Annual Statutory Meeting of Hassocks Parish Council

Agenda

The Annual Statutory Meeting of Hassocks Parish Council is being held on Tuesday 12 May 2026 which is scheduled to commence at 7.30 pm in the Council Chamber, Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Parish Clerk 6 May 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 10 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. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON

3. DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE

4. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRPERSON

5. DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE

6. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

6.1. 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.

7. APPOINTMENT OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS

To confirm the membership of each of the following set out in (Appendix 1). The attached paper sets out those Members that have currently expressed a preference therefore does not represent the final representation.

a). Grounds & Environment Committee

b). Planning Committee

c). Policy Resources & Communications Committee

d). Flood Working Group

e). Highways &Transportation Working Group

f). Neighbourhood Plan Committee

g). Adastra Park Working Group

h). To confirm that the Chair of the Council is ex-officio Member of each Standing Committee

i). To confirm that the Vice Chair of the Council is ex-officio Member of each Standing Committee

8. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES

Details of Outside bodies are set out in (Appendix 2) detailing the current expressions of interest. Members are requested to confirm the proposed representatives and agree any further amendments required.

9. MINUTES

9.1. To resolve that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 14 April 2026 be taken as read, confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

10. 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.

11. TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING MINUTES

11.1. Planning Committee – to agree the minutes for 7 April 2026.

12. FINANCE

12.1. To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £0issued between 1-30 April 2026 from the Barclays Tracker Account (3548) (Appendix 3). Please click here to view Appendix 3.

12.2. To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £30,084.02issued between 1-30 April 2026 from the Barclays Current Account (2114) (Appendix 4). Please click here to view Appendix 4.

12.3.To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £33,160issued between 1-30 April 2026 from the Unity Current Account (7654) (Appendix 5). Please click here to view Appendix 5.

12.4. To approve the Financial Report and authorise the list of payments in the sum of £0 issued between 3-31 March 2026 from the Corporate Purchasing Card (0651) (Appendix 6). Please click here to view Appendix 6.

13. REPORTS

13.1. West Sussex County Councillor

13.2. Mid Sussex District Councillors

13.3. Police Report

13.4. Rail and Public Transport Matters

13.5. Community Initiatives

13.6. Reports from Councillors on meetings with outside bodies where the Council is Represented.

14. CHAIR’S REPORT

14.1. Current matters (oral report)

15. CLERK’S REPORT

15.1. Current matters (oral report)

15.2. Insurance Renewal – The Council’s insurance policy with Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc is due for renewal on 1 June 2026. Clear Councils Insurance, specialist broker for UK local councils, charities, and not-for-profit organizations, has provided a renewal invite and Members are recommended to instruct the Clerk with instructions to proceed with cover under this new policy (Appendix 7). Please click here to view Appendix 7.

15.3. Municipal Meeting Calendar – The attached paper details the proposed meeting schedule for the forthcoming Municipal Year (Appendix 8). Please click here to view Appendix 8.

15.4. Precept – Members are advised that the Council has received the first Parish precept instalment in the sum of £185,006 from Mid Sussex District Council.

15.5. Direct Debits – Members are asked to review and agree the Parish Council’s direct debits (Appendix 9).

16. RISK MANAGEMENT – In accordance with the Financial Regulations, the Clerk is required to prepare a risk management policy to be reviewed by the Council annually. Members are requested to APPROVE the Corporate Risk Register (Appendix 10), as recommended by the Policy, Resources and Communications Committee on 28 April 2026. Please click here to view Appendix 10.

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

18. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note the date of the next Council meeting.

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.

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APPENDIX 1

APPOINTMENT OF STANDING COMMITTEES & WORKING GROUPS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 2026/27

(a)  GROUNDS & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE (7+ Members)

Current members 2025/26	202/27 – Members wishing to be considered for G & E
David Bunting (Chair)	David Bunting
Paul Shepherd (Vice Chair)	Paul Shepherd
Kristian Berggreen	Kristian Berggreen
Frances Gaudencio	Frances Gaudencio
Bill Hatton	Bill Hatton
Sue Hatton	Sue Hatton
Peter Richardson	Peter Richardson
Ian Weir	Ian Weir
	Maria Angelaki-King
	Peter Reime

 

(b)  PLANNING COMMITTEE (7+ Members)

Current members 2025/26	2026/27 – Members wishing to be considered for Planning
Kristian Berggreen (Chair)	Kristian Berggreen
Lesley Cruickshank-Robb (Vice Chair)	Lesley Cruickshank-Robb?
Maria Angelaki-King	Maria Angelaki-King
Robert Brewer	Robert Brewer?
Bill Hatton	Bill Hatton
Don McBeth	Don McBeth
Peter Reime	Peter Reime

 

(c)  POLICY RESOURCES & COMMUNICATIONS  (9 Members)

Current members 2025/26	2026/27 – Members wishing to be considered for  PR & C
Paul Shepherd (Chair)	Paul Shepherd
Ian Weir (Vice Chair)	Ian Weir
Maria Angelaki-King	Maria Angelaki-King
Lesley Cruickshank-Robb	Lesley Cruickshank-Robb?
Frances Gaudencio	Frances Gaudencio
Don McBeth	Don McBeth
	David Bunting

 

(d)  FLOOD WORKING GROUP

Current members 2025/26	2026/27 – Members wishing to be considered for Flood Working Group
David Bunting	David Bunting
Frances Gaudencio	Frances Gaudencio
Sue Hatton	Sue Hatton
Peter Richardson	Peter Richardson
Ian Weir	Ian Weir
External representation –  Greener Hassocks & Ditchling, Ouse and Adur River Trust, WSCC

 

(e) HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP

Current members 2025/26	2026/27 – Members wishing to be considered for Highways & Transportation  Working Group
Maria Angelaki-King	Maria Angelaki-King
Frances Gaudencio	Frances Gaudencio
Peter Richardson	Peter Richardson
Paul Shepherd	Paul Shepherd
	Sue Hatton
External representation –  HCO, WSCC, Greener Hassocks & Ditchling

 

(f) NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN COMMITTEE (25/26 NO MEETINGS)

Current members 2025/26	2026/27 – Members wishing to be considered for Neighbourhood Plan Committee
Lesley Cruickshank-Robb	Lesley Cruickshank-Robb?
Frances Gaudencio	Frances Gaudencio
Bill Hatton	Bill Hatton
Don McBeth	Don McBeth
Ian Weir	Ian Weir

 

(g) ADASTRA PARK WORKING GROUP

Current members 2025/26	2026/27 – Members wishing to be considered for Adastra Park Working Group
David Bunting	David Bunting
Frances Gaudencio	Frances Gaudencio
Bill Hatton	Bill Hatton
Peter Richardson	Peter Richardson

 

APPENDIX 2

APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES

OUTSIDE BODY	Current Representatives 2025/26	For consideration 2026/27
Mid Sussex Association Of Local Councils	Kristian Berggreen Don McBeth	Kristian Berggreen Don McBeth
Hassocks Amenity Association Rail Group	Bill Hatton	Vacant
Hassocks Twinning Association	Don McBeth Sue Hatton	Don McBeth Sue Hatton
Adastra Hall Management Committee	Sue Hatton	Sue Hatton
Downland Schools Sports Hall Committee	Peter Richardson	Peter Richardson
Oldland Mill Trust	David Bunting	Vacant
Age Concern	Frances Gaudencio	Frances Gaudencio