January 2024 Minutes
Tallington Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Council meeting held on 9th January 2024
Present: Chairman Cllr P Sagar, Vice Chairman Cllr J Smith, Cllr J Brocklebank, Cllr J Knox and Parish Clerk W Gray.
District Councillor R Trollope-bellew.
County Cllr A Baxter arrived during item 12 of meeting.
33 members of the public were also in attendance.
Minutes
Cllr Sagar requested a minute’s silence following the recent deaths of Albert Worgan (Bert) and John Allen. John was a stalwart of the village and a past Chairman and member of the Parish Council for many years.
1. Public Forum – Update on the Tallington Flood
Environment Agency were in the village again last night (Mon 8th) and this morning and they have removed the sand bags (put in place early December 23) from the village side that were blocking the flap valve that is still under water river side. No water flowing back from river so valve working. They hope in due course it will release water back into the river from the village side.
Cllr Sagar has been assured the EA pump that was delivered on Monday morning 8th January will stay in situ for time being. It is currently not in use. (Update since meeting – EA have removed Pump to storage in Spalding but available if needed).
The previous peak for the River Welland at Tallington was recorded on December 25th 2020 at 1.76m. Throughout Wednesday 3rd January the Parish Council asked for help from the Environment Agency in the form of a pump at the Tallington Bridge. Our calls to the National incident hot line were not attended to with any urgency. At 11.35pm on Wednesday the 3rd January 2024 the river peaked at a height of 2.04m – a new record! By Midnight and shortly after 5 homes were already flooded including Hawthorne Cottage, The Crooked Billet and Tennyson cottage on the junction of the Main Road and Bainton Road with the Greystones and the Old Forge on Main Road flooded by 00.35/1.00am. Tennyson Cottage and Greystones being evacuated by the Fire Brigade. The water continued to rise throughout Thursday flooding homes and businesses on the Main Road and Mill Lane.
Cllr Sagar took Nick Riches our main EA contact, who was on holiday during the flooding through the Village this morning Tuesday 9th January and showed him the devastation the water caused on Thursday and where we still had trapped water in Mill Lane and in front of the Old Post office.
There will be meetings now between EA and LCC who are responsible for flooding away from the river and who have a statutory responsibility to conduct an investigation into the flooding.
Cllr Sagar advised all not to jump to conclusions about any single cause. It’s more than likely an amalgamation of a number of issues not least of which is the sheer volume of water that has fallen since Christmas and before. 8 named storms this year against 2 last - a months worth of January rain in a few days. Tallington was not alone and many local and national communities have suffered much worse (Greatford only 7 miles north that was badly flooded the day before us).
There are lessons to be learnt from this dreadful experience. We have a commitment from Gareth Davies MP and Alicia Kearns MP, County and District Councilors’ to ensure that the EA, Anglian Water and LCC Highways put in place measures asap to protect the village and repair the broken surface water drains on the Main Road that overpowered the sewerage system yet again and caused too many homes to be without toilets for over a week.
We will be pushing for protection for the village and will be seeking a permanent sump pump by the bridge discharging into river or if not then onto the unused flood plain on the other side. A long-term solution to the now 10 years of neglect by LCC Highways and Anglian Water to the road surface water and sewerage mixing in the broken drains. The partial repairs carried out in the Spring of 2022 shown now to be ineffective. We still have homes without working toilets in different pockets of the village.
The community spirit shown throughout the flooding was truly uplifting and there are many people to thank – the fire crews, the village sandbagging crew delivering over 1000 sandbags, by 4x4 and trailer as they were delivered from SKDC and LCC enabled some protection but in total 10 homes and 2 businesses were badly flooded that will take many months to dry out and repair. Those manning the road closure signs that too many inconsiderate drivers chose to ignore and the refreshments team. SKDC for delivering sand bags throughout Thursday from the depot as they were filled, likewise LCC. The SKDC clean-up teams and refuse lorry drivers for removing damaged furniture etc in the aftermath and finally the CEO of SKDC Karen Bradford for responding to our plea for sandbags and in lobbying the Fire authorities at Lincoln for assistance in our hour of need.
Cllr Sagar thanked those who have already volunteered to be part of a Tallington rapid response flood team. An urgent review of the Flood defense and monitoring measures will be undertaken together with an action plan being drafted that will include the rapid deployment of the filled sand bags now returned to pallets in the Village Hall car park from where they can be distributed by agricultural fork lifts to where they could be of most benefit if needed again this winter. Many sandbags have been left with residents’ keen to have ready just in case.
Questions from the floor were accepted and discussed.
2. Opening of Meeting: Cllr Sagar opened the meeting.
Co-option of Parish Councillor - Robert Sorrell was proposed by Cllr Sagar, seconded by Cllr Smith. All in favour and was duly co-opted onto the Parish Council – bringing the number of Cllrs back up to 5 – leaving 2 vacancies. Cllr Sagar asked the meeting to consider putting names forward if interested.
3. Apologies for Absence: District Cllr V Smith (attending Greatford PC Meeting), Rob Burrell.
4. Declaration of Interest: None.
5. Update on the Tallington Flood: See above.
6. Environment Agency/Flooding – Update Although the contractors made a hasty departure together with all their equipment just before Xmas, it is understood they will be returning early in the new year to complete outstanding work upstream of the road bridge.
7. Casewick Lane Drainage issues – Update: During the flooding Casewick lane was completely flooded with resident of Hawthorn Lodge cut off. Pedestrians from St. Lawrence Way similarly unable to use this route. JS and Vanessa Smith chasing their SKDC contact for urgent action.
8. To agree minutes of Parish Council Meeting 28th November 2023: proposed Cllr Smith, seconded Cllr Knox all in agreement for minutes to be signed.
9. Matters arising from the above minutes:
a. Clerk Application update – One Clerk application received. Our current clerk has agreed to stay on till financial year end allowing for a thorough handover to new clerk.
b. Website update – working but needs work to update information.
c. Deeping Leisure Centre CIC – planned presentation postponed by CIC till March meeting due to new commitments caused through flooding.
10. Finance
• Authorisation of payments
Parish Clerk Salary and expenses £511.18
Glasdon – Bin Bags £118.90
P Sagar – Laminator covers £30.50
Trade Waste Collection (February) £21.67
Above payments approved by Cllrs Present.
It was proposed by Cllr Sagar to purchase a Petrol driven Water Pump for the village cost £659.00 plus VAT to move areas of standing water, preferably with SKDC grant aid but in case of a lengthy wait it was agreed by all to push ahead and purchase from Parish Council funds.
• Setting of Parish Precept 2024/25
It was unanimously agreed to increase the Precept for the next financial year by £300 i.e. requesting £8,700 an increase of 3.57% in cash terms. On the current tax base, as advised by SKDC of £350.90 (Last Year £358.00) this equates to an increase of 5.9% or £24.79 on a Band D charge (Last Year £23.40). Proposed Cllr Sagar, seconded Cllr Brocklebank all in agreement. Clerk to complete paperwork and return to SKDC by deadline of 19th January 2024.
11. Planning:
S23/1354 – Listed Building Consent for replacement windows to dwelling at The Granary, 5 Searson Close – Consent Granted.
12. Reports from District and County Councillors:
District Cllr V Smith
Flooding: My deepest sympathies to all those affected by recent events, and I will do what I can to support the community at this time. Although SKDC is not the Flood Authority, as this is LCC, the staff from SKDC have supported the village and money has been made available to pay for portaloos, skips and street cleaning. National government funding has also been made available for affected households to apply for, likely via LCC. I recognise that there is a need for some answers here, as lessons need to be learnt to prevent recent events from recurring. This will require input from a number of organisations including the Environment Agency, Anglia Water and LCC. The response to flooding will be reviewed at the SKDC Rural Overview and Scrutiny committee.
Recycling: Purple lidded bins have now been delivered. They should be used for paper and card with immediate effect. If paper and card is put into the grey bin the bin these will initially be just tagged as 'contaminated' for information purposes. However, from 5th February, any bin that is found to be contaminated will not be collected. Side waste will also be rejected.
Local Devolution: The plans for Greater Lincolnshire Devolution with Mayoral control will be discussed by SKDC full council this week.
Deeping Leisure Centre: A decision by SKDC full council on whether they will give the financial support to the community group is expected this week.
For Tallington specific:
Engine Idling Signs: I have made some enquires at SKDC regarding this. This is not something SKDC can provide assistance with. I have looked online and customised A4 vinyl stickers can be purchased for between £1-2 each so perhaps this is something the Parish Council could consider. Our County Councillor is escalating the matter of highway signs to LCC. Network Rail tell me they will look into another sign on the eastbound side of the A1175.
A resident of St Lawrence Way has been in contact with me regarding the state of the drains, particularly around the green open space adjacent to the entrance of St Lawrence Way. I had already been in touch with SK regarding this and they had assured me work was planned (this was at the end of last year). I will chase the matter. In the meantime, can the pumps be used to address the standing water at this site?
Other St Lawrence Way issues: I believe that the dropped kerb onto the footpath has now been repaired. I am still chasing up work to install some sort of gate between the footpath across the green space and the A1175.
13. SK UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Already had benefit from this fund for new Playing Field equipment to replace some old wooden pieces. Still putting in for repair to stone walls approx. £15,000. Received money for MG Footpath.
14. Footpath No. 4 route & Millennium Green Works: Contractor has carried out some of the required corrective works following the concerns raised by the parish Council. Some further remedial works are yet to be completed and work will re-start when MG dries out.
15. Trees: Running small project (small working group) – 37 trees to be planted in different places on MG – PS working to identify funding for it, any donations would be gratefully received. Wanted to complete first phase before Christmas – probably now looking at end of February 2024, second phase later in year and into 2025. The wild flower area needs preparation for setting in the Spring. PS chasing contractor to do work and cut grass early in February 2024.
16. Mallard Pass Solar Farm: Carried forward to March meeting.
17. Village Hall and Playing Field reports: Nothing further to report - carried forward to March meeting.
18. Public Forum: Suspicious People – on 5th December 2023 Cllr J Smith was notified by a local resident who lives close to the Church in Tallington of two untidy individuals loitering in and around Church Lane etc – Cllr Smith subsequently reported this via 101 Lincs Police and incident no. 235 was allocated.
Cllr Sagar – How nice it is to see everyone here tonight and that the last few horrendous days have actually resulted in bringing residents closer.
19. Dates of Next TPC Meeting: Tuesday 12th March 2024. Meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.