Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Minutes of a meeting of Council held in the Village Hall on  Thursday, 13th December 2007 at 7.00 pm.
Present: Cllr N E Priddle (Chairman) in the Chair; Cllr P E Loudoun, Vice-Chairman; Cllr Mrs V C Murray, Cllr Mrs P M Kwantes and Cllrs. J Bradford, P J Bradford and M J Kirby. Cllr M W J Lovell (also District and County Councillor) arrived for the last part of the Meeting only, as he was travelling back from London.
1.	Apologies for absence were received from Cllr P White and from Cllr M W J Lovell who would arrive late.
2.	The Meeting was adjourned for public discussion, but no-one in the public gallery wished to speak, so the Meeting was reconvened.
3.	Matters Arising from the public discussion: None.
4.	Planning Matters:
	(1) The comments submitted by Chairman concerning Plans 892 and 830 were approved.
	(2) Details of PDC’s planning decisions relating to this parish were received: (a) Summer house at ‘Bower’ Cottage and (b) Repairs & alterations at No. 2 Serrell’s Mead Cottages: both approved.
	(3) Notification received that Plans 798 and 831 had been withdrawn. Plan 831 would be re-submitted with alterations in January 2008.
	(4) Application had been received by the Tree Officer to lop the huge ash tree in the Old Rectory grounds, as requested by the Parish Council.
	(5) The Clerk asked if, in view of the fact that the Delegated Planning Decisions had been made by the Planning Department a week before the meeting of the Parish Council for two years running, the suggestion to alter the date of the 2008 December Council Meeting to the first Thursday in that month might be placed on the January agenda. This was unanimously agreed.
5.	Minutes of the November Council Meeting were unanimously confirmed and duly signed after the numbering of the last few items had been altered and the fact was added that Cllr Mrs Kwantes had declared Prejudicial Interest on Plan 719 and left the Chamber whilst it was considered.
6.	Matters Arising from the Minutes:
	(1) Item 6(2). The Clerk reported that he had confirmed the provision by Mr Bray of the plank for the new seat.
	(2) Item 6(4). The repeat of the advertisement in the ‘Dubber’ had produced an applicant for the post of  Assistant Clerk.
	(3) Item 6(5). Windmill Lane application was still being processed. 
	(4) Item 6(6). The Clerk reported that the new fence had been erected and the bill paid, though it would appear on the next Agenda as it had arrived too late for the current one. There had been no reply from Safe and Sound Playgrounds Ltd to Council’s request for a quotation. Cllr Loudoun agreed to enquire about this after he had been informed of the exact areas to be covered by the safety surfacing.
	(5) Item 6(7). The second letter was sent and the offending ivy was cut the same day.
	(6) Item 6(9). It was agreed that the Clerk should speak with Cllr White and then write to Mr Foot, requesting permission for overflow public parking on the wide verge just north of his house.
	(7) Item 6(13). The letters to the successful and unsuccessful applicant wall-builders had been sent.
	(8) Item 6(14). The reply from DCC had suggested writing to Mr G Foot.
	(9) Item 8(1). DAPTC advises no further action, as some Parish Councils received no bonus at all.
	(10) Item 8(4). DAPTC confirms that the newspaper notices are the responsibility of PDC.
	(11) Item 8(5).The Clerk reported that details of the Burials in Crack Lane Cemetery were now on the Council’s website.
	(12) Item 8(6). A discussion ensued as to the exact meaning of the letter from Fiona Brown concerning placements in new affordable homes. It was agreed that in some cases candidates from outside the parish might have to be accepted.
	13. Item 10(5). No itemized invoice had so far been received for the Bye-Election. It was agreed that a second request should be made. 
	14. Item 11(1). The Clerk produced the Plan of the Council’s Cemetery and explained the policy he had adopted and just where the un-aligned graves were. Chairman agreed to measure the width of graves so that in future the Undertaker could be given more specific instructions for the grave-digger.
	15. Item 12, Cllr Kirby had spoken with Mr Cronk of Raglan, who agreed that the Spyway Orchard site would not be possible. So far a meeting between Mr Cronk and the Parish Council had not been arranged. 
	16. Item 14. Cllr Kirby reported that further enhancement of Council’s website was continuing.
	17. Item 16. A Memorandum had been received from Cllr Priddle and had been distributed the 	Members. Chairman spoke of his plan to convert the Council’s triangular strip of land in Coles 	Ground into Allotment plots, as there were some 16 local people who had expressed interest in having an allotment. Cllr J Bradford objected, as the land had been purchased on the understanding that it would be used only for either an enlargement to the School Playing-field or as a Car Park, and that it had been designated for a Car Park in the District Council‘s Local Plan. Cllr Priddle said that he would only proceed with his scheme if he had the unanimous support of Council. Cllr J Bradford’s 	Proposition “That Council take no further action on converting its triangle of land in Coles Ground into allotments” failed (For 1: Against 3: Abstentions 3: Absent 2). Chairman reiterated that he was not prepared to pursue the matter with regard to the triangle of land, but that he would continue to try to establish Allotments within the parish.
7.	The Clerk’s Report for the period from 2.11.07 to 6.12.07 was received.
8.	Matters Arising from the Clerk’s Report:
	(1) Item 5. Cllr Kirby produced the list of General Principles which formed the preamble to the Revised Code of Conduct. The Clerk remarked that there had been no directive that this should be the subject of a separate Acceptance Resolution. The principles were read out and, on the proposition from the Chair, it was unanimously agreed that Council accepted them.
	(2) Item 6. The Clerk asked if A R Harris & Son should be alerted to the report of the electrician who had conducted the annual inspection for PDC? It was agreed that the firm should be notified.
	(3) Item 18. The Clerk asked if an advertisement for volunteers to help Victim Support Dorset should be placed in the ‘Dubber’. This was agreed. Cllr Mrs Murray offered to be a volunteer and asked that her details should be submitted.
	(4) Item 23. It was agreed that no grant should be made to Open Spaces.
	(5) Item 25. Cllr Loudoun reported that he had already cut back the overhanging foliage on his land. It 	was agreed that Mr & Mrs W T Haysom should be asked to cut back bushes protruding into the A351 on their land from the north end of Crack Lane to the bridge over the stream.
	(6) Item 29. It was agreed that no action should be taken concerning the resignation of Mr Webb of DAPTC.
	(7) Item 39. On the proposition of Cllr Mrs Murray it was unanimously agreed that a Grant of £100 should be made to the Purbeck Citizens Advice Bureau.
	(8) Item 40. It was agreed that no action should be taken concerning a possible local Radio Station.
	(9) Item 46. A copy of the Tree Preservation Order on the three ash trees within land owned by the Old Malthouse School Trust had been received. A formal statement was passed unanimously that 	“The Parish Council wishes to express outrage and extreme disappointment at the manner in which a Tree Preservation Order within the Langton Matravers Conservation Order was blatantly ignored, contrary to the unanimously expressed wish of the Council, and it hopes that the appropriate punitive action will be taken against those responsible and that replacements for these three Memorial Trees 	will be required to be planted.” 
	(10) Item 47. It was agreed that no action should be taken concerning the plan to erect a wind farm at East Stoke.
	(11) Item 49. Chairman spoke of his regret at receipt of the letter of resignation from the Clerk He paid tribute to his length of service and dedication to the job. He also introduced Mr John Bellucci, 	the applicant for the post of Assistant Clerk, who would be trained to take over in due course, who was sitting in the public gallery. It was agreed that a panel representing the Council, consisting of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and Cllr Mrs Murray, should interview Mr Bellucci in due course, and that the Clerk would arrange informal meetings with him also.
9.	Chairman’s Announcements:
	Cllr Priddle reported an incident at the Public Toilets and reports that drug addicts had been using the area. He said that it would probably be necessary to lock these premises during the hours of darkness. It was agreed that the matter should be placed on the agenda of the next Council Meeting.
10.	Financial Matters:
	(1) The following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting were noted:
	     £10.00 from Lovell’s Quarries for additional inscription on the Brown/Hardy monument.
	(2) The following payments by cheque, already authorized, since the last Council Meeting were 	noted:
	     £10.00 to Village Hall for use of the October Council Chamber.
	     £100.00 to ‘Dubber’ Magazine as a Grant in Aid.
	     £1,485.22 to PDC for recent Parish Council Bye-Election.
	     £96.83 to SEC for repairs to Footway Light near ‘Weathertop’.
	     £68.61 to BT for Quarterly Office Telephone Bill.
	(3) The following payments by Direct Debit since the last Council Meeting were noted:
	     £69.00 to PDC for December Rates on the Toilets/Office Block.
	(4) the Clerk reported that the rough estimate for the Parish Precept for 2008-9 had been requested by PDC, though it had arrived too late for the Agenda. He advised that last year’s precept be repeated.
	It was unanimously agreed that the estimate of £11,000.00 should be returned. Before the official Return is sent, there would be further discussion after the projected estimates had been considered.
11.	Cemetery Matters: Nothing to report.
12.	Affordable Housing: Nothing further to report.
13.	Off-Street Parking: Nothing further to report.
(The Clerk asked if regular items 12 and 13 on the Agenda may be omitted in future until there is a definite necessity, as everything concerning these topics comes up regularly under Matters Arising. This was agreed.)
14.	The Play Area: Council was alerted that a plan to alter the access to the Playing-field had been 	submitted. 
15.	The date of the next Council Meeting was confirmed as Thursday January 10th at 7.0 p.m.
Chairman wished all Members of Council and those present in the public gallery the compliments of the season.
There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 9.0 p.m.