Agenda item

Terry Stanley, Business Unit Leader for Democratic Services, introduced the report which following the completion of the first of two public consultations, explains the findings of the first consultation. The report includes the resulting draft recommendations for Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Council as set out at p.13 of the report, and he proposed that these should form the basis of the second consultation. He gave thanks to all public participants and elected representatives for the comprehensive written contributions submitted to the Review.

The Chairman stated for transparency that a representation had been received from Sayers Common Village Society and she suggested that it should be submitted as part of the second stage public consultation. Another Member confirmed he had also received this representation and a further representation via his Group Leader. He proposed forwarding it to the Chairman for a consistent response to be given, which the Chairman agreed would be done.

Members discussed the finding that a financially sustainable Parish Council was not sufficiently evidenced when there are other smaller Parish Councils in the area, along with the possibility following the consultation responses that fewer Parish Councils might improve working relationships, and the divide caused by the A27. The Business Unit Leader explained that better and further information on the budget was required at the second consultation stage for the public to be able to make informed submissions.  He advised noting the consultation responses from Ward Members and that a further Community Governance Review could be necessary in the future.

A Member queried the Council tier system in place when Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Councils are in different Wards. Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services and Solicitor advised it was too early to confirm or predict the outcome and Sayers Common is probably currently too small to form an independent Parish Council.

A Member noted the points at paragraphs 32 and 33 of the draft recommendations and the role of Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC). Officers confirmed that MSDC would advise the Parish Council as part of the process, however, the decision as to how or to what extent to implement our draft recommendation, is a matter for the Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council.

The Chairman took Members to the vote on the recommendations set out at 3.i, 3.iii and 3. iv (p.17) to note the recommendations and 3.ii in relation to the draft recommendations set out at points 27 – 34. These were agreed unanimously with 14 in favour.

  RESOLVED

The Committee for Community, Customer Services and Service Delivery agreed to:

(i) Note the findings of the first public consultation.

(ii) To provide advice upon, and further to that advice, to agree the principal electoral authority’s draft recommendations for Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council, upon which a second public consultation would be conducted.

(iii) To note that following the second public consultation, further findings and the final recommendations of the principal electoral authority will be presented to this committee on 14 September 2022.

(iv) To note the final decision will be taken by Council in the light of the consultation responses received through the Community Governance Review.