Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Minutes of a meeting of Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday, 8th October 2009 at 7.00pm
Present Cllr N Priddle, in the Chair, Cllr P White (Vice-Chairman), and Cllrs, J Bradford, P. Bradford, P Loudoun ,M Lovell and Mrs V. Murray. 

1.	Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mrs P. Kwantes, & M. Kirby.
2.	Declarations of interest: there were none.
3.	Public Discussion period:
 The Meeting was adjourned for discussion.
(a)	Mrs S Painter, Chair of the Board of Governors for St George’s First School, said that the governors wanted to thank the Council for its support, which they believed had had some effect on county councillors. The great response to the drop-in sessions at the school had led to a meeting with DCC officers who had said that DCC was taking into account the strength of local feeling against the closure of St George’s. At the meeting DCC had accepted that the school site was suitable for a 21st century school, but nevertheless still had to look at alternatives. She asked that the Council write to the diocese and the bishop to ask again for their support.
(b)	Mr Rob Turner spoke about the Council’s enquiry regarding the potential widening of East Drove. He said that as the Council did not own the land and DCC neither owned nor had any interest in acquiring it and he had no intention of selling any part of the land he owned, it was his opinion that the idea of widening the entrance to the road was dead in the water.
(c)	Mrs J Greves said that it would be helpful if the entrance to East Drove was splayed to allow easier access.
  The Meeting was reconvened.
4.	Matters arising from the Public Discussion: 
The Clerk was instructed to write to the Board of Governors of St George’s school to urge them to enter into a dialogue with the Trustees of the Cothill Educational Trust with the idea of acquiring land from the Old Malthouse School to allow expansion of St George’s.
The Clerk was instructed to write again to the diocese and to send a copy to the bishop to ask for their support in retaining St George’s school in the village.
5.	Planning Matters:
(1) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0518, submitted by Mr & Mrs Dyer; Erect straw storage barn and covered feed store at Knaveswell Farm, Knitson, Corfe Castle.
 (2) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0518;
On the proposition of the Chairman it was unanimously agreed that; 
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
(3) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan 0541, submitted by Mr A O’Connell; Variation of conditions 4 & 6 of PP0744 to allow the display of plants, shrubs and plant foods externally at Putlake Adventure Farm, High Street, Langton Matravers. 
 (4) Determine Council’s comments on Plan 0541;
On the proposition of the Chairman it was unanimously agreed that;
“The Parish Council has no objection.”
 (In all the above voting Cllr M W J Lovell abstained as a member of the Purbeck District Council’s       Planning Board).
(5) Planning Decisions that affected the parish this month.
(a) Plan 0234, submitted by HF Bonfield & Son, Blacklands Quarry, Acton; extend life of extraction until 2015. Approved.
	(b) Plan 0235, submitted by HF Bonfield & Son, Blacklands Quarry, Acton; extend life of extraction until 2015. Approved.
	(c) Plan 0397, submitted by Mr C Garner; Raise ridge to facilitate loft conversion, insert dormer windows and roof light and rebuild garage and porch at ‘April Cottage’, Tom’s Field Road, Langton Matravers. Approved.
.
 (6) Any other Planning Matters;
(a) Plan 0497, submitted by Mr J Wotton; site static caravan for occupation by site warden – Certificate of Lawfulness – Existing. Tom’s Field Road (Part of Tom’s Field Campsite), Langton Matravers.
6.	Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 10th September were confirmed and signed.
7.	Matters arising from the Minutes:
	(a) Item 4 (a); Schools Options Forum. It was agreed that Cllr P Loudoun would attend, but he would be unable to do so for the meeting on the 9th October.
	(b) Item 9b; Mr Rodney Legg’s letter to DCC regarding Windmill Lane. The Clerk was instructed to send a copy to Mr I Mackenzie.
	(c) Item 15: It was agreed to accept Brian Glassock’s quote for removing the washbasin and erecting shelves in the parish office.
	(d) Item 16: Widening East Drove. On the proposition of the Chairman it was agreed to take no further action although the Council would try to negotiate with the owner of 1 Durnford Drove to splay the entrance to East Drove. The Clerk was instructed to write to Parking Services to ask that they enforce the double yellow lines parking restriction in Durnford Drove. 
8.	The Clerk’s Report for the period 4.09.09 – 1.10.09. was received.
9.	Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report:
(a) Item 13; Cemetery fees. Mr L Fletcher of James Smith Funeral Directors had enquired whether Mr D Porter should pay double or single fees for the purchase of a plot and interment in the Council’s cemetery. It was decided that as Mr Porter had left the parish 30 years ago he would have to pay double fees. 
(b) Item 25; Windmill Lane. The Clerk read out The Right Hon. Jim Knight MP’s letter in which he promised to write to Miles Butler of DCC to ask him to expedite the Council’s claim for Windmill Lane to be designated a restricted byway.
(c) Item 42; Publishing the Annual Statement of Accounts on the Council’s website. It was agreed that this would be a good idea and the Clerk said he would ask Cllr Kirby for his assistance. 
10.	Chairman’s announcements;
	The Chairman announced that he had some concerns about his health.
11.	Financial Matters:
	(1) The following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting were noted:
	£320.00 received from Alan Davis, stonemason, for 2 memorials to the late Alma & Eva Lucas.
£5,500.00 received from Purbeck District Council for the second half of the annual precept.
£445.00 received from James Smith Funeral Directors for the purchase of a burial plot and the interment of the late Mrs Hazel Wilson.
£420.00 received from James Smith Funeral Directors for the purchase of a burial plot and the interment of the late Mr Henry Sedgwick.
 (2) Note the following Payments by Cheque, already authorized, since the last Meeting:
£115.00 to P Newell for one cut of the grass at the cemetery and the Play Area.
£25.00 to James Smith Funeral Directors. Refund of the fee for interring the ashes of Mrs D Rietdyk, for which they paid twice.
£447.96 to J Bellucci for Clerk’s salary for August.
£1.58 to HMRC for Employer’s and Employee’s National Insurance contribution.
£10.00 to the Langton Matravers Village Hall Committee for August council chamber.
£41.86 to Nildram for one year’s email server.
£115.00 to P Newell for one cut of the grass at the cemetery and the Play Area.
£35.69 to Southern Electric for electricity supply to office/toilet block.
 (3) The following payments by Direct Debit were noted:
 £76.00 to PDC for Business rates.
 £31.04 to XLN Telecom for phone and broadband.
(4) Any other Financial Matters: 
 There were none.

12.	Cemetery Matters:
	(1) Council cemetery. 
The Chairman reminded councillors that the cemetery would be addressed in detail at the November Meeting.
(2) Closed cemeteries. 
(a) The Clerk was instructed to write to the church warden, Don Pratt, to ask him to deal with the overhanging branches of the chestnut tree.
(b) The Clerk was instructed to ask the cemetery caretaker to top up the grave of Mr Frank Bower and to ensure that the embankment at the south gate was spruced up.
  13.	Allotments. 
(a) The Allotments Association had reported that some plot holders had asked for the water supply to be left on throughout the winter. It was agreed that this would not be possible because of the danger of the pipes freezing and bursting. It was agreed to turn off the water supply on the 1st November.
(b) It was agreed that the Council would not pay the Allotment Association’s Public Liability insurance for next year.
(c) It was agreed that the annual rent should not be increased next year.
(d) It was agreed that the Council should place an advert in The Dubber inviting applications for the Council’s waiting list for an allotment.
14.	Affordable housing update.
Raglan Housing Association have still not put in for detailed planning permission.
15.	A controlled crossing at Coombe. A parishioner had expressed her concern to the Chairman about the safety of children crossing the Valley Road at Coombe to get to Swanage Middle School. It was agreed that this could be a very dangerous crossing for young and old alike and the Clerk was instructed to write to Miles Butler of DCC to ask that Highways Division look into putting a controlled light crossing there. 
16.	The Clerk was instructed to write to Corben & Son to ask if the land Mr G Foot had up for sale included the verge at Crack Lane. If it did not he was instructed to write again to Savill’s to ask if it was part of the Encombe Estate.
17.	 The date of the next Council Meeting was confirmed as Thursday the12th November.
22.	Items for the next Agenda;
	The Council’s cemetery.
23.	There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.

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