Parish Council of Langton Matravers
www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Minutes of a meeting of Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday, 11th September 2008 at 7.00pm
Present Cllr M Kirby (Chairman) in the Chair, Mrs P Kwantes,(Vice Chairman) and Cllrs, J Bradford, P Bradford, P Loudoun, M Lovell, N. Priddle, and P Whyte,. 

1.	Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mrs V Murray.
2.	Public Discussion period: 
The Meeting was adjourned for discussion.
(a)	Mr Doug Whyte of the National Trust spoke; he said that the letter Cllr Kirby had recently received from Raglan Housing was misleading. The NT had rejected the application to build affordable housing alongside Capston Field because it was not happy to increase the size of the village footprint, but it had no intention of allowing building on Coles Ground. He added that the NT had created a new job for someone to liaise with the local communities and asked that if any parishioners had issues regarding housing that they go through the Parish Council or Purbeck District Council rather than writing directly to the NT. Nevertheless, the NT is willing to consider any proposal for housing, but it was a very long process. 
(b)	Mr C Meadows said that he was very disappointed with plans for further development at Steppes and felt that if the footprint of the village was not increased there was a danger that parts of the village would become ghettoised. He felt that Raglan Housing’s plans would have a bad effect on Steppes and if people were not careful further development of the village would be dictated by Raglan. Cllr Kirby said that he agreed entirely and that he wanted an area where kids could play and kick a ball and that Raglan must provide proper facilities.
(c)	PC Ashdown said that the Police would be having a meeting with representatives from Raglan Housing, Purbeck Housing Trust, Purbeck District Council and Dorset County Council and he invited Cllr Kirby to attend. He said that the Police wanted to have a litter clear up day and maybe a barbeque and to try and build up a sense of community at Steppes. Dr C Spilling said that rubbish was not just an issue at Steppes and that the playing field could be very bad.
PC Ashdown then spoke about the walking bus to take children to St George’s School from Putlake Farm. He said it had been a great success. Mrs Meteau, a teacher at St George’s School, said that the school was hoping to start another walking bus from the top of the village, near Capston Field, for the children who came from that end of the village and from Worth Matravers. She said that they hoped to be able to provide 50 high visibility waistcoats for the children and 10 for the adults at a cost of £220.00 and asked if the Parish Council would be willing to make a donation towards the cost. The matter was put on the Agenda for the October Meeting.  
3.	Matters arising from the Public Discussion.
The Meeting was reconvened.
(a)	Cllr J Bradford said that if the NT did not wish to extend the footprint of the village perhaps housing could be built in the field behind the existing housing at Capston Field. Mr Doug Whyte said that it would take a long time to get the NT’s decision on that. Cllr Priddle said that the Parish Council should ask Raglan Housing for alternative sites to Steppes and suggested Leeson Park and Capston Field. He said that DCC’s objection to Leeson as a site because of inadequate footways would not be valid soon as there is a new footway planned. He also thought the Council should look at Cllr J Bradford’s suggestion.
Cllr Kirby said that Raglan Housing had said that they were running out of time, but Cllr Loudoun questioned the Council’s need to work to Raglan’s timetable and added that the parish needed the right housing in the right place. Cllr Kirby pointed out that Raglan already have outline Planning Permission for the site at Steppes and also the money. Cllr Priddle thought the Council should investigate alternative sites to Steppes and said that they were not the only provider’s of affordable housing. Cllr M Lovell agreed and said that there are plenty of other Housing Associations who are interested in this kind of development.
(b)	Cllr P Bradford raised the issue of litter and dog mess on the school playing fields. He said it seemed to have increased since the new gates were fitted. He added that St George’s School had asked PDC for an extra bin to be installed but without any success. Cllr M Lovell proposed that the Clerk should write to PDC and ask for another bin.
 4.	Planning Matters:
	(1) There were no comments from the public concerning Conservation Area Application 43.08/09; 82 High St, Langton Matravers. Crown thin 1 Walnut tree, too dense. Reduce overhanging branches and crown thin 1 Common Ash, partly overhangs highway and interferes with phone line.
.	(2) Determine Council’s comment on Conservation Area Application 43.08/09.
	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 Conservation Area Application 50.08/09, submitted by The Old Malthouse School; Reduce and removal of overhanging branches from 1 x Blackthorn, too big and close to building.
	(4) Determine Council’s comment on Conservation Area Application 50.08/09.
	On the proposition of the Chairman it was unanimously agreed that;
	“The Parish Council has no objection.”	
(5) There were no comments from the public concerning Plan No. 0620, submitted by Mrs E Ormond; replace chimney stack on northern roof slope at “Cameric”, Acton, Langton Matravers.
(6) Determine Council’s comments on Plan No. 0620.
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).
 (7) The following Planning Decisions were noted:
(a) Plan 0452 submitted by Mrs R Newman; to erect a dormer window on north elevation of “Yards Brake”, Valley Rd, Swanage. Approved.
(b) Plan 0450 submitted by Mr & Mrs Pope; to erect a conservatory at 11 Tom’s Field Road. Approved.
(c) Plan 0462, submitted by Mrs E Milward; to extend porch at rear of “Dalesford”, Coombe Hill, Langton Matravers. Approved.
(d) Plan 0337 submitted by Mr and Mrs Howlett to demolish existing dwelling and erect new detached dwelling with garage at Woodfield, Valley Rd, Harmans Cross. Approved.
(e) Plan No 0474, submitted by Langton Matravers Parish Council; Change Of use from agricultural field to allotment gardens accessed from Garfield Lane. Land off Durnford Drove. Approved.
(8)Any other Planning Matters;
(a) The Chairman proposed that everyone owed Cllr Priddle a great deal of thanks for all the hard work he had put in to the Council’s application for allotments. This was unanimously supported.
(b) Malthouse Lane. Cllr M Lovell reported that DCC had removed their objection to McGrath Homes Ltd’s application for the removal of Condition 10 (Detailed scheme for the improvement of the footway/visibility at the junction of Malthouse Lane/High Street) of PP 6/2006/1018, to erect two detached cottages; modify vehicular access and carry out alterations to the Old Malthouse Lane/High Street junction. He said that DCC hoped to extend the school lines at the entrance to improve visibility.
(c) Cllr Kirby reported that Plan No. 237, submitted by Mr 	Young to demolish existing agricultural buildings and erect new agricultural building at Nursery bridge Farm, Valley Road had been refused.
5.	Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 14th August were confirmed and signed.
6.	Matters arising from the Minutes:
(1) Item 2 (c) The bus stop on Coombe Hill: The Clerk reported that he had telephoned and written to Wilts & Dorset, but had also noted that a bus timetable had now been added.
(2) Item 2 (d) Milestones : The Clerk reported that Mr & Mrs Hinsull, of Acton, had cleared the areas around the milestones at Steppes Hill and Acton. On the Chairman’s proposal it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should write them a letter of thanks.
(3) Item 6 (1) The access road to Acton : the Clerk read out a letter from Mr N Hamer, DCC Area Highways Manager, which detailed what works his department intended to do, but which did not give a date.
(4) Item 6 (3) Small Works: The Clerk reported that he had written to Mr B Turner of DCC, including a Small Works Request Form and asking for up to date contact information. He had received no reply. However it was reported by councillors that the kerb stones at the corner of St George’s Close had been repaired.
(5) Item 8 (4) The Parish Council Office telephone number: Cllr Kirby reported that he had put a temporary sign over the old number.
(6) Item 8 (5) Conservation Area Review : The Clerk read out a letter from Mr B Webb of PDC, which said that no more time could be given for consultation and that the Parish Council’s remarks of the 16th July had been noted as its formal response.
(7) Item 14 (a) Ash tree at the Old Rectory: Cllr Priddle reported that he had spoken to Mr Alan White, the Manager of the Old Rectory and that they planned to prune it in autumn after the summer growth.
(8) Item 14 (b) Malthouse trees : The Clerk reported that he had written to Mr S Mackenzie, complaing that the Council was not being kept in touch with developments. He then read out Mr S Mackenzie’s reply, which apologised for PDC’s failure and promised to keep the Council informed in future.
7.	The Clerk’s Report for the period was received.
8.	Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report:
(1) Item 7 BT phone bill: The Chairman reported that he thought the bill was very high as the Council was supposed to get 500 minutes free calls under its agreement with Connecting Dorset. He had contacted Nildram, the broadband providers, about this and had been told that BT had rejected the Council’s request. Nildram said that they would try to find out why.
(2) Item 3 The Council’s Cemetery’s Regulations and Fees: Cllr Bradford expressed his concern at the increasing amount of plastic ornaments in the cemetery. On the proposition of Cllr Priddle it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should amend the Regulations to say that, other than monuments, no permanent additions to grave sites could be added without the Council’s written permission.
(3) Item 38 Mr I Mackenzie’s request for funds to purchase maps to assist in his claim with reference to Windmill Lane: It was unanimously agreed to reimburse him for these expenses.
9.	Chairman’s announcements;
10.	Financial Matters:
	(1) The following additions to the Council funds since the last Council Meeting were noted:
 £400.00 received from Mrs M A & Mr A M Riggs for the purchase of a burial plot at Crack Lane   Cemetery.
 £400.00 received from James Smith on behalf of Mrs Delia Hewitt for the purchase of a burial plot.
 £160.00 received from James Smith for a memorial to the late Mrs Kathleen Audley.
 £10.00 received from HF Bonfield for an additional inscription on the memorial to Mr Arthur Daynes.
(2) The following Payments by Cheque, already authorized, since last Meeting, were noted:
 £325.00 to J Bellucci for Clerk’s salary for July.
 £10.00 to Langton Matravers Village Hall Committee for hire of July Council Chamber.
 £99.95 to BT for phone bill.
 £15.00 to the Scott Estate for ground rent on office/toilet block.
 £15.99 to Nildram for broadband connection. 
 £325.00 to J Bellucci for Clerk’s salary for August.
(3)The following payments by Direct Debit were noted:
 £72.00 to PDC for September Business Rates for office/toilet block.
(4)Any other Financial Matters:
 There were none.
11.	Cemetery Matters:
	(1) Council cemetery.
(a) Grant for a dry stone wall: Cllr M Lovell reported that he had successfully applied for a grant for £1220.00 from The National Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This meant that the Parish Council would have to contribute a £1000.00 towards the construction and that the work must be carried out by the end of March 2009. On the proposition of the Chairman it was unanimously agreed to accept the grant. Cllr J Bradford proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr M Lovell for all his hard work on this matter. This was unanimously supported.
(b) Cllr P Loudoun said that he would speak to the Caretaker about the tree overhanging the cemetery.
	(2) Closed cemeteries.
	Nothing to report.
12.	Allotments.
On the proposition of Cllr N Priddle, it was unanimously agreed that; “An Allotments Committee of the whole council be formed under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Council and that the Committee shall be authorized to spend up to £1,500.00 for the purposes of fencing, ground preparation, water supply and marking out of plots. The Committee will keep a record of its proceedings which will be submitted to the Clerk each month.”
Cllr Loudoun said that he was still dealing with the technicalities of having the allotment land removed from his maps, which had to be done before any work could commence. He also said he would speak to the Purbeck Keystone Project about a grant. Bridport Town Council got a grant from Breathing Space.
13.	Affordable housing;
On the proposition of Cllr M Lovell it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should write a letter to Hazel Blears MP, supporting PDC’s objections to the excessive development planned under the Regional Spatial Strategy to build 2750 houses at Lytchett Matravers.
Cllr J Bradford reiterated his suggestion that the Council look at the site behind Capston Field and Cllr M Lovell said that he thought the Council should identify suitable sites before contacting Housing Associations. Cllr N Priddle said that Raglan Housing Assoc. Had been forced on the Parish Council by PDC and that the Council needed to fight for better development. Cllr M Kirby had also reported to Cllr M Lovell, in his role as District Councillor, that he thought there had been a breach of condition S106, which required that tenants for the affordable housing at Steppes must be local. Cllr M Lovell had told PDC, who were investigating.
14.	Conservation Area Review;
It was reported that PDC said that the review had been done in accordance with English Heritage. Cllr Kirby said that he felt that any future development would not be protected from badly designed and built houses unless it was in the Conservation Area. It was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should write a letter to Mr B Webb, reiterating the Council’s comments of the 16th July.
15.	Small Works: It was noted that the footways between 120 High St and Castle View and Putlake Farm and Crack Lane were badly overgrown with weeds.
On the proposition of Cllr J Bradford, it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should write a letter to Southern Electric to report that the electric pole opposite Putlake Farm was noticeably leaning to one side.
16.	Parish Plan:
Deferred until next meeting.	
17.	Clerk’s salary and hours;
	Dealt with in closed session.
18.	 The date of the next Council Meeting was confirmed as 9th October at 7 pm.
19.	Items for the next Agenda;
	Grant for High visibility jackets for St George’s School.
	Cemetery notice case.
	Office post box.
	Parish Plan.
	Housing.	
20.	There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 9:35pm. 

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