Hassocks Parish Council

Agenda

A meeting of the Parish Council is being held on Tuesday 8 October 2024 at 7.30 pm in the Council Chamber, Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks

Parish Clerk – 1 October 2024

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

To accept Apologies for absence.

2. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

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

To accept the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 10 September 2024.

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       Planning Committee – to agree the minutes for the 16th September 2024.

5.2       Policy Resources & Communications Committee – to note the minutes for 3rd September 2024.

6. FINANCE

To approve the Financial Report (Appendix 1) and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £20,862.82 issued between 1 August 2024 and 31 August 2024. To view Appendix 1 please click here.

7. REPORTS

7.1       West Sussex County Councillor

7.2       Mid Sussex District Councillors Report

7.3       Police Report

7.4       Rail Matters

7.5       Youth Initiatives

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

8. CHAIR’S REPORT

8.1       Current matters (oral report).

9. CLERK’S REPORT

9.1       Councillor Co-option – (verbal update)

9.2       Draft Business Plan 2024 – 2029 – The draft Business Plan was previously considered by Policy, Resources & Communications Committee and was agreed in principle subject to some further amendments. Cllr Gaudencio and Cllr Weir have subsequently worked on the document further which is set out as Appendix 2 for consideration. To view Appendix 2 please click here.

Members are requested to review the document and confirm agreement that the proposed plan fairly represents the Councils priorities over the forthcoming years and approve the adoption of the plan or suggest any further amendments for consideration.

To assist Members the original tracked change version of the document has been distributed separately as a background paper so that Members can view the changes post the Policy, Resources & Communications Committee meeting. Member’s views are sought.

9.3       Annual Return The purpose of this report is to advise Council that the External Auditor has signed off the Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2024. I am pleased to inform Members that the accounts have been agreed without amendment by the External Auditors. (Appendix 3). To view Appendix 3 please click here.

The External audit fee for the work undertaken for the financial year 2023/24 is £1,050.00 plus VAT.

9.4       Precept this is to advise members that the Council has received its second precept instalment in the sum of £165,913. Members are requested to note this.

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

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the date of the next Council meeting will be 12th November 2024.

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.

Confidential

12. To accept the confidential minutes of the Council held on the 10 September 2024 (previously circulated).

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.