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

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held in the Village Hall on Thursday 12th December 2013 at 7  pm.
Present: Cllr M Turner in the Chair, Cllrs P Loudoun, W Knight, J Bradford, C Drayson, M Kirby, M Lovell.  
There were 11 members of the public present. 

1.	Apologies for absence.  Cllr White, Cllr Tizard. 
2.	Tribute to Norman Priddle. Cllr Turner reminded the meeting of Mr Priddle’s huge contribution to the life of the village, and in particular his work on the Village Enhancement Scheme, the toilet block and allotments during his two periods as Chairman of Council, 1973-8 and 1990-5. All kept silence to honour his memory.
3.	Declarations of interest / Grant of Dispensations.  None.
4.	RoWLO Report. Mr Vaughan-Arbuckle announced that the work on the Priest’s Way is now largely completed, and the path will reopen at the weekend. Plans are in hand for a re-opening ceremony on 29th January 2014, from 10 am. near Spyway barn. The new DCC Purbeck Coastal Ranger, Tom Bennett, will be meeting local RoWLOs with the NT in December. The Chairman thanked Mr V-A for all his hard work and his report.
5.  National Trust Report. David Hodd, doing consultancy work for the National Trust, introduced the ‘Spirit of Place’ document on Langton West Wood, which records what is special about the wood, and makes proposals for its future management. Jonathan Kershaw noted that this plan will fit into the overarching plan for woods in Purbeck, and said that the NT are trying to recognise and record ancient and important trees, with the help of trained volunteers. The Chairman thanked him for his report.
6.Public Discussion Period. 
a) Dr Chris Spilling asked if the environmental information he had provided about the Council’s land might be posted on the website. Cllr Kirby explained that it would be included in the future as part of the range of proposed plans for the area. 
b) Mr Vanstone asked about plans for house numbering in Gypshayes (Item 19). The Clerk had been informed by Mr Egarr, who had previously promoted the idea,  that he no longer wished to take it further: the Council had therefore decided not to pursue the matter. 
c) Mrs Bridget Mayes reported on the recent Litter Pick, which produced 14 bags of litter and included support from Scouts and their parents as well as the National Trust.  She suggested that in future a map with field names be produced to make identification easier, and Jon Kershaw (NT) promised help with this. ACTION: Jon Kershaw. Cllr Turner expressed his gratitude to Mrs Mayes for leading the initiative, which is highly valued by the village. 
d) Mr Pete Christie asked NT representatives when the planned coppicing at the West Wood would begin, and was told that 2014 would be for survey work, with coppicing probably, in discrete areas, in 2015.
7. Matters Arising from the Public Discussion. No further comments.
8.  Planning Matters. 
   1)  No comments from members of the public.
   2) To make comments concerning the following plans:-
    a)  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.   No Objection. 
    b) 6/2013/0614  Mr. J Harding, Valley Road (Corfe Way), Swanage, BH19 3DX. Use of existing building for residential dwelling (Use Class C3) - Certificate of Lawful Use Existing. No Comment.
     c) 6/2013/0603 The National Trust, Durnford Drove (2 Spyway Farm Cottages), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HG. Clad gable end wall in slate. No Objection.
   d) 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. No Objection.
3) Receive planning decisions affecting this parish since the last Parish Council Meeting: None.
4) Other planning matters:  there were none.
9. Minutes of the Meeting held 14th November 2013. The Minutes were agreed as a correct record and signed.
10.  Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Item 3. Tom Bennett, new DCC Purbeck Coastal Ranger, will attend the January meeting to meet the Council and community and give a short presentation about his work and plans. 
b) Item 5a. Resurfacing of East Drove. Following letters expressing concern, the Clerk had had a reply from PDC’s Mike Goater, Drainage Engineer, but heard nothing formally from either DCC or the local group working on resurfacing plans for East Drove. Cllr Lovell assured the meeting that plans were in hand at DCC level to drain into the County drain on the High Street. Cllr Drayson noted verbal expressions of concern from residents of the Hyde.
c) Item 6/17. Safety in the High Street/ Outside St George’s School. The Chairman, Clerk and Cllr Kirby had been invited by the Headteacher to join a meeting on 27th November with Mr Andrew Brown, DCC Traffic Engineer, Mr Mike Greenleaves, Chair of Governors, and Dr Vanessa Bell, representing the Pre-School, to look at ways to improve the road layout outside the school following the new building there. Proposals include an ’Advisory 20 mph while lights flashing’ scheme for pick-up and drop-off times, some sort of road narrowing outside the school, and changes to road markings (SLOW signs, and an extension to the zig-zags, with a TRO to enforce ‘no parking’ on them). There was discussion about the relative benefits of ‘pinch points’ East and West of the school frontage, and a single ‘chicane’ outside the main entrance, both intended to slow traffic down. It was agreed to ask Mr Brown to send a firm proposal for the Council’s consideration: the school governors etc. to be kept informed. ACTION: Clerk.
d) Item 19. Rural Services Network  - issues from LMPC. Because of the high volume of content at the AGM these will be debated in the New Year.
11.  The Clerk’s Report for the period 8.11.2013- 6.12.2013. Report received.
12.  Matters arising from the Clerk’s Report. 
a) The Clerk apologised for inaccurate numbering and dates on the original agenda. The correct versions will appear in the Minutes. 
b) Council’s Footway Lights. It was agreed to explore the need for some of these before making  decisions about repair or removal. The Clerk will circulate maps to Cllrs to show the position of the lights, and the matter will be put on the next agenda: each light will be considered individually. ACTION: Clerk and Cllrs. Clerk to find costs for repairs/renewal/removal. 
c) Council Meeting Dates. LMPC elections will take place on 22nd May to coincide with European elections: Cllrs will then hold office for 5 years, reverting to 4-yearly terms thereafter. The Council agreed the proposed dates for 2014, with the AGM to be held as part of the June meeting, on 5th June. 
d) Item 41. Briony Baxter, (DWT) had advised Cllrs that a Local Studies Theatre Group was interested in working with/in Langton. The Malthouse or Leeson were possible venues suggested for performance, as the Village Hall might not be large enough. 
e) The Purbeck Citizen’s Advice Bureau, which serves the Swanage area, had sent a report with a request for a grant towards their work. RESOLVED: To send £100 and ask that a representative come to the next Annual Parish Assembly to talk about the group’s work. ACTION: Clerk.
13.  Chairman’s Announcements.  There were none.
14.  Financial Matters.
(1)   Note the following additions to Council funds since the last Council Meeting: 
£ 1,861.07 Swings Funding from Langton .
 £ 50.00    Cremation plot interment fee – the late Sybil Jenkins, Plot R6.
 £ 200.00  Cremation plot and interment fee – the late Terry Dorland, Plot Xa 
 £ 170.00  Interment fee – the late Norman Priddle, Plot V6.
 (2)   Note the following Payments by cheque to be made since last Meeting:
£ 150.00  Mr I. Bugler – Grounds Maintenance (November). 
£ 513.51   Clerk’s salary (November). 
£ 133.71   Elliott’s Cleaning Co. Public Toilet (November).
£ 500.00   Grant for Priest’s Way repair project.
£20.00      2nd Class stamps. (Cash payment to Langton PO.
£62.99      Portable Hard Drive (cheque to M.Kirby).
£ 195.00   Langton Matravers Village Hall, for use as Council Chamber 2014.
 (3) 	Payments by Direct Debit:
         £ 39.92     XLN Telecom for phone and broadband. 
 (4) Other Financial Matters. i) Budget. Cllrs reviewed the budget: a decision on precept-setting will be made at the January meeting. Despite a healthy balance at present, the Chairman noted that money may need to be spent on the Council’s footway lights in the next year, and Cllr Loudoun reminded Cllrs that the new cemetery extension would also need to be paid for within 2-3 years. The cost of cleaning and maintenance of the toilets is now also an ongoing expense to be aware of.
ii) Finance Regulations. It was agreed to discuss these as part of the discussion of revised Standing Orders at the January meeting. 
Cllr Knight left at this point in the meeting.
iii) RESOLVED: To subscribe to the Open Spaces Society and Fields in Trust for 2014.
15.  Cemetery Matters: (1) Repurchase of Burial Plot (J4). RESOLVED: To repurchase plot J4 from Mr and Mrs Hayward for the purchase price, less £20 administration fee. 
(2) Closed Cemetery. Cllr Bradford advised the meeting of 6 low-hanging trees adjacent to the cemetery which were leaning over the West wall. RESOLVED: To ask PDC, who are responsible for ground works in the cemetery, to attend to the matter. ACTION: Clerk.
16. Allotments.  Cllr Kirby informed the meeting that all rent/water bills have gone out. There is one half plot available to rent. 
17 Review of PDC Local Plan / Settlement Boundary Review. Cllr Kirby had collated responses from the Council and members of the public, and produced a document which included comments, maps and recommendations, as the Council’s response to PDC. After discussion, the Chairman thanked Cllr Kirby, and it was RESOLVED: That the document be accepted as LMPC’s response to the PDC consultation. ACTION: Clerk to forward document to PDC.
18. Allocation of New Housing at Steppes (Nine Barrow View).  The Council had previously been advised by PDC that all housing built under the S106 agreement would be let to people with a local connection if at all possible. In the light of recent bidding for the new housing at Nine Barrow View, it was  RESOLVED: To ask PDC, for each house/flat let, 1) If the new tenants have just come off the Housing Register, or whether the new tenancy is a transfer ? and 2)What is the new tenants’ local connection with Langton Matravers ?  ACTION: Clerk to write to Chris McDermott (PDC Housing) to ask these questions.
19. House Numbering at Gypshayes. See Item 9b) above
20. Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Minerals and Waste Planning Consultation, Jan 22nd 2014. The Consultation team from DCC is planning an open event at Langton Matravers Village Hall. Cllr Drayson had asked if they could give a presentation at the end of the evening, but it appears that this would only be open to Councillors. It was agreed to invite Cllrs from Worth and Swanage Councils to the presentation, and press for the public to be invited to attend too. ACTION: Clerk. 
21. Widening of Footway at Steppes Hill/Putlake. It is hoped that the Steppes Hill work will be completed within this financial year, though the work is presently being held up while engineers await a report from the Tree Officer.  There is no further update on the Putlake project.
22. LMPC Representative on Purbeck Transport Action Group. Cllr Lovell attends this group when he can; Cllr Drayson offered to represent LMPC and report back. 
23. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday 9th January, 2014 at 7pm. 
24.Additional items for the Agenda of the next Council meeting: Standing Orders/ Lights/ Housing Needs Survey.

Closed 9.17.pm.

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