THE following is extracted from the minutes of a meeting of the council held in August.

District councillor Jonathan Hickton apologised for his recent absence and reported on his liaison over the proposed T-Mobile phone mast, indicating that he had been appointed to the Malvern Hills District Council property panel. He noted comments regarding council cleaning and refuse services and a complaint regarding the quality of the recycling sacks.

County councillor Alwyn Davies spoke regarding the extent of the flood damage and the likely costs, indicating that government support would be sought but present national provision would barely meet the estimated cost of damage in the county. He recommended that the parish council submit a report to the county council regarding the extent and causes of flooding in its area and possible preventative work. He also sought members' views on the reconfiguration of the West Midlands Ambulance Trust.

Planning: Melbourne, Main Road - Two-storey and first-floor extension. Members had no objections provided the property remained a single residence with the annexe' continuing in family use in perpetuity.

Highways: It was reported that this month the lengthsman had spent all his time on drainage related work at county council request (to be funded separately). Members requested that he be instructed to carry out (within his limitations) further drainage/clearance work.

Footpaths: The chairman summarised the county council's response to the council's letter regarding the cut in funding in the Parish Paths Partnership scheme (P3). The chairman was concerned at complaints being received about the condition of footpaths which the parish council was to maintain under the P3 agreement, in response to which the clerk reported that nearly all the paths have been strimmed once and work had started on a second cut of the central paths west of the Main Road but had been interrupted by machine breakdown.

Training: The clerk reported that the county council had a strimming course in September which Sam Murphy (assistant handyman) and Mr J Byatt (volunteer) were available to attend. This was agreed.