Parish Of Alfrick And Lulsley                                              

Chairman, Mr C Tolley

Mesdames, S Clarke, C Williams, Miss E Clift (District Councillor) Mr B Hickling, (County Councillor),

Messrs, A Biggs, P Brown, P Gilbert, G Lowe, J Goldsmith (Footpaths Officer), J Guise (District Councillor), G M Brewin (Clerk).

Mrs M Scott,

Visitors: Ms G Cope, Head of Development, Festival Housing Group, Mr S Vick of Elgar Housing and forty-three parishioners.

The chairman opened the meeting by acknowledging the interest of the parishioners attending in the proposed affordable housing project and suggested that they ask their questions directly to the representatives of the housing association proposing this.

Problems raised included land drainage and sewage disposal, the ability to ensure that the properties remained as affordable houses and the actual quantity that were required to meet local needs. A Presentation of the full scheme will be held on the 27th January 2004 in the Village Hall from 6 to 8pm with an further opportunity to review this matter before a formal planning application is made. The chairman closed this informal session at 8.05pm.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 18^th November 2003 and circulated in advance to members were approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

The clerk read the reply from Worcestershire County Council Transport Planning to the request to consider changes to the Wednesday bus timetable which offered a review at some future undefined date.

All matters arising were covered by agenda items.

Subsequent to the discussion prior to the meeting the council reviewed the situation with Ms Cope and Mr Vick who presented revised and more detailed plans of the project. It was agreed that the matter would be reviewed following the public presentation on 27^th January 2004

Recycling: Christmas Cards may be recycled throughout January at Tesco, W H Smith, and household waste sites.

Education: Christopher Whitehead School project development: A Planning enquiry has been set for Tuesday 18^th May 2004, and is scheduled to last for eight days.

GCSE Results: Although in Worcestershire these results improved for ages 11-14, there was as slight decline for pupils aged 7 -11.

General: Despite many improvements made over the last twelve months to education, social services and road maintenance, Worcestershire County Council has been measured as "Good" once more in the way it serves people. Worcestershire Social Services were upgraded from "One Star" to "Two Stars".

The Malvern Hills waste recycling scheme in which waste is separated by the householder into paper/cloth and metal/plastic using coloured sacks is being trialed locally and initial reactions were awaited.

A district-wide Youth Forum has been established with a successful first meeting and more would be arranged soon.

The Customer Service Centre in Malvern was now functioning and appears to be running well.

Mr Guise commended the MHDC Draft Structure Plan to the meeting and recommended a careful study of its implications to rural areas.

Confirmation of the precept for 2004/5 - £3750: The clerk had circulated notes in advance (see appendix -a ) and said that it was necessary to increase the precept to prevent the council's bank account falling any lower than the forecast of £1600 at the end of this financial year following several years when it had been reduced from some £5,000 on the instructions of the District Auditor. After discussion the precept request was agreed and signed by the chairman.

The following payments were approved; Clerk's expenses (3 months), £60.08, Clerks Salary (3 months), £557.70, War Memorial maintenance ½yr, £24.00

The following delegated decision were confirmed;

03/01483/FUL Oak-Frame barns - Brooklands, Stocks Lane Alfrick Reviewed CT,SC, No comment

03/01931/FUL Cheapside Cottage, Alfrick Pound, Extension, Reviewed CT,SC, No comment

03/02014/FUL Revised proposal - Pound House Alfrick Reviewed CT,SC, No comment

03/02029/FUL Revised proposal - Woodfield, Lulsley. Objection

Reviewed by CW & PB. Although this council did not raise any objection to the original application MH03/01295/FUL the proposed changes which increase the height and visual bulk of the shed will make it much more obtrusive than the existing structure.

The clerk reported on the third and fourth meetings of the Steering Committee on 2/12/03 and 13/1/04. Copies of the minutes of these meeting is attached to these minutes as appendix- b & c.

The funding of £3,000 from the Countryside Agency has been confirmed and the first half payment received. Plans were well in hand for the first public presentation and consultation. This will take place in the Village Hall, Alfrick on 27^th, 28^th & 29^th February. Friday evening 5-9pm, Saturday 9am-6pm & Sunday 9am-12am A notice would be placed in The Sphere magazine and an invitation to attend will be printed and delivered to every house in the parish in the first week of February. A competition to devise a logo for the campaign open to those under 18 would be included in this with a prize of a £25 voucher.

The Worcestershire County Councils obligations under the Highways Act 1981 to mark the intersections of bridle and footpaths with the public highway have not been completed and a further 5 signs have been requested.

Following recent autumn ploughing etc the location of some 8 footpaths has been obscured and these have been referred to the WCC Footpaths Officer for legal action.

Bridle Path Alfrick 17 has been rediscovered as it has been hidden by a substantial hedge. A gate will be organised for this. In Lulsley, footpath 2 has been re-identified and will be marked. On footpath 14 the clearance of dangerous rubbish will be done by a contractor. A further 9 items of work in the two parishes have been identified to the contractor

Concern was expressed over the damage being done to un-maintained public roads by four-wheel drive vehicles using these for recreational purposes. The clerk was asked to write to the WCC Countryside Manager to reinforce the need for some form of restraint on these activities.

Details are attached to the agenda. Specific items;

WCC Highways Parish Lengthsman Scheme; This application has been made and a response from the Highways Partnership regarding insurance cover matters raised by the W-CALC office is awaited before implementation.

MHDC Draft Structure Plan; The clerk is studying this at present and will advise members on key matters on 27^th January

DEFRA - equine Issues; The clerk will copy this to members with horses etc

Roadside White Marker Posts; The Highways Partnership confirm that these mark areas where plants should be allowed to seed before clearing the verge.

MHDC Licence renewal Fox&Hounds Lulsley; There was no objection to this.

The chairman reported that an act of criminal damage to vehicles (tyres slashed) had occurred at Lulsley and this had the hallmarks of the person regularly committing anti-social acts in the area. The clerk was asked to write to the heads of the local constabulary and Elgar Housing asking why these matters which had continued for over a year have not been resolved.

Date of the next meeting;

The next meeting of the council was confirmed as 20^th January 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.25pm.

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