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

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council, held in the Village Hall on Thursday13th November 2014 at 7 pm.
Present: Cllr P White in the Chair, Cllrs P Loudoun, P Christie, C Drayson, R Sheppard, W Knight, M Lovell, R Lucas.
There were 18 members of the public present.
1.	Apologies for absence. Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, Cllr Turner. The Council wished Cllr Turner a speedy recovery following his recent operation.
2.	Presentation on CIL by Cllr Gary Suttle and Bridget Downton (PDC). After an introduction by Cllr Suttle. Ms Downton outlined background and details to PDC’s Community Infrastructure Levy. They took questions on rating levels, including on the Affordable Housing contribution, which could be used by PDC to help fund top-ups for community housing schemes. CIL is expensive in the Langton/Swanage area because it relates to the cost of development land. The Chair thanked them for their presentation.
3.	Declarations of Interest / Grant of Dispensations. Cllr White noted in relation to Item 15 that he had received a visit from Mr R.Turner.
4.	RoWLO Report. None.
5.	National Trust Report. Jon Kershaw said that the Trust are in the process of mending the gate at Garfield Lane. They have completed plans for woodland management in the area (to include the West wood, Talbot and Wilderness woods), and these will be in the Parish Office in December. ACTION: JK. .They will be running walks and more woodland days over the winter period – dates and details to follow. The new planning application for staff facilities at Albi’s barn has taken into account previous comments.  He showed an example of a livestock warning sign which might be usable if the Council wished. Cllr White thanked Mr Kershaw for his report. 
6.	Public Discussion Period. 
a) Mrs Judith Priddle asked on behalf of the c.20 villagers who are in the process of forming a Community Land Trust which might provide affordable housing according its own Allocation policy, if the Council would consider running its own Housing Needs Survey to update PDC’s of Dec.2013 and to get full details of local need. 
b) Mr George Crabb asked if the new 20mph advisory signs around the school are too close to be effective.  
7. Matters Arising from the Public Discussion. 
a) Cllr Lovell said that Corfe PC/Housing charity does its own housing list. It was agreed to ask them for advice. ACTION: Clerk. 
b) The Clerk advised that DCC are liaising with St George’s School to get the lights commissioned. She presumes that there are spatial criteria used in plans for such equipment. 
8  Planning Matters. 
1) There were no comments from the public on the applications.
2) To make comments concerning the following plans:-
a)	6/2014/0337 Mrs C. Buchanan, Castle View (Wood Close), Langton Matravers BH19 3HT. Demolish existing dwelling and erect two storey detached dwelling. Amended Plans. Objection on the grounds that the design is inappropriate within the context of the neighbouring houses and not in keeping with the location.
b) TWA/2014/0200 Mrs M. Brocklebank, Castle View (Stonecroft), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HT. (T1) Beech - remove lowest primary branch with large cavity, reduce remaining crown by up to 2m to rebalance; (T2) Field maple - fell - Acton Conservation Area. Decision to be left to the Tree Officer
c) TWA/2014/0205 Mrs Karen Travers (HPB), Durnford Drove (Langton House), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HG. (T7) - Remove hanging branches; (T8) Mixed group of trees - prune back branches of all trees to provide a clearance of 3m to swimming pool - District of Purbeck (Spyway House, Langton Matravers) TPO 1976 (Ref.TPO 44). Decision to be left to the Tree Officer.
         d) 6/2014/0589 Mr Sides, Castle View (Albis Barn) Langton Matravers. Site a portakabin with timber shelter and a water tank. No Objection.        
         e) 6/2014/0588 Mr and Mrs S Hutchings, Acton (Quarry Cottage), BH19 3JS. Erect single storey extension to existing garden out building. Objection on the grounds that it is out of keeping with the surrounding conservation area.
3) Planning decisions since the last Parish Council Meeting.; 
a)	TWA/2014/0162 Mr Peter Wright (actually White), Combe (Greensleeves), Langton Matravers, BH19 3DW. (T1 & T2) Lawsons cypress - reduce height by 50% - Langton Matravers Conservation Area.  Approved
b)	6/2014/0440 The National Trust, Durnford Drove (Spyway Car Park), Langton Matravers. Change of use of agricultural land to mixed use of agriculture and peak period seasonal car park. Resurface existing car park. Approved
c)	TEL/2014/0028 The Harlequin Group, Valley Road (Site opposite Bower Cottage), Swanage, BH19 3DW. Openreach broadband cabinet - PCP008. TEL – No intervention required.
4). Other planning matters. a) RESOLVED: To approve the Draft Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held on 6th November 2014. The Minutes will be stored in the Minute book and go on the LMPC website.
b) Harman’s Cross speed limit change. Changes to reduce the limit from 40 to 30 mph as proposed by DCC Highways were supported by Cllrs. ACTION: Clerk to inform DCC.
c) Parish Council’s role in planning applications. Cllr Christie noted that in some contexts PDC seems to apply national rules flexibly, and noted that this appeared to be the case regarding allocation of affordable homes.  PDC allocation and planning policy does not agree with the NPPF on the matter at all points. It was agreed to invite Mrs Chris McDermott to attend February’s PC meeting to explain why PDC’s policy differed from the NPPF. ACTION: Clerk to invite Mrs McDermott, and to brief her on points at issue.  
9 Minutes of the Meeting held 9th October 2014.These were agreed to be a correct record and signed.
10 Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 9 e). Speed Survey.  This has been completed, but the results are not yet received.
b) Item 9h) NT Joint Liaison Group. Cllr White has already attended one meeting with the Chairs of Corfe and Studland, and will attend another on 2nd December, at which representatives from other parishes and Laurie Clark, NT Area Manager, will be present.
c) Item 9i) Allocation policy letter. The Clerk had received a full response from Fiona Brown, who deals with housing allocation at PDC: she will send copies of the Dorset Home Choice and PDC’s allocation policy to further clarify points. ACTION: Clerk to follow up.
d) Item 9j) Knitson fingerpost. The metal roundel at the top is now ready, and the final touches can be put to the fingerpost. ACTION: Mr and Mrs Charron.
e) Item 17) Play Area repairs. Hand Made Places do not agree with the Clerk/Cllr Christie’s survey of remedial work needed, and having done their own survey, propose only to replace wood with holes: they intend to charge £250.00 for fitting, though the replacement timber will be free under the guarantee. It was agreed that this was unacceptable, and to ask the surveyor to meet with Cllrs White and Christie to discuss the quotation. ACTION: Clerk to contact Hand Made Places and ask for meeting. It was also RESOLVED: To fence off the area for safety reasons. ACTION: Clerk. 
11  The Clerk’s Report for the period  3.10.2014 – 7.11.2014.  Report received.
12  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report. 
a) Item 11. The Council were reminded that the Autumn litter pick will be on 27th, 28th, 29th November. The PC is providing a Risk Asessment and Public Liability insurance to support the pick.
b) Item 23. It was agreed to address the Langton Matravers Local History and Preservation Society’s request for financial support in February when such requests are considered. 
c) Cllr Drayson agreed to be the Council’s representative on the Jurassic Coast Forum. ACTION: Clerk to forward contact details.
13  Chairman’s Announcements. a) Cllr White noted the problem of ‘casual’ advertising for local events at Coombe, which obscures sight lines for traffic. Cllr Loudoun recommended a ‘common sense’ approach, where groups could be contacted directly via eg telephone if there is a problem. It was also agreed to put a note in the Dubber on the subject. 
b) The Chairman noted in relation to some statistics used at the Extraordinary Planning Meeting on 6th November, there are in fact 868 dwellings in the village, of which 202 are businesses or similar.
c) Corfe Castle now has boundary stones at the entrance to the village, and Cllr White asked if Langton might have something similar. ACTION: Clerk to put on the agenda for January’s meeting.
14  County and District Councillor’s Report. Cllr Lovell has decided to give the money he had from DCC to ITC provision in schools in his division.
15. Letter from Sibbett Gregory.   Cllr Christie expressed concern about several inaccuracies of fact in the letter (from Mr Turner’s agents, in response to criticism of the Spyway Orchard application), saying that members of the public reading it on the website might not be aware of this. Cllr Drayson agreed, and said that the Planning Committee might also not be aware. She noted that the Hyde was not mentioned at all in the flooding section. Cllr Knight stressed that what was important was to correct misrepresentation of the actions of LMPC included in the letter. It was RESOLVED: to write to Mr Anthony Bird expressing the Council’s concern that the end of Sibbett Gregory’s letter gives a misleading impression that LMPC preferred the Spyway Orchard site for affordable housing: it did not, and does not. ACTION: Clerk.
16. Electoral Boundary Review Consultation (DCC). Cllr Lovell explained the proposed changes, and it was RESOLVED: To respond expressing concern about the unmanageable size of Cllr Lovell’s division if the proposed changes go ahead. ACTION: Clerk. 
17. SSE Contracting – New lights; delay in doing contracted work at Acton/Castle View.  The Clerk reported that she was in the process of sending a report to NALC’s legal division relating to the delay by SSE and the fact that SSE had held over £1,300 of ‘disconnection fee’ (public money) since June while repeatedly postponing the start date for the works. She had had complaints from Acton parishioners
18. CIL – Priorities for Spending update consultation. It was agreed that this needed no comment.
19. Ideas for engaging young people in Council issues. It was agreed that it was easier to engage with school children through assemblies and youth groups such as Scouts, and through activities such as the litter picks, but Cllr Lucas said that the older young people are less keen on contacts involving writing/reading. The idea of some sort of young people’s meeting place/ shelter was suggested, and Cllr Lucas will explore options and get in touch with youth groups to get ideas/opinions. ACTION: Cllr Lucas.
20. Recording Parish Council meetings. After discussion, and following advice from DAPTC, it was RESOLVED: To buy a recording system similar to that suggested by Swanage Town Council, for c. £100.00, to record each meeting.
21. Quotations for Toilet Block Path. After reviewing the new quotations/comments it was RESOLVED: To accept Mr Ian Bugler’s quote of £1,050.00. ACTION: Clerk.
19 (22). Financial Matters.
(1) 	Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting:
       £ 160.00   Monument fee – the late Penelope Ostocke, Plot N18 .
(2) 	Note the following Payments by cheque or cash to be made since last Meeting:
£ 150.00   Ian Bugler, Grounds Maintenance (September).
£ 612.61   Clerk’s salary (October) plus 6 hrs for Open Consultation 15th Oct. 
£ 232.50   Elliott’s Cleaning Co. Public Toilet and bus shelter cleaning (September).
£ 50.00     DAPTC Planning Training (9th Oct, Cllr Drayson).
£ 00.93     Postage (Cash: Letter to Hand Made Places re Play Area).
£ 45.00     LMVH – hall hire for 8th October (DLWG meeting) and 15th October (Open Consultation)
3) Payment by Direct Debit:
£ 40.00 to XLN Telecom for phone and broadband.
  (4) Any other Financial Matters:  The Clerk reported that the internal auditor had approved the accounts for the first 2 quarters. 
20/23.  Cemetery Matters: (1) Council’s Cemetery. Nothing to report.
(2) Closed Cemetery. Loose memorials. PDC say that there are no funds to mend the memorials. Cllr Lovell suggested that Mr R.J.Saville be contacted to see if he can advise on contact details of the families concerned. Cllr Knight reminded the meeting that the Parish Council have no legal responsibility in the matter. ACTION: Clerk to contact Mr Saville, and find out who is responsible for the monuments.
21/24. Allotments.  a) Cllr Christie reported that all plots are now let, though he advised that some may become vacant in the New Year. There is honey fungus on the rotten gatepost, which Dr Spilling advises should be removed and burned to kill the fungus. Cllr Christie suggested that the LMAA should be approached with the quotation for the new gates and asked their opinion; this will then be relayed to PC and a decision can be made. Cllr Christie will also get a quotation for the work from Mr Sam Hole. ACTION: Cllr Christie.  
22/5. The date of the next full Council meeting was confirmed as Thursday 11th December, 2014 at 7pm.
23/26.Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting: Dancing Ledge Working / Allotment fence and gatepost quotations / State of Aster Homes at Steppes / Langton Housing Needs Survey ? / PDC Allocation policy . 

Closed c. 10.pm.

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