start 25th Sept

Project 3,  PROW 19K (Woodsland Road towards Grand Avenue): 7 days start 20th Oct

Project 4, PROW 11C (Crossways Lane): 1day start 30th Oct

Project 5, PROW 14C (Hassocks to Clayton Maintenance Repair): 1day start 31st Oct

Project 6 has been withdrawn and Project 2 is on hold until we can secure the approval of West Sussex County Council. We will set up a meeting with the new Head at Downlands School when they go back in the Autumn Term to discuss this further.

Monday Group

The Monday Group is kindly contributing £7,700 toward Project 1. They want to put some signage up to acknowledge their contribution. On local signs and in the local press when people can actually begin to see the improvements. (Appendix 10). To view Appendix 10 please click here.

RECOMMENDATION: The committee agree to allow the Monday Group to display signage to inform the public of their contribution.

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the GROUNDS AND ENVIRONMENT Committee held on Thursday 4th September 2025 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Attendees: Councillors Kristian Berggreen, David Bunting, Frances Gaudencio, Bill Hatton, Sue Hatton, Paul Shepherd and Ian Weir.

In attendance: Helen Valler (Deputy Clerk).

GE25/030 APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Cllr Peter Richardson.

GE25/031 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. There were no declarations of interest.

GE25/032 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Grounds & Environment Committee meeting held on 17th July 2025 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

GE25/033 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. There were no members of the public present.

GE25/034 OFFICER’S REPORT.

Members noted the report provided in Appendix 1 of the agenda.

The following points were discussed:

  • Members noted the report regarding the water supply at the allotments.
  • Water Butts – Encourage allotment holders who have a shed to install a water butt. MDSC don’t run a scheme anymore but you can purchase a discounted water butt from SE Water. It was suggested that the council could require all new allotments holders to purchase a water butt if they rent a plot with a shed.
  • Water troughs could be purchased and installed around the allotment area to catch water at times of heavy rain.
  • This will be discussed with the Chair of the allotment holders association (HAHA)

GE25/035 GROUNDSPERSON REPORT

Members noted the report provided in Appendix 2 of the agenda.

  • Deputy Clerk let the committee know the report from the Grounds Management Association had been received. The Clerk & Grounds person will be going through to look at their recommendations for the football pitches.
  • The effectiveness of the rain garden in Adastra Park was discussed, following the recent heavy rain. It was agreed that this should be monitored over the coming months throughout Autumn/Winter.
  • Cllr Bunting asked that the Grounds person cuts back overgrown foliage at the entrance to Adastra Park/Orchard Lane.

GE25/036 LITTER BIN – Members were asked to consider the purchase of a new litter bin for the London Road Bus stop.

Members discussed the bus stop location and the appropriate type of bin. Cllr Berggreen made the committee aware there are plans to move this bus stop sometime in the future, so this would involve also moving the bin. The committee would like the bin to match others already in place around the village.

It was RESOLVED that the Streamline Jubilee Litter bin would be purchased for £324.99.

GE25/037 TREE SURVEY

Members discussed the results of the tree survey. It was noted that two of the trees in the report are on MSDC land.

  • The last tree survey was completed in 2021. This was a full survey to map all Parish Council owned trees. This recent survey has only identified trees that require work. The assessor recommended to have the next survey in the winter time to enable viewing of the trees when they are not in full leaf. This will be scheduled for Winter 2026/27.
  • The deputy clerk confirmed that the assessor had returned on 2nd September to view the trees behind the scout hut in Parklands Copse.
  • Cllr Bunting pointed out that tree number 925 (hawthorn) on the map is quoted as 955 on the quote for works.

It was RESOLVED that the work recommended in the survey is carried out as per the quotation.

GE25/038 ADASTRA PARK MASTERPLAN. A verbal report was provided by Cllr David Bunting.

It was reported that Barcombe Landscapes started the drainage works on 1st September.

  • Barcombe have recommended some additional work is carried out to install an underground chamber to collect water. This will be a sealed unit with manhole cover for maintenance purposes. There are sufficient funds available in the existing budget to cover this work.
  • A balancing pond had been discussed in the past but this would disrupt the football fixtures.
  • The flow into the stream in the north field can then be controlled, avoiding water gushing into the stream at times of very heavy rain fall.
  • There were concerns around whether any permissions were required. WSCC confirmed that as this is repairing work and not anything new no specific permissions are needed.
  • The committee were pleased that Barcombe Landscapes are completing the work as they are a local company with a good knowledge of the park.
  • Once the work is completed the details will be published through an article in Hassocks Life.

GE25/039 NEW FENCING NORTH FIELD.

Cllr Bunting talked the committee through the two quotes. The aim of installing this fencing is to discourage groups of people from using the wooded area by the stream as a meeting point.

  • Most of the fencing will be concealed in the existing foliage so visual impact is not so much of a concern.
  • The committee liked the Protek weldmesh fencing, this would be in green so would blend in well.
  • The fixings must be secure and not easily taken apart with an allen key.

It was RESOLVED that subject to clarification on the exact differences between the two quotes from Knight Fencing, the committee agree to approve installation of 20 metres of green Protek Weldmesh fencing. Deputy Clerk to contact the supplier. Funding to be authorised through full council on 9th September.

GE25/040 PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY (PROW). Cllr Ian Weir provided a verbal update.

  • The Deputy Clerk confirmed to the committee that the work had started a month early. With work starting on PROW 8K & 9K on 25th
  • The committee thanked Cllr Weir and the Clerk for their hard work getting this project started.
  • The committee wanted to know the exact location of the plaque proposed by the Monday Group and the connection to the village of the persons named on the plaque.

GE25/041 OPERATION WATERSHED Cllr Ian Weir provided a verbal update.

  • Cllr Weir confirmed the contractor has started work. The effected residents pleased that the work will be completed.
  • The committee thanked Cllr Weir his work with WSCC on this project.

GE 25/042 URGENT MATTERS at the discretion of the Chairperson for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.

  • Cllr Bunting proposed another meeting of the Park working group to be Monday 22nd

GE25/043 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Thursday 23rd October 2025 at 7.30pm.
Hassocks Parish Council
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