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 25th June 2026 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Parish Clerk 18th June 2026

1. TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. TO ACCEPT DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

3. ELECTION of CHAIR & VICE-CHAIR – Members are requested to elect a Chair & Vice-Chair of the Grounds & Environment Committee.

4. MINUTES. To accept the Minutes of the Grounds and Environment Meeting held on 7th May 2026. (Previously circulated).

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

6. OFFICER’S REPORT. (Appendix 1).

7. GROUNDSPERSON REPORT. (Appendix 2).

8. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2026 – Members are asked to consider the attached report. (Appendix 3).

9. JAPANESE KNOTWEED INSPECTIONS. Members are asked to be aware of the two attached reports regarding the annual inspections. (Appendix 4). Please click here to view Appendix 4.

10. MEMORIAL BENCH ADASTRA PARK – A member of the public has requested a bench be installed in the park in memory of her father. (Appendix 5).

11. ADASTRA PARK MASTERPLAN

11.1. PAVILION WORKS UPDATE. Members are asked to consider the attached quote from Quantum surveyors. (Appendix 6). Please click here to view Appendix 6.

11.2. ADASTRA PARK TOILETS UPDATE. Members are asked to consider the attached quote from Quantum Surveyors (Appendix 7). Please click here to view Appendix 7.

11.3. ADASTRA PARK TOILETS – Members are asked to consider and agree to go ahead with a structural survey & CCTV drainage survey in order to progress the refurbishments works.

Building structural survey: £650 ex VAT – Stuart Radley Associates

Drainage survey:  £390 ex VAT. This would include a CCTV drainage survey of the accessible drainage runs serving the toilet block, with our findings provided following the survey. If any defects, blockages, or areas of concern are identified, we will advise on the most suitable next steps. Alton Facilities Services.

11.4. ORCHARD LANE WORKS. Members are asked to consider works to Orchard Lane. (Appendix 8). Please click here to view Appendix 8.

11.5. HEDGEHOGS – Members are asked to consider the attached report (Appendix 9).

11.6. LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS. Members are asked to consider the proposals for biodiversity improvements to the park (Appendix 10) please click here to view Appendix 10 and the quotation attached. (Appendix 10.1). Please click here to view Appendix 10.1

12. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP – Verbal Update.

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

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

15. DATE OF NEXT MEETING. – Thursday 30TH July 2026.

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: 25th June 2026

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 6 – Officer Report

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

  • Bench now delivered and installed on the southbound platform at the station in memory of Les Campbell
  • The Parish Council have been successful in their application to the Football Foundation for a grant to improve the condition of the football pitches. Discussions currently with Barcombe regarding an enhanced maintenance schedule.
  • Two bollards have been installed at the north entrance to Adastra Park, to obstruct vehicles from driving onto the field.
  • A dead and damaged Willow Tree from the north boundary of the park was removed on 3rd       Cost: £550.00.
  • Robert Heath Heating Ltd are booked in for the 2nd July to carry out the repairs to the Air Source Heat Pump in the Pavilion. The repair cost of £3200 has already been paid.
  • On 15th July the next meeting will take place of the Bus route 273 Working Group. This will be held at Hurstpierpoint Parish Council. It will cover the next steps, licences, permissions and additional works required. Our temporary additional member of staff will be attending on our behalf. She will be fully briefed beforehand.
  • Dog Waste Bins Update

Subject to a 28 day consultation WSCC have approved the following locations:

  • Ockley Lane/Woodsland Rd
  • Stanford Ave/junction of London Rd
  • The Fairway/London Rd
  • Campion Close – Saxon Gate

I am now waiting for them to start a 28 day consultation period, before a licence can be issued for the installation to go ahead.

  • Still awaiting approval:
    Junction of Lodge Lane/PROW 12K – WSCC are unable to licence this location due to lack of space on the highway boundary. They have advised a bin could be installed a short distance into the PROW. I am waiting to hear from MSDC for permission.
  • Ockley Park – Copley Drive & western end of Woodsland Road – Waiting to hear from WSCC as to whether they need to also approve these locations along with the managing agent of the development.
  • Car park resurfacing
    A new quote has been obtained to resurface the car park and reconfigure the two disabled spaces to provide more room at either side.Batten Road Marking – based in Henfield£1420.00 (no VAT)

    £160.00 – to burn off lines and complete hatched area.
    They will be instructed to complete the work over the summer holiday when the car park has less usage.

 Appendix 2

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL 

To:      Grounds & Environment Committee                                     

Date: 25th June 2026

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 7 – Groundsperson Report

Due to the weather a lot of time is taken up with clearing litter and cutting the grassed areas and the allotments. Other regular tasks:

  • Weekly checking of headstones at burial grounds, all secure
  • Regular grass cutting and strimming, mostly daily now in growing season
  • After gathering some quotes from various pest control companies, I arranged for the treatment of a rat infestation issue along the hedge between orchard lane and the north field. Bait boxes were safely installed and have successfully reduced numbers of rats in the area
  • Some hedge cutting after thoroughly checking for nesting birds. Mainly areas obstructing CCTV and access to buildings/walkways. Will continue in the coming weeks around the pavilion area and bowls green
  • Currently working with councillors to improve some areas of the park (for example, potential for new plants, bulbs and biodiversity meadow areas) and hoping to implement some ideas later this year

Appendix 3

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To: Grounds and Environment Committee

Date: 25th June 2026

Contact for this report: Deputy Clerk

Subject: Agenda Item 8 – Christmas lights 2026

The purpose of this report is to present to councillors a proposal for a new Christmas lighting contractor:

Background:

Our three-year contract with Merlin Lighting came to an end after Christmas 2025.

I am awaiting a new quote.

Over the last three years there have been numerous issues with the lights:

  • Displays on the lighting columns not working. No testing or repair taking place despite repeated requests.
  • Late communication from our contact leaving little time to finalise the required permission from WSCC to attach the lights to the columns.
  • During the 2025/26 season we hired a lighting display from Merlin Lighting to be displayed on the outside wall of Hassocks Hardware. Due to the display constantly tripping the lighting in the shop it was rarely illuminated.

Quote 1 – Festive Lighting Company

To decorate 16 lamp post columns with a double-sided design – 32 motifs

3-year contract: £7099.00 per year

5-year contract: £6595.00 per year

Full details are contained in Appendix 3.1. Please click here to view Appendix 3.1

Includes installation, testing, removal, storage.

Current contracts with Brighton & Hove City Council and Horsham District Council.

I have asked if they can provide a more elaborate design for the Hassocks Hardware wall.

Quote 2 – Turnock Lighting

Offering a 3-year contract which would include a fixed price of:

  1. a) Provide an initial pole stress test & report (for WSCC) plus a simpler one for each of the next 2 years. (unless you have any severely corroded or very old poles)
  2. b) Electrical testing & result sheets for the WSCC street lighting chief engineer at the same time as annual installation work.
  3. c) Provide annual rental for 15 of our medium size pole displays & one wall display, do annual installation, switch on, & removal. (Appendix 3.2). Please click here to view Appendix 3.2
  4. d) annual test/repair/storage of all displays in our factory each year, ready for the following year.

3-year contract – £7100 per annum (estimate only). There would be additional costs such as travel, as they are based in the West Midlands. Final price would be decided upon a site visit. They don’t provide lighting for anyone else in this area. Would prefer that we find a local electrician to do the install to save on travel costs.

OFFICER RECOMMENDATION:  The Festive Lighting company have provided a clear comprehensive report outlining the scope of the contract. It is recommended they become our new supplier. The option of 3 or 5 years needs to be discussed and agreed:

Total cost over 5 years: £32,975.00

Total cost over 3 years: £21,297.00

Current available budget over 3 years: £20,500.00

Current available budget over 5 years: £27,500.00

EMR 10k. Annual Budget: £3500.00

Shortfall in budget to make up: 3 years £797.00. 5 years £5475.00. These amounts would need to be added to the budget each year.

Appendix 5

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL 

To:      Grounds & Environment Committee                                

Date: 25th June 2026

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk             

Subject: Agenda Item 10 – Memorial Bench

The purpose of this report is to ask members to consider a request from a member of public who would like to donate funds for a bench in Adastra Park in memory of her father. Members are asked to consider whether the person has sufficient connection to the village/park to justify a bench.

Background

  • Person’s father passed away in May 2026
  • Played for Hassocks Football Club for many years.
  • Lived in Burgess Hill
  • Surviving family live in Hassocks & Lindfield.

Appendix 9

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL 

To:      Grounds & Environment Committee                                

Date: 25th June 2026

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk             

Subject: Agenda Item 11.5 – Hedgehogs & Biodiversity

The purpose of this report is to invite councillors to agree the purchase of hedgehog haven boxes to be positioned around Adastra Park:

  • Starter Pack (4 Hedgehog Havens): Perfect for a pilot in a key green space. £240 (Unit cost: £60).
  • Community Pack (8 Hedgehog Havens): Ideal for a comprehensive park or estate project. £440 (Unit cost: £55) – Our most popular council option.

Every package includes:

  • The specified number of high-quality, assembled hedgehog houses, constructed with high-quality long-life UK made timber.
  • A supply of hedgehog nesting material sufficient for all hedgehog houses.
  • A supply of hedgehog food.
  • A ceramic drinking bowl.
  • Our ‘Hedgehog Highway & Habitat’ guide (creating corridors, linking green spaces).
  • A placement and monitoring guide for officers/volunteers.
  • A press release template and social media graphics to announce your project.
  • Delivery included and 10 year guarantee.

RECOMMENDATION: Members are asked to consider this proposal in conjunction with the landscape proposals.