Parish Of Alfrick And Lulsley                                                 

Mesdames, S Clarke, C Williams, E Clift (District Councillor).

Messrs, A Biggs, P Gilbert, G Lowe, L Higginson, J Guise (District Councillor) part-time.

J Goldsmith (Parish Footpaths Warden), G M Brewin (Clerk).

P Brown, M Scott, C Tolley.

Visitors: Mrs G Cope (Elgar Housing Association) and twenty-four members of the public.

J Guise (District Councillor) requested the opportunity to make a public statement: On the matter of the affordable housing project he suggested that there was a need for a new beginning, that those with any interests in the matter should withdraw completely and a sub-committee with co-opted members from all sections of the community should start again with a new survey of housing needs.

In response to this suggestion a member of the public commented that this could lead to an open and honest debate on the matter of affordable housing. The chairman replied that she would not accept comments that implied that members of the council had not been honest and requested the speaker to refrain from making such implications.

There were requests for the details of 'Section 106 agreements' to be made available and the clerk would provide these.

The meeting accepted apologies from council members; P Brown, M Scott, C Tolley.

S Clarke and C Williams advised the meeting of their personal interests in the matter of Affordable Housing.

The minutes of the annual meeting held on Tuesday 18^th May 2004 and circulated in advance to members were approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

The clerk confirmed that the chairman had signed and delivered his Acceptance of  Office.

The clerk explained that he had met Mrs G Cope of Elgar Housing and Mr A Saunders Housing Enabling Officer together with Ms E Clift and Mr J Guise on 19^th May to review progress and at that time it seemed possible that a date for a presentation of the plans for Upper House site could be fixed soon. He had therefore delayed the circulation of the report to the Annual Parish Meeting of 11^th May requested at the last meeting. Copies were included in The Sphere and posted on the council notice boards.

Mrs G Cope presented the draft plans for the Upper House site and indicated that the funds available from the government could be withdrawn if progress was not made on this project. The general view was that a more enclosed arrangement of houses was preferred.

After considerable discussion on this matter the following proposal was put to the meeting by Mrs Williams.

'This council will only consider the development of affordable housing at the Upper House site in the form of a different proposal to that currently available. The council will not consider the Leigh Road site proposal until a further proposal on the Upper House site has been made.'

This was agreed unanimously.

The clerk confirmed that Dr L Cotterill had completed the audit and the 2003-4 accounts would be posted to the external auditor.

Confirm payments to; Linda Cotterill Chartered Accountants, £58.75 audit fee - agreed.

Footpaths; The Parish Footpaths Warden reported that most of the major work planned had now been completed. He would investigate the possibility of using additional outside help to cover smaller items of work.

Highways; The clerk reported that he had contacted the landowner, and the Highways Agency on the matter of the oak trees opposite Black's Well Cottages, Lulsley and that the Highways Agency have instructed a consultant to investigate and report in the near future.

04/00831/FUL; Replacement Garage, Finches Nest, Lulsley,

Reviewed under the delegation arrangements by CW and PB. 'No Comment' returned.

04/00859/FUL Additions, Crossways, Alfrick

Reviewed by the council. Although there was no objection in principle the council was concerned at the closeness of the new garage wall to the boundary line leaving little space for access for maintenance etc and also the fact that a new window would overlook the adjacent property for the first time.

Mr P Gilbert reported that the Parish Plan Steering Committee had decided on a presentation to the parish over the weekend of 10-12 September. In the meanwhile a newsletter setting out the details of the work so far would be circulated to all houses in the parish in July and the committee would have a stall at the Horticultural Show on 4^th September. A copy of the minutes of the meeting on 27^th May and 10^th June are attached to the minutes as appendices 'a' & 'b'.

Drainage; The clerk reported that it had been necessary to instruct a contractor to dig out and replace a clogged land-drain.

Dog Fouling; The clerk reported that he had received several complaints regarding local dogs being allowed to defecate on the Playing Field. Councillors replied that on several occasions in the past notices asking users of the field to keep the field clean had been broken or defaced within hours of their installation. Councillors considered that it was up to dog owners and members of the public to look after their playing field themselves.

The clerk read out a letter from Mr D M Kirby of Field End, Knightwick Road, drawing the council's attention to overgrown trees and tree roots extending into adjoining properties. The council confirmed its previous decision to cut a pathway around the boundary and keep the matter under review.

Parish Lengthsman Scheme

The clerk reported that there had been only one applicant in response to the council's advertisement and as the council had previously agreed in principle to operate this scheme he could now go ahead and confirm the contracts which had been supplied by W-CALC and the Highways Partnership. This was agreed.

Mrs S Clarke and Mrs C Williams had attended a meeting on Wednesday 9^th June at Suckley and reported on it. Suckley, Alfrick and Lulsley and Leigh and Bransford would co-operate in developing a local bus service to either Malvern or Worcester. Substantial funds did appear to be available and these were being investigated. A questionnaire would be available in al three village shops to enable interest and preferences to be established. An article would also appear in The Sphere.

Details are attached to the agenda.

The Clerk drew members' attention to the Annual meeting of the Worcestershire Assembly at Malvern on 30^th June. Notice of this was very short but Mr G Lowe would endeavour to attend.

There was no other business

Date of the next meeting;

The next meeting of the council would be on Tuesday 20^th July 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall Alfrick.

The meeting closed at 10.20pm.

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