Hassocks Parish Council

Agenda

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

You are summoned to a meeting of the Parish Council on Tuesday 12 July 2022 at 7.30 pm in the Council Chamber, Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Parish Clerk 5th July 2022

Members of the public are encouraged to come to the meetings and there is an opportunity for them to address the Council relating to the non-confidential items on the published agenda. A period of 15 minutes will be set aside in item 4 Public participation.  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

AGENDA

1. APOLOGIES

1.1 To accept Apologies for absence.

2. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

2.1 To deal with any disclosure by Members of any disclosable pecuniary interests and interests other than pecuniary interests, as defined under Hassocks Parish Council’s Code of Conduct and the Localism Act 2011, in relation to matters on the agenda.

3. MINUTES

3.1. To accept the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 14 June 2022.

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Up to fifteen minutes will be available to allow for the public to make representations, answer questions or give evidence in respect of any items of business included in the agenda, in accordance with Standing Orders.

5. TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING MINUTES

5.1. To note the Planning Committee minutes for 20th June 2022.

6. FINANCE

 6.1. To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £39,698.55 issued between 1 May 2022 and 31st May 2022. (Appendix 1). To view Appendix 1 please click here.

7. CO-OPTION OF MEMBERS

 7.1 CO-OPTING ONTO THE COUNCIL.  The Council currently has two vacancies and is now able to consider co-opting two suitable people onto the Council. The vacancies have been advertised and attracted some initial interest however to date only one resident has completed the application process to join the Council. The resident meets the requirements to become a Councillor therefore Members are invited to consider the interested party’s representation and invite them to join the Council at this time. The Council should RESOLVE to co-opt that person onto the Council.

It is proposed to continue to advertise the remaining vacancy until other expressions of interest are received, therefore with the forthcoming summer meeting recess its likely Members will not be in a position to formally consider any further appointments until the September Council meeting at the earliest.

8. REPORTS

 8.1. West Sussex County Councillor

8.2. Mid Sussex District Councillors Report

8.3. Police Report

8.4. Rail Matters – oral Report (Leslie Campbell)

8.5. Youth Initiatives – oral report (Frances Gaudencio)

8.6. Reports from Councillors on meetings outside bodies where the Council is represented.

9. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

9.1 Current matters (oral report)

10. CLERK’S REPORT

10.1. Insurance Property Valuations.  These are scheduled to be completed w/c 11th July to provide assurance that the Council’s property assets remain sufficiently insured for re-instatement costs. Subject to receipt of the valuations that the Clerk be authorised to amend the level of insurance cover in consultation with the Chair to ensure sufficient coverage remains in place. Any additional premium would be required to be met from General Reserves therefore authority is also sought to release the necessary funds to cover any increased premium. Members views are sought.

11. URGENT MATTERS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING. To note that the date of the next Council meeting is Tuesday 13 September 2022 at 7.30pm.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

In view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted Councillors will be referred to the Confidential Agenda. If any members of the public or press are in attendance they will be requested to withdraw from the meeting in the public interest.

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.

 

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on 12th July 2022

at 7.30pm in Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Attendees: Parish Councillors Ian Weir, Jane Baker, Kristian Berggreen, Sue Hatton ,Bill Hatton, Frances Gaudencio, Kate Bailey ,Carolyn Barton ,Claire Tester, Alex Simmons and David Bunting.

Visiting Member(s): –  County Councillor Kirsty Lord

Parish Clerk: Ian Cumberworth

MINUTES

PC22/49       APOLOGIES   Cllr Robert Brewer and Cllr Leslie Campbell.

Cllr Weir advised members that the running order for the agenda items would be revised as the Clerk had been informed that the Co-option candidate would not arrive until later in the meeting Members agreed to this proposal.

PC22/50 DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

Disclosure by Councillors of personal interests in matters on the agenda, and whether the Councillor regards their interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct. – None.

PC22/51       MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on the 14th June 2022 were accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

PC22/52       PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

No members of the public were present.

PC22/53       MINUTES

53.1          Members accepted the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting on the 20th June 2022.

PC22/54       FINANCE

54.1          Members considered the finance report and the supporting bank statements and reviewed the following payment list.

The Finance report and payments totalling £39,698.55 (Appendix 1) for the period ending 30th May 2022 were considered and APPROVED.

PC22/55     Reports

55.1        District Councillor Report (Cllr Sue Hatton) Members were informed that the Site Allocation Plan SA13 relating to the top part of Ockley Lane (Burgess Hill) had passed.

MSDC Cabinet will be considering a report on Monday which was generated by the working group set up to look at the future options for Claire Hall.

Ockley lane will be closed from the 13th – 15th July for roadworks being undertaken by UK Power and from next week 18th highways works will commence relating to the 500 site where traffic measures control will be in place for approx. 14 weeks.

Cllr Hatton informed members that some complaints were being raised in respect of the time work commences on the Ockley Lane site which have been reported to the MSDC planning department to address.

55.2        County Councillors reports: – Cllr Kirsty Lord (KL) advised that if members wished there was a current on-line consultation on the Pharmaceutical needs which members may wish to participate in. There is also an on-going consultation on the Haywards Heath Masterplan in relation to Commercial Road.

The Sayers Common to Downlands School cycle route from Stone Pound to Dale Avenue is programmed for this financial year. KL indicated that she had re –raised concerns expressed by the Parish and others regarding the shared usage space proposed and is awaiting feedback from officers. Members expressed concern regarding the proposed share space around Age Concern and the Health Centre and the mix with cyclists which had been raised in its formal consultation response.

A number of Community Highway schemes are being considered in relation to Stonepound Road to alleviate the issues of drivers using the road as a cut through. County are proposing to consider options of slowing traffic down and discouraging non local traffic to use this cut through.

County (WSCC) are also considering a scheme at Beaconhurst, the recent inquest found that the fatality was as a result of driver error and not the highway. Options are being explored to see what potential improvements may be viable which will also involve liaising with ESCC.

Some issues have also recently been raised about a Broadband installation company failing to adequately re-instate areas where works have been undertaken (Church Mead). County are to follow this matter up.

Pedestrian improvements are also being explored in relation to Clayton and Ditchling Road together with trying to make the Clayton Hill junction safer.

Public Rights of way (PROW) – County are looking to undertake some improvements to small links around the village that in turn will link to more significant PROWS to improve the routes into the village.

PROW 15c is scheduled to be closed for 21 days (from 11th July) however no progress has been made on Cold harbour lane PROW at present.

Cllr Lord also informed members that a 40 week programme of roadworks are scheduled for Burgess Hill.

Cllr Barton raised an issue with the County Councillor in respect of the state of the road surface in Silverdale. KL indicated she was aware of the issue and would raise this again with highways.

Members had a general discussion around various highways issues and welcomed the fact that WSCC were in discussion with ESCC regarding Beaconhurst. Members did express the view however that rather than highways engineers simply focussing on accident data they should also look at environmental aspects of highways so that the place feels safer so that pedestrians in turn feel safer. This was particularly referenced to the route to Ditchling.

KL indicated there may be an opportunity for the Parish to propose areas of speed restrictions as a pilot scheme(s) which County could consider however a detailed proposal would need to be developed prior to submission.

KL briefly updated members on additional classrooms required at Downlands for this September and next year which in part could be funded from section 106 monies held by County.

55.3        Police Report – The Clerk informed members that the first Police Beat surgery was held in the Parish Centre on the 30th June and its hoped that further sessions can be scheduled in which in turn can be promoted more effectively to attract more interest.

55.4        Rail Matters – A recent meeting was held by the Rail group (led by HCO) in the Parish centre to discuss the potential future/options for the group.

55.5          Youth Initiatives – Cllr Gaudencio indicated she would provide members with some detailed feedback at the next meeting.

55.6          Report from Councillors on meetings of outside bodies where the Council is represented Cllr Bill Hatton indicated that he was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Downlands School Sports Hall Committee but this was subsequently cancelled.

PC22/56     CHAIRMANS REPORT – nothing to report.

PC22/57     CLERK’S REPORT

57.1          Insurance Valuations – Members were advised that the valuations were undertaken on 11th July and will take around ten days to be finalised. It’s likely as a result of this, the Insurance rebuild valuations will increase, therefore the Councils insurance cover may need to be adjusted accordingly.

If this is the case its likely to result in an increase in premium which will exceed the current budget allocation, therefore any increase in premium will need to be met from General Reserves.

Therefore authority was sought for the Clerk in consultation with the Chair to approve the release of funds required from general reserves and amend the insurance policy as necessary to reflect the revised valuations.

Members RESOLVED to APPROVE the release of up to a maximum of £1,000 from General reserves to fund any increase in insurance premium in the event the Council properties have significantly increased in value for insurance purposes. This should be in consultation with the Chair.

Members sought clarification as to whether the Parish Council obtains evidence from the Adastra Hall and Bowls club regarding the level of insurance coverage (re-build valuations) of their respective buildings.

The Clerk indicated that he was not aware of this but would do so after confirming whether the Council is permitted to do so under the terms of the respective lease agreements.

PC22/58       URGENT MATTERS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN – Members were requested to note a request for a road closure (Newlands Close) to hold a street party on Saturday 6th August. Members duly NOTED the request.

PC22/59       CO-OPTION OF MEMBERS. Members were invited to consider co-opting Angus Neil onto the Council. Angus was invited to briefly introduce himself and provide some brief background of his experience and potential skill sets he could bring to the Council and areas of particular interest.

Members then asked a series of questions which Angus responded to.

Members were then invited to vote and approve the co-option of Angus Neil onto the Council.

Members voted and RESOLVED to APPROVE the adoption of Angus Neil onto the Council. The declaration of acceptance was then duly signed

PC22/60     DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the date of the next Parish Council meeting is Tuesday 13th September 2022 at 7.30pm.