2025 Minutes

TALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 19th November 2025.

Present: Chair Cllr P Sagar, Vice Chair Cllr J Smith, Cllr R Sorrel, Cllr J Knox, Clerk N Smith, District Cllr R Trollope-Bellew and 4 members of public.

Minutes

Public Forum (The Public Forum does not form part of the meeting of the Parish Council)

 No points raised.

Cllr Smith opened the Council meeting.

069/25. Chair’s remarks: Cllr Smith welcomed Cllr Sagar who was connected remotely. The previous weekend, storm Claudia had tested the work done by the MAG agencies around the village. It had highlighted the togetherness and awareness of the village re flooding issues.

The river bridge pot-hole and ridge repair had broken and was worse. The issue had been raised on Fix-my-Street. It was noted that the areas had now been marked and photographed. May need to speak to G Simpson at LCC Highways.

A villager had raised an issue regarding a tree near West Road, Cllr Sagar confirmed that the 2 green areas at either end of St Lawrences Way are SKDC assets. 

 070/25. Apologies for Absence and reasons given: C Cllr A Baxter sent apologies. It was resolved to accept the apologies.

071/25. To receive any Declaration of Interest: None declared. 

072/25. To agree and sign minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 17th July 2025: The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.

It was agreed to bring Agenda item 9 (D and C Cllr reports) forward as Cllr R Trollope-Bellew was limited for time. See Minutes 076/25 below.

073/25. Clerk’s report:

- Hours worked in September 25.5, in October 19.5. Extra hours may be needed over next month due to Internal Audit being done in November.

- Website – Standing Orders uploaded. Cllr Sagar reviewing changes to website content suggested by LALC webmaster. Action: Cllr Sagar.

- a new laptop is needed as the current one is not compatible with Windows 11 and is very slow. Quotes received indicated a possible spend of £600 -700 would be adequate. Cllr Sagar asked the Clerk to forward the required spec and he would approach SKDC for help with purchase.  Action: Clerk to forward spec. Cllr Sagar to follow up.

- The new Care Home sign had been raised with SKDC. The planning department are investigating.

- Overgrown bushes restricting drivers views at end of West Road have been trimmed. Letter to be sent to owner of overgrown hedges blocking Main Road walkway.  

Action: Clerk to draft letter.

- A resident contacted the Council regarding a branch that had fallen onto the Main Road, which they had cleared. Investigation showed that it was a tangle of dead ivy branches that had come off the Pine tree at the entrance to the path to St Lawrences Way. The two Pine trees in the area have a TPO.

Action: Clerk to raise concerns with SKDC.

- The rotten Ash tree next to the MG footpath has been removed by resident as not an LCC asset.

- The Council Insurance policy has been updated to specify the MG maintenance and gardening equipment to a value of £2,400.

- An email request from the Stamford Mercury had been forwarded to Cllr Sagar. The request was for updates on the forthcoming works at the Rail Crossing and Main Road. Action: Cllr Sagar.

074/25. Finance: 

Payments

It was resolved to accept payments as presented.

Donations: PCC donation for 25/26 to be paid in January 2026.

VH&PFA insurance contribution (£197.60) has been received. 

Repair of VH pedestrian gate not yet completed. Cost will be invoiced to VH&PFA. 

All the VH&PFA grant money has now been spent.  

Action: Clerk to draw up invoice to VH&PFA once cost of gate repair confirmed.

Bank Reconciliation: Cllr Sorrell returned the Reconciliation folder. Sept and Oct Bank Statements and Invoices handed to Cllr Knox for checking before the January meeting.

Currant Account balance as at 19th November was £5,435.80.

Income: Vat Reclaim of £1,010.07. 

   Community Clearner grant from SKDC of £463.32.

   Heron’s Trust donation toward Lock-gate tidy of £500

Trade Waste: SKDC invoice now being deducted by DD.

D Cllr V Smith joined meeting at 20:10.

Budget 26/27: Clerk had drawn up and circulated a spreadsheet showing ‘Budget’ and Actual spend for 2023/24, 2024/25. 3 columns for 2025/26 showing ‘Budget’, spend at end-Oct, forecast yr-end spend. Proposed Budget for 2026/27 to help set Precept.

On discussion Cllr Sagar said that no budget for VH as the VH&PFA cover maintenance.

Cllr Sagar to draw up Precept proposal once data received from SKDC. 

It was resolved to carry Budget discussions forward to January meeting. 

D Cllr R Trollope-Bellew left meeting at 20:16.

075/25. Planning: - Planning application S25/2004 received. This is for new entrances to cement works on Barholm road. Discussion highlighted the need for good adequate signage on Barholm Rd and A1175. 

Cllr J Smith to write up concerns for Clerk to submit to SKDC. Action: Cllr J Smith and Clerk.

The weekly Planning Update from SKDC is circulated to all Councillors for information.

076/25. Reports from District and County Councillors: D Cllr R Trollope-Bellew gave a report.

- Budgets. The Precept form from SKDC should be sent to Councils mid-January.

- Local Government Reorganisation: SKDC would be debating proposals on 20th November. Unitary   Authorities should cover approx. 500k population. SKDC held presentations for Town and Parish   Councillors in the district. Cllr Sagar had attended the September presentation in Stamford. C Cllr   A Baxter gave the presentation in the Village Hall on 13th November. Leader of SKDC K Bradford   had been present. Cllrs J Smith and R Sorrel attended. 

- Concerns had been raised with D Cllr V Smith re the Tallington Lakes entrance. There is   inadequate signage and lighting. 

For further details see full report from D Cllr V Smith attached below.

A village resident was recently involved in an accident due to a driver braking suddenly to turn into Tallington Lakes entrance. It was resolved that Tallington PC would write to C Cllr Baxter to reiterate the concerns raised when the original planning application was discussed. Action: Clerk to draft letter.

077/25. Multi-Agency Meetings (AW, EA, NR, LCC, IDB): Cllrs Sagar and J Smith attend all meetings.      

      Latest meeting 12th November, Next meeting 10th December. 

 -    National Grid no updates.

- Network Rail contractor CML did not complete their work in October. Further work planned for November and December.

- Anglia Water managed to clear 16m outside The Gables and installed a new pipe between the two chambers outside The Old Post Office. 37m of pipe were cleared under Mill Lane.

- LCC Highways have apologised that their contractor did not complete the work scheduled for w/c 20th Oct.

- Casewick Lane under road culvert to be replaced by LCC Highways on 24th November.

- EA were unable to install a penstock gate on village side of pipe running to river flap valve. The EA and village Flood Team continue to monitor the situation.

- Errosion of river bank at ‘waterfall’ upstream reinforcement work still pending.

- Full report by Cllr Sagar included in Towers and Spires magazine distributed to residents. 

078/25. Millennium Green: 

- Council will need to purchase 10 trees to replace those that did not survive the Summer. To be planted Sunday 31/11.

- Approx. 3k daffodil bulbs have been planted by volunteer group on MG and a few around planters on Church Lane and the Church gate.

- Full area grass cut done including the wildflower meadow.

- Bank area has been sprayed off. Awaiting strimming and clearance to enable new grass seed to be set.

- General issue of rabbits, moles and badgers.

- Email re Mini-Orchard trees grant to be reviewed by Cllr Knox. However Council felt there was no room for further trees on MG.

079/25. Canal Lock gate: Heron’s Trust have given a donation towards clearing out the overgrowth. Contractor has still to do work. Action: Cllr Sagar to chase.

080/25. Domain & Email changes: 

       - New Domain and Emails set up.

       - Clerk circulated document detailing new email addresses and asked Councillors to let Clerk know when they have accessed new email. Clerk will start using new emails from 1st December.

       - IT policy was discussed and Cllr J Smith raised concerns re monitoring of emails, email retention and training. It was resolved to carry forward to January meeting.

081/25. AOB.

       - Last meeting of year and Cllr J Smith thanked all Councillors and volunteers for their hard work.

       - Madeira Lodge continue to leave their bins on the pavement. SKDC to be approached again.

       - Village issue of electricity fluctuations and outages possibly caused by new transformer in Church Lane field. Residents to continue reporting to power company.

       - Village Hall bookings up. Christmas tree being installed on 10th December for party on 12th.

082/25. Dates of Next TPC Meetings: Wednesday 14th January 2026. 

The meeting closed at 21h00.