Chairman, Mr C Tolley

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

Messrs, P Brown, P Gilbert, L Higginson , G Lowe, A Biggs, G M Brewin (Clerk),

Mr J Guise (District Councillor), J Goldsmith (Footpaths Officer)

Visitors: PC A Naulls, (Local Beat Officer), Mrs M Davies, Mr J A Jakeman, Neighbourhood Watch coordinators, and ten parishioners.

PC Naulls reported on the local crime details over the past six months. There had been; 1 Dwelling Burglary, 1 Public Disorder incident, 2 Suspicious incidents, 2 Dog Incidents, Several Breaches of the Peace, one at Upper Houses and several at Lulsley. He answered several questions particularly on the matter of identification of locations if police are called to help.

Mr J A Jakeman gave a presentation on the need to coordinate Neighbourhood Watch activities. More help was needed to ensure a complete coverage of the parish and notices would be put out asking for this.

Parishioners raised the matter of the Planning Application to MHDC for the conversion of pheasant-rearing sheds at Lulsley into workshops/offices. The main problem was seen as the limited access to the site along a mile of single-width road. The clerk reported that he had received twenty letters objecting to this application which would be forwarded to MHDC Planning Office.

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

All matters arising were covered by agenda items.

All WCC Scrutiny Panels have been reformed and reduced from 10 to 6. She now served on the Environment and Specific Issues. The Scrutiny Steering Group will continue to advise on scrutiny matters.

We are currently exercised by next years budget. Existing priorities continue with some changes in emphasis.

Pupil numbers are falling whilst elderly numbers requiring care are rising. Our aim is to keep the Council Tax rise to 6.5%. However we will not know our financial settlement until Nov. 17th. We are most grateful to all who have lobbied Government on our behalf.

She was involved currently in reviving Facilities for Young People in the area and was working with local schools to develop a co-ordinated approach. There is a need for improved telecommunications in the area and she was pressing British Telecom on the matter of Broad-band facilities. She was working also on the new MHDC Local area Plan which would be published in draft form shortly. She was pleased to report that derelict cars had been removed from the village by MHDC.

The following items were approved - Clerk's expenses July-Sept - £120.85, Clerk's salary July-Sept - £557.70,

W-CALC - Clerk's training meeting etc £9.67

The following Planning Applications were reviewed

03/01424/FUL Detached Garage - St Marys Alfrick, Reviewed with CT 23/9 no objection - but concern over height was expressed.

03/01483/FUL Oak-Frame barns - Brooklands, Stocks Lane Alfrick, Reviewed with CT 6/10- no objection

03/01523/FUL Conversion of Agricultural Sheds to Offices - Lulsley - Upper Court, Details to all properties on

Hill Road Lulsley had been sent by the clerk on 3/10/03. - There was a strong objection to this as

completely inappropriate development, particularly the limited access and the poor quality of the

buildings. The clerk would send copies of all the letters received from parishioners (20) all

objecting to this development to the MHDC Planning Office with the council's reply.

03/01692/FUL Single storey ext., Cherry Oaks, Green Street. - no objection.

The clerk reported that Mr A Saunders could not attend but had sent the following report.

'I have met Chris Couper from Development Control. He has looked at the two sites which were identified by the project group and, in his opinion, neither site would be suitable as a rural exception site. He was of the opinion, however, that the field on the left immediately before St Mary's Crescent as you enter the village from the Worcester site would be a suitable exception site providing the thick existing hedgerow remained. The owner of the site coincidentally has been in contact with me and is prepared to offer part of the land as a rural exception site. I am unable to attend the Parish Council meeting on the 21st, please advise me if you wish me to approach the land owner in question to arrange a meeting with the project group'.

The clerk had asked him to proceed and Mr G Lowe would contact Mr Saunders to review matters.

The chairman reported on the first meeting of the Steering Committee which he had chaired up to the point of the adoption of a formal constitution and appointment of officers. A copy of the minutes of this meeting is attached to the minutes as appendix-A

In order to obtain the grant of £3000 from the Countryside Agency towards the cost of this it would be necessary for the parish council to provide an input of £200 and this was agreed.

Broad Dingle Viaduct;

The clerk reported that he had been unsuccessful in obtaining a meeting with Mr M Cook who owned the land adjacent to the viaduct and it looked as thought his project could not proceed. Ms Clift offered to contact Mr Cook and his secretary to see if a meeting could be arranged.

There was nothing to report on these matters.

Mrs C Williams, Mr C Tolley and Mr L Higginson had reviewed the clerk's proposals and it was agreed that he would send copies to all members for approval at the next meeting..

Details are attached to the agenda. All publications are available from the clerk on request.

Parish Council Web-Site; The clerk advised that he had been able to set up a free web-site which could be used to publicise the council's activities. it was agreed that this would be done. The address is - www.users.waitrose.com/~alfricknlulsley

It was noted that the hedges were overhanging the road at Stichens Hill and causing some obstruction. The clerk would draw this to the Highways partnership's attention.

Date of the next meeting;

The next meeting of the council was confirmed as 18^th November, 7.30pm at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm.