A meeting of the Parish Council is being held on Tuesday 10 March 2026 at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber, Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.
Parish Clerk 4 March 2026
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 10 February 2026.
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 – agree the minutes for 2 February 2026 and to note the minutes for 23 February 2026
5.2 Grounds & Environment Committee – to note the minutes for 22 January 2026
5.3 Policy Resources & Communications Committee – to note the minutes for 27 January 2026
6. HASSOCKS TWINNING ASSOCIATION
6.1 Informative report and Q&A session regarding plans for the forthcoming twinning visit in May.
7. REPORTS
7.1 Police Report
7.2 West Sussex County Councillor
7.3 Mid Sussex District Councillors Report
7.4 Rail and Public Transport Matters
7.5 Community Initiatives
7.6 Reports from Councillors on meetings with outside bodies where the Council is Represented.
8. FINANCE
8.1 To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £510.73 issued between 1 – 31 January 2026 from the Barclays Current Account (2114) (Appendix 1). Please click here to view Appendix 1.
8.2 To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £8.50issued between 1 – 28 February 2026 from the Barclays Current Account (2114) (Appendix 2). Please click here to view Appendix 2.
8.3 To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £0issued between 1 – 28 February 2026 from the Barclays Tracker Account (3548) (Appendix 3). Please click here to view Appendix 3.
8.4 To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £0issued between 1 – 28 February 2026 from the Barclays Business Saver Account (5015) (Appendix 4). Please click here to view Appendix 4.
8.5 To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £25,335.50issued between 1 – 28 February 2026 from the Unity Current Account (7654) (Appendix 5). Please click here to view Appendix 5.
8.6 To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £27.00issued between 9 January – 2 February 2026 with the Corporate Purchasing Card (0651) (Appendix 6). Please click here to view Appendix 6.
9. CHAIR’S REPORT
9.1 Current matters (oral report)
10. CLERK’S REPORT
10.1 Current matters (oral report)
10.2 Hassocks Twinning Association – in January the Hassocks Twinning Association made a Community Grant application for £3,000 toward the cost of hosting delegations from Montmirail and Wald-Michelbach during the triennial three-day visit, over the bank holiday weekend on 22-25 May. This is needed to fund a visit to a local vineyard (£1,400), the hire of Adastra Hall to be used as a base for visitors, host families and events (£225), catering and entertainment for a Saturday evening reception and a working lunch (£1,375). The twinning association was awarded the maximum grant of £600 but they are continuing to fundraise and have requested a further contribution toward these costs. There is £675 remaining in the 25/26 Grants budget and any additional sums would have to be funded through the General Reserve.
Members of the Council are asked to consider and APPROVE a further award of up to £2,400 toward these costs.
11. URGENT MATTERS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR 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 14 April 2026.
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 of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on 10 March 2026
Attendees: Parish Councillors Frances Gaudencio (Chair), Maria Angelaki-King, Kristian Berggreen, David Bunting, Lesley Cruickshank-Robb, Don McBeth, Peter Reime, Peter Richardson, Paul Shepherd, Alex Simmons, Ian Weir
In Attendance: Elaine Langridge (Clerk & RFO), Jeannie Brooker (Hassocks Twinning Association), WSCC Cllr Erika Woodhurst-Trueman
MINUTES
PC25/134 APOLOGIES Cllrs Robert Brewer, Bill Hatton, Sue Hatton
PC25/135 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.
PC25/136 MINUTES The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 10 February 2026 were
accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
PC25/137 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No members of the public were present.
PC25/138 TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING MINUTES
PC25/139 HASSOCKS TWINNING ASSOCIATION
Jeannie Brooker was appointed Chair of the Hassocks Twinning Association last summer, after Stephanie White sadly died. She provided Councillors with an overview of the activities planned for the twinning visit in late May 2026 and opportunities for wider community involvement.
The visitors will arrive on Friday 22 May and a ‘meet and greet’ is planned at the Age Concern building at about 7pm. There will be approximately fifty visitors in total who are staying with local host families, including twelve official delegates – three from each of the mayoral offices and three from the local authorities in each of the towns. Hassocks has had a thirty-year relationship with the twin towns. We host a visit every three years and a visit is arranged to France and Germany in other years.
Montmirail is in the Champagne region in France and Wald-Michelbach is in the Reisling region in Germany so both towns have an interest in the Sussex wine making industry. In the morning, on Saturday 23 May, the twinning association will arrange a trip to a local vineyard or visitors will be free to do some independent sightseeing. In the evening, there will be a Ceilidh at Adastra Hall and tickets will be made available to local residents.
On Sunday 24 May in the afternoon, a formal Show and Tell is planned at the Council offices to share information, exchange gifts, sign the Friendship Agreement and contract. This will be followed by a High Tea social event for delegates, host families and invited guests. There will be a prizegiving for young people from Downlands School for the Margaret Rose linguistic award and poster competition. The schools are interested in ongoing communications with the twin towns.
The guests will depart at 8am on Monday 25 May.
Councillor representation is welcome at the events; a full schedule and agenda for the Sunday meeting will be provided in due course.
Cllrs Angelaki-King and Cruickshank-Robb agreed to consider how local traders might be involved during the weekend.
Cllr Woodhurst-Trueman will contact Alison Bennett MP to find out about her availability.
PC25/140 REPORTS
PC25/140.1 Police Report – none
PC25/140.2 West Sussex County Councillor – Erick Woodhurst-Trueman provided information regarding the 2026/27 budget settlement, the devolution timetable, Villa Adastra and the elections timetable (Appendix 1). She also reported that the County Council has purchased new AI technology which will be fitted to Council vehicles to scan and assess the road surface to help improve reporting. The high level of rain in January has affected the highways and teams have been working overtime to try and address the problems but response times have been lengthened. Also, the Household Support Fund has been changed to the Crisis and Resilience Fund to support households suffering financial shocks. Free school meals during the holidays ends at Easter but the Holiday Activity Camps are currently undersubscribed and children attending are fed so this may be of help to some families.
PC25/140.3 Mid Sussex District Councillor report – Cllr Berggreen provided a report on behalf of MSDC Cllr Chris Hobbs (Appendix 2).
PC25/140.4 Rail and Public Transport Matters – the Rail Group has not met recently but Catherine Cassidy provided an email update on works at the station. She has had confirmation from the GTR project manager that the temporary works to improve accessibility to the east side of the station are due to commence in March and he has responded to the feedback submitted.
PC25/140.5 Community Initiatives – none
PC25/140.6 Report from Councillors on meetings of outside bodies where the Council is represented – on 11 February, Cllr Gaudencio, Cllr Sue Hatton and the Clerk attended a MS Teams meeting with members of the School Organisation and Development Team at WSCC and Cllr Woodhurst-Trueman to discuss the demand for school places in Hassocks. There was a discussion about the land at Ockley Park which is allocated for a new school which could include SEND provision, subject to demand. As the birth rate is currently falling, the County Council has no construction plans at present and under the terms of the S106 legal agreement this land will be returned to the developer if it is not used for this purpose within 10 years of 1st occupation (2033). A follow up meeting is scheduled for September 2026.
PC25/141 FINANCE
PC25/141.1 Members APPROVED the payments list totalling £510.73 for the period between 1 – 31 January 2026 from the Barclays Current Account (2114)
PC25/141.2 Members APPROVED the payments list totalling £8.50 for the period between
1 – 28 February 2026 from the Barclays Current Account (2114)
PC25/141.3 No payments were made between 1 – 28 February 2026 from the Barclays Tracker Account (3548)
PC25/141.4 No payments were made between 1 – 28 February 2026 from the Barclays Business Saver Account (5015)
PC25/141.5 Members APPROVED the payments list totalling £25,335.50 for the period between
1 – 28 February 2026 from the Unity Current Account (7654)
PC25/141.6 Members APPROVED the payments list totalling £27.00 for the period between
9 January – 2 February 2026 from the Corporate Purchasing Card (0651)
PC25/142 CHAIR’S REPORT – Cllr Gaudencio advised that interviews were held for the Community Engagement Officer post, w/c 2 March, by a panel consisting of herself, Cllr Shepherd, Cllr Weir and the Clerk. The standard of candidates was very high and five were shortlisted for interview although one did not attend. It was a difficult choice, but an appointment has been made, and the new staff member will start work on 20 April for 4 days pw. and full-time from September. The panel will meet next week to organise the induction process.
The Clerk stated that part of his role will be to produce a Communications Policy, overhaul the website and address the Council’s branding and identity. She understood there had been a discussion about this issue in relation to street signage at the Transport Working Group. He will also be responsible for clerking the working groups so will be able to assist with this and help move new projects forward. Cllr Simmons offered his support with regard to branding and website as he has expertise in this area.
PC25/143 CLERK’S REPORT
PC25/143.1 The Clerk informed Councillors that a Casual Vacancy had been advertised with a closing date of 31 March for applications to be considered for Co-option at the April Council meeting. Any applications received after this date will be considered if the vacancy is not filled or if there are future vacancies.
Work is underway to organise the Annual Parish Meeting on 21 May at Adastra Hall. Invitations have been sent to local groups to have a stall or make a short presentation and a draft of the Annual Report will be presented to the Policy, Resources and Communications Committee in April.
The Assistant to the Clerk will officially leave the Council on 31 March but will continue to do some casual work on a freelance basis to assist with the year end accounts and archiving.
PC25/143.2 Members were asked to consider a further one-off contribution of up to £2,400 toward the costs of the Hassocks Twinning Association visit in May. This would be used to fund the public and formal activities and the twinning association will pay for the vineyard trip out of their own match funding. There is £675 in the Community Grants budget which can be allocated to the award and the remaining amount will be paid from the General Reserve.
RESOLVED After careful consideration Members all voted in favour to award the sum of £2,400 to the Hassocks Twinning Association.
Members also asked the Clerk to look into the possibility of commissioning two framed photo montages of Hassocks as a gift for the visiting dignitaries, to be funded from the Chair’s Allowance.
PC25/144 URGENT MATTERS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR – None
PC25/145 DATE OF NEXT MEETING Tuesday 14 April 2026
Appendix 1
County Councillor Report to Parish Council 10 March 2026
Budget 2026/7
Budget is balanced.
Gross income and expenditure – £2,322,900,00. Net expenditure – £882,900,000.
Page 25 of budget pack for breakdown by portfolio.
Many pressures on the budgets. Future years will be harder to balance. E.g. 2027/8 £18.1m deficit/budget gap up to £72.5m for 2030/31.
Additional £2.4m for 2026/7 will be received from the Local Government Finance Settlement.
Dedicated School Grants – central government will meet 90% of the cumulative High Needs deficit recorded by local authorities up to the end of 2025/6. This would reduce local liability to £19.3m. Future arrangements for management of deficits is not yet confirmed.
CC pushed for an additional £2m on highways maintenance, local resurfacing and flood prevention in consultation with local members. Money was also found for AI tech, bus services, SEND travel, LNRS delivery, and support for school on SEND processes. Voted down.
Devolution
Government has laid the Statutory Instrument in Parliament that will formally establish the Sussex & Brighton Combined County Authority. This is the final legislative step and will enable the new Mayoral Combined Authority to be created this spring.
Government has also confirmed that, although mayoral elections have been delayed until 2028, devolution continues at pace, led by the constituent councils.
Villa Adastra
The residential facility is likely to be taken over by Pilgrims’ Friends Society. PFS is a network of Christian care homes and housing schemes. The transition is likely to come into effect on 1st May 2026. Link to article: Two care homes to join Pilgrims’ Friend Society family | Pilgrims’ Friend Society
WSCC Elections Timetable – see below.
| Publication of notice of election | Monday 30 March 2026 |
| First poll card despatch (includes anyone who was registered to vote as at 18/03/2026) | Monday 30 March 2026 |
| Candidate nominations open | Tuesday 31 March 2026 |
| Candidate nominations deadline | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Deadline for withdrawals of candidates | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Deadline for appointment of election agents | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Publication of notice of election agents | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Notice of alteration 1 | Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Publication of statements of persons nominated | 4:00pm, Friday 10 April 2026 |
| First postal vote despatch (includes anyone registered as a postal or postal proxy voter as at 01/04/2026) | Thursday 16 April 2026 |
| Registration deadline | 11:59pm, Monday 20 April 2026 |
| Deadline for receiving:
• New postal vote applications • New postal proxy applications |
5:00pm Tuesday 21 April 2026 |
| Deadline for changes to:
• Existing postal vote arrangements • Existing postal proxy arrangements • Existing proxy arrangements |
5:00pm Tuesday 21 April 2026 |
| Notice of alteration 2 | Thursday 21 April 2026 |
| Late postal vote despatch (includes anyone who was registered as a postal or proxy voter after the 01/04/2026 and before the deadline) | Monday 27 April 2026 |
| Publication of notice of poll and situation of polling stations | Tuesday 28 April 2026 |
| Deadline for voter authority certificates applications | 5:00pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026 |
| Deadline for new proxy vote applications | 5:00pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026 |
| Late poll card despatch (includes anyone who registered after the 18/03/2026 and before the deadline) | Wednesday 20 April 2026 |
| Final notice of alteration | Wednesday 29 April 2026 |
| Notification deadline for the appointment of polling and count agents | Wednesday 29 April 2026 |
| First day to issue a replacement for lost or spoilt postal votes | Thursday 30 April 2026 |
| Polling day | 7am to 10pm on Thursday 7 May 2026 |
| Last time to issue replacement for lost or spoilt postal votes | 5:00 pm, Thursday 7 May 2026 |
| Deadline for emergency proxy vote applications | 5:00 pm, Thursday 7 May 2026 |
| Verification and count | Friday 8 May 2026 |
| Deadline for candidate spending returns | Friday 12 June 2026 |
Notices & Publications Timetable
| Publication of notice of election | Monday 30 March 2026 |
| Publication of notice of election agents | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Notice of alteration 1 | Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Publication of statements of persons nominated | 4:00pm, Friday 10 April 2026 |
| Notice of alteration 2 | Thursday 21 April 2026 |
| Publication of notice of poll and situation of polling stations | Tuesday 28 April 2026 |
| Final notice of alteration | Wednesday 29 April 2026 |
Candidate and Agent Deadlines
| Candidate nominations open | Tuesday 31 March 2026 |
| Candidate nominations deadline | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Deadline for withdrawals of candidates | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Deadline for appointment of election agents | 4:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 |
| Notification deadline for the appointment of polling and count agents | Wednesday 29 April 2026 |
| Deadline for candidate spending returns | Friday 12 June 2026 |
Erika Woodhurst-Trueman
West Sussex County Councillor for Hassocks and Burgess Hill South
Appendix 2
District Councillor Report to Parish Council 10 March 2026
In late February the council agreed the budget. Despite it going through an all-party working group, and scrutiny, the Conservative administration tabled an amendment to the budget, removing evening parking charges in East Grinstead only. We tabled an amendment to that amendment, which was voted for and adopted, removing evening charges from all 3 of our towns, not just East Grinstead. The impact of those changes has served to reduce the contribution to the general reserve, by around £90,000.
You will note from the Council’s medium term financial plan that next year we are forecasting a deficit of nearly £1m, the following year £2m and in 3 years £6.5m, Whilst the issues in 2028-9 and onwards will be for the new unitary authority to resolve, these are driven by the new multi-year funding settlement provided by the government, and represent the recalculation of the business rates, which we collect but of which we will retain a smaller amount.
Please click here to view MSDC medium term financial plan
On a more positive note, the development of the London Road Recreation Ground is moving forward.
Finally, you may have seen concern expressed by residents in regard to the limited time that the public toilets in Adastra Park are open. I have been working with the Officers and your Clerk for some time to come up with a longer-term plan for this facility. Currently I am working to understand what Section 106 funds are available to refurbish or rebuild the facility and will be taking discussion with the officers over the coming weeks to ascertain what can be delivered with the money that is earmarked for Hassocks.
Cllr Chris Hobbs
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure & Customer Services
Ward Councillor, Hassocks
See full list of 2025/26 meetings, minutes and agendas here >
28/04/2026
Policy, Resources & Communications
07/05/2026
Grounds & Environment Committee
See full list of 2025/26 meetings, minutes and agendas here >
The Council Office is located at:
Parish Centre, Adastra Park,
Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8QH.
Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Wednesday CLOSED
Friday
10.00 a.m. to 12 noon.
