March 2026 DRAFT Minutes
Tallington Parish Council
Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 16th March 2026
Present: Chair Cllr P Sagar, Clerk N Smith and 7 members of public.
Minutes
097/25. Opening of Meeting: Cllr Sagar welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that Annual meetings must take place between 1st March and 1st June. The Parish Meeting was moved to March to avoid having 3 meetings on one evening in May.
098/25. To agree and sign Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting held on 28th May 2025:
The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.
099/25. To receive the Annual Report from Chair of the Parish Council:
Cllr Sagar advised that the full report is posted on the Parish Council website and hard copies will be distributed with the Towers & Spires April magazine to all village homes.
Cllr Sagar talked through main points:
- Report & discussion on Flood and drainage repairs carried out to date.
- Anglian Water and other agencies seeking new funding for whole water surface
water system to be replaced or a section at least from Old PO to the Walnuts.
- The defibrillator when checked last month, was missing the pads. Investigation highlighted that the Care Home had used the defibrillator and had kept a record of the access code.
To make use of the defibrillator call 999 for the access code. This will then show a record of use.
- Badger setts at the ‘waterfall’ and road/river bridge have been reported to the Environment Agency.
100/25. To receive a report on Tallington Village Hall and Playing Field Association:
Chair of Association, Richard Allen gave a brief report.
• Village Hall has good use with several exercise and sports sessions.
• Monthly ‘Friendship and Coffee’ mornings are well attended.
• Christmas event was cancelled.
• A Fish and Chip supper is taking place on 27th March.
• Playing Field was enhanced with the installation of 2 combine tyres. All play equipment was repainted by VW volunteers
• Accounts showed a small profit last year, against the usual loss.
• The Association has a £16k reserve.
101/25. To receive a report on Edward Heron Trust:
Louise Thurlby had sent a report.
• outlining the purpose of the Trust is to help people of Tallington. The Charity will consider providing event funds on application to the Chair.
• All 3 Alms-houses are occupied and maintained. Community area in process of being purchased.
• Annual gifts distributed to Tallington Village Hall and Church, and Uffington School.
• Contributions also given for monthly coffee morning and tidy-up of Lock-gate area.
102/25. Neighbourhood Watch: Tallington NW is still registered with the organisation.
A volunteer is needed to run it.
103/25. Parish Plan/Flood Plan: Both plans are on the Tallington Parish Council website.
The Parish Plan was written in 2008/9 and needs updating.
The Flood team has been unable to test the pumps due to a lack of water in the riverside dyke. It is difficult to prime the pumps from the river due to the distance from bank to water.
104/25. Public Forum:
• It has been noticed that there is a certain dog walker who leaves excrement on the river bank rather than depositing it in the 2 Council supplied Dog Bins. Council asked District Councillor V Smith to discuss with appropriate department in SKDC with regards to available enforcement actions. Name and Shame on village WhatsApp suggested.
• Report received from PCC: the Church has seen improved attendance for Evensong and main celebratory services. A new heating system was installed this year. The lighting was also updated. Both through grants received from the UKSPF.
• Concern was raised in regards to the original MG footpath that ran along the towpath of the old canal. A resident is removing the fencing and attempting to incorporate the land into their property. The Council has been trying to get the new footpath in the old canal basin registered as the authorised and mapped route through LCC Countryside Officer. There is a substantial cost for this.
• Concern was raised about the large items of rubbish being left in the dyke running near the Café on the other side of the rail crossing. Owner’s to be approached.
105/25. Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday17th March 2027.
The meeting closed at 20h21 and was followed by the normal Council meeting.