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

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday 9th February 2012 at 7.00pm
Present: Cllr P White in the Chair, Cllrs C Drayson, P Loudoun, H Tizard, M Turner, M Kirby,
J Bradford, M Lovell.

There were 16 members of the public present.

1.	Apologies: Cllr. Knight. Cllr. Lovell was present from c.8pm onwards.
2.	Declarations of interest.  Cllr Kirby declared a personal interest as his wife has an allotment. Cllrs Drayson, Tizard and Turner each declared a personal interest as allotment tenants. Cllrs Drayson and White declared a prejudicial interest in planning meeting items 1b and 1d/e respectively as neighbours. 
3.	Guest Speaker. Pete West, DCC Renewable Energy Consultant, who had previously spoken at 6pm to Cllrs and members of the public about ideas for a SEACS project for promoting energy conservation within the local community, spoke on the development of renewable energy. He discussed the international and national situation, highlighting successful renewable energy projects in Dorset and emphasising that localised energy sources such as solar power were good for keeping money in the local community and developing local employment. The Chairman thanked him very much for his talks.
Reports. a) Jon Kershaw of the National Trust reported on the Trust’s work in the parish within the last month. There had been a meeting with DCC’s Steve Kourik and Ian V-A, the Parish Council’s footpath liaison officer, to survey and discuss repairs to the Priest’s Way: drainage and surface damage are particular issues to address. A stile is to be replaced with an easy access gate near Eastington Farm, and some fingerposts and waymarks are being renewed. The Burngate centre have asked about creating a permissive footpath between the Acton phone box and the centre: the NT will advertise the proposal locally with a map, inviting comments. The Parish Council’s views would also be welcomed. 
b) Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, PC Footpath Liaison officer, sent a report which was read out by the Clerk. He is pleased with the joint progress regarding work on the Priest’s Way, and Steve Kourik seems confident that sufficient funding will be forthcoming from DCC to effect repairs. He is hoping to have a meeting shortly with the landowners involved in the proposal to alter the footpath access between New Barn and the corner of Crack lane along the A351; if this is successful he will apply to DCC for funding.
Complaints had been received from the public (by both Ian V-A and the National Trust) regarding clearance of vegetation around boundary walls in the parish: comments and enquiries have been referred to the tenant, as this is neither a footpath matter nor one directly for the NT.                                    
4.	Public Discussion. 
a) Dr Chris Spilling asked the Council for whom the proposed car park might be intended. The Chairman replied that it might be for both school and public use, though no formal plans were yet in place. Dr. Spilling then suggested that such a car park might aggravate the traffic problem, and proposed that the north wall of the school field might be re-sited to allow pull-in space along the south side of the road opposite the school. He further said that he hoped to receive answers to his questions on the topic, already circulated to Councillors, and that he might have more questions in the future.
b) Mr Barrie Mayes asked the Council for reassurance that the car park proposal is intended to sort out traffic problems at the upper end of the village, noting that it is important to retain cars on the street on the lower part of the High St as a traffic-calming measure. He further asked if the light at the E end of East Drove could be replaced: ACTION: Chairman to inspect light with Mr Mayes, after dark.
c) Mrs Cassie Feltham reported to the meeting on the progress of her ’20 is Plenty’ campaign for improving road safety in the village. She outlined key points of concern such as vulnerable groups of pedestrians on narrow pavements and large buses and lorries going relatively fast in places. She suggested that speed controls would be a low-cost approach to the problem, and that the community needed to work together on this. She listed a set of proposals for the Parish Council’s consideration. 
d) Mr Roger Free noted that the footway lights in Tom’s Field go on before dark, and stay on for too long in the morning. ACTION: Clerk to make enquiries of SSE Contracting about changing timers.
e) Mrs Bridget Mayes said that it was important that all opinions were canvassed before decisions are taken on any plans for a new speed limit.
5.  Matters Arising from the Public Discussion. All matters arising were on the agenda following.
6.   Planning Matters. 
      2) To make comments concerning the following plans:-
       (a) 6/2012/0014    Application for :- Listed Building Consent. DCC. Alterations to conservatory. Leeson House Field Studies Centre, Langton Matravers. Observation: The Parish Council has no objection.
       (b) 6/2011/0815 Application for;- Full Planning Permission. Mr and Mrs Evans. Erect first floor rear extension under new roof. The Hyde, (The Nest) Langton Matravers., BH19 3HE. Cllr Drayson left the room during discussion of this item. Observation: The Parish Council has no objection.
        (c) 6/2012/0006 Application for:- County Matter Permission. Lovell Purbeck Ltd. Small scale extension, Quarry No.4, Quarry Field, Acton. Grid refs: E.399152 N.77790. Observation: The Parish Council has no objection.
             6/2012/0007 Application for:- County Matter Permission. Lovell Purbeck Ltd. Variation of conditions 2,6,9 and 10 of Planning permission 6/2004/1048 to extend the end date of the existing quarry to facilitate the extension and to change the phasing and the ramp location. Site as 6/2012/0006. Observation: The Parish Council has no objection.
          (d) 6/2012/0035/36 Application for:- Full Planning permission and Listed Building Consent. Mr D Spiller. Addition of new porch entrance on annexe and modification to roof and window on rear extension and change kitchen/dining room. Coombe (Mayflower Cottage), Langton Matravers, BH19 3DW. Cllr White did not vote. Observation: The Parish Council has no objection.
           (e)  6/2012 0037 Application for:- Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing). Mr D Spiller. Use of Annexe for letting purposes (Use Class C3) Coombe (Mayflower Cottage), Langton Matravers, BH19 3DW. Cllr White did not vote. Observation: The Parish Council has no comment.
           (f)  6/20012/0039  Application for:- certificate of lawfulness (Proposed). Mr and Mrs I D Saunders. Use of land for siting a caravan/mobile home. Arundel Terrace (Land adj. to Nr 8), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HN. Cllr Bradford noted the difficulty of access to the site. Observation: The Parish Council has no comment.
3) The Council received planning decisions by PDC since the last meeting: 
     a) 6/2011/0706 Nursery Bridge Farm, Valley Rd. Langton Matravers. Stationing at Nursery Bridge Farm of a mobile home for a period in excess of 10 years for canteen, rest room, on-site office, WC, basic kitchen as well as paperwork store and animal medicines. Certificate of Lawful Use Existing -  Approved. Mr Young has now withdrawn his enforcement appeal.
4) Other planning matters: - there were none.
7.  Minutes of  Meeting held 8th December 2011. The Minutes had been circulated previously. Cllr Turner noted that Minute 15 (Parish Plan) omitted the fact that the Parish Council had agreed at the January meeting to retain the proposal for a car park in the ongoing Parish Plan recommendations. The minute was altered and the minutes were then agreed as a correct record and signed.
8.  Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 12. Financial Matters. Cllr Kirby asked if the VAT owing for the previous two years had yet been reclaimed. ACTION: Clerk to contact Alan Leeson.
b) Item 6/4b. Dead Tree in OMH Lane. The Clerk reported that there had been no response from the PDC Tree Officer.  ACTION: Clerk to contact Gwydion Howell again.
9.  The Clerk’s Report for the period 9.1.2012 to 3.2.2012: Report received.
10.  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report.
a) Items 5 and 11. The Clerk asked the Council if they wished to continue with subscriptions to the Open Spaces Society and Fields in Trust. It was agreed to continue both for another year. ACTION: Clerk.
b) Items 33. CPRE Guide to making a Neighbourhood Plan. The Clerk reported that 5 more copies had been ordered for councillors to read.
c) Item 26. Neil Brooks, OMH, had written saying that the school would in principle be in favour of sharing facilities with the village community: he will contact the PC again in the near future.
d) Item 33. DCC Bus Shelter Cleaning Contract. It was agreed to express an interest without making any financial commitment. ACTION: Clerk.
10.  Chairman’s Announcements. The new dog and litter bins have been installed near the new bus shelter at Steppes. Following a meeting with Dr Spilling, the new gate for the Parish Council’s land at Cole’s Ground is to be further south than originally planned. Cllr Loudoun will put the gate up. 
12.  Financial Matters.
(1)   Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting:
       £ 806.00    Allotment rents.
       £  80.00     Memorial to the late Eugenia Curtis, Plot P10.
(2)   Note the following Payments by cheque since last Meeting:
       £ 12.00     Langton Matravers Village Hall Cttee. for February Council chamber.
       £ 480.14 	  Clerk’s Salary – January, plus tax rebate.
       £ 121.30 	  Mr. O.Wiste - Grounds Maintenance, January. 
       £ 200.00	   Colin Lander, work in Old Cemetery. 
       £ 37.99      AVG Anti-Virus.
       £ 414.00   SSE Contracting (Footway light in the Hyde)
       £ 131.70   SSE Contracting (Footway light at Coombe).
       £ 50.00     St.George’s PCC. Interment payment (error).
 (3) Payments by Direct Debit:
       £ 36.79 to XLN Telecom for phone and broadband 
 (4) Other Financial Matters. There were none.
13.  Cemetery Matters:
(1) Council’s Cemetery. 
a) Purchase of National Trust land at Crack Lane to extend the cemetery. The Clerk informed the meeting that The National Trust had instructed their legal department.
b) Leigh Diffey Memorial. The Clerk had received a letter from Colin Lander regarding a proposed memorial to the late Leigh Diffey.  The Council approved the proposal. RESOLVED:  That a memorial fee of £50 be charged. 
(2) Closed Cemetery a) The Memorial Fund. Mr Norman Priddle had suggested various previous donors who might be approached again by letter. RESOLVED: That the Clerk write to suggested previous donors and also put appeal in the Dubber .
b) Mr. C.Lander had completed the work on the Saunders memorial.
14.  Allotments.  The Clerk reported that only 1 allotment rent remained to be paid. The water had been drained from the system by Mr Richard Simpson, who was thanked for his work.
15. Jubilee Plans. The Council were not in favour of small individual gifts such as commemorative mugs for school children. However, Cllr Loudoun suggested that the Council might commission or buy some larger ‘visual’ item such as a window or plaque which the whole village could share and enjoy. It was agreed to find out what the school’s plans were for any celebration, and to prepare ideas for a village ‘commemorative object’ for the next meeting. ACTION: All Councillors.
16. PDC Core Strategy. The Core Strategy is now being submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. Cllr Kirby expressed disappointment that, despite an explicit request by the Council at the consultation stage that the paragraph about Langton Matravers be re-worded, no change has been made in the wording. It was agreed to start looking at the development of a Neighbourhood Plan at the next meeting, after Cllrs Kirby, Drayson and the Clerk have attended DAPTC training on the Localism Act.
17. Date for the Annual Parish Meeting. May 3rd 2012 was agreed. 
18. Parish Plan.  The Clerk reported that research on solar panels for the office roof suggested low returns for a major outlay owing to the orientation of the building’s roof. A date of Saturday May 12th (morning) was agreed for a Village Clean-up, with format to be discussed at the next meeting.  
19. a) School Field Lease. Mr Michael Greenleaves, Chair of Governors at St.George’s School, had asked for a further revision of the lease, owing to the possibility in the future of using a part of the playing field for non-play use. Cllrs discussed the re-drafted clause. RESOLVED: That the new wording of Clauses 4.4.2. and 4.4.3 be accepted by the Council, and a new lease which includes these clauses be signed.
b) Village Car Park/Traffic Management/Congestion. A wide-ranging discussion occurred, bringing in points raised during the Public Discussion period. Cllr Drayson proposed that a public meeting be held, including representatives from the PC and school. Cllr Lovell reminded members that it was important to consider all possible sites for a car park. Cllr Loudoun suggested that there was no need for a car park as there was sufficient on-street parking, and the priority was to manage the flow of traffic effectively, particularly at school dropping-off and collection times.  He is happy to allow the trialling of Cox’ field to the west of the village as a Walking Bus park. The use of cones and a speed camera to control traffic was explored. RESOLVED: That Cllr Kirby approach PC Ian Leslie from PACT to loan cones and a speed camera to see what might improve traffic management in the High Street.
20. New Bus Shelter at Steppes – North Side. Provision of a new shelter was discussed, but as it would have to be very narrow and open at the front, it was felt that it would not offer sufficient protection from the prevailing wind. It was agreed not to follow up the idea.
21. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 7pm on Thursday 8th March 2012. The April monthly meeting will be at 7pm. on Thursday 12th April 2012.
22. Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting:  Plans for Annual Parish Meeting, Traffic management, Jubilee ideas, Village Clean-up plans, Neighbourhood Plan.

Closed 9.20pm 

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