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

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday 12th July 2012 at 7.00pm
Present: Cllr P White in the Chair, P Loudoun, H Tizard, M Turner, M Kirby, W Knight, J Bradford, M Lovell, C.Drayson.

There was 1 member of the public present.

1.	Apologies: Jonathan Kershaw, NT, Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, RoWLO.
2.	Declarations of interest.  Cllr Kirby declared a personal interest as his wife has an allotment. Cllrs Tizard, Drayson and Turner each declared a personal interest as allotment tenants. Cllr White declared an interest in Item 20 (Auxiliary Units Memorial Unveiling).
3.	Reports. a) The Clerk read out a report from Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, PC Rights of Way Liaison Officer. Steve Kourik of DCC has advised that a bid could be made to ‘The Paths for Communities’ fund to upgrade the Priest’s Way. Such a bid must include some element of new Public Right of Way. He would discuss this further with the NT. He has contacted Sandra Brown, Worth’s RoWLO, and Swanage TC will discuss the matter at their next Planning and Policy meeting. RESOLVED: That the Council supports Mr Vaughan-Arbuckle in preparing a case, in consultation with WPC, SWT and the NT, for a bid for funding for repairs/drainage of the Priest’s Way. At their meeting on 2nd July the DCC RoW Cttee approved the application for a footpath from the A351 via Windmill Hill to link up with Footpath 13. RESOLVED: That a letter of thanks and congratulation be sent to Mr Ian Mackenzie, who has worked long and hard on the project, inviting him to claim for expenses incurred in the application. Dog Fouling deterrence plans will commence once the weather improves.
b) David Hodd of the National Trust reported on the Trust’s work in the parish within the last month. A new ranger will be appointed in the Autumn, and a new trainee ranger will start in September.  The NT are involved with the Cultural Olympiad, with drawings and a film exhibition from artist Mat Chivers at Spyway Barn in July-August. Mr Hodd advised that paths had been damaged as a result of heavy rain, particularly on the slope down to Dancing Ledge. He was asked about drainage problems just above Durnford Drove and informed the meeting that, following advice from Mike Goater, engineer at PDC, grips had been cleared out higher up. He was aware that this had not solved the problem, and will discuss further action with the relevant bodies, to deepen the ditches alongside the road past Spyway, which at present have a telephone cable in them. He noted with regard to gaining funding for the upgrade of the Priest’s Way (see above), that the NT does not normally support development of new Rights of Way, but would be working closely with Mr V-A to make sure that any such proposal stood on its own merits. Cllr Turner suggested that the path from Durnford Drove to Spyway could be upgraded to a bridleway. Mr Hodd was asked about the Trust’s stance on the proposed Eneco Wind Farm. He said that the Trust will be following the planning consultations closely. Though they are in favour of wind energy in principle, they have expressed concerns about visibility, particularly from Studland beach.  The Chairman thanked Mr Hodd for the report and for responding to questions.
4.	Public Discussion. There were no comments from the public.
5.  Matters Arising from the Public Discussion.  None.
6.  Planning Matters. 
       2) To make comments concerning the following plans:-
       (a) TWA/2012/0082   Mr. Keith Dowling, Garfield Cottage, Garfield Lane, Langton Matravers.  Lime Tree – 20% Crown thin by removal of epicormic growth and a few tertiary branches. NO OBJECTION.
       3) The Council received planning decisions by PDC since the last meeting: 
     a) 6/2012/0261 Application for :- Full Planning Permission	Minor Development.		Mr. S. Fenech, Hollyhocks, the Hyde, Langton Matravers, BH19 3AG Erect single storey side extension to N.side of bungalow. APPROVED
   4) Other planning matters: - It was noted that the plan for 4 Wind Turbines at East Stoke had been approved on appeal.
7.  Minutes of  the Meeting held 14th June 2012. The Minutes, having been circulated previously, were agreed as a correct record and signed.
8.  Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 8a. The Core Strategy Open Meeting had been held on 5th July, and provided useful information. Steve Tapscott of PDC had been unable to attend, and Keith Childs had come in his place.
b) Item 8b. The revised plans for St George’s School are not yet ready to view.
c) Item 8c. Mr Duncan had put up a small fence on the SE corner of School Field. DCC had subsequently added a much taller fence in the same place.
d) Item 11b. DCC have cleared the blocked drains at Coombe, but the situation needs to be kept under review. 
e) Item 15. Cllr Kirby has advised all allotment holders that the Council’s allotment insurance does not cover equipment.
f) Item 17. Cllr Lovell had asked members of the Young Farmers to help clearing the hedge on the S.Side of the school field before DCC put up a new fence. He is optimistic that this will be possible in the Autumn.
9.  The Clerk’s Report for the period 9.6.2012 to 6.7.2012.  Report received.
10.  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report. 
a) Item 15. Mrs.D Pearson, Chair of the Allotment Association informed the Council that the PC’s allotment machinery had been accepted by the Association.
b) Item 30. Problems with PDC Waste Collection at Acton. Following a letter from Mrs Sheila Brown, the Clerk had spoken to Neil Randall at PDC. He suggested that she ask for a special collection. ACTION: Clerk to write to Mrs Brown suggesting this.
c) Item 32. Superfast Broadband Registration. Cllr Kirby asked that Cllrs register an interest (access is on the Council’s website), and that parishioners are encouraged to do so too. ACTION: Clerk to include in Dubber report.
e) Item 34. Cllr Lovell reported that he had spoken to Jackie Groves, DCC officer concerned with the new development at St George’s School, about possible staff parking at the west end of the school field: she is in favour of a ‘green’ surface for any such parking, which is less visually intrusive. The Clerk stressed that she had informed Mr Greenleaves, Chair of Governors, that the Council had made no decisions on the suitability of provision of any parking there.
11.  Chairman’s Announcements. 
DCC had done much work on drains in the village, outside the Old Bakery, at Putlake and Coombe, and the heavy rains are now causing less flooding. He thanked Mr Wright, from Timson Cottages, for cutting back the nettles on the path alongside the Old Cemetery.
12.  Financial Matters.
(1)   Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting:
       £ 840.00   Purchase of Burial plot and interment fee: the late Mr. P.J.Cox, Plot O 16.
       £ 185.15   PAYE overpayment 2011-2012.
       £ 275.00   Purchase of Burial Plot. Mr.I.Vaughan-Arbuckle, Plot Q18. 
(2)   Note the following Payments by cheque since last Meeting:
        £ 12.00     Langton Matravers Village Hall Committee for July Council chamber.
        £ 150.00   Mr I. Bugler – Grounds Maintenance (June). 
        £ 444.34   Clerk’s salary (June).
        £ 42.00     National Trust Allotment rent increase, Apr.2012-Mch.2013. 
       £ 23.49     Printer Paper. (Cash payment to Mr. M.Kirby).
       £ 50.00     Donald Book-keeping (Internal audit, final quarter + Year End fee).
£ 126.88   Southern Electric, Electricity for Toilet Block, March-June 2012.
£ 252.00   Playsafety Ltd. ROSPA safety inspection of Play equipment.
£ 18.67     Office sundries (cash payments).
 (3) 	Payments by Direct Debit:
       £ 36.10      XLN Telecom for phone and broadband 
 (4) 	Other Financial Matters. 
The Clerk reported that the parish accounts had been sent to the External Auditor for 9th July 2012.
13.  Cemetery Matters:
(1) Council’s Cemetery. a) Purchase of Land update. Craig Wells, who is acting for the Council, is now in a position to proceed with his part of the conveyancing. 
b) Caretaker Tender. Following the 6th July meeting of the Tender Group (excepting Cllr Lovell, who, owing to a clerical error was unable to attend) the Council discussed proposed changes to both the tender document and the contract. RESOLVED: That the Council accept the new Cemetery Caretaker Tender Document and Contract, and that the tender be advertised in the Dubber and for 2 weeks in the Swanage Advertiser, closing date 8th August 2012. Abstention: Cllr Lovell.
(2) Closed Cemetery. The Clerk reported that James Bennett, DCC/PDC Tree Officer, had looked at the overhanging ash tree in the Old Rectory garden, and was taking legal advice on the enforcement issue.
14.  Allotments.  Cllr Kirby reported a change in allotment tenants: Mr and Mrs Sandham are now tenants of the whole of Plot 28. 
15.  Neighbourhood Plan. Following the Core Strategy Meeting on 5th July, it seemed less clear what the advantages to the parish might be of making a Neighbourhood Plan, which could be costly and require much time and effort. Cllr Kirby suggested that it might give the Council a greater input with PDC on decisions which affected the village. Cllr Lovell advised that as this is a new idea, the Council should delay any decision for the present, and review the matter in the future as and when the experiences of other Councils’ Neighbourhood Plans become available. This was agreed.
16. Code of Conduct. DAPTC has advised that we accept the new NALC Code, with Appendix A only. After discussion of the legality of adopting this version of the Code without Appendix B, it was RESOLVED: That the Council accept the NALC version of the new Code of Conduct including Appendix A, but not Appendix B until the Code has been operating for a year and the Council can judge whether all or any of the interests in Appendix B are needed. Cllr Lovell explained that as this was a new Code of Conduct Cllrs would have to re-register their interests.
17. Traffic Management.. 
a) Speed Watch. Cllr Kirby reported that PCSO Iain Leslie had not yet responded regarding plans for this, and he will e-mail him again.
b) Widening Footways. The Clerk had been in touch with David Hill of Savill’s, who manages the Scott Estate, and he will contact them about the Putlake footway. 
18. Play Area. The recent ROSPA inspection had revealed two areas of concern on the swings of ‘Medium’ level. Cllr Tizard offered to look at these with a view to mending/replacing as necessary. Cllr Turner asked if there were grants available for such work. It was suggested that the swings might need replacement in the future. ACTION: Cllr Tizard to inspect swings, Clerk to look at cost/grants for replacement. To be discussed at the next meeting.
19. Changes to PDC Core Strategy. The Council had been asked if they wished to comment on any of the recent modifications. Cllr Kirby noted that PDC has a copy of the 2005 Parish Plan. RESOLVED: To send PDC a copy of the new Parish Plan Update Recommendations made in 2011-12.
20. Auxiliary Units Memorial Unveiling. Cllr White advised the meeting that the memorial was now ready to be unveiled, and asked if the Council might write a letter inviting the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset to do this sometime in October. Though some Cllrs expressed personal support for the memorial, it was not felt that it would be appropriate for such an invitation to come from the Council.
21. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 7pm on Thursday 9th August 2012. The September monthly meeting will be at 7pm. on Thursday 13th September 2012.
22.	Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting:  Play Area/ Secondary School plans/Widening Footways.

Closed 9.08pm 

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