Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Minutes of a meeting of Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday, 9th July 2009 at 7.00pm
Present Cllr N Priddle, in the Chair, Cllr P White (Vice-Chairman), and Cllrs, J Bradford, P. Bradford, P Loudoun ,M Lovell and Mrs V Murray. 

1.	Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mrs P. Kwantes & M Kirby.
2.	Declarations of interest: there were none.
3.	Public Discussion period:
 The Meeting was adjourned for discussion.
The Reverend Judith Malins spoke on behalf of the St George’s First School Governing Body. It is their view that it is vital for the community that there is a school, whether primary or first, in the village. In the event that the county changes to a two tier system the governors are confident that it is possible to provide a good primary school on the present site and the governors would be seeking to reduce the risks from traffic by additional road calming and car parking measures. The Governors asked that the Council write letters of support for this to the Diocese and DCC.
Mr A Painter spoke in support of this view and pointed out that of all the school’s affected by the review St George’s was the only one that is over-subscribed.
Mrs S Painter also spoke in support.
Mrs W Wilson, as the Council’s representative on the Board of Governors, asked for support for the Council’s support for the school, now and in the future.
The Meeting was reconvened.
4.	Matters arising from the Public Discussion: 
Cllr M Lovell proposed that the Clerk be instructed to write to DCC and the Diocese in support of the Board of Governors. This was unanimously agreed. 
5.	Planning Matters:
(1) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0311, submitted by Mrs E Tweddle; erect single storey rear extension and side porch with bay window on front elevation. 
(2) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0311;
On the proposition of the Chairman it was unanimously agreed that; 
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
(3) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0319, submitted by D&P Lovell Quarries Ltd; retention of the D&PLovell Quarries Service Area, Acton, to sort, store and process Purbeck Limestone.
(4) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0319;
On the proposition of the Chairman it was unanimously agreed that;
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
(5) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0320, submitted by Lewis Quarries; retention of the Lewis Quarries Service Area, Acton, and the erection of a shed to enclose a stone cutting saw.
(6) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0320:
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
(In all the above voting Cllr M W J Lovell abstained as a member of the Purbeck District Council’s       Planning Board).
(7) Planning Decisions that affected the parish this month.
(a)	Plan 0234, submitted by HF Bonfield, Blacklands Quarry: No objection to County Matter ; Approved.
(b)	 Plan 0235, submitted by HF Bonfield, Blacklands Quarry: No objection to County Matter; Approved.
(c)	Plan 0004, submitted by Scottish & Southern Energy: EIA Screening Opinion -  not EIA Development; Approved.

(d)	 Plan 0225, submitted by T-Mobile: Carry out alterations to existing T-Mobile base station, comprising of a replacement antenna and additional equipment cabinet within the existing compound at Nine Barrow Down, Knitson Farm, Corfe Castle. Approved.
(e)	 Plan 1154, submitted by Raglan Housing Association: O/A - Erect 4 houses and 4 flats; form new vehicular access. Approved.
(8) Any other Planning Matters;
There were none.
6.	Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 11th June were confirmed and signed.
7.	Matters arising from the Minutes:
	(a) Item 7 (a) Windmill Lane. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Open Spaces Society to ask for their assistance.
	(b) Item 7 (d) Access road to Acton. N Hamer of DCC has agreed to use a digger to cut back the road to the wall.
	(c) Item 7 (j) A Play Area for older children at Steppes. The Clerk had contacted M Sturgess and F Brown at PDC and was still awaiting a definitive answer.
	(d) Item 9 (b) Spyway car park. D Whyte had written on behalf of the NT. It was planned to erect a sign saying the car park closed at 8pm and No Overnight Parking. The gate was to be reinstated.
	(e) Item 19. Blocked drains and gullies in the High Street. It was reported that they had been cleared.
8.	The Clerk’s Report for the period 5.06.09 – 2.07.09 was received.
9.	Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report:
(a) Item 14. The finger post at Worth Gate. The Clerk read out a letter from DCC Highways, which again refused to reinstate a finger post. The Clerk was instructed to write to Purbeck Heritage Committee and to Dorset AONB for support.
(b) Item 31. Burngate Stone Centre. The Clerk was instructed to write a letter of support for the Centre’s application for Lottery funding for further development.
(c) Item 50. Broken glass in the bus shelter on the High Street. It was agreed that as this was criminal damage the Clerk should have reported it to the police as well as DCC for repair.
10.	Chairman’s announcements;
11.	Financial Matters:
	(1) The following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting were noted:
	£145.00 rent for 7 allotments.
	(2) Note the following Payments by Cheque, already authorized, since last Meeting:
 £544.10 to M Kirby, ex- OHE Horticultural for grass mower, petrol can and petrol for allotments.
£172.50 to M Kirby, ex OHE Horticultural, for 1 large and 1 small trolley for allotments.
	 £3.60 to J Bellucci, ex PO, for postage.
	 £115.00 to P Newell for one cut of the grass at the cemetery and the Play Area.
	 £250.24 to Purbeck Hedging and Fencing for fencing at the allotments.
 £209.19 to M Kirby, ex-OHE Horticultural, for brush cutter and safety helmetfor allotments.
	£227.81 to Ornamental Iron Work for supply of fencing materials for allotments.
	£115.00 to P Newell for one cut of the grass at the cemetery and the Play Area.
	£429.75 to J Bellucci for Clerk’s salary for June.
(3) The following payments by Direct Debit were noted:
 £76.00 to PDC for Business rates.
£29.66 to XLN Telecom for phone and broadband.
(4) Any other Financial Matters: 
 The annual audit had been completed and approved by the external auditors.
It was decided to take no action regarding the auditors concerns about the level of Fidelity Guarantee.
The Clerk was instructed to find out what the Council’s fixed assets are.
12.	Cemetery Matters:
	(1) Council cemetery. 
(a) Cemetery wall; It was agreed that the Council should push everyone concerned to get the wall finished before the weather deteriorated in autumn. 
(2) Closed cemeteries. The Chairman announced that he intended to start a restoration fund to help refurbish the closed cemeteries, but it would not involve the Council.

13.	Allotments. 
(a) The NT lease. It was agreed that the Chairman should sign the NT’s 10 year opt-out clause, which allowed it not to renew the lease if the allotments were not being used.
(b) It was agreed that there should be two signs; one for the Council, stating it was the landlord and acknowledging DEFRA’s ACRE grant and the other for the LMAA .
(c) It was agreed that the Allotments Committee should be reconvened and the Chairman of the LM Allotments Association should be invited to attend. 
14.	Affordable housing update.
The Chairman read out a letter from Mr N Cronk of Raglan Housing regarding the new development at Steppes. The location for a play area was not suitable for a “kick about” area and would be targeted at younger children. Raglan was prepared to support the Council in identifying suitable alternative sites for an area for older children and proposed that they and the Council meet separately with PDC and Purbeck Housing Trust. There will be a “fun day” on the 29th July to run activities for children, tidy up the estate and gauge the level of support for a joint residents committee. As Outline Planning Consent had been received, Raglan would be submitting a reserved matters application in the near future.
15.	Car parking in the village. The Clerk was instructed to write to Savills to see if the Encombe Estate owned the verge at Crack Lane.
16.	The Cemetery Endowment Fund. Deferred.
17.	Dog litter signs. R Turner had offered to provide 2 bins for dog litter and the Clerk was instructed to write to PDC to see where they could be sited.
18.	The railings at the entrance to the playing fields. The Clerk was instructed to write to the St George’s Board of Governors to ask that the railings be painted bright yellow for safety reasons.
19.	The Play Area. ROSPA had inspected the Play Area and were happy with what they found. The Clerk was instructed to write to PDC regarding moving the litter bin out of the Play Area and nearer the entrance gate.
20.	 Street lighting. Awaiting information from DCC.
21.	 The date of the next Council Meeting was confirmed as Thursday the 13th August.
22.	Items for the next Agenda;
	Cemetery fund.
23.	There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 8:55pm.

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