Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Minutes of a meeting of Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday, 8th April at 7.00pm
Present Cllr P White, in the Chair, and Cllrs, Mrs. V Murray, J Bradford, P Bradford, M Kirby, P Loudoun and M Lovell. 

1.	Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mrs P. Kwantes and N Priddle. 
2.	Declarations of interest: Cllr Kirby declared an interest as his wife has an allotment.
3.	Public Discussion period:
 The Meeting was adjourned for discussion.
Mrs M Suttle spoke. She and her husband objected to the installation of 3 rooflights on the south side of the neighbouring property at 1 Durnford Drove. She said that, because of the difference in height of the two buildings, anyone opening a rooflight and looking out would be able to see into the ground floor of her home, which she and her husband found very intrusive. She said that, in fact, a planning officer from PDC had opened one of the rooflights and waved to her and her husband where they stood in their kitchen.  
Dr C Spilling spoke on behalf of the LMAA. He thanked the Council for its contribution to the rabbit proof fencing and reported that volunteers had started fitting it.
The Meeting was reconvened.
4.	Matters arising from the Public Discussion: 
Cllr J Bradford sympathised with Mr & Mrs. Suttle as he felt the rooflights on the south side of 1 Durnford Drove were obtrusive.
5.	Planning Matters:
	(1) Mr & Mrs Suttle had written to complain about the rooflights on the south side of the roof  concerning Plan 0126, submitted by Mr. N Streams; Insert 6 new rooflights to facilitate loft conversion at 1 Durnford Drove, Langton Matravers.
 (2) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0126; 
On the proposition of Cllr J Bradford it was agreed by 4 votes for and 2 abstentions and 2 absent that; 
“The Parish Council objects to the 3 rooflights on the south side of the property as they are obtrusive to the occupants of the adjacent property known as “Thirlmere.”
	(3) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0131, submitted by Mr R Turner: Variation of condition 4 of PP 0402, to remove 1 metre section of boundary wall to enlarge vehicular access at Durnford Drove (Plot adj. 1), Langton Matravers.
	 (4) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0131;
On the proposition of Cllr M Kirby it was unanimously agreed that;
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
(5) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0134, submitted by Mr & Mrs. Dodd: Demolish existing dwelling and erect replacement dwelling at “The Fold” East Drove, Langton Matravers. 
(6) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0134;
On the proposition of Cllr J Bradford it was unanimously agreed that;
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
(7) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0143, submitted by Mr J Cooper: Erect two storey side extension and single storey rear extension ( Extend time limit to implement existing approval 0183). “Hedbury House” Blacklands, Acton.
(8) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0143;
On the proposition of Cllr P White it was unanimously agreed that;
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
 (In all the above voting Cllr M W J Lovell abstained as a member of the Purbeck District Council’s       Planning Board).
(5) Planning Decisions that affected the parish this month.
	(a)  Plan 0085, submitted by Mrs Suttle: Erect first floor extension over existing double garage and convert into one bedroom annexe at Gully Coombe (Springdale), Langton Matravers. Refused.
 	(6) Any other Planning Matters: There were none. 
6.	Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 13th March 2010 were confirmed and signed.
7.	Matters arising from the Minutes:
	(a)  Item 7 (d); The paths at the Council’s Cemetery. The Clerk reported that the work had commenced that Tuesday and was expected to finish on the Friday.
	(b) Item 9 (a): BT phone boxes. The Clerk reported that he had received an email from Collette Drayson saying that several people in Acton wanted to keep the phone box there and were prepared to do all the maintenance and repairs. It was agreed that the Clerk should include a piece about it in his notes for The Dubber and ask for people who were interested in keeping it to contact him. 
8.	The Clerk’s Report for the period 5.03.10 – 1.04.10. was received.
9.	Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report:
(a)  Item 10: The Clerk reported that the grit bins had been delivered to Wilkswood Farm and that the Clerk would need to contact DCC for the provision of grit. It was agreed to purchase padlocks for all the bins.
(b) Item 26; Heads of Terms for the acquisition of the small piece of land at the cemetery. The Clerk reported that he had received the Heads of Terms and the NT were willing to sell the land to the Council for £450.00. The Council would be responsible for the boundaries and for erecting appropriate stock fencing and the land would be restricted to use as a cemetery only. The Council should also pay the NT legal costs. It was unanimously agreed to accept this offer and the Clerk was instructed to write to Amy Jeenes of the NT.
(c) It was agreed that the Clerk should have reported to the police that the street sign for Crack Lane had been stolen.
10.	Chairman’s announcements;
	There were none.
11.	Financial Matters:
	(1) The following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting were noted:
	There were none.
	 (2) Note the following Payments by Cheque, already authorized, since the last Meeting:
	£10.00 to Langton Matravers Village Hall Committee for February council chamber.
	£481.90 to J. Bellucci, for Clerk’s salary for February.
	£1.58 to HMRC for employer and employee’s NICS for February.
	£507.60 to J Bellucci, ex- Reece Safety Products, for 3 grit bins.
	£293.75 to The National Trust for annual rent of the allotments.
	£48.61 to J Bellucci, ex-Staples, for 1 box of copier paper and envelopes.
	£33.28 to Wessex Water for supply to allotments.
	£230.00 to P Newell for 2 visits to the cemetery to top up graves.
	£2.55 to J Bellucci, ex-Nixons Hardware, for 1 can of paint to mark graves.
	 (3) The following payments by Direct Debit were noted:
  £32.17 to XLN Telecom for phone and broadband.
(4) Any other Financial matters.
The cemetery caretaker’s fees. The Clerk was instructed to find out how much the fees had increased 	over the last 5 years.
12.	Cemetery matters:
	(1) Council cemetery. 
	The Clerk reported that Neil Read had asked for more stone so that he could finish the job.
(2) Closed cemeteries: 
Nothing to report.
13.	Allotments. 
	(a) It was agreed that the LMAA could plant a crab apple tree in the communal area by the shed. 	Permission was also given for the LMAA to hold an open event in the summer and afterwards a 	barbeque for members, their families and friends. The Clerk reported that the LMAA’s website was 	almost completed and it was agreed to provide a link to it from the Council website.
14.	Affordable housing update. 
	Nothing to report.
15.	Parish Lengthsman. The Chairman reported that other Parish Councils had expressed reservations about employing Parish Lengthsmen, because of the extra expense required to comply with Health & Safety regulations. It was agreed to try and use the Parish Maintenance Units more. The Clerk was instructed to report the following: The footway between 120 High Street and Court Pound needed clearing; the verge at Crack Lane needed clearing back so that the drains were in the road not the hedge; the brambles around the milestones at The Ship Inn and just beyond the Burngate Stone Centre needed cutting back; the drain on the High Street at the end of the Hyde needed clearing..
16.	Bus shelters at Steppes and Capston Field. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Mrs. M Underhill, the DCC officer responsible for bus shelters, to ask her to make a site visit and give her opinion regarding the best places for the shelters.
17.	The Play Area. The Clerk was instructed to contact Neil Randall of PDC regarding moving the litter 	bin.
18.	The date of the next Council Meeting was confirmed as Thursday the 13th May 2010.
19.	Items for the next Agenda;
	BT phone box at Acton.
	Cemetery caretaker’s fees.
	The condition of the dry stone walls that border the High Street.
	The new planning delegation.
20.	There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 8:38pm.

Signed……………………………..(Chairman).               Date…………………………..