Parish Of Alfrick And Lulsley    

Mesdames; S Clarke, C Williams, Messrs, P Brown, A Biggs, P Gilbert, L Higginson, G Lowe, J Goldsmith, (Parish Footpaths Warden), G M Brewin (Clerk).

B Hickling (County Councillor), J Guise (District Councillor).

Visitors: PC A Naulls, Local Police Beat Officer and seven members of the public.

Prior to the beginning of the meeting one minute's silence was kept to the memory of Cllr. Mr Christopher Tolley, Chairman of the Council, who died on 14^th September.

Mrs C Williams was proposed by Mr L Higginson, seconded by Mrs S Clarke and being approved unanimously Mrs Williams signed the Acceptance of Office of Chairman.

Mrs S Clarke proposed and Mrs C Williams seconded Mr P Gilbert as Vice-Chairman and this was approved unanimously.

The council asked the clerk to convey the members' condolences to Mrs Sheila Tolley and her family.

In declaring a vacancy the council instructed the clerk to proceed with the legal arrangements to fill the vacancy. The clerk reported that the necessary notices would be on the council's notice boards at 9am the following day.

S Clarke and C Williams declared and detailed their personal interests in the matter of Affordable Housing.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 20^th July 2004 and the minutes of the extra-ordinary meeting held 10^th

August 2004 circulated in advance to members were approved as correct records and signed by the chairman.

PC Naulls reported as follows; During the period from the agm in May to the present time in the parish there had been; 1-suspicious incident, 1-theft, 1-attempted theft, 2-road traffic incidents, 1-burglary, 1-public disturbance. This was a low-crime area but there was the need for vigilance and he asked for support for the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

External annual audit. The clerk read out the details of the external auditor's comments (signature on the return, use of numbered minutes in reporting) and advised that the auditor had given an unqualified report. Accepted.

Approve auditor's fee £120+vat; (The clerk explained that as the council's expenditure was in excess of £5000 the statutory fee was now as stated.) Agreed.

Approve payments by the Parish Plan Steering committee- Printing of Questionnaire - £280, Banner additions - £10+vat, x 2, Refreshments - £80.46, Display Boards - £216+vat. Agreed.

Review:

a) 04/01202/OUT, Revised plans - Affordable Houses at Upper House.

Although the layout had changed somewhat the basic arrangement and number were as previously reviewed on 10^th August and the same comments pertained viz.;

The council objects to this proposal;

1) The number of dwellings is in excess of the need established in the council's Housing Needs Survey.

2) The site is in an area of Great Landscape Value as defined by MHDC District Plan.

The council also wishes to see a formal approach to the establishment of a 'Section 106' agreement for these properties in which it can be involved at an early stage

b) 04/01161/FUL Revised plans - Affordable Houses at Leigh Road

The site plan has been revised to accommodate 8 properties in 3 semi-detached blocks.

The council objects to this proposal;

1) The number of dwellings is in excess of the need established in the council's Housing Needs Survey. The council would prefer 6 units in 3 blocks of semi-detached houses.

2) The council also wishes to see a formal approach to the establishment of a 'Section 106' agreement for these properties in which it can be involved at an early stage

c) 04/01521/FUL Barn Conversion - Green Street Barn

The council has no objection to this proposal.

Confirm delegated decisions

04/00965/FUL Orlando, Old Storridge- Replacement Dwelling. No objection. Delegated to AB & GL

04/01386/LBC, 01288/FUL Stable Cottage Lulsley Court. No objection. Delegated to PB & CW

04/01270/FUL Extension Telephone Mast, Lulsley. Objection. The council has objected to previous applications on this site and as such objects to this extension of facilities. Response by the clerk based on previous council decisions on this site. All agreed.

Mr P Gilbert reported on the activities of the Parish Plan Steering Committee. The presentation and consultation weekend of 10-12 September had been slightly disappointing as attendance had been less than expected. About 100 questionnaires were completed and it may be necessary to conduct a further exercise to ensure a representative view. A need for a separate young person's consultation has emerged and the committee would be working on this. The Committee would be sending an interim report to the Countryside Agency at the end of September with a request for the second half of the funding to be made available. (£1500). The minutes of the committee meetings on Aug 16^th and Sept 6^th are attached as appendices-a & b

The Lengthsman had completed 16hrs work to date mainly on road drainage. the payment of £192+vat and invoice to WCC Highways Partnership was approved.

Mrs S Clarke reported on the last meeting of the scheme committee. It looked as though funds would be available to run initially on one evening a week expanding to two as the scheme developed. It was agreed to contribute the previously promised sum of £100 to the scheme secretary.

Mr Goldsmith reported that obtaining the services of contractors to operate the arrangement with WCC Footpaths Office was difficult but he hoped to make some inroads into the schedule shortly.

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

a) Mrs A M Russell, the late Monica Scott's daughter had written suggesting that she and her husband would like to install a memorial bench in memory of her mother somewhere in the parish probably in the spring. The council members thought that the playing field would be a possible location and asked the clerk to write to her.

b)Standards Board, Adjudication of Complaint by P Tebbit

The Standards Board for England had written to the clerk setting out the board's response to the allegation by Mr P Tebbit that Cllrs Clarke and Williams had taken part in discussions and voting on affordable housing when they had personal and prejudicial interests in this matter.

The summary of the Board's decision in both cases was that 'In all the circumstances it was considered that the alleged conduct (even it were found to have occurred) is not of such significance of itself, to justify investigation...' and '...the allegation should not be investigated.'

The other members of the council instructed that the above (12.b) be reported in the minutes.

Mr P Gilbert suggested that the council could operate a regular consultation process by having three members available at the Village Hall for some two hours on a Saturday morning at intervals of some two months. This was agreed and the clerk was asked to make arrangements for this over the period up to the next annual meeting ( November, January, March) when it would be reviewed.

15. Date of the next meeting;

The next meeting of the council would be on Tuesday 19^th October 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall Alfrick.

The meeting closed at 9.33pm.

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