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

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday 9th January 2014 at 7 pm.
Present: Cllr P White in the Chair, Cllrs M Turner, P Loudoun, W Knight, J Bradford, C Drayson, H Tizard, M Kirby, M Lovell.  
There were over 60 members of the public present, though many left after Item 6.

1.	Apologies for absence.  None. 
2.	Declarations of interest / Grant of Dispensations.  Cllr White, Item 8.4 (Planning).
3.	Presentation by Tom Bennett, DCC Countryside Ranger. Mr Bennett introduced himself and explained that a new Purbeck Rights of Way Action Group had been set up, including Studland, Corfe, Swanage, Worth and Kingston parishes, and representatives from DCC and the NT. Issues currently being addressed by Mr Bennett are the landslip/closure on the Dancing Ledge footpath and improvements at East Drove, where DCC are contributing 10% to costs. DCC Highways will be dealing with drainage issues there. He asked parishioners for ideas about circular walks, and said that though there were severe budget cuts, he would do his best to serve the area, offering advice as required. 
4.	RoWLO Report. Mr Vaughan-Arbuckle reported that in the main the work done on the Priest’s Way has stood up well to the inclement weather, with 2 areas needing further attention. The opening ceremony will be on 29th January from 10 am; all are invited, including representatives from user groups. The new PW leaflets will be distributed shortly, and new wooden waymarkers placed. 
5.	National Trust Report. Jonathan Kershaw advised the meeting of two weekend Charcoal-burning/Greenwoodworking sessions at Langton West Wood on 25th/26th January and 1st/2nd February. The ‘Spirit of Place’ document for the West Wood is now published, with proposals for its management: this is on the Council’s website. The Trust are looking at an alternative route to Dancing Ledge. 
The Chairman thanked Mr Bennett, Mr V-A and Mr Kershaw for their reports and for all the work they do for the village.
6.	Public Discussion Period. 
a) Future of the Post Office. Mr Roger Free thanked the Council for allowing the time to discuss the issue. Suggestions were made from the floor about how to proceed with plans to keep the shop open in some form, including the option to move it to Putlake Adventure Farm, subject to the approval of the landlords, the Scott Estate. It was agreed by those present that a questionnaire be put in the Dubber, and the Chairman offered on behalf of the PC to pay for the hire of the hall for a meeting on 8th February at 10.30 am. ACTION: Clerk to book hall.
b) Mr Pete Christie reported that the drain opposite No 69 High Street is on the point of collapse. ACTION: Clerk to contact DCC Highways. He asked about proposals for a 20mph speed limit and was informed that a 20mph pilot scheme will form part of the School Safety proposals (see Item 18). 
c) Mr David Priddle expressed concern that changes to drainage systems at Spyway might exacerbate flooding in the area of the Hyde. Jon Kershaw (NT) responded that the NT have taken advice from the DCC Flood Mangement Department, and that the water is presently taking its natural course. 
d) School Access and Picking-up/Dropping-off times. Mrs Mary Duncan suggested that, to cut the volume of cars and parking problems outside the school, children from outside the immediate area should be bussed to and from school. Mr Martyn Pring expressed concern about the parking issues, and asked that the main school entrance be used by parents and children, rather than the proposed east entrance. Mr Michael Greenleaves, Chair of St George’s School Governors, explained that the east entrance was necessary for safety reasons and was part of the school design. He emphasised that the school is keen to keep disruption to a minimum and asked for the community’s ongoing support. Mrs Judy Cook asked that the issues of traffic volume/congestion and parking be addressed.
7. Matters Arising from the Public Discussion. Actions as above (Item 6).
8.  Planning Matters. 
1) a) 6/2013/0699  Mrs. Doris Tyrer, Greystones, The Hyde, BH19 3HE. Sever land and erect three-bedroom two-storey dwelling. Create new vehicular access.
  The Clerk had received three letters expressing opposition and concerns on the grounds : i) the proposed development is unsuitable (i.e. not affordable),  ii) overdevelopment of the site, iii) negative impact on neighbouring properties, iv) lack of parking, v) impact on the road outside, and vi) setting a precedent for future development in the Hyde.   
2) To make comments concerning the following plans:-
  a)  As 1a)  No Objection (following Chairman’s casting vote).
3) Planning decisions since the last Parish Council Meeting.
a) 6/2013/0603 The National Trust, Durnford Drove (2 Spyway Farm Cottages), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HG. Clad gable end wall in slate. Approved.
b) TWA/2013/0174 Mr. Rob Turner, Durnford Drove (Land to south of Arbutus), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HG, (G1) Sycamore - fell group of 41 trees, (G2) 3x Ash & 2x Sycamore - fell (trees marked on site) - District of Purbeck (Spyway House, Langton Matravers) TPO 1976 (Ref.44). Application withdrawn.
4) Other planning matters: 6/2013/0575  Mr. M Ruckwood, High Street (The Old Malthouse), Langton Matravers BH19 3HB, Minor material amendment to PP 6/2011/0131 (Change of use, demolition and alterations to form two dwellings and erect two detached dwellings) to allow a change to the building materials. 
PDC Intention to approve delegated application.  Cllr Turner chaired this item. Following the Council’s strong letter of objection of 15th November on the grounds that the design of a building as already approved by the Planning Board should be insisted upon in this significant location, the Clerk advised that the planning officer concerned, Mr Tony Bird, had nevertheless decided to allow brick and slate on sides and back of the new buildings rather than Purbeck stone and tile throughout, as in the original plan. He included a minor alteration to the revised plans: some stone on the south side of Plot 4. While deploring the facility with which such changes can be made despite the development being in a Conservation Area, the Council decided not to take the matter further.
9. Minutes of the Meeting held 12th December 2013. The Minutes were agreed as a correct record and signed.
10.  Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 2. Tribute to Norman Priddle. The Clerk apologised to the Council for omitting this from the LMPC Dubber report. There will be a full obituary by Reg Saville in the February Dubber.
b) Item 6a. Dr Spilling’s Environmental Information about the Council’s land at Cole’s Ground is now on the parish website.
c) Item 12e. The Council’s contribution to Purbeck CAB has been gratefully acknowledged by Helen Goldsack, the Bureau Manager. She has confirmed that she will attend the Parish Assembly in April to give a short presentation and display.
d) Item 15.2. PDC will look into the issue of overhanging trees in the Closed Cemetery.
e) Item 17. Cari Wooldridge (PDC) was very pleased with Langton’s response to the Local Plan/ Settlement Boundary Review. Cllr Kirby was thanked by the Council for all his hard work on this.
f) Item 20.Minerals and Waste Planning Consultation, 3-7pm, 22nd January, LMVH. DCC have agreed to give a presentation and take questions at a meeting which is open to the public, from 7pm. The Clerk has invited Cllrs from Swanage and Worth Matravers to attend. Posters will advertise the event, and local quarry owners will be informed. ACTION: Clerk.
11.  The Clerk’s Report for the period  9.12.2013-3.1.2014.  Report received.
12.  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report. 
a) Item 7. Mrs Judy Barnes asked why there were no noticeboards at the East end of the village. RESOLVED: To provide a noticeboard at the Steppes Bus Shelter. ACTION: Cllr Kirby.
b) Item 13. PDC asked if they could give a 15 minute presentation to Council on the proposed Swanage Local Plan. It was agreed to invite them to the February meeting, the presentation being the first item on the agenda. ACTION: Clerk.
13.  Chairman’s Announcements.  There were none. 
14.  Review of Standing Orders. Following the re-draft of the Council’s Standing Orders in October/November 2013, it was RESOLVED: To adopt the new Standing Orders.
15. Replacement/Removal of Council’s Street Lights. The Clerk advised on the cost of the various options and read out comments from parishioners about the need or otherwise for particular lights. Cllrs looked at maps of the position of the lights. It was RESOLVED: To replace lights 3,4,5 at Acton, to include part-night PECs, and to investigate the use of LED lights, up to a total price of £1,2000. ACTION: Clerk. Lights in Langton will be reviewed in the future.
16. Monthly Council and District Reports. Cllr Kirby noted that there was presently no place in the agenda for County and District Cllr. Lovell to report on his work in the wider community. It was agreed that an agenda item should be included in the future after Chairman’s Announcements. ACTION: Clerk, Cllr Lovell. Cllr Lovell reported  on the meeting about the future of evening Bus Services (4th Dec 2013); DCC see it as the job of the bus company to fund evening services on the 40 bus from daytime profits, and will not be supporting this. Cllr Lovell is working on plans for a community bus for the area.  
17. Housing Needs Survey. The draft report on the survey had been received from PDC and circulated. After discussion of the definition of ‘affordable’, and a request for correction of a statistic on p.8, it was RESOLVED: To adopt the Housing Needs Survey, subject to clarification on p.8. ACTION: Clerk to inform Chris McDermott. Cllr Kirby asked if the Council had information yet about the local connections of new tenants at Nine Barrow View, as requested at the last meeting: Mrs McDermott has advised that the allocation process is not yet complete. ACTION: Clerk. 
18. Proposal for Traffic Calming outside St George’s School.  The Clerk explained the proposals made by DCC Traffic Engineering, including a‘20mph while lights flashing’ system with ‘Slow’ signs at either end, move of zig-zags outside school entrance to extend just beyond the new east entrance to the east and a build-out into the road by the main entrance to make the road single-lane at this point. This can be put in hand once the Council gives its approval: alternatives will need further planning and budget. Cllr Drayson advised that the ‘narrow’ part of the road cannot be opposite the entrance to the playing field, as this may prevent long vehicles such as mowing equipment getting onto the field. This point being noted, it was RESOLVED: To ask DCC to go ahead with the proposals as planned as soon as possible.
19. Financial Matters.
(1)   Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting: 
        £877.50      Allotment rent and water charges.
 (2)   Note the following Payments by cheque to be made since last Meeting:
£ 90.00  Mr I. Bugler – Grounds Maintenance (December). 
£ 513.51   Clerk’s salary (December). 
£ 118.00   Elliott’s Cleaning Co. Public Toilet (December).
£ 100.00   Grant for Purbeck Citizens Advice Bureau.
£ 84.00     Drainability – Public Conveniences drain clearing.
£ 25.00     Fields in Trust Annual Subscription.
£ 73.90     Bluefin Insurance 2014 (Allotments).
       £ 530.00   Mr. and Mrs. R.Hayward – Re-purchase of Burial Plot J4, Grant E22. 
       £ 14.98     OCS (Cannon Hygiene)
3) 	Payments by Direct Debit:
         £ 38.20     XLN Telecom for phone and broadband. 
 (4) Other Financial Matters. a) Precept.  Given the ongoing costs of toilet cleaning which will be payable as the subsidy from PDC decreases, it was considered prudent to increase the precept over the next two years to reflect this future shortfall in income. It was therefore RESOLVED: To increase the precept by £1,300.00 to £15,820. It was suggested that a similar increase be made in 2015. 
b) Finance Regulations. As part of the re-draft of Standing Orders and as advised by DAPTC, the Clerk had separated the financial part into a separate document, to be read in conjunction with SOs and also as part of the Annual Audit, Risk Register etc. RESOLVED: To adopt the Finance Regulations. 
20.  Cemetery Matters: (1) Council’s Cemetery. Following the return of Mr and Mrs Hayward’s Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial, Plot E22 is again available to purchase.
(2) Closed Cemetery. No points for discussion.
21. Allotments.  a) RESOLVED: To add to Clause 1 of the tenancy agreement, after ‘The tenant...’ the words ‘unless approved by the Council’. Using the new rules, that current plotholders may be able, at the discretion of the Council, to retain their tenancies despite a temporary move away from the catchment area.  It was RESOLVED: To allow the tenant of plot 7A to renew their tenancy for a further year. It was suggested that an advertisement be put in the Dubber for the two vacant half plots. ACTION: Clerk.
22. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday 13th February, 2014 at 7pm
23.Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting: Swanage Local Plan / Malthouse Trees / Housing Needs Survey.

Closed 9.38.pm.

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