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

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday 14th November 2013 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 10 members of the public present.

1.	Apologies for absence.  None. 
2.	Declarations of interest / Grant of Dispensations.  Cllr White, Item 7, 2b, Cllr Turner, Item 7,2a.
3.	RoWLO Report. Mr Vaughan-Arbuckle announced that the DCC RoW department are now called ‘Countryside Management’ and headed by Hamish Murray. Langton is part of the Coastal Area under Tom Bennett, who has installed a new fingerpost for the Windmill Lane path adjacent to Three Acre Lane, and will build a stile by the gate at the start of the path. The Priest’s Way repair project, is progressing well despite a few problems, with positive feedback on work done so far. Mr V-A is designing an information leaflet, a draft of which will be circulated to Cllrs. The re-opening ceremony, including unveiling of a stone plinth near Spyway, is likely to be towards the end of January.
4.  National Trust Report. Jonathan Kershaw introduced Jonathan Leyland, the new South Purbeck Ranger, who is presently repairing gates and stiles in the parish. Farm tenants have embarked on winter scrub clearance. The Trust will be assisting with the forthcoming Litter Pick. Brian Lewis has completed the quarry restoration work on the coastal side of the Priest’s Way. The overflow area for Spyway car park has been removed from the farm tenancy, and the planning officer will be looking at the main car park to establish the need for permission for the re-surfacing. RESOLVED: That this Council supports the provision of a permissive footpath by the National Trust from the Priest’s Way to the Dinosaur Footprints at Keates’ Quarry. There will be an information board, and the prints will not be covered. Mr Kershaw responded to Item 11 in October’s meeting, a question from the Chairman about a planning application from a NT tenant at Godlingston for a wind turbine. The Trust have been doing tree clearance work at Wilderness Wood and Broad Mead following the October storm. 
5.Public Discussion Period. 
a) Mr Barrie Mayes expressed concern about potential water run-off at the East end of East Drove following the proposed re-surfacing: no plans have so far been made for drainage in the area. He asked the Council to take an active role in the discussion: there will be a public meeting on 23rd  November 2013. Cllr Lovell suggested that DCC’s Flood Risk Management team be approached for advice. It was agreed to send a letter to DCC, PDC and Mr Wilcox, (East Drove residents rep.) expressing the Council’s concern. Cllr Bradford noted that DCC are contributing to the re-surfacing as East Drove is a RoW. ACTION: Clerk.
 b) Mrs Sue Haysom raised three points: 1) re: Planning Item 1b (Old Malthouse devt): she urged the Council to strongly object to the application on the grounds that Purbeck stone should be used, as originally agreed. 2) Planning Item 1a): The 41 trees should not be felled. 3) How is the £150,000 grant for the repairs to the Priest’s Way being spent ? 
c) Mr Pete Christie asked why DCC are against 20mph speed limits in villages, and asked how many Cllrs would support a 20mph limit.
d) Mr Robbie Turner pointed out that the trees in planning application 1a has all grown since the TPO on the area had been made, and were not the ones around the edge of the site, as shown in the plan.  
6. Matters Arising from the Public Discussion. 
a) Re: c) above. Cllr Lovell noted that DCC were carrying out pilot schemes with 20mph limits at school pick-up/drop-off times. RESOLVED: That the Council ask DCC for the village  to be part of a 20mph pilot scheme. ACTION: Clerk.
b) Re b)3.(Priest’s Way) Mr Vaughan-Arbuckle explained the background to the original specification for costs for the repairs, which had been worked out with representatives of Natural England and Dorset Highways who are doing the work, and included drainage which will provide a long-term solution to maintaining the fabric of the bridleway in the future. Part of the costs represents work in kind by farmers etc. During public consultations, held in Swanage, Worth Matravers and in this parish, the project was explained in detail and samples of the materials to be used were displayed.  It was stressed that the money was from a European Fund, administered by Natural England, for use exclusively for the improvement of footpaths.  Mr V-A suggested that people should wait until the work was complete before commenting. The Chairman reminded the meeting of the Council’s full support for the project and thanked him again for all he has done.
c) Re Item 3 above: Tom Bennett, DCC Countryside Management, will be invited to the January meeting. ACTION: Clerk.
7.  Planning Matters. 
   1) Mr T Haysom (neighbour) commented on b) 6/2013/0575 that the materials used in the original plan should be insisted upon.
   2) To make comments concerning the following plans:-
a)  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).  No Objection. Cllrs Bradford and Turner declared an interest owing to family connections.
b) 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.
RESOLVED: To write a strong letter of objection on the grounds that the design of a building as already approved should be insisted upon in this significant location. The lack of clear information about the actual material amendments was also noted, and Cllr Kirby suggested that in the circumstances the application should be referred to the Planning Board. Cllr White declared an interest owing to family connections.
c) 6/2013/0586 Miss Louise Counsell, Gypshayes (Aderil), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HQ, Erect detached garden studio. No Objection.
4) Other planning matters:  there were none.
8. Minutes of the Meeting held 10th October 2013. After minor revisions to Item 11 (Chairman’s Announcements), the Minutes were agreed as a correct record and signed.(see Item 4 above).
9.  Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 4. Jenny Penney thanked the Council for their invitation, but will not be attending owing to reorganisation of the department. Steve Kourik appreciates the Council’s thanks, and wrote that he was pleased to have worked with LMPC.
b) Item 6) Safety in the High Street. Cllr Lovell is to attend a meeting on 15th November with Andrew Brown, head of DCC Traffic Engineering, and will discuss speed limits with him. 
c) Item 9). Withdrawal of evening Bus Services. DCC’s Miles Butler had written to say that decisions had been postponed, and that LMPC’s concerns would be brought to the meeting on 4th December. He noted that the 40 service presently receives no subsidy from DCC. Cllr Lovell will attend the meeting to put the local case for retention of the evening services.
10.  The Clerk’s Report for the period 5.10.2013 – 7.11.2013.  Report received.
11.  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report. 
a) Item 12. St George’s School had sent a letter of appreciation for the Council’s contribution to their Jubilee Project.
b) Grit Bins. Steve Mepham (DCC Highways0 had listed which village bins were ‘strategic’ and which ‘community’, in relation to the free supply of winter salt. Cllr Kirby noted that the catches on the Three Acre Lane bin had been broken off.
c) Item 45. Mrs June Jorssen asks the Council for advice about where to plant a new memorial tree to her father, Mr Edward Diffey. The Council’s land and Crack Lane cemetery were suggested. 
12.  Chairman’s Announcements.  The wall on the west side of the top of Crack Lane has recently been damaged by traffic. The Chairman had been approached by the owner, Mr Henry Staveley-Hill, and explained that the Council is attempting to ban HGVs from the lane. 
13.  Financial Matters.
(1)   Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting: 
         £ 160.00 Monument fee, the late Martin Weston, Plot R10.
       £ 3,912.00 Year One payment from PDC for toilet Maintenance 2013/14.
       £ 600.85 VAT repayment 14.03.12 – 31.03.13.
       £ 6.00 Langton String Orchestra (Cash) for photocopying.
(2)   Note the following Payments by cheque to be made since last Meeting:
£ 150.00   Mr I. Bugler – Grounds Maintenance (October). 
£ 513.51   Clerk’s salary (October). 
£ 290.45   Elliott’s Cleaning Co. Public Toilet/Bus shelter cleaning and supplies (Oct.).
£ 8,100.00     Greenspan Projects (New swings).
£ 112.24   A.R.Harris and Sons – Mending lights in Public Toilets.
£ 2.20       Nixons Hardware – hasp and staple for meter cpd. door (Cash)
£ 23.94     Jewson – New lock for Toilet block door.
£ 90.53     Printing Ink – cheque to M.Sparks.                   
 (3) 	Payments by Direct Debit:
         £ 41.34     XLN Telecom for phone and broadband. 
 (4) Other Financial Matters. a) RESOLVED: To allow the Clerk to spend up to £100.00 to purchase an external hard drive to store LMPC documents. The Clerk will also look into storing documents remotely on eg ‘Dropbox’ as a further backup. 
b) The Clerk will send a cheque for £500.00 (already authorised), being the Council’s contribution to the Priest’s Way Repair project. 
14.  Cemetery Matters: (1) Council’s Cemetery. Row 20. After discussion, it was agreed to retain Row 20 grave plots in the middle section of Crack lane Cemetery. 
(2) Closed Cemetery. No points for discussion.
14. Allotments.  a) RESOLVED: To retain allotment rents at same rate as 2013. It was suggested that this be reviewed for 2015, in the light of probable rises in National Trust rent and the cost of repairs/replacement of the fence. The water has been turned off and the pipes drained.
15 Review of PDC Local Plan / Settlement Boundary Review. An open meeting had been held on 13th November, to give parishioners more chance to make detailed comments about the proposed boundary and other plans for the village’s future, including the provision of affordable housing. Several comments were recorded; most people were happy with the proposals for the Settlement Boundary, but there was no consensus about suitable exception sites for local-needs housing. Comments will be collated before LMPC makes a formal response to PDC’s Planning Policy Dept. at the next meeting. ACTION: Clerk to collate comments.
16. Light on the Corner of Castle View – removal. As the Council has decided to discontinue the use of this light, it was agreed that SSE be asked to disconnect the supply and provide a quotation to remove the light from the post. ACTION: Clerk. 
17. Traffic meeting with DCC ? (see Item 9b) above) Cllr Lovell recommended that the Clerk write to Keith Winter (DCC) to formally ask for advice and to set up a meeting. Cllr Loudoun suggested that DCC should be asked about physical ways to slow down cyclists. ACTION: Clerk. 
18. Review of Standing Orders. Cllrs White, Turner, Kirby, Bradford and Knight had met with the Clerk on 28th October to revise LMPC Standing Orders to incorporate NALC legal requirements. The Clerk will draft new Orders according to these proposals for the Council’s consideration. ACTION: Clerk. 
19. Rural Services Network AGM. Cllr Drayson had drafted a list of key issues affecting the parish to be brought to the attention of the AGM. RESOLVED:That the list of key issues suggested by Cllr Drayson be sent in the name of Langton Matravers Parish Council to the Rural Services Network AGM. Cllr Lovell further suggested that there should be support for training and insurance for cyclists. ACTION: Clerk. 
20. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday 12th December, 2013 at 7pm. 23.Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting: Widening of Footways at Steppes Hill and Putlake / Future of Council’s Land (if Housing Needs Survey results available)/ Review of Settlement Boundary/Standing orders.

Closed 8.56.pm.

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