May 2023 Minutes
Tallington Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 16th May 2023 following Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Parish Council Meeting
Present: Chairman Cllr P Sagar, Vice Chairman Cllr J Smith, Cllr J Brocklebank, Cllr A Hassall and Parish Clerk W Gray, as per APM and APCM.
Minutes
1. Public Forum – Covered in previous meetings.
2. Opening of Meeting – The Chairman Cllr Sagar welcomed everyone to the meeting.
3. Apologies for Absence – Cllr Otter, Geoff Sutcliffe. Cllr Smith (SKDC). Cllr R Trollope-Bellew.
4. Declaration of Interest – None.
5. To agree minutes of Parish Council Meeting 14th March 2023 –proposed Cllr Brocklebank, seconded Cllr Smith all in agreement for minutes to be signed.
6. Matters arising from the above minutes:
West Deeping Quarry Meeting – Cllr Hassall attended along with West Deeping Parish Council etc. Wanting to put a further site on opposite side of where they are now – as go towards Market Deeping on right hand side – present plants very quiet at the moment. West Deeping not happy about it – plant trees etc – would affect West Deeping more than anyone else. Meeting with Deeping and Tallington – awaiting to hear when and inform all residents.
Cemex/Breedon – 8/10years of original plan left. Old one still working when new one is set up notice increase in traffic volumes. Public meeting (Exhibition) will engage with all local parishes.
7. Finance
Authorisation of payments:
Payments Agreed at meeting:
Parish Clerk Salary and expenses £511.18
MG Footpath Spraying – £75.00
John Smith – Rabbit Control – £50.00
All above payments approved by Cllrs Present.
Payments automatically debited from account – SKDC Servicing of Trade Waste Bins £21.67 for April 2023.
£577 approved as TPC 50% contribution towards Coronation Celebrations costs etc.
8. Planning – S22/2052 54 Bainton Road – discussed revised plans – Parish Council have no objections to revised plans.
S23/0722 Air Pollution Monitor (EA) Parish Council have no objections to plans.
9. Mallard Pass Solar Farm – No Update – we are interested party so will be informed of any meetings etc.
10. Millennium Green – The Chairman had tried to make contact again with the residents whose children were still using their football posts on the green in contravention it is believed of stipulations in the deeds of these properties and intended use of the green– more residents are complaining – the Chairman will advise the residents of Red House paddocks that we need to allow the grass to grow back and remind owners that no ball games are permitted and that this was also in contravention of the intended use of the green as now registered with Fields in Trust. Cllr Sagar expressed thanks to Rob Burdock who is cutting back the edges of the green next to paths as agreed. Only the 3 triangles will be cut with the first full cut of the green planned for the end of June when birds have finished nesting.
11. Footpath No. 4/TPC paths /LCC Volunteer Scheme– The chairman confirmed that Cllr Smith and he had met with Steve Rudkin of Balfour Beatty a few days before work commenced on MG paths in mid-March. We had accepted his advice on how to ‘improve’ the surface as had always been the intention of the offer of help from the LCC Volunteer scheme. However, on the first day of scarifying and before Steve Rudkin was on site Cllr Otter had insisted to the scarifying driver that the paths be 2 metre wide. In so doing the remaining wooden edges were destroyed in many places and soil mixed into the surface - the very thing we were trying to avoid. The agreed materials then also being insufficient. Cllr Otter’s offer to pay for additional work was reported but was considered not to be the point. Cllr Smith confirmed his discussions with Steve Rudkin. The Chairman although away had been kept informed of issues and had been in communication with Steve Rudkin and Cllr Smith. The chairman thanked Steve Rudkin of Balfour Beatty and the LCC volunteer scheme for suggesting and laying the extra tarmac in response to a request from Cllr Otter to create a level surface from Mill Lane, although this would mean extra costs that we would need to be separated from the VH car park work costs already agreed. No invoices have yet been received. It was agreed that we would write to thank The LCC Volunteering scheme and Steve Rudkin of Balfour Beatty for their help.
As reported in the annual parish report the parish council have been successful in obtaining a grant of up to £14,475 from the SK UK shared Prosperity fund after the a resubmitted and updated bid in April on behalf of the parish council. This will enable further work to install new wooden edgings and additional top surface to these paths and the small path to the Main road from the green. Most importantly it will enable a complete rebuild of the approx 200 plus metres of path in the old canal basin that is eventually to be the LCC agreed route of footpath no 4, raising it in places to alleviate the effect of sporadic flooding. Cllr Sagar thanked Cllr’s Cooke and Trollope-Bellew for their support in getting this grant. Cllr Sagar to write and formally accept the offer.
12. Trees – Jacqueline Knox and Robert Burdock confirmed that no meeting had taken place with Cllr Otter and Cllr MacKenzie and Robert Burdock confirmed that as far as he was concerned and as discussed at length at the March council meeting it was too late to plant this season and he had told Cllr Otter so. The chairman noted It was still the intention to plant trees and the meeting was left wondering what eforest’s response was to Cllr Mackenzie order of 13th March? Cllr Brocklebank later said that Cllr Mackenzie had told her by email that he (Cllr Mackenzie) had stopped everything? It was noted that other sources of trees were available. Jacqueline Knox volunteered to speak with Justin Mackenzie to pick up from where he left off. The meeting agreed this course of action.
Lots of youths sitting on bins smoking! Not villagers.
13. Environment Agency (EA) – Over last 12 months Cllr Smith has been in constant dialogue re River Bridge, missing guard rails etc. In past week replaced guard rail, fence and addressed badger issues. Fairly soon work begins again re Hemlock growth. Road over River Bridge nettles are growing in abundance! Suggest contact Fix My Street in first instance. BT van dealing with wires down there but did not affect the maintenance work Note: BT also working during the night replacing cable around area and relaying all way from Uffington to Tallington so far.
14. Reports from Councillors – Cllr Vanessa Smith had given a brief report when she attended the Annual Parish meeting earlier in the evening. And that she hoped to work closely with Cllr Trollope-Bellew. There was no County Council report given.
Distraction theft to house of pensioner on Main road– Police have conducted DNA and fingerprint analysis on evidence collected and have confirmed they are unable to identify any suspects.
Letter received from Cllr Cooke thanking TPC for supporting him over last 12 years as our district councillor and latterly as SKDC leader. Cllr Sagar will respond thanking him for his support and service to our community.
15. Village Hall and Playing Field reports – Coronation celebrations 8th May and wheelbarrow competition were well attended and were enjoyed by all. VH being used more again. Bid to SK UK Prosperity fund for new play equipment successful.
16. Public Forum – A number of residents registered their disappointment that the Coronation decorations had been taken down unceremoniously the night before the Coronation party on the 8th May.
17. Date of Next TPC Meeting: Tuesday 11th July 2023.
Meeting closed at 9p.m.