Grounds & Environment Committee

Agenda

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To: All Members of the Grounds & Environment Committee (Kate Bailey, Kristian Berggreen, David Bunting, Lesley Cruickshank-Robb, Frances Gaudencio, Bill Hatton, Sue Hatton, Angus Neil, Peter Richardson, Alex Simmons, 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 13 March 2025 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Parish Clerk 7 March 2025

1. TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. TO ACCEPT DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

3. MINUTES. To accept the Minutes of the Grounds and Environment Meeting held on 30 January 2025. (Previously circulated).

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

5. OFFICER’S REPORT. (Appendix 1).

6. TENNIS CLUB FEES 2025/26. Members are asked to agree the fees structure for 2025/26 (Appendix 2).

7. GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE. Members are asked to agree the design and location of a new sign. (Appendix 3). To view Appendix 3 please click here.

8. ORION PARADE.

8.1 The Council has received a Traffic Regulation Order consultation request to remove the taxi parking bay at the eastern end of Orion Parade and to replace with double yellow lines. It’s then proposed to install a new uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point at the eastern end of Orion Parade.

The proposed Traffic Regulation Order (Consultation) MDS8011MM is set out in Appendix 4. To view Appendix 4 please click here.

Member’s views are sought.

8.2 RELOCATION OF PLANTER

Members are asked to consider a new location for the planter, due to work planned by WSCC to install a crossing at this location. (Appendix 5).

9. ADASTRA PARK MASTERPLAN. Verbal Update (Cllr David Bunting/Parish Clerk).

9.1 DRAINAGE MAPPING – Adastra Park. At the last meeting 30th January 2025 (GE24/62.2) members considered an item regarding the lack of definitive records of main drains. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would investigate and seek quotations.

This type of work appears to be quite specialised, however a site visit was recently arranged with one contractor who have provided an indicative cost of circa £5,000 to undertake a survey.

In light of the anticipated cost of this type of survey, Members are requested to consider whether they still wish the Clerk to seek approval from Council to release funds from General Reserves to commission this work.

Member’s views are sought.

9.2 ADASTRA PAVILLION – Keymer & Hassocks Cricket Club use Adastra Pavilion for fixtures during summer season. They are requesting permission to install a dart board and electronic scoreboard. (Appendix 6). To view Appendix 6 please click here.

10. 20MPH SPEED LIMIT WORKING GROUP. Verbal Update.

11. PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY (PROW)

  1. Request for Committee to agree drawing up of Project Schedule for future PROW work.
  2. Footpath to Ditchling – Verbal update by Cllr Bunting on meeting with Ditchling PC and proposed action plan.
  3. Proposal to obtain requotes for existing approved PROWs 21K and 23K due to extended delays since original quote. (Appendix 7).  To view Appendix 7 please click here.

12. OPERATION WATERSHED Verbal Update.

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

14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING. 29 May at 7.30pm.

Please Note:
All members of the public are welcome to attend meetings of the Parish Council and its Committees. Item 4 – 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: 13 March 2025

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 5 – Officer Report

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

1. GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE:

Members are asked to note:

  • A metal plaque has now been installed onto the back of one of the memorial stones, to acknowledge that Parker Building Supplies donated the bricks.
  • The Garden of Remembrance volunteer group have confirmed they will resume work on 18th We look forward to welcoming them back for another year.

2. ADASTRA PARK:

 

Appendix 2

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To:      Grounds & Environment Committee                    

Date: 13 March 2025

Contacts for this report: Deputy Clerk                         

Subject: Agenda Item 6 – Tennis Club Fees

The purpose of this report is to agree the Tennis Club Fee structure for 2025-26.

Councillors completed an analysis of the fee structure for the Tennis Club, this included a price comparison of other local providers. The conclusion was that the structure would remain the same for the coming year. There would be a small increase in line with inflation:

Full Rate Concession
2024/25 2025/26 2024/25 2025/26
Tennis – Club Members 103.80 105.00 51.90 55.00
Couples 155.50 160.00    
Children of Adult Members <19 years 18.10 20.00

 

OFFICER RECOMMENDATION: Members agree the Tennis Club Fees for 2025/26.

 

Appendix 5

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

To: Grounds & Environment Committee                                    

Date: 13th March 2025

Contacts for this report: Clerk                                 

Subject: Agenda Item 8.2 Relocation of Planter – Orion Parade

Relocation of Planter – Orion Parade

To enable County to deliver the proposed crossing (MDS8011MM) they would require the Parish Council to relocate a planter currently located outside of Orion Parade.

Below is an extract from the County email setting out the request:

Extract from email

As you may have previously discussed with Tim Boxall in the upcoming financial year, we are looking to undertake some improvement works on Keymer Road and Orion Parade to improve access to the amenities.

As part of these works we are looking to relocate one of the existing planters and relocate this at a location suitable for the parish.

One location within close proximity would be outside the Adastra Hall, either within the park, car park or outside the hall.

Would this be something you would be willing to entertain?

Please be aware that these works are subject to a successful TRO consultation as we are proposing to remove the existing Taxi rank and replacing this with an extension to the existing double yellow lines.

Nick De Sousa (Project Manager) and I would be happy to meet you at the Parish Centre to discuss further if needed.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Although County suggest relocating one of the planters elsewhere in the parish and suggest the car park outside Adastra Hall the said planter would not really be in keeping with the park environment, as it is very much designed as an item of street furniture.

Members are therefore requested to firstly consider

i). whether they would support the relocation of the planter in principle, and

ii). Secondly consider options for alternative locations.

The planter proposed to be moved is one of the recently acquired planters to celebrate the Queens Jubilee and an identical one is placed at the other end of the line of planters outside Orion Parade.

Members may be aware that all of the planters outside Orion Parade are scheduled to be emptied in May, in preparedness for the new summer planting scheme therefore this would seem an opportune time to undertake any relocation/re-siting.

One option might be for Members to consider the viability of simply moving all planters along within the remaining space without the need to completely re-site. However County have suggested an alternative site being Dale Avenue (please click here to view site).

If Members were minded to re-site the planter elsewhere within the Parish there may also be a need to obtain a licence from county to do so. If the existing space on the Orion Parade could be utilised to accommodate all existing planters there would not be a need to apply for an additional licence.

Minutes

HASSOCKS PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the meeting of the GROUNDS AND ENVIRONMENT Committee held on Thursday 13 March 2025 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, Adastra Park, Hassocks.

Attendees: Councillors David Bunting, Frances Gaudencio, Peter Richardson, Paul Shepherd, Ian Weir, Sue Hatton, Bill Hatton, Lesley Cruikshank-Robb.

In attendance: Helen Valler (Deputy Clerk). Ian Cumberworth (Parish Clerk).

GE24/68 APOLOGIES. Apologies were received from Cllr Kristian Berggreen.

Absent without apologies: Kate Bailey, Alex Simmons, Angus Neil.

GE24/69 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. Cllr Paul Shepherd declared an interest in Item GE24/73 Tennis Club Fees.

GE24/70 MINUTES. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Grounds & Environment Committee meeting held on 30 January 2025 be signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

GE24/71 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. No members of the public present.

GE24/72 OFFICER’S REPORT.

Members thanked the Clerk, Ian Cumberworth, this being his last meeting.

Members noted the report provided in Appendix 1 of the agenda.

GE24/73 TENNIS CLUB FEES 2025/26. Members were asked to agree the fee structure for 2025/26.

RESOLVED: Cllrs discussed the fees proposal; it was explained that introducing a season ticket system to run alongside the tennis club membership would mean a significant loss of revenue. This revenue is required to establish a sinking fund for future maintenance and repairs. If players wish to take up the option of obtaining a season ticket they can look to join the tennis club, which currently has around 35 members. Members were informed that the club engages with the community via Facebook and Adastra Hall to encourage membership. Due to the costs involved the Tennis Club is not affiliated with the LTA.

Members RESOLVED to agree the new fee structure.

GE24/74 GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE. Members were asked to agree the design and location of a new sign.

RESOLVED: The Deputy Clerk explained that the information on the three wooden signs currently in place is duplicated so one sign is sufficient to display the information. The differences between using acrylic or aluminium were discussed. The Cllrs agreed on an acrylic wall mounted sign in A3 size. To be installed within the Lych Gate. Deputy Clerk to create a proof of the amended size sign with a view to establishing what it might look like in the chosen location.

GE24/75 ORION PARADE – The Council has received a Traffic Regulation Order consultation request to remove the taxi parking bay at the eastern end of Orion Parade and to replace with double yellow lines. It’s then proposed to install a new uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point at the eastern end of Orion Parade. The proposed Traffic Regulation Order (Consultation) MDS8011MM was set out in Appendix 4.

Councillors discussed the detail of the scheme. There were the following concerns:

  • Safety at the site, they felt the unmanned crossing was in the wrong location, should be further east towards Adastra Park. The location does not make crossing the road easier/safer.
  • The designs are difficult to understand, unclear if the eastern corner of the entrance is to be redeveloped. Pedestrians crossing on this corner are invisible to approaching traffic.

It was RESOLVED to approach WSCC to request further information on the scheme and possibly a meeting to discuss the wider concerns regarding access to the slip road and car park.

GE24/75.1 RELOCATION OF PLANTER – Members were asked to consider a new location for the planter, due to work planned by WSCC to install a crossing at this location.

RESOLVED: It was confirmed that WSCC would be liable for the cost of relocating the planter. Rather than move one of the Queen Jubilee planters it was decided that one of the older planters would be relocated. Cllrs preferred another location to the one suggested by WSCC.

It was agreed that one of the older planters would be moved to the grassed area on the corner of Ockley Lane/Keymer Road junction, near the fingerpost. The two Queen Jubilee planters will remain at either end of the line of planters outside the Sussex Grocer (Orion Parade), one being moved further down to allow the crossing to be installed.

GE24/76 ADASTRA PARK MASTERPLAN.

  • The clerk informed the committee that a bid had been submitted for S106 funds, if the bid is successful the budget for the overall drainage project will be around 125K.

GE24/76.1 DRAINAGE MAPPING ADASTRA PARK. At the last meeting 30th January 2025 (GE24/62.2) members considered an item regarding the lack of definitive records of main drains. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would investigate and seek quotations. This type of work appears to be quite specialised, however a site visit was recently arranged with one contractor who have provided an indicative cost of circa £5,000 to undertake a survey. In light of the anticipated cost of this type of survey, Members were requested to consider whether they still wish the Clerk to seek approval from Council to release funds from General Reserves to commission this work.

Cllrs discussed the merits of undertaking such a scheme. The following points were made:

  • It was acknowledged that this is a significant cost, but there are not many specialists available to provide this type of survey. Would provide a lot of useful information.
  • Provide an overall picture of the drainage within the park.
  • The results will greatly assist with the whole drainage project.
  • The difference between paints was discussed, temporary being more expensive. Cllrs were of the opinion that other types of paint would disappear over time.

It was AGREED that Cllrs would like to go ahead with the work and requested that the Clerk submit a paper to Full Council seeking approval to release funds to commission this project.

GE24/76.2 ADASTRA PAVILLION. Keymer & Hassocks Cricket Club use Adastra Pavilion for fixtures during the summer season. Members were requested to consider granting permission to install a dart board and electronic scoreboard.

RESOLVED: It was agreed that permission would be granted to the Cricket Club subject to the following:

  • The wall surrounding the dartboard would be adequately protected to avoid damage from darts.
  • In the event of vandalism to the scoreboard or shutters, liability for the cost of any repairs remains with the Cricket Club.

GE24/77 20MPH SPEED LIMIT WORKING GROUP. Cllr Peter Richardson provided a verbal update, he advised that a meeting with West Sussex Highways, to discuss the proposed scheme, took place on 4th March.

The following points were raised:

  • The map of the village with relevant roads highlighted was displayed on the screen. The suitability of the map was discussed & whether all roads should be included, not just the through routes. Cllr Richardson explained the reasoning behind the design of the map. It was agreed to have a sentence at the bottom of the map to clarify that residential roads are also included in the scheme.
  • Cllr Paul Shepherd volunteered to help with the consultation at the Hassocks Village Market on March 22nd.
  • Both the Infants & Junior school in the village have been approached for permission to speak to parents outside the school on a mutually convenient day to gain support for the scheme.
  • A one-page article has been produced to go into the April Issue of Hassocks Life to appeal for support.
  • The County Councillor & MP have been approached for their support.

GE24/78 PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY (PROW). Cllr Ian Weir provided a verbal update.

  • Request for Committee to agree drawing up of Project Schedule for future PROW work.
    Cllr Weir explained the colour coding on the table:
    (i) Green – The PC are not involved with any work
    (ii) Yellow – Some action planned
    (iii) Red – Identified as needing work
    The Monday group are currently raising funds for improvements, the PC could also contribute funds.
    Footpath 5K Friars Oak East – Cllr Weir explained that contractors are on site working on this now, currently no further action is required by the PC.
  • Footpath to Ditchling – Verbal update by Cllr Bunting on meeting with Ditchling PC and proposed action plan. The following points were discussed:
    Meeting took place on 5th March with Ditchling Clerk & Chair of the council. It was agreed the two councils would collaborate to improve footpath 8K between the two parishes. Ditchling PC are seeking Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds to finance the project. East Sussex CC now have the works on their schedule of work.
  • Proposal to obtain requotes for existing approved PROWs 21K and 23K due to extended delays since original quote.

RESOLVED: The committee agreed the need to obtain updated quotes. There is 45k in Ear Marked Reserves (EMR) available for the projects. The threshold for needing three quotes is 5k. Not good practice to breakdown contracts to avoid this requirement. Would need agreement from WSCC to undertake the work and for path closures. Cllr Cruickshank-Robb offered to provide help to Cllr Weir on this project.

GE24/79 OPERATION WATERSHED Verbal Update.

Cllr Weir provided an update on the works in Downs View Road. Due to various reasons there have been delays in contacting the three relevant contractors.

GE 24/80 URGENT MATTERS at the discretion of the Chairman for noting and/or inclusion on a future agenda.

  • Cllr Sue Hatton raised the point that there is no longer an update from the Grounds person included on the agenda. Deputy Clerk agreed to speak with our Grounds person about restarting this, could be included with the Officer Report.
  • Cllr Richardson raised concerns with the condition and appearance of the brick planters that are outside Boots & the pet shop on Keymer Road. It was explained that these are privately owned by the leaseholder of the buildings.

GE24/81 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. Thursday 29th May 2025 at 7.30pm (to be confirmed).

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.01pm
Hassocks Parish Council
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