Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Minutes of a meeting of Council held in the Village Hall on  Thursday 8th March 2007 at 7.00 pm.
(Present: Cllr N E Priddle (Chairman) in the Chair; Cllr P E Loudon (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Mrs V C Murray and Mrs P M Kwantes, and Cllrs J Bradford, P J Bradford, S M Murray and M W J Lovell ( Parish, County 					         & District Councillor).
1.	Apologies for absence were received from Cllr P White.
2.	The Meeting was adjourned for public discussion, but no-one wished to speak.
3.	The Meeting was reconvened. There were no matters arsing from the Public Discussion period.
4.	Discussion with Mr D Hodd, National Trust Agent:
	(1) Chairman expressed the concern of both the Council and parishioners about the overgrown 	condition of the Old Marble Quarry. Mr Hodd replied that the Trust would eventually get around to 	dealing with this matter, but that it was not high on its list of priorities. He agrees with the suggestion 	that permitting grazing of the area would be the best temporary solution, but the Trust owned other 	areas which were similarly neglected, and the Marble Quarry would have to await its turn. He judged 	that it would probably be sorted out within a year.
	(2) It was reported by a resident of Acton that vehicles were being dumped there, as before. A Ford 	Car and a Van had been on Trust land there for some nine months. Mr Hodd promised to see to this.
	(3) The very high stiles with wire attached between the woodlands of Wilkswood and the village 	were too awkward for elderly walkers to attempt. Mr Hodd reported that a survey of the stiles on 	Trust land north of the village was being undertaken.
	(4) Cllr Priddle drew Mr Hodd’s attention to self-seeded trees growing in Twoleas Meadow against 	the north wall of the Closed Cemeteries which were in danger of bring this mortared wall down 	eventually. Mr Hodd promised to look at these.
	(5) Mr Hodd was asked about the Trust’s policy regarding long-term lease of land for affordable 	housing. He replied that this matter should be taken up with Miss Louise Carmichael of the 	Hillbutts Office.
	Chairman thanked Mr Hodd for his attendance and his promised help.
5.	Planning Matters:
	(1) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 65, submitted by Mr N Gray, to erect a 	garden shed at the rear of ‘Stigs’, lately ‘Roumelia’, Gypshayes.
	(2) On the proposition by Cllr Mrs Murray, it was unanimously agreed that “The Parish Council has 	no objection” to Plan 65.
	(3) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 66, submitted by Mr D J Jones 	(retrospectively) to replace the front door and a roof light at No. 2 Serrell’s Mead Cottages.
	(4) On the proposition from the Chair, it was unanimously agreed that “The Parish Council has no 	objection” to Plan 66.
	(5) A letter of objection (from Mr & Mrs M Collins) was read concerning Plan 70, submitted by Mr 	& Mrs James, to convert two dwellings into one by erection of a two-storey side extension and a 	single-storey rear extension, and insert dormer windows to facilitate loft conversion, including rear 	balcony, and erect porch at ‘Pinhoe’/’Ponsonby’, The Hyde. The Clerk explained that, although Mr 	James had given assurances that adequate car-parking spaces would be provided, these did not appear 	on the drawn plan, and the drawn plan took precedence over the words of the application form or 	subsequent letters. It was noted that Mr James, who was present, had chosen not to speak during the 	public discussion period.
	(6) On the proposition from the Chair, it was agreed (For 6; Against 1; Abstention 1; Absent 1) that
	“The Parish Council has no objection to the amalgamation or to the proposed extensions, but would 	like to see provision of six parking spaces within the curtilage as a condition of approval, as these do 	not appear on the drawn plan.”
	(7) Recent PDC Planning decisions concerning this parish were noted:
	a. Extensions to ’Roumelia’, now ’Stigs’; Approved 
	b. Conservatory & Single-storey extension at The White House, Crack Lane; Approved.
	c. Rear extension to ‘Sunny Cottage’; Approved.
	d. Permission granted to do necessary work on trees at ‘Mulberry Cottage’ and in the Closed 			Cemeteries.
	(8) There were no other planning matters.
6.	Minutes of the last Council Meeting, held on February 8th 2007, were confirmed and signed after the 	alteration of the author of a letter as being ‘from Mr C Kwantes’ and not ‘from Cllr Mrs P Kwantes‘.
7.	Matters Arising from the Minutes:
	(1) Item 6(1). Cllr Loudoun reported that the Anti-Dog-Litter Signs had not yet arrived.
	(2) Item 6(2). The Clerk reported that most of the foliage in the carriageway east of Leat Cottage had 	been removed, but that a small verge had been left, which had not been there previously on this 	narrow section of the carriageway.
	(3) Item 6(7). Cllr J Bradford offered to do the necessary work to the trees overhanging grave spaces 	in Crack Lane Cemetery. Chairman thanked him for this
	(4) Item 6(8). The Clerk reported that Council had been misinformed by the Undertaker concerning 	the burial of ashes in the grave of the late Mr & Mrs Bolton. In fact the ashes were of their son, and 	the Deed was held by the widow of the younger Mr Bolton. He said that, in view of this, he had 	allowed the interment of the ashes to take place, despite Council’s ruling which had been made under 	a false impression. Councillors agreed unanimously.
	(5) Item 6(10). The site meeting had taken place with the County Council Officer. She had promised 	that, as long as the matter were added to the list of road works to be done at the next visit of the team, 	the gullies would be regularly cleared.
	(6) Item 9. The Clerk reported that the smaller Union Flag had been purchased. Cllr Priddle said that 	he was trying to work out a way in which it could be easily raised and lowered without risk of it being 	stolen again.
	(7) A debate on the proposed additions to the Cemetery Regulations then followed. Cllr J Bradford 	argued against reducing the maximum height of Monuments, as this might prevent inscriptions 	especially desired by families. He also argued against the proposed regulation involving dowel rods, 	as the Association of Burial Authorities favoured a concrete ‘shoe’. Cllr Loudoun proposed that 	specific safety measures should be left to the provider of the monument, but that Council should 	specify something such as ‘with safety measures according to those suggested by the Association of 	Burial Authorities.’ Chairman ruled that these matters required more thought, so the Additional 	Regulations were deferred to the April Council Meeting. The Clerk asked Members to retain the list.
8.	The Clerk’s Report for the period from 2.2.07 to 1.3.07 was received.
9.	Matters Arising from the Clerk’s Report:
	(1) Item 3. The Clerk’s suggested Report to the District Council on the progress of matters arising 	from the Parish Plan was accepted nem con.
	(2) Item 17. On the proposition by Cllr Lovell, seconded by Cllr Mrs Murray, it was agreed that £50 	should be sent to the South Purbeck Task Group towards transport of local children from the 	Swanage area to the excellent Streetwise Training in Bournemouth
	(3) Item 18. It was unanimously agreed that no contribution should be sent to the 2007 Purbeck Film 	Festival.
	(4) Item 26. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Jon Munslow, as had been suggested by the 	DCC Officer in charge of on-street parking, concerning possible limited parking at the south end of 	Crack Lane, as long as this did not involve making the lane a one-way street.
	(5) Item 34. It was agreed that a letter of thanks should be sent to Mrs Lerida Arnold for agreeing to 	pin up Council Agenda and Minutes in the new Valley Road Notice-case.
10.	Chairman’s Announcements:
	Cllr Priddle reported that the installation of the new Play Equipment in the School Playing Field was 	scheduled to commence on March 23rd, but that there was some dispute with the School Governors 	about whether the fencing should be in place before the equipment. He asked that a letter be sent to 	Mrs Stone, setting out the ruling of the PDC Chief Executive on the possible reclaiming of VAT on 	the equipment. This was agreed.
11.	Financial Matters:
	(1) The following additions to Council funds were noted:
	     £150.00 for Cremation Burial and Flat Memorial on the Bolton grave, C3,
	     £80.00 to Memorial to the late Eric Hillman,
	      £620.00 for two path side plots and the burial of the late James Smith,
	     £790.00 from Grassby Funeral Directors for path side Plot and burial of the late Robert Cattell.
	(2) The following payments by cheque, already authorized, were noted:
	    £150.00 to Ian Travers for visits to the Cemetery on 9.9.06 and 30.9.06,
	    £30.00 Annual Subscription to the Open Spaces Society,
	    £25.00 Annual Subscription to the National Playing Fields Association,
	    £10.00 to Village Hall for use of the January Council Chamber,
	    £46.05 to Able Flags Ltd for a smaller Union Flag for the Office,
	    £616.88 to Burden Building Services ltd for new Notice-case for Acton,
	    £446.50 to Brian Glassock Builders Ltd for restoration of stone paves outside the Toilets,
	    £39.99 to PC World for Norton Anti-Virus Programme.
	(3) Authorization was given for the purchase of Copy Paper for the Office at £14.85 incl. VAT.
12.	Cemetery Matters:
	(1) The Council’s Cemetery:
	It was agreed that a decision should be made on the length and height of the proposed wall at the west 	end of the cemetery, and then that a charge per foot should be obtained. Cllr Lovell said that Grants 	were available if Council agreed to put in a certain amount towards the project. It was agreed that the 	National Trust should be alerted to the proposed building of the wall, as it would involve clearance of 	some Trust land and workmen being on the west side of the new wall during construction.
	(2) Closed Cemeteries:
	The Clerk reported that work could now go ahead on the trees, as permission had been granted by 	PDC after the matter had been duly advertised.
13.	Affordable Housing:
	Nothing to report.
14.	Off-Street Parking:
	Nothing to report.
15.	The date of the next Council Meeting was confirmed as Thursday April 12th at 7.0 pm.
16.	Additional urgent Maters:
	(1) Cllr Mrs Kwantes reported that the area in front of the Plastic Bottle Bank in Crack Lane was very 	muddy and the bank was therefore difficult to negotiate. She suggested some gravel or a couple of 	paving-stones to make the area safe and commodious.
There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 9.05 p.m.