Parish Of Alfrick And Lulsley                                                        

Mrs C Williams, Chairman.

Mesdames S Clarke, S Young (District Councillor).

Messrs; P Brown, A Biggs, R Jackson, G M Brewin (Clerk). J Goldsmith, (Parish Footpaths Warden).

Cllrs P Gilbert, L Higginson, G Lowe. Mrs B Hickling (County Councillor), Mr J Guise (District Councillor).

Visitors: Three members of the public.

The late information on the availability and difficulty of collecting composting bins, (ref October 2004 minute 4.), was raised. The clerk will endeavour to find up-to-date information.

Information on the forthcoming 'Sphere Minibus' was requested. The clerk, who had attended the last two meetings of the organising committee, replied that the bus should be running from the beginning of December into Worcester on Thursday and Malvern on Friday over the evening on both days. After Christmas the Worcester service would be on Saturday. Information and timetables would be distributed to every household in the near future.

Apologies were accepted from Cllrs P Gilbert, L Higginson, G Lowe.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2004 circulated in advance to members were approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

The clerk reported that the Returning Officer at MHDC had advised that there was only one nomination, Mrs S Tolley, for the vacancy created by the death of Cllr C Tolley and therefore Mrs S Tolley was elected. He had telephoned Mrs Tolley that afternoon and told her of her election.

a) Cllr Mrs S Young reported as follows;

Under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003. the transitional period for the transfer of liquor licensing from the Magistrates Court to 1ocal authorities commences on 7th February 2005. This will mean a new committee for District Councils which is likely to be busy. It will deal with premises licences and personal licences.

Malvern Hills District Council recycling services are reducing the cost of composters to £5 each as long as they last or until the end of the financial year.

Community Transport Volunteers can park free of charge on Council car parks when operationally necessary, They will need to display their CTV badge.

WCC Countryside Services had held a meeting of all footpath Wardens to introduce the new staff. Mr I Bradley will be covering the area including Alfrick and Lulsley and will be visiting the parish on November 25^th. Mrs B Backhouse is the new Enforcement Officer. The Health and Safety executive are looking at the safety of footpath bridges in the county.

There have been several complaints of over-ploughing of footpaths and these will be referred to the enforcement officer. There are problems of the direction/location of footpath Alfrick 35 near the Old Police Station on Stocks Road and footpath Alfrick 53 by the Old Forge will require a contractor to clear and fill with hardcore.

A contractor has been found and will be starting at the end of the month on a survey of outstanding work.

a) Consider initial estimates for 2005/6 circulated in advance.

There was considerable discussion on the level of the budget which was agreed should be no more than £5000 (2003/4 - £3750). The clerk was asked to revise the estimates and circulate the revision to members as soon as possible. He was also asked to investigate the possibility of financial support for the playing field from users and outside agencies.

b) Consider Donation to MH-CAB (£75 -2003/4). agreed

c) Approve expenditure on War Memorial - £112.28 +vat (A R Thomas). Agreed

d) Approve expenditure on Footpaths - £165 +vat (A R Thomas). Agreed

e) Approve expenditure - Lengthsman - £175 +vat (A R Thomas). Agreed

f) Approve transfer of Grant to Sphere Bus - £1000. Agreed

a) 04/01789/FUL, Extension, Green St. Barn, Lulsley; The council had no objection to this application.

b) 04/01842/FUL, Extension, Crossways, Alfrick, - Revised; The council had no objection to this application.

c) Review arrangements for Delegated Decisions, Alfrick (Replace Cllr C Tolley)

It was agreed that Cllr R Jackson will join Cllr Mrs S Clarke in reviewing applications in Alfrick outside the meeting timetable.

The clerk reported that work had been done on the drains in the Old Storridge area, in clearing flood debris from the junction of Sandy lane and Crews hill Road and emergency clearing of floodwater during the recent heavy rain. (ref 5.e above.)

Cllr R Jackson reported on the activities of the Parish Plan Steering Committee. The committee had held one meeting, on 9^th November. (minutes attached - appendix - a). Mr P Attwood had resigned as a member of the committee for personal reasons. A newsletter would be distributed throughout the parish asking for additional questionnaires to be completed. These could be obtained from the Village Shop or downloaded from the web-site. The need for a separate young person's consultation has emerged and a special event would be held on January 15^th in the Village Hall. Details are to be announced later.

The clerk reported on this substantially as above. (Questions from members of the public)

Details of correspondence received since the last meeting are recorded with the agenda. The clerk drew members' attention to the following;

a) MHDC Draft plan - 2^nd Deposit - A copy of this is available and he had reviewed it relative to the parish. There were some small revisions covering incorrect drafting in the 1^st Draft.

b) W-CALC Notice of important meeting 2^nd December - This related to the proposals for a northern relief road around Worcester and its effect on the area.

c) WCC Waste Management Seminar 2^nd Dec. - The development of a waste recycling policy for Worcestershire.

d) defra Rural Services Review - A copy of this report was available and he had ordered additional copies for members.

e) Macmillan Cancer relief, Request for Support - Acting as trustees of the Old Storridge Charity a donation of £50 from that fund was agreed.

Members who had reviewed these considered that it was necessary to keep up-to-date in these matters. The clerk was asked to provide copies to all members to enable a decision to be made at the January meeting.

Cllr Mrs C Williams reported that this had been a success with a number of parishioners attending to raise matters amongst others on ;

a) The Jubilee Plantation, maintenance and access. (Mr & Mrs Kirby)

b) Ditches and drains opposite the old Swan Inn. (Mr & Mrs Stoddart)

c) Bus Services cancelled without notice and transport for those without cars. (Mrs P Emson)

d) Traffic speeding, Dog fouling, Drains. (Mr & Mrs Proctor)

e) Cllr P Groves Tenbury Ward discussed affordable housing.

The clerk was asked to write to those attending with information on the resolution of these problems and to reserve the village hall committee room and publicise similar events on 8^th January and 12^th March.

13. Any Other Business;

a) It was reported that the Teme Valley Youth Group had some £600 for a project at Alfrick and the clerk was asked to arrange for a representative to attend the February meeting to discuss this together with the Parish Plan committee.

b) There was a discussion on the council's stance on affordable housing in the parish. (Cllrs Clarke & Williams declared personal interests) After a substantial interchange of views it was decided that nothing should be done until the planning application for affordable houses at Upper House was resolved by the MHDC Northern Area Development Committee.

14. Date of the next meeting;

January 18^th at 7.30pm in the Village Hall Alfrick.

The meeting closed at 10.25pm

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