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 5^th March 2026 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Parish Clerk 26^th February 2026

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 22^nd January 2026. (Previously circulated).

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

5. OFFICER’S REPORT. (Appendix 1).

6. GROUNDSPERSON REPORT. (Appendix 2).

7. ALLOTMENTS REPORT – No report.

8. ORCHARD LANE TREE – Members are asked to consider two quotes regarding a Pine Tree on Orchard Lane. (Appendix 3). To view Appendix 3 please click here.

9. LESLIE CAMPBELL MEMORIAL BENCH – The Rail Group have approached the Parish Council for assistance and a contribution towards the installation of a memorial bench at Hassocks Railway Station. (Appendix 4). To view Appendix 4 please click here.

10. DOG WASTE BINS – Members are asked to note the update provided. (Appendix 5 & Appendix 5.1). To view Appendix 5 please click here. 
To view Appendix 5.1 please click here.

11. ADASTRA PARK MASTERPLAN

11.1 – PAVILION WORKS UPDATE – Members are asked to read the update provided and consider the quotes received from two roofing contractors for repair or complete replacement of the pavilion roof. (Appendix 6). To view Appendix 6 please click here.

• Clarke Roofing Southern Ltd (Appendix 6.1)
  To view Appendix 6.1 please click here.
• Richard Soan Roofing (Appendix 6.2 & 6.3)
  To view Appendix 6.2 please click here.
  To view Appendix 6.3 please click here.

11.2 Members are asked to consider the quotes received from two contractors for cutting back the hedges, removal of ivy from around the building and the installation of an Aco drainage channel across the front doors of the building.

• Craig Pattenden Garden Services (Appendix 6.4)
  To view Appendix 6.4 please click here.
• Greenscene Landscapes – Items 3 & 4 on this quote are additional items not covered in the quote from Craig Pattenden. (Appendix 6.5)
  To view Appendix 6.5 please click here.

11.3 Members are asked to note that currently there is no hot water or heating in the pavilion as the existing Daikin Heat Pump is not working, this pump is 16 years old. An engineer is due to visit.

A quote has been obtained from Sussex Solar for the installation of a new heat pump system. (Appendix 6.6). To view Appendix 6.6 please click here.

11.4 Members are asked to consider a quote from Pope Consulting to undertake a short desktop feasibility appraisal to compare:

• Optimised retention of the existing system, versus
• Partial or full transition to point-of-use hot water provision.

To provide a written report including indicative capital costs, suitability of incoming electrical supply, operational savings, compliance implications, and payback considerations.

Fee: £650.00 + VAT

Members are asked to consider whether the report would be useful to progress the works to the pavilion.

11.5 Members are asked to consider whether to remove tree debris from the stream at the northern boundary of Adastra Park. The debris is causing water running off the park to build up in the stream and block the outlet pipe. Awaiting a quote. (Appendix 6.7). To view Appendix 6.7 please click here.

12. MEMORIAL TREE – Members are asked to consider a request from Hassocks Twinning Association for permission to plant a tree in memory of Stephanie White, their previous Chair who sadly passed away suddenly last year. The Garden of Remembrance in Adastra Park was suggested as a possible location. Further information has been requested:

• Would they like the Parish Council to purchase the tree and they make a donation?
• Would they want a plaque?
• Who would water the tree while it was a sapling?

Members views are sought

13. FLOOD WORKING GROUP – The Working Group met on Wednesday 25^th February. Updated Terms of Reference and the minutes from the meeting are attached. (Appendices 7 & 7.1). To view Appendix 7 please click here.
To view Appendix 7.1 please click here.

14. PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY (PROW). Verbal Update.

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

16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING. 7^th May 2026 at 7.30pm.

Please Note:
All members of the public are welcome to attend meetings of the Parish Council and its Committees. Item 4 – 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: 5^th March 2026

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 5 – Officer Report

The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on (G&E) Matters:

Pizza Van – Adastra Park
The cricket club would like to have a local pizza van company in the park on a Friday evening throughout the cricket season. I have been in contact with the organisers and have obtained the relevant information:

• Public Liability Insurance
• Food Hygiene Certificate
• Horsham District Council – registration certificate.
• Signed Food Vendor agreement

The van will be in the car park outside the pavilion from 6pm – 8.30/9pm

Bus Shelter meeting
On 29^th January the Deputy Clerk and Cllr Gaudencio attended a meeting at Hurstpierpoint Parish Council with WSCC & Metrobus representatives. The provision of bus routes from Crawley through to Brighton were discussed in detail. Our three proposed locations for new bus shelters along the route were submitted to WSCC. Once they have collected the new suggested locations from all the parish councils along the route a feasibility survey of each location will be completed. If the location is deemed suitable each parish council will be invited to choose possible designs to be considered.

Cricket Nets
The Cricket club have been awarded a £15k grant from the county club towards the nets project. This takes them to over £50k in fund raising. The grant is conditional to the project being completed this year.  They will shortly be submitting a planning application. A cricket club representative met with our Grounds person on Friday 20^th February to discuss marking out an area in the north field to be designated for Biodiversity Net Gain. This will mean the 9v9 pitch on the north field will move slightly, towards the tennis courts, and over about 2-3 metres towards the 11v11. This will allow room for a dedicated area in the bottom right section of the north field to be wild.

Clayton Hill Fingerpost
The newly refurbished fingerpost will soon be relocated back into its original position. West Sussex County Council contractor, Landbuild have agreed they will do this at no charge while they complete remedial works in connection with the recently completed road layout changes. The work will be completed between 2-6 March 2026.

Community Highway Scheme – 20mph zone
We received confirmation on 25^th February that our application has been successful. An update on the next steps is provided in Appendix 8.

Appendix 2

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL 

To:  Grounds & Environment Committee                                     

Date: 5^th March 2026

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 6 – Groundsperson Report

The purpose of this report is to update councillors on Groundsperson activities:

• The Groundsperson sustained an injury to his ankle on 2^nd February so has been unable to undertake some of his usual duties.
• Weekly checking of the security and stability of headstones at the burial ground.
• Football pitches have been playable on 4 of the previous 6 weeks since last report. Earlier in January there were further matches cancelled.
• Wood preserved all wooden features in Adastra Park; including benches, slow the flow sign & new facias around groundsperson shed
• First Aid At Work – 3 day course complete – qualification earned
• All guttering on pavilion cleaned, a thick buildup of debris was removed.
• Large tree branch was discovered to be hanging low and dangerously over Orchard Lane morning of Tuesday 27/01. Opposite no. 2 & 4. Arranged for attendance of our preferred tree surgeon, assisted him with works & removed risk for public – tree made safe and pruned cleanly for maintenance of health. (Agenda Item 8).

Football pitches previous 6 weeks since last G&E:

• 24th Jan Postponed – rain
• 31st Jan All pitches playable
• 7th Feb Postponed – rain
• 14th Feb All pitches playable
• 21st Feb All pitches playable
• 28th Feb All pitches playable

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the meeting of the GROUNDS AND ENVIRONMENT Committee held on Thursday 5^th March 2026 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Attendees: Councillors David Bunting, Peter Richardson, Bill Hatton.

In attendance: Cllr Maria Angelaki- King, Helen Valler (Deputy Clerk).

GE25/097 APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Cllr Kristian Berggreen, Cllr Frances Gaudencio, Cllr Paul Shepherd, Cllr Sue Hatton, Cllr Ian Weir.

GE25/098 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. Being a member of the Twinning Association Cllr Bill Hatton declared an interest in Item 12.

GE25/099 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Grounds & Environment Committee meeting held on 22^nd January 2026 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

GE25/100 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. No members of the public present.

GE25/101 OFFICER’S REPORT.

Members noted the report provided in Appendix 1 of the agenda. The following points regarding items on the report were raised:

• Members were happy to allow a pizza van to be in the park on a Friday evening during the cricket season. The only concern was a possible increase in litter, more specifically pizza boxes. The Deputy Clerk said this would be monitored and any issues would be raised.
• Members noted the update on the bus shelters. We are awaiting further information from WSCC and Metrobus.
• There were some concerns that moving the 9v9 pitch will encroach on the area where the new drainage pipe has been installed. Councillors don’t want that area to become part of the football pitch or have spectators standing there for extended periods to time. Cllr Richardson suggested that the northwest side of the north field might be a more appropriate area. The Deputy Clerk to speak with the Clerk and the Cricket Club representative.
• Members noted that our Community Highway Scheme application for a 20mph zone had passed the initial phase with WSCC. The Deputy Clerk explained the plan will go through a design and feasibility assessment during 2026/27, if the scheme is deemed deliverable construction will be in 2027/28.

GE25/102 GROUNDSPERSON REPORT.

Members noted the grounds person report. They were pleased to see the report on football pitch availability had been included. They requested that future reports specify which pitches are playable or otherwise. It was confirmed that the south field pitch is only ever used by juniors. Members would also like to be informed if either cricket or stoolball has to be cancelled due to pitch condition.

GE25/103 ALLOTMENTS REPORT – Nothing to report

GE25/104 ORCHARD LANE TREE – Members discussed the look of the tree in its current state; there was a vote on any action to take. It was RESOLVED that the tree would be left as it is.

GE25/105 LESLIE CAMPBELL MEMORIAL BENCH – Members discussed the need for a suitable memorial to Leslie Campbell.  It was RESOLVED that the council agreed to cover the remaining cost of the bench to be installed at the railway station.

GE25/106 DOG WASTE BINS – Members noted the report and agreed with the proposed design of the new bins.

GE25/107 ADASTRA PARK MASTERPLAN – PAVILION WORKS UPDATE.

GE25/107.1 – Members discussed the report provided by the Clerk. Quotes are being obtained for internal decoration works and replacement of the ceiling tiles. The bi-fold doors were discussed, it was suggested that sliding doors might be more appropriate in the future. There is a fire risk assessment scheduled to take place on 30^th March.

PAVILION ROOF – Cllr Bunting explained to the committee that two quotes have been obtained from two roofing companies. For remedial works vs complete replacement. Members discussed the different quotes. The surveyor report already obtained had stated that a sinking fund be set aside for a new roof within 8 years. Members favoured undertaking initial repairs to make good the areas where water is leaking into the building.

It was RESOLVED that Richard Soan Roofing would be instructed to undertake the roof repairs as per the quotation received.

GE25/107.2 EXTERIOR WORKS – Members discussed the two quotes received. It was agreed that Greenscene Landscapes had provided more detail about the work to be undertaken. In relation to point 3 on the quote Cllr Richardson pointed out that there is in fact already an overflow pipe at this location, but it may well be blocked with silt and debris.

It was RESOLVED that Greenscene Landscapes would be instructed to carry out the work in the quote in stages, with points 1 & 2 to be completed first. Cllr Bunting & Cllr Richardson requested that a site meeting is arranged with the contractor prior to the work being commenced.

GE25/107.3 HEAT PUMP – Members noted that there is currently no heating or hot water in the pavilion. Although a quote has been obtained for complete replacement of the heat pump, they agreed that the Daikin engineer needs to visit before any decision can be made. Replacing with a like for like system might not be appropriate.

GE25/107.4 Members discussed the possible benefits of obtaining this report. It was agreed that having this type of report will enable us to make a more informed decision on what type of system is most appropriate and cost effective for the building. The hot water is not used enough to warrant the current system.

It was RESOLVED that the report would be obtained as per the quote. Cllr Bunting requested that a telephone call is arranged with the contractor prior to the report being produced to ensure our requirements are met.

GE25/107.5 ADASTRA STREAM TREE DEBRIS – It was RESOLVED that it is necessary to instruct a contractor to remove the debris from the stream.

GE25/108 MEMORIAL TREE – Members discussed the request from the Twinning Association. It was agreed that various sites should be considered as it might not be appropriate to plant further trees in the Garden of Remembrance. Could a bench in Adastra Park be considered instead. There might be a suitable site in the burial ground. More thought is needed and further discussion with the Twinning Association. No decisions were made.

GE25/109 FLOOD WORKING GROUP – Members noted the minutes from the Flood Working Group meeting.

GE25/110 – PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY UPDATE – Nothing to report Cllr Weir was not present at the meeting.

GE 25/111 URGENT MATTERS. Cllr Richardson raised that there is a drain in Adastra Park on the path near the existing cricket nets that may need to be unblocked and then needs regular maintenance by the Groundsperson.

GE25/112 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Thursday 7^th May 2026 at 7.30pm.

There being on other business the meeting was closed at 9.06pm.