Parish Of Alfrick And Lulsley           

Mesdames, S Clarke, M Scott, C Williams, B Hickling, (County Councillor), E Clift (District Councillor)

Messrs, A Biggs, P Brown, P Gilbert, L Higginson, J Guise (District Councillor), G M Brewin (Clerk).

Mr C Tolley, G Lowe, J Goldsmith (Footpaths Officer),

Visitors: About fifty members of the public.

A leaflet purporting to have been circulated by the council had invited members of the public to attend and discuss the matter of affordable housing. Mrs Williams explained that the leaflet did not come from the parish council and no more information was available but as soon as plans were ready the council would hold a public presentation of the details.

Questions were raised as to the personal and prejudicial interests of the members of the council. Mrs Williams replied that all matters of personal interest had been discussed with the MHDC Standards Officer and council members were abiding by the law in these matters. Other questions raised concerned the approval or otherwise of possible sites by MHDC planning officers and the possibility of drawing up proposals in detail for all five proposed sites before a decision is made.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 16^th March 2004 and circulated in advance to members were approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

The clerk reported that he was involved in discussions with a contractor regarding the clearing of the Jubilee Plantation and that arrangements were in hand for the Annual Parish Meeting on 11^th May.

Tourism

The Tourist Team at County Hall have designed a Post Card to celebrate St. George's Day, 23rd April. It is hoped to attract people to look again at Worcestershire and get to know it. This should encourage "Day visitors".

The County Architect carried out a lot of work on landscape protection in the late 1990s. Although the work is ongoing a final report from our consultants has been received. The planning system is changing. We now have to decide guidance on landscape protection which is no longer simple. We must study the report and organise local consultation in order to determine what is important and what is not. A public document entitled "A New Look at the Landscapes of Worcestershire" will be issued to all Parish Councils within the next 2 weeks. It will also be available on the CC website. Contacts - Paul Maitland 01905-766717, Chris Bray 01905-766733

Miss Clift reported that she had been working with the area Youth Forum which in its newly constituted form would be working in the near future. She was involved also in the MHDC e-government project and a new officer for this has been appointed. MHDC was also investigating a scheme for the letting of social housing.

Mr J Guise reported on progress of the working party on the political management of the District Council and improvements in time and cost to the decision-making process. Another big item of work was changes to the Development Control Strategy where it was likely that a team of 12 members would be meeting fortnightly to process development applications.

Approve Year-end accounts 2003/4. The clerk presented the yearly accounts and pointed out that although the bank account was higher than at the beginning of the year this was due to retained funds for future Footpaths and Parish Plan Team expenditure. The had been a considerable overspend in the year mainly on the purchase of two new notice boards and a contribution to the Parish Plan activity which was mandatory on receiving a grant from the Countryside Agency. The accounts were agreed and are attached as appendix-a.

The following payments were approved;

Annual Subscription to Worcestershire CALC £166.89

Payment - npower £10.44 (Street lighting)

Clerk's salary & expenses (Jan-March 2004) £557.70, £96.39

Planning matters;

Review - 04/00574/LBC/575/FUL Conservatory Ext. Old School House, Alfrick Pound. No objection.

Review - 04/00542/FUL/554/LBC #9; Alterations/extension, Stable Cottage, Lulsley. No objection.

Delegated decisions confirmed;

04/00409/FUL - Green Street Barn, Lulsley - Extension - no objection

04/00227/FUL - Dove Barn, Newhouse Farm, Alfrick - Revisions to previous application - no objection

The clerk asked for any declarations of interest. Mrs Williams and Mrs Clarke stated that they had personal interests in this matter.

The clerk reported that the Housing Enabling Officer had told him that there were as yet no firm proposals for the Upper House site recommended by the council. He then read out letters he had received from; CA & PR Tebbit, BH & ER Adlam, R & J Campbell and G Hallows on matters relating to this site. As Mr & Mrs Campbell could not attend the meeting he read out a reply he had sent them on matters of fact and a copy of this reply is attached as appendix-b. The clerk was asked to write to all those who have sent letters to the council on this new phase of development advising them of the current situation. Members considered that the council should wait to hear from the Housing Enabling Officer before taking any further action.

Parish Lengthsman Scheme

The clerk reported that contracts were not yet available, however these are expected to be resolved in time for a start in April-May

The clerk reported that the meeting at Suckley had been changed to 13^th April and he was unable to attend it. He had conveyed the council's positive views on this project and the offer to contribute financially if a suitable service could be arranged. Further details would be circulated to members when available.

Mr P Gilbert reported on the progress of the Parish Plan sub-committee in collating the results of Open Weekend at the end of February. The sub-committee had met on the previous evening. Certain matters had already been defined and one of these was the response to affordable housing in the parish. He gave members a copy of this and it is attached to the minutes as appendix-c. It was hoped to run a further feedback to the village within the next few weeks.

The sub-committee members thought that there was a need to provide a better dissemination of information to the parish and suggested a larger notice board at the village shop which could be used to display the minutes of council meetings. It was agreed that the clerk would obtain a quotation for a board similar to the two purchased last year.

Footpaths; In sending his apologies to the meeting Mr J Goldsmith had reported that the work outlined previously was progressing and that he had prepared an application to continue in the WCC scheme for the parish to maintain its own footpaths. It was agreed that this should go ahead.

Highways; The clerk said he had checked the work at Stichens Hill and it was agreed that this was satisfactory. Members identified the need to take action on potholes in the area and the clerk will advise the Highways Partnership of these.

Details are attached to the agenda. Specific items; Macmillan Cancer Relief; acting as the trustees of the Old Storridge Charity the council agreed to make a donation of £50 to this charity.

The clerk reminded members of the Annual Parish Meeting on May 11^th at 7.30pm. Refreshments would be provided. Mrs Clarke expressed concern at the termination of a local bus service to Worcester. The clerk would report on this.

Date of the next meeting;

The next meeting of the council which would be the Annual Meeting of the Council was confirmed as 18^th May 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm.

Chairman ...............................................................................................................