Consultations

Consultation Details

Amendment to current Taxi Licensing Policy -Requiring new applicants for Taxi and Private Hire drivers licences to be able to communicate effectively with their customers using the English Language.

Who is to be involved?

The public consultation is open to all who are interested. A number of groups will be directly informed and asked for their view. These are:

• Local Authorities that border Mid Sussex District Council
• West Sussex County Council
• The Members of the Council
• The hackney carriage and private hire trade licensed by the Council
• Parish and Town Councils
• Sussex Police
• The Members of Parliament for the District
• Social Services Child Protection Office
• DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency)
• Local Bus and Rail operators
• Organisations representing local businesses
• Members of the public via the Council’s web site, the local libraries and help points
• Age UK
• Women’s Institute
• Fawcett Society
• Local disability groups

Elected District Councillors will be involved throughout the process through:

• The Scrutiny Committee for Leisure and Community – (any District Councillor not sitting on the committee can attend)
• Full Council (consists of all District Councillors)
• Councillors can respond during the public consultation period.

To be added to our database of groups contact licensing@midsussex.gov.uk or phone 01444-477419. All information received will be treated in accordance with Data Protection

Why people are being involved?

Mid Sussex District Council introduced a Taxi Licensing Policy on 1st October 2012. It was reviewed and updated on 1st December 2015.

The Council intend to add conditions to drivers licences that all new applicants for a Taxi Drivers Licence and Private Hire Drivers Licence are able to communicate effectively in the English Language.

Applicants without a recognised qualification in English will be required at their own cost to pass an English Language test. The test will be conducted by an approved contractor.

In addition, currently licensed drivers appearing before a Licensing Committee whose command of the English language is not effective may, at the request of the Committee be required to undergo an English Language test.

The draft amendment was reviewed by the Scrutiny Committee and Leisure and Community on the 9th February 2016.

When people will be involved?

• Public consultation on amendment to the Taxi Licensing Policy – scheduled February-April 2016 (for eight-weeks). There will be a public consultation for eight weeks between February and April on the draft amendment once it is approved by the Scrutiny Committee for Leisure and Community.
• Amendments after the public consultation – April-June 2016. A final draft, taking into account amendments from the consultation, will be presented to the Scrutiny Committee for Leisure and Community for their approval before final approval by Full Council.
• Final Statement agreed for adoption – scheduled June 2016. It is anticipated that the Taxi Licensing Policy will be presented to Council in June 2016 for adoption on the 25th June 2016

Further details of the timetable are available at www.midsussex.gov.uk/sci

How people will be involved?

The consultation will be open to all and we will seek to inform and receive comment from the widest possible range of the community. We will:

• Provide details and documentation on the Council’s website.
• Provide hard copies of the document for consultation in the following places:
  • Libraries;
  • Help points;
  • District Council office
  • Letters or emails will be sent to all organisations listed in section 1 above.

What happens to the results?

The results from this consultation will be considered as part of the report to the Scrutiny Committee for Leisure and Community on 20th May 2016.

This report will be published on the Council website.
Who is running the exercise?

Mid Sussex District Council Licensing Team

Contact licensing@midsussex.gov.uk phone 01444-477419.

Consultation Details

BT has written to Mid Sussex District Council to inform of its intention to remove a number of public telephone boxes from the area. It is seeking to remove these due to poor usage and BT has placed posters in the phone boxes inviting residents to contact the council if they have any comments on the proposed removal.

BT has identified 48 kiosks for removal. These are:

The council will respond to the consultation and is inviting feedback from residents on the proposals to remove these phone boxes.

If you would like to comment, please email comms@midsussex.gov.uk to let the council know your views. Please provide details of the phone kiosk that you are commenting on and the reasons why you would like to see the phone box removed or retained no later than Friday 6 January 2017. 

It is also possible for community groups to apply to adopt a telephone kiosk for an alternative (non-telephone) use. If this is something you would be interested in, please let us know via the email address above by Friday 6 January 2017.

Consultation Details

We will soon be taking away the small climbing frame and springy bikes and replacing them with new equipment at the play area on Sussex Way open space near Bretton.

We aim to make it more inclusive for all small children and their families. We will provide a wheelchair accessible roundabout, a sensory path, and face to face swing on the existing swing frame. We also want your views on the main piece of equipment.

More details can be found on our Playground page.

Consultation Details

This consultation is open: from midday on the 3/7/17 to midday 14/8/17. Representations should be made by 14/08/17. Representations received after midday on that date will not be considered as part of the consultation process.

About this consultation

Notice is given that Mid Sussex District Council (the Council) in exercising their power under the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 Sections 59-79 propose to make PSPOs.

Currently the Council operate dog control matters under their Dog Control Orders (DCO). The Council are now seeking to change these DCOs to PSPOs.

New sites the Council now own will also be designated under the PSPOs.  Extra sites have been designated for maximum number of dogs following the previous trial at Bedelands Nature Reserve.  These sites include some of our nature reserves and several larger recreation grounds.  All site designations can be seen in Schedule 1 – Dog Fouling, Schedule 2 – Dog Exclusion, Schedule 3 – Dogs on lead by direction, Schedule 4 – Maximum number of dogs. 

As part of the introduction of the PSPOs we are seeking your views and the Council wishes to hear from people from within the District on the proposed draft PSPOs.

The PSPOs will cover:

Fouling of Land by Dogs

• Requires people having charge and control of dogs to remove dog faeces and this applies to any land which is open to the air and to which the public have access. MSDC sites which are covered can be seen in Schedule 1.

Dogs Exclusion

• Excludes dogs from:

Enclosed children’s play areas, any other fenced recreational areas, such as tennis courts, bowling greens, skate parks and multi activity areas owned by MSDC. Areas of MSDC sites which are covered can be seen in Schedule 2.

Dogs on Leads by Direction

• Requires people having charge and control of dogs to put their dogs on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer. This applies to MSDC owned land on which formal sports or community events regularly take place, and all designated nature reserves where a dog is considered to be out of control or causing alarm and distress.  MSDC sites which are covered can be seen in Schedule 3.

Dogs (Specified maximum)

• Specifies a maximum number of dogs (6) that can be taken onto land by one person. This applies to some of MSDC’s nature reserves, adjoining land and several larger recreation grounds which can be found in schedule 4. 

If any of the conditions of the Orders are breached a Fixed Penalty Notice of £75 can be issued and failure to pay may lead to prosecution and being liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Level 3 (currently £1000) on the standard scale. The Orders will have effect for three years (less I days) from the date they are made.

The Council seeks to promote responsible dog ownership and believes these proposed Orders will address the anti-social behaviour of some dog owners which has a detrimental effect on the quality of life for the residents of Mid Sussex.

The Council receives a number of complaints each year related to dog issues and these PSPOs seek to ensure that everyone using public open spaces can enjoy the facilities on offer safely, including dog owners.

Hard copies of the documents may be inspected throughout the consultation period at the following address

Mid Sussex District Council,
Oaklands Campus,
Oaklands Road,
Haywards Heath,
RH16 1SS

Consultation Details

Together with Lewes District Council, Mid Sussex District Council are planning to upgrade the play facilities at Worlds End Recreation Ground in Burgess Hill.

We would like to make this an inclusive facility available to all children whatever their ability.

We would like to find out what people would like us to do at the park to make it better.

Consultation Details

How To Respond

Responses must be received between Monday 2nd October and midnight on Monday 13th November. A Guidance Note was prepared to aid you when making a response.

• Email: LDFconsultation@midsussex.gov.uk

Consultation Information

The Mid Sussex District Plan was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in August 2016. A Planning Inspector has held a number of Examination Hearings, the most recent being in July 2017. At these hearings the Inspector recommended that the Plan could proceed to adoption subject to a number of modifications. Details regarding the Hearings and documents submitted during the hearings can be found on the District Plan Examination page.

The Council is now undertaking a public consultation on the Main Modifications that are proposed. The Main Modifications are changes, additions or deletions required to make the plan ‘sound’ and have been prepared in liaison with the Planning Inspector during the course of the Examination. These are set out in the Schedule of Main Modifications.

The consultation will run from Monday 2nd October - Monday 13th November.

At this stage representations are only being sought on whether the Main Modifications to the Plan are sound and/or legally compliant. Comments may also be made on the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment.

If you made representations on the previous District Plan consultations, there is no need to resubmit them during this representation period as the Inspector has already considered these representations during the course of the Examination.

Other relevant documents for this consultation are can be found on the Examination Library page.

Consultation Details

The Council is currently consulting on the Draft Hurstpierpoint, Langton Lane and Hurst Wickham Conservation Areas Appraisal.

Mid Sussex District Council and the Hurstpierpoint Society have carried out an appraisal of the three conservation areas in Hurstpierpoint:

• Hurstpierpoint Conservation Area - designated in July 1972 and extended in 1989 and 1999
• Hurst Wickham Conservation Area - designated in January 1989
• Langton Lane Conservation Area - designated in February 1999

The Conservation Areas Appraisal:

1. describes the features of the conservation areas that should be protected;
2. suggests a number of proposed changes to the boundaries; and
3. sets out guidance for managing change within the conservation areas. 

The Draft Hurstpierpoint, Langton Lane and Hurst Wickham Conservation Areas Appraisal has been published for public consultation between Monday 16^th April 2018 and Tuesday 29^th May 2018.

Hurstpierpoint, Langton Lane and Hurst Wickham Conservation Areas Appraisal

Make a comment on the consultation

All comments must be received by midnight on Tuesday 29^th May 2018.

Comments can be submitted on the Consultation Response Form and sent:

Consultation Response Form

Consultation Response Form - Microsoft Word version

By email: ldfconsultation@midsussex.gov.uk

By post:

Planning Policy
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS

Exhibition

An exhibition will be sited within the foyer of the

Hurstpierpoint Village Centre
Trinity Road
Hurstpierpoint
BN6 9UY

Exhibition display boards

Public meeting

A public meeting will be held on Monday 23rd April 2018 from 6.00pm to 8.30pm at:

The Conference Room
Hurstpierpoint Village Centre
Trinity Road
Hurstpierpoint
BN6 9UY

The meeting will contain a brief exhibition of the main points. Council officers will be on hand to answer any questions you might have.

Consultation Details

Mid Sussex District Council is currently considering updating the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Convictions policy. 

Recent recommendations from the Local Government Association regarding such policies and a national consultation regarding Convictions Policies have highlighted the need for the current policy to be updated. This will require an amendment to the Taxi Licensing policy.

The main changes to the policy are:

• The new policy provides better guidelines for officers and committee members when making decision
• It includes a wider range of specified offences and how they will be treated
• The relevant time that applicants are expected to remain conviction free for is extended
• It clarifies that the policy will apply to existing drivers in addition to new applicants although it will not be applied retrospectively
• It confirms that the Licensing Authority will only depart from the policy in exceptional circumstances
• There is clarification that Cautions and other sanctions will be dealt with in a similar way to convictions
• There is confirmation that the Licensing Authority makes its decisions on the balance of probability; consequently information concerning offences that did not lead to prosecution may still render the applicant not ‘fit and proper’
• Although the policy sets out the minimum requirements before an application will be considered. This does not mean that an applicant will automatically be suitable once the applicable period has elapsed. It merely confirms that their application will be considered and still refused if the Licensing Authority is not satisfied that they are fit and proper to hold a licences.  

More Information

• Full Draft Convictions Policy
• Consultation Document Explanation
• Community Involvement Plan

Consultation Details

Draft Gambling Policy - Statement of Principles 2019
Community Involvement Plan

Under section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) the council is required to publish a statement of Licensing Policy which it proposes to apply when exercising its functions under the Act. The form of the policy is set out in The Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. The Gambling Commission’s Guidance to licensing authorities contains further detail on the form of the council’s policy.

The Council’s policy is intended to promote the three licensing objectives set out in the Act. These objectives are:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way;
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The Act requires that the following people and bodies be consulted in the revision of the statement:

• The Chief Officer of Police.
• People and bodies representing the interests of persons in gambling businesses in the area.

It should be noted that this policy statement will not override the right of any person to make an application, or to make representations about an application, or to apply for a review of a licence, as each will be considered on its own merits and in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Act.

Consultation Details

A new community venue is being built at the Keymer Tile Works development site, Nye Road, Burgess Hill which will include a large main hall, two meeting rooms, a café area and children’s nursery.

Construction of the new hall is due to start in the autumn and it should be open to the public by Spring 2020. The new venue is being built by Croudace Homes as part of the new housing development on the site.

MSDC are holding 2 drop in sessions for local residents.

• Manor Field School- Wednesday 26th September 2:00pm – 8:00pm
• St Andrews Church- Saturday 29th September 9:30am – 1:00pm

Aim:

• To consult with of local residents on how they would like to use the Keymer Brick & Tile Community Building.

Objectives:

• To help develop an activity programme which meets the needs of local residents
• Gain contacts for groups and individuals who would be interested in hiring the facilities and running activity sessions

Consultation Details

The District Council is keen to understand more about how you use and value your local public open spaces, play and outdoor recreation facilities; and what might improve their attractiveness to local people. This will help us to assess if there are any gaps in provision and to ensure that existing facilities and open spaces are managed effectively to meet the needs of local people. The survey findings will contribute to an assessment of Play, Outdoor Recreation and Amenity Green Spaces being undertaken by the Council with Ethos Environmental Planning, as part of the Local Plan process.

Consultation Details

Mid Sussex District Council is producing a Community Buildings Strategy. This will guide decisions on the delivery of new and/or improved community buildings within the District. We would appreciate your views and any information you may have.

For the purposes of this Strategy, the term community buildings covers the following typologies, which are owned or managed by voluntary and community sector organisations and/or public bodies:

• Community centres and cafes
• Village and parish halls
• Arts centres and libraries
• Church and school halls
• Activity centres and clubhouses

Consultation Details

Electric vehicles are becoming a viable proposition for a lot of people as a low-carbon and economic way of getting from A to B. They may also help tackle some poor air quality issues.

The Government has signalled support for electric vehicles (EVs) by announcing targets for the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles and financial support to encourage the uptake of EVs.

We upgraded charging points in three Council car parks last year and are exploring ways on increasing charging point provision that encourages the uptake of EVs locally.

We've put together a quick online survey to get an idea of the appetite for electric vehicles.

It shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes to complete. We’d love to hear your views.