Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Minutes of a meeting of Council held in the Village Hall on  Thursday February 14th 2008 at 7.00 pm.
(Present: Cllr N E Priddle (Chairman) in the Chair, Cllr Mrs V C Murray, Cllr Mrs P M Kwantes and Cllrs. J Bradford, P J Bradford, P White, M Kirby and M W J Lovell (Also County and District Councillor).
1.	Apologies for absence were received from Cllr P E Loudoun (Vice-Chairman).
2.	Public Discussion Period:
	The Meeting was adjourned for discussion. Mr Derek Boon talked about the National and Rural 	Environmental Act, 2006, which, he claimed, ruled that by 2026 no-one would be permitted to drive a 	vehicle along a private street which had not been adopted by the County Council.
3.	Matters arising from the Public Discussion. When the Meeting was reconvened it was agreed that the 	County Councillor should be asked to find out more details about the ‘National and Rural 	Environmental Act.’
4.	Planning Matters:
	(1) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 2007/938, submitted by Mr Goldsmith, 	to insert two dormer windows to facilitate loft conversion at ‘Moonfleet’, The Hyde.
	(2) Concerning Plan 2007/938, on the proposition from the Chair, it was unanimously agreed that 	“The Parish Council has no objection.”
	(3) There were two letters of objection to Plan 2008/11, submitted by Mr R Turner to erect 	agricultural building at Spyway Orchard. The Clerk pointed out that the Planning List had the site as 	“Spyway Cottage”, which is a completely different site. Chairman said that it was, however, clear 	from the PDC website and on the Plan itself that Spyway Orchard was the site intended. Cllrs J 	Bradford and PJ Bradford declared non-pecuniary interest and took no part in the discussion or 	decision on this plan.
	(4) Concerning Plan 2008/11, on the proposition from the Chair it was agreed (For 4; Ag. 0; 	Abstentions 4; Absent 1) “That the Parish Council recommends refusal of this application.”
	(5) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 15, submitted by Mr & Mrs Schuster,
	to convert part of garage into bedroom and insert new rear door into garage at ‘Hideaway’, Mount 	Pleasant.
	(6) Concerning Plan 15, on the proposition from the Chair, it was unanimously agreed that “The 	Parish Council has no objection.”
	(7) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 45, submitted by Mr & Mrs O’Brien to 	replace garage door with window and convert garage into habitable accommodation at “Oakwood”, 	Toms Field Road.
	(8) After some discussion, on the proposition from the Chair, it was agreed (For 6; Ag. 0; Abst. 2; 	Absent 1) that “The Parish Council has no objection.”
	(9) There were no comments from the public concerning Plans 49, 50 and 51, submitted by Mr J 	Harding, to site three caravans on land at “Corfeway”, Valley Road for occasional residential use.
	Existing Certificates of Lawfulness stated.
	(10) Concerning Plans 49, 50 and 51, on the proposition from the Chair, it was unanimously agreed 	that “The Parish Council is of the opinion that, as these caravans are no longer ancillary to the 	property known as ‘Corfeway’, which, it believes, has been sold, the permits should be refused.”
 		(As usual, Cllr M W J Lovell took no part in the foregoing decisions). 
	(11) Purbeck District Council’s decisions on Plans affecting this parish were received:
		(a) Plan 2007/905 in respect of ‘Tilshead’, Toms Field Road, has been withdrawn.
	(12) In view of the alteration to the District Council’s Planning Policy, on the proposition from the 	Chair, it was unanimously agreed that “If a development plan requires a decision before the date of 	the next scheduled Council Meeting, Chairman has the discretion to call a meeting to discuss that 	plan at 3 days notice“.
5.	Minutes of the last Council Meeting, held on January 13th 2008, having been distributed to Members 	in advance of the Meeting, were, on the proposition from the Chair, unanimously approved.
6.	Matters Arising from the Minutes:
	(1) Item 7(1). The Clerk reported that he had met Mrs Stone on site and now knew exactly where the 	extra Safety Surfacing was required.
	(2) Item 7(2). There had been no written reply from Mr Foot concerning car parking in Crack Lane.
	(3) Item 7(3). Cllr Kirby reported that the Article 106 Agreement is a proper legal agreement which 	cannot have exceptions made.
	(4) Item 7(5). Chairman and Cllr Kirby met with Mr Cronk and representatives of PDC concerning a 	site for Affordable Housing. Raglan promised to make out a plan, a copy of which would be sent to 	the Parish Council.
	(5) Item 7(11).The Clerk reported that Mr & Mrs Haysom had cut back the foliage between Crack 	Lane and Wilkswood Cross.
	(6) Item 9(1). The letter had been sent concerning the hoard of Bronze Age Axes. 
	(7) Item 9(3). The Clerk reported that the Clerk’s Contract had been drawn up, checked by Chairman 	and the incoming Clerk, and was being circulated to Members.
	(8) Item 13(1). The Clerk reported that the answer concerning the proposed closure of the Play Area 	for one day had been sent.
	(9) Item 13(2). The Clerk reported that the letter had been sent to the County Council concerning the 	proposed lease of the Play Area. A reply had been received from Ms Northcote of the Legal 	Department, stating that she had drawn up the lease upon orders from the County Valuer, and that she 	would write again when she had talked to him about the issue.
7.	The Clerk’s Report for the period from 4.1.08 to 6.2.08 was received.
8.	Matters Arising from the Clerk’s Report:
	(1) Item 3. Concerning the parking problems in St George’s Close, after some discussion, in which 	Cllr P J Bradford spoke of very large delivery vehicles blocking the turning circle when delivering to 	the kitchen doors of the Old Rectory Retirement Home, the County Council’s suggested solution to 	the problem was read out and then, on the proposition of Cllr Lovell, it was agreed (For 6; Against 0; 	Abstentions 2; Absent 1) that a letter should be sent to Mr Tony Burt, asking for double yellow lines 	to be installed in this side-road, with a ’hached’ box in the turning-circle.
	(2) Item 9. Upon the proposal of Cllr Lovell, it was decided that a letter should be written to Mr Bill 	Davidson to ask if the Parish Council might take over responsibility for the electrics at the Toilets 	and Office.
	(3) Item 16. It was agreed that the annual subscription to Open Spaces should be paid.
	(4) Item 19. It was agreed that the annual subscription to Fit (Fields in Trust) should be paid.
	(5) Item 42. It was agreed that the literature on Makesafe Quick-Fit Memorial Fixing should be 	circulated again.
	(6) Item 45. It was agreed that no Grant should be made to Life Education Dorset.
	(7) Item 46. It was agreed that Council does not wish to support the provision of Cycle-racks.
	(8) Item 47. It was agreed that no reply should be sent to Cllr Trite concerning the SW Regional 	Assembly’s Spacial Strategy Panel Support.
	(9) Item 51. It was agreed that a reply should be sent to ABBA, informing them that Council ceased 	Membership two years ago. 
	(10) Item 31. It was agreed that the Clerk should speak to the Undertaker concerning the possible use 	of Greentek ground-guards.
9.	Chairman’s Announcements: none.
10.	Financial Matters;
	(1) The following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting were noted:
	     £80.00 from James Smith, Funeral Directors, for memorial to the late Mrs Joyce Church.
	     £80.00 from Mrs J Ardern for memorial to the late Sharon Ardern,
	     £844.25 from Connecting Dorset for Laptop Computer, etc.
	(2) Following payments by cheque, already authorized, since the last Council Meeting were noted:
	     £11.96 to Cllr Lovell (ex Staples) for 5 packets of copy paper,
	     £59.73 to Federation of Burial & Cremation Authorities (Annual Membership Subscription),
	     £10.00 to Village Hall for use of December Council Chamber,
	     £25.00 to Haydn Arnold for third Quarterly Internal Audit,
	     £69.92 to SEC for repairs to Footway Light near Acton Notice-case,
	     £27.49 to M E Collins for materials to renovate Village Sign and Public Seat,
	     £300.00 to John Bellucci for first month’s salary as Assistant Clerk to the Council,
	     £88.13 to PTN Systems Ltd for HP1320 Black Toner for computer printer.
	(3) The following payment, made on Chairman’s authority, was authorized retrospectively:
	     £907.39 to ‘Connecting Dorset’.
11.	Cemetery Matters:
	(1) The Council’s Cemetery:
	(a) It was agreed that the Clerk should investigate possible collection of refuse by Sita or Biffa.
	(b) It was agreed that the Clerk should ask the Caretaker to treat the moss on the paths.
	(2) The Closed Cemeteries:
	Chairman reported that Ian Travers and friend had done some more repairs to grave-stones and that 	he had given order for the two sets of gates to be painted.
12.	Allotments:
	Nothing to report.
13.	Bus Shelters:
	Cllr Kirby asked why there could not be a shelter on the south side of the road at Steps Hill?
	It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Mrs Michelle Boone and ask her to inspect the site and 	give her opinion.
14.	Flooding of the Approach Lane into Acton:
	It was agreed that this would be included in the Small Road Works Request due to be sent in.
15.	The date of the next Council Meeting was confirmed as Thursday March 13th at 7.00 p.m.
16.	Matters for the next Agenda:
	(1) The poor condition of the parish’s Footway Lights.
	(2) The condition of the National Trust stiles north of the B3069.
	
There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 8.35 p.m.

R J Saville (Clerk to the Council).

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