Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council, held in the Village Hall on Thursday 9th April 2015 at 7 pm.
Present: Cllr P.White in the Chair, Cllrs P Loudoun, C Drayson, R Sheppard, M Turner, W Knight, M Lovell. Cllr R Lucas joined the meeting at c. 8.30 pm.
There were c.20 members of the public present. 
The Clerk announced that the meeting was being (audio) recorded. There were no objections from members of the public.
1. Apologies for absence. Cllr Christie. 
2. Declarations of Interest / Grant of Dispensations. Cllrs White, Lovell, Turner and Loudoun declared an interest in Planning Item 1 b), Timson Trust Cottages at 34/36 High Street, Langton Matravers, as they are all members of the Timson Trust. They left the room during discussion of this item.
3. National Trust Report. Mr Kershaw was not present to give his report. 
4. Public Discussion Period. The meeting was adjourned for this agenda item.
a) Mrs Bridget Mayes reported on the recent Langton Litter Pick on 19th/20th/21st March. 14 bags of rubbish had been collected in and around the village, making a total since the Picks began of 140 bags. She thanked several parishioners by name, and also the National Trust Rangers for their support. The Chair expressed thanks on behalf of the village for the excellent work being done, and Mrs Mayes’ role in the organisation of the Picks. 
b) Mrs Daryle Pearson, Chair of the LMAA, asked the council for permission to hold an allotment Open Event on Sunday 16th August, and a barbecue on 4th July
c) Mr Neil Chapman of Acton challenged the Council’s decision in March to wait until firm proposals have been made by the NT about extending the present car park at Acton. He had spoken to local quarriers, who said that coach traffic coming up Kingston Hill could present as much of a problem as that coming from Swanage. He said that the village should not be compromised by outside financial interests, and urged the Council to say ‘No’ to any proposals now rather than waiting to see what the NT suggest.
The meeting was reconvened.
5. Matters Arising from the Public Discussion. 
a) Proposals to extend Acton car park. Cllr Sheppard, the ‘Dancing Ledge representative’, had heard no more from the NT. Cllr Turner asked if a stop could be put to the proposals now. Cllr Knight pointed out that the NT are looking at a range of strategies to control commercial operations in the area, and advised that it would be better for the Council to work with them, as at present, rather than in a confrontational manner. Cllr Loudoun warned that when managing public access, the Trust must ensure that it does not have a negative impact on the resident population. Cllr Drayson noted that the Council understands the concerns of Acton residents, and suggested a no-coach policy for Langton, as at Worth. It was agreed to ask Jon Kershaw about the status of plans for the car park extension at the next meeting, and find out what the Council can do to arrive at a satisfactory solution.
b) Litter Pick. Cllr Lovell proposed a formal vote of thanks to Mrs Mayes and her team, which was agreed by all.
c) Allotment Events. Cllrs approved the request to hold the Open Event and Barbecue on the Council’s allotments, as proposed by the LMAA Chair.
6.  Planning Matters. 
1) There were no comments from members of the public concerning the plans (1 a-b).
2) To make comments concerning the following plans:- 
a) 6/2015/0161 National Trust c/o Edward Dyke, Quarry Field, Acton, Langton Matravers. Variation of condition 2 of planning permission 6/2004/1049 to allow use of the access road until 30th September 2052. No Objection.

b) 6/2015/0156 Mr S. Mackenzie, High Street (34 & 36), Langton Matravers. Replace one window, insert extractor fan in north wall of bathroom extension (34 High Street). Replace two windows and demolish chimney stack (36 High Street).
(Timson Trust Cottages) No Objection.
3). Receive planning decisions affecting this parish since the last Parish Council Meeting: 
a)	6/2015/0008 H F Bonfield and Son, Priests Way (Blacklands Quarry), Langton Matravers, BH19 3LD. Application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act to modify Condition 1 of permission 6/2009/0235: to extend the life of extraction until 1 January 2020. Approved (DCC) Temporary.
b)	e) 6/2015/0007 H F Bonfield and Son, Priests Way (Blacklands Quarry), Langton Matravers, BH19 3LD. Application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act to modify Condition 5 of permission 6/2009/0234: to extend the life of the service area until 1 January 2020. Approved (DCC) Temporary.
c)	) 6/2015/0052 Dorset County Council, Leeson House Field Studies Centre, Langton Matravers, BH19 3EU. Retention of double temporary classroom Previous ref 6/2011/0605, 14 November 2011. Approved.
d)	TWA/2014/0234 Mrs Karen Firmin, High Street (18 - Leas Wood House), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HB. (T3) Beech - fell and treat in relation to alleged subsidence damage; (T1) Corsican pine - reduce the extended lever arm in the exposed pine back to within the periphery of the canopy for safety reasons as a result of felling T3 - District of Purbeck (Leas Wood House, Langton Matravers) TPO 2014 (Ref.TPO 426) & Langton Matravers Conservation Area. Approved.         
           e)  6/2015/0102 Mr Patrick Costeloe, Gully (4), Swanage, BH19 3DN. Erect workshop. Approved.
           f)  6/2015/0053 CTIL & Vodafone Ltd, Knitson Farm, Corfe Castle, BH20 5JB. Proposal: Replacement of 17.5m    existing pole, (3no. antennas and 1no. 300mm dish antenna) with a new 20m pole; installation of 3no. replacement antennas and 3no. new antennas; installation of 2no. new 300mm dish antennas; plus ancillary works. Approved.
            g) 6/2015/0040 Mr D.Hitchcock, High Street (47), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HA. Repair to eastern wall of dining room. Approved.
4). Other planning matters. There were none.
7. Minutes of the Meeting held 12th March 2015.These were agreed to be a correct record and signed.
8. Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 3. Deer Fencing in Langton West Wood. Cllr Drayson asked if this had been done yet, and was informed that the work is under way. 
b) Item 4 d). Swanage tenants for LMPC allotments ? The Swanage Town Clerk, will pass on the offer to people on the Swanage waiting list, having first asked Langton residents with Swanage allotment tenancies if they would like to swap. 
c) Item 5a). Coombe Crossing. The head teacher of the Swanage School has contacted the Clerk, and been encouraged to take an active role in moving the project forward. Helen Cardell at DCC will look at LMPC’s proposal and if the site is suitable, do a pedestrian and traffic survey. It was agreed to contact Nick Ward of Sustrans and Kim Gallagher of Swanage Town Community Partnership to ask for their support. ACTION: Clerk. Mr Field to be updated on progress so far. ACTION: Clerk.
d) Item 8e). Ownership of St George’s School Field. The Clerk had received a letter from Jackie Leaton, Premises Officer at DCC, explaining the legal situation regarding ownership of the field; the County Council are not in a position to transfer ownership of the field to LMPC, as this would need permission from the Secretary of State under Section 77 of The School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
e) Item 9 e) Travers Memorial Trees. The Clerk will meet relatives soon to confirm planting positions.
f) Item 13. Responses to PDC Consultation. The Clerk had circulated LMPC’s response to local parishes which are also ‘Rural and Coastal Amenity Areas’ affected by the PDC proposals. STC had responded to say that the new Town Council will consider this after elections in May. West Lulworth had also sent a holding response.
g) From Previous Minutes: Aster/Synergy Homes at Steppes. The Clerk reported that, having written to Aster’s Chief Executive after receiving no response from their complaints department, remedial work was now being done on the affected homes. A resident had sent thanks to the Council for their support.
9. The Clerk’s Report for the period 7.3.2015 – 1.4.2015.  Report received.
10.  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report. 
a) Item 17. The Clerk advised that a hard copy of the DAPTC Guide to Affordable Housing is available in the Parish Office. 
b) Item 19. Telephone Fraud warnings. Cllr Drayson asked the meeting to warn parishioners about this, as several local people have already been targeted.
b) Item 26. Update on SID pole and School Lights. The pole will be installed shortly and the school lights are being adjusted to make them more user-friendly.
c) Item 29. The Clerk asked if Cllrs wished to respond to Bob Clyde and Anne Younger’s letter regarding a request for PC support for change of use of the Villages Stores premises and transfer of the business to Putlake. The Chair proposed that the matter be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Cllr Knight suggested that there might be benefits to the move as long as there is agreement from Post Office Counters Ltd that this can happen. He felt it would help if the Council supported this first step, so that Bob and Anne could then go forward with further plans for the change which could be considered by the Council in more detail in the future. Cllr Lovell noted that, following issues with change of use for Worth Café and Craft Centre in the past, PDC now have a clear policy on change of use for community assets. Cllr Drayson asked if there was a problem with deferring the matter to the next agenda to allow for comment from parishioners, and asked for a named vote on the matter. However, it was RESOLVED: That this Council supports in principle the move of the Village Stores and Post Office to Putlake, and subsequent change of use of the present Stores and PO building to residential property. In favour: Cllrs Knight (Prop), Turner (2nd), Loudoun, White and Sheppard. Cllrs Drayson and Lovell abstained, Cllr Lovell on the grounds of his role on the Planning Committee at District level. Cllr Loudoun said that if the move does go ahead, this will create parking issues at Putlake, and asked that adequate parking provision be a key area for discussion in any future plans for development there.
d) Procedures for AGM.  The Clerk reminded Cllrs that Officers will be up for election at the AGM on 14th May, and that PC documents will also be reviewed. 
11.  Chairman’s Announcements. The Chair again thanked Mrs Mayes for the large amount of litter removed. He suggested that the Council write formally to the local Beaver group, thanking them for their recent verge-clearing activities. ACTION: Clerk. 
12.  County and District Councillor’s Report. Cllr Lovell reported that the consultation on the Valley Road speed limit change had ended with a balance both for and against. The decision will got to Committee after the elections.
13. Parish Assembly, 22nd April. A recently-arranged Hustings meeting in Swanage clashes with the Assembly: it was agreed to ask Cllr Christie to go to represent LMPC. Cllrs were asked to bring plates of finger food for refreshments at the Assembly: Cllr Loudoun will bring cheese and biscuits.
14. Challenging the PLP Review housing figures at Central Government level. It was agreed to make a co-ordinated response with other local parishes after the elections.
15. Redesign of website ? The Clerk explained that she presently has to rely on the goodwill of Mr Martin Kirby to upload material to the website, and it had been suggested that it would be sensible to try to find a new type of website which would be easier for her to work with. Cllr Lovell advised that many other websites are more expensive to run and don’t offer the information which LMPC’s does. Cllr Knight said that asking a company to design a website can be expensive. It was suggested that before going any further, the Clerk ask Mrs Lerida Arnold, who had done the original design, and Mr Kirby, if there were ways to make uploading easier on the present site. Mr Kirby was formally thanked for the work that he does for the Parish Council. ACTION: Clerk.  Item to go on agenda for next month. 
16. Proposals to put boundary stones at each end of the village. After discussion about such stones’ community benefit, it was agreed to let the matter lie. 
17.  Making audio recordings of meetings available to the public on the website. RESOLVED: To keep recordings on digital file in the office: members of the public may apply for a CD copy if they wish to. 
(Cllr Lucas arrived at this point in the meeting)
18. LMPC response to ‘Delivering Dorset’s Economic Potential’. Cllr Knight explained some of the background, and it was RESOLVED: To accept the ‘Joint Committee’, Option  A. ACTION: Clerk to forward response to DCC.
19. Allotments.  Cllr White advised that the new gateposts (4) had been fitted, and look fine. Cllr Turner expressed concern that the 4 vacant plots are overgrown: Cllr Sheppard said that he understood that LMPC had purchased covers; could these be used ? It was agreed to ask Ian Bugler to strim the vacant plots if the LMAA has no plans to do so. ACTION: Clerk to contact LMAA Chair to ask, then Ian Bugler. The matter of ownership of equipment left on vacated plots was raised: the Clerk will check allotment rules. ACTION: Clerk.
20. Financial Matters.
(1) 	Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting:
       £ 58.50     Allotment rents and water charge 2015. (Cash payments)
       £ 170.00   Interment fee, the late Mrs Pat Goodhand, Plot A13.
(2) 	Note the following Payments by cheque or cash to be made since last Meeting:
       £ 75.00     Ian Bugler, Grounds Maintenance (March).
       £ 570.83   Clerk’s salary (March).
£ 135.00   Elliott’s Cleaning Co. Public Toilet cleaning (March).
£ 15.00     LMVH, Hire of Hall for Extraordinary meeting, 26th February 2015.
£ 9.59       Office supplies (paper). – Cash payment to M.Lovell.
£ 73.68     Wessex Water. Supply/sewerage at PCs, Putlake. 11/09/15 to 05/03/2015.
£ 25.03     Wessex Water. Supply to allotments 11/09/15 to 05/03/2015.
£ 342.00   National Trust. Allotment rent 1.April 2015 – 31 March 2016.
£ 165.02   Printer ink supplies (cheque to Clerk)
£ 89.49     SSE electric supply to Public Toilets, 20th Dec – 24th March.
3) Payment by Direct Debit:
£ 38.81 to XLN Telecom for phone and broadband.

  (4) Any other Financial Matters: a)  Decide Section 137 (Financial support for Community Organisations) donations for 2015. RESOLVED: i) Swanage School garden: No support. ii) LM Local History and Preservation Soc: Ask for copy or recent accounts and forward plan. iii)Village Christmas Lights: £50 (payment to LMVH). iv) Dubber: £100. v) Citizens Advice Bureau: £100. vi) Purbeck Film Festival: £50; to be asked to submit accounts and forward plans for next year. 
b) RESOLVED: To nominate Clerk as point of contact for workplace pension. Cllr Knight advised that the Council would need to give some thought as to how such a pension might be managed, and Cllr Lovell said that the PC could get into a DCC pension scheme.
21. Cemetery Matters: (1) Council’s cemetery: None. (2) Closed cemeteries. Cllr Lucas was thanked for his work on the overhanging trees; he will do more in the near future.
22. The date of the next full Council meeting, to include the AGM, was confirmed as Thursday 14th May, 2015 at 7pm.
24. Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting: None.

Closed c. 9.12 pm.

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