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

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday 13th March 2014 at 7 pm.
Present: Cllr P White in the Chair, Cllrs M Turner, P Loudoun, W Knight, J Bradford, C Drayson, M Kirby, M Lovell, H Tizard.  
There were 3 members of the public present.

1.	Apologies for absence.  None. 
2.	Declarations of interest / Grant of Dispensations.  None.
3.	RoWLO Report. Mr Vaughan-Arbuckle reported that additional remedial work was being done by Derek Smith, funded by DCC, on the Priest’s Way at South Barn, near the new bridleway above Spyway car park and in the area of Eastington Farm. The damaged commemorative stone will cost c.£300 to repair; there is no money available for this at present. There is a problem with delayed payment by DCC to contractors who have worked on the PW repair project. Cllr Lovell explained that this may relate to the fact that these contractors are not on the approved DCC list. Mr. V-A will write to the Chief Executive asking for the matter to be settled quickly. The Chairman thanked him for his report. 
4.	National Trust Report. Jonathan Kershaw reported that the Trust have stockpiled stone at Verney farm for ongoing repairs to the Priest’s Way after the work is complete.  They are working with the Jurassic Coast Team to prepare computer models and interpretation boards etc. for the dinosaur footprints at Keates’ quarry. The footprints will be open to the public when the scientific work is complete. The Trust are working on several areas of quarry restoration in the Acton area, and preparing the sites for the 2 new quarries starting at Acton (Bonfield’s) and Broad Mead (Haysom’s). They are looking at replacing field boundaries/gates as the Acton quarry areas return to farming use. Cllr Turner asked if there were any changes planned for the Acton car park, but Mr. Kershaw explained that the NT were concentrating on completing work on the Spyway one first. He was thanked for his report. 
5.	Public Discussion Period. a) Dr Chris Spilling suggested that a gate at Acton going onto the Priest’s Way would deter motor vehicles, and Mr. Kershaw said that the NT were aware of the problem. Cllr Drayson asked that the National Trust keep signage to a minimum in the area.
b) Mr. Pete Christie noted that there was a rumour that DCC plan to move the wall of the school field for parking. Cllr Lovell responded that he had been in discussion with neighbours to find a solution to problems of school parking, and had suggested putting a gate in the wall, so that cars could park behind the wall. He confirmed that he was acting in his capacity as County and District Councillor, following a request from parishioners. Cllr Loudoun noted that as the new school playground was too small, and St George’s children continue to use Old Malthouse play space, the school field might therefore become ‘redundant’; any development on the Council’s land might encourage DCC, who own the field, to look on development there as ‘infill’. After discussion on the importance of preserving the field as open space, it was agreed to move to the next item of business.
6. Matters Arising form the Public Discussion. See Above.
7.  Planning Matters. 
1/2) a) TWA/2014/0036  Mrs. Anita Cubitt, High Street (The Old Malthouse), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HB. (T1 - T4) Pines - fell; (T5) Pine - remove the lowest 5 limbs; (T6) Pine - remove the lowest limb that hangs over the swings - District of Purbeck (The Old Malthouse School No.1) TPO 2007 (Ref.332) & Langton Matravers Conservation Area. No Objection.
b) TWA/2014/0041Miss Charlotte Ryce, High Street (Leas Wood House), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HB. (T1) Beech - fell to ground level & treat stump, (T2) Pine - fell to ground level & treat stump - Langton Matravers Conservation Area. No Objection.
c) 6/2014/0112 Ms A Bell and Mr G Bell, East Drove (Woodbury), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HF. Raise roof height to form habitable accommodation with dormer windows, insert rooflights in north elevation and erect side extension. Modify vehicular access. No Objection.
  There were no comments from members of the public.
 
3) Planning decisions since the last Parish Council Meeting: 
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. Approved.
b) 6/2013/0650 DCC. Leeson House Field Studies Centre, Langton Matravers, Swanage, BH19 3EU. Accessible facilities - provide accessible dormitories, adult bedroom with en-suite, accessible shower room and store. Provide accessible platform lift and stairs to enable access from dining room to hall and dormitories. Provide WC to hall. Approved.
c) 6/2013/0622  Mr. K and Mr. S Bower, Verney Farm, Langton Matravers, BH19 3EX. Change of use of land to site residential caravan for 3 year temporary use by an agricultural worker. Approved.
d) TWA/2014/0023  St George’s Church. (T1) Monterey cypress - fell to ground level - Langton Matravers Conservation Area. Approved.
4) Other planning matters: None.
8. Minutes of the Meeting held 13th February 2014. The Minutes were agreed as a correct record and signed.
9.  Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 10. DCC Traffic Engineering. The Clerk had passed on the Council’s request to go ahead with planned markings etc. around the school, and was told that this will be done in the near future. ACTION: Clerk to monitor progress. It seems unlikely that the proposed yellow line passing bays will be done at the same time.
b) Item 14. The drain cover has been mended, and Danny Allen of DCC Highways hopes to get the work done on the Old Bakery drain wb.7.04.2014.
10.  The Clerk’s Report for the period  8.2.2014-7.3.2014.  Report received.
12.  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report. 
a) Item 23. Dr Spilling’s message about proposals for use of the Council’s land. Cllr Bradford made a formal proposal that the land not be developed, but this was not supported. Cllr Tizard suggested that it was premature to make any formal proposals about the future of the land while options for affordable housing in Langton are being explored by the Council. Cllr Knight emphasised that the village will be consulted on any proposals arising from these explorations. 
b) Item 21. Cllr Drayson will attend the Chalk and Cheese meeting at Harman’s Cross on 18th March. 
12.  Chairman’s Announcements.  There were none. 
13.  County and District Councillor’s Report.  Cllr Lovell will be meeting with Danny Allen (DCC) to look at Highways problems; he asked if Cllrs had suggestions, and the puddle near Nursery Bridge was mentioned. He will circulate dates, so that Cllrs can attend. ACTION: Cllr Lovell.
15. Housing Needs Survey. Allocation Policy and Meeting.  a) Meeting. It was agreed to ask Chris McDermott, Senior Housing Officer at PDC, for possible dates in early April for an exploratory meeting to look at ways to address Langton’s housing need. ACTION: Clerk. There was considerable discussion about who should be invited to attend this meeting, and it was agreed to invite those listed in the resolution of Item 15 of Minutes dated 13.2.2014, including representatives of Worth Community Property Trust. 
b) Allocation Policy. Cllr Kirby had spoken to Maria Byrne, Housing Needs Team Leader at PDC. It seems that the match of tenants to size of property needed is more important than local connection as per S106 agreement, which was why an otherwise-eligible local couple could not get a 2-bed home at Nine Barrow View. According to PDC policy, couples are only eligible for 1-bed homes. Cllr Loudoun thanked Cllr Kirby for bringing this to the Council’s attention. Cllr Knight noted that this suggested a need for  1-bed homes in the village, though others noted that 2-bed are more useful, even for couples.
16. Response to Swanage Local Plan Consultation.  After discussion about the need for more housing in Swanage, and Government policy on housing quotas, it was RESOLVED: That the Council objects to development in Area 6 of the Local Plan Map 1, as it encroaches on the important gap between Langton Matravers and Swanage. The Council further asks those involved with the plan to consider wider issues of Transport ( increase public transport and plan for effects of increased traffic on road systems) and Waste reduction and re-use. ACTION: Clerk to write formal letter.
17. Council Community Noticeboard policy. RESOLVED: To accept the Community Noticeboard policy drafted by Cllr Kirby. This will be on the website and in the office, in case of complaint.
18. Council waste bins and table outside Parish Office. Now that DCC has removed the plastic recycling bins, it was RESOLVED: To accept the offer of a picnic bench to go on the hard standing outside the Parish Office. ACTION: Cllr Kirby.
19. Financial Matters.
1) 	Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting:
       £ 170.00  Interment fee – the late Muriel Edmonds, Plot C12.  
       £ 25.00    Cremation interment fee – the late Rene Elford, Plot E 10.
       £ 58.50    Allotment rent and water charges.
(2) 	Note the following Payments by cheque or cash to be made since last Meeting:
£ 513.51   Clerk’s salary (February). 
£ 118.00   Elliott’s Cleaning Co. Public Toilet. (February).
£ 50.38     Toilet Roll Holder –  CNM Online. (Cheque to Clerk)
£ 38.17     Materials for Community noticeboard (cheque to Cllr Kirby).
£ 23.17     Office sundries (cash payment).
£ 30.00     Essential Finance Training (Clerk) – DAPTC.
 (3) Payment by Direct Debit:
£ 38.49 to XLN Telecom for phone and broadband.
(4) Other Financial Matters: a) RESOLVED: To appoint Mr. John Kennedy of Langton Matravers as Internal Auditor to the Council for a maximum payment of £200 per year.
b) Quotation for  Replacement of 7 footway lights and disconnection of defunct light. Cllr White said that the quotation from SSE Contracting (c. £7,000) was very expensive; as the work might cost more than £5,000 it should be put out to tender, as per Financial Regulations. RESOLVED: To get formal tenders from other tradespeople, as per original specification. ACTION: Clerk. 
20.  Cemetery Matters. (1) Council’s Cemetery and (2) Closed Cemetery. No points for discussion.
21. Allotments.  Cllr Kirby reported that 2 more plots given up since December had been taken on by new tenants, leaving one half plot vacant. 2 payments are still outstanding. Cllr Drayson noted that the water supply had been turned on again.  
22. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday 10th April, 2014 at 7pm
23.Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting: Plans for Parish Assembly / Forthcoming PC Elections. 

Closed 9.07pm.

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