2026 Minutes

TALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 9th September 2026.

Present: Chair Cllr Sagar, Vice Chair Cllr J Smith, Cllr R Sorrel, Clerk N Smith, C Cllr A Baxter and 0 member of public.
Minutes

Public Forum (The Public Forum does not form part of the meeting of the Parish Council)
No points raised.

050/26. Chair’s remarks: Cllr Sagar opened the Council meeting and said that C Cllr A Baxter would be attending later.

051/26. Apologies for Absence and reasons given: Cllr Knox had sent her apology and reason for absence. It was Resolved to accept her apology and reason. Apology also received from D Cllr V Smith. 
 
052/26. To receive any Declaration of Interest and completed forms: None declared. Outstanding completed forms returned. Clerk to forward to SKDC. Action: Clerk

053/26. To agree and sign minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 22nd July 2026: Clerk had corrected minute numbers and added extra details to 048/26 AGAR 2025/26 specifying work done.
It was Resolved to accept the minutes as a true and accurate record, and were signed by the Chair.

054/26. Clerk’s report: 
- Hours worked in July 12.5, Aug 11.0. 
- Webmaster – A further 10 hrs purchased. Webmaster left 26/8. 
Continue to use email as other LALC staff will do work. 
- Emails: Clerk had forward LALC email asking Councils to complete survey re Councillor
Recruitment.
StorageBox offering storage to councils, but not needed.
LCC asking if councils want bag of road salt or any issues with bins. No extra salt needed, cleaner to check bins during rounds.
- Contract: Clerk had reviewed draft contract. To meet with Chair to discuss. Action: Clerk/Chair

055/26. Finance: 

Payments:

It was Resolved to accept payments as presented.

Account Balances as at 9th September 2026

Income: VH&PFA paid £ 252.66 as agreed contribution to VH insurance minus Council donation of £600.00.
 
Budget 26/27: The Clerk had circulated the year-to-date Budget prior to the meeting. The Clerk advised that there was nothing new to comment on or explain.
It was Resolved to accept the figures as an accurate copy of the PC’s Receipts and Payments.
  
Bank Reconciliation: Clerk had completed the new procedure with summary sheet for signature in time for Cllr Knox to use for the latest reconciliation. Next reconciliation handed to Cllr Sorrell for checking.
It was Resolved to accept the checked reconciliation for 1.3.26 to 30.6.26 from Cllr Knox. 

HMRC: further letters and telephone call received from Debt Management team. Clerk explained situation and agreed would be doing further work on this in next few months. Action: Clerk

056/26. Notice Boards Repairs: Boards removed previous Thursday. Clerk had reviewed pin boards as they were in a poor state and agreed for the pin boards to be replaced as part of the refurbishment. It was Resolved that a budget of an extra £200 be set for this work. 
Cllr Sorrell will varnish both Notice Boards once returned. It was Resolved that a budget of £40 be set for the supplies.
A letter had been received by the Chair regarding the Notice Board on Bainton Road, which is sited on the grass verge. The householder is requesting that the Board be moved elsewhere. Discussion concluded that there is no other suitable site. Council will offer to keep bush behind board tidy. Action: Clerk to reply to letter.

057/26. Planning: - S25/2449: Care Home advertising. Application circulated for comments, none received.
- S26/0785: Storage building at Cubic Systems, Barholm Rd. 
Awaiting committee meeting.
         
The weekly Planning List from SKDC is circulated to all Councillors for information.
   
058/26. Reports from District and County Councillors:  
C Cllr A Baxter advised that the Government has decided to delay work on LGR. 
- Planning rules have changed regarding what goes to committee.

D Cllr V Smith:
- Bin collections being affected by staff issues.
- LGR on hold
- new Banking Hub opened in Stamford Arts Centre
- unable to confirm when Lolham Bridge repairs will be completed.
    
For further details see full report from D Cllr V Smith attached below.

059/26. Multi-Agency Meetings (AW, EA, NR, LCC, IDB): Cllrs Sagar and J Smith attend all meetings.      
      Latest meeting 8th September, Next meeting 20th November. 

Cllr Sagar chaired the meeting. New SKDC member, Katie Conway joined meeting.
- LCC notified that the new tarmac on the river bridge has blocked drains and raised the road above the drop kerb of Bridge House.
- 54 Bainton Rd, raised kerb to be re-instated.
- Drainage sumps need cleaning out.
- EA still to do work regarding river bank erosion and badger setts. EA have stated that evidence of badgers using the artificial sett is causing delays regarding site access.
- NR now has a plan for work needed at crossing.
- A meeting with the Cement Works manager re rubbish still to be scheduled.

Further details can be read in the report included in the Tower & Spires magazine.

060/26. Millennium Green: 
- Wildflower area will be cut in October. Action: Cllr J Smith to liaise with contractor.
- Dead trees. Review in new year & look to replace in Autumn 2027. Approx cost £30 per tree. 
- Ash tree on path needs attention. Action: Cllr Sagar to suggest to householder that they address.
- Rabbits. Cllr J Smith to get quotes. It was Resolved to set a budget of £300 for the work.
- Replacement padlocks for bollards purchased. Invoice to Clerk. Action: Cllr Sagar

061/26. Canal Lock gate: 
- Query as to whether further clearance work required.

062/26. Domain & Email changes: 
- All completed GDPR forms returned.
- It was Resolved to pay £69.99 for Domain renewal.

063/26. To resolve to adopt Health & Safety Policy: 
The Clerk had circulated the policy before the meeting. It was Resolved to adopt the policy and Clerk to publish on website.  Action: Clerk

064/26. AGAR 2025/26: 
External Auditor queries:
- Need explanation for boxes with ‘N’ on IA report – Clerk had not sent IA Year-End report, submitted.
- IA Report Box N not filled in – IA corrected report and re-submitted. 
- Staff Cost variances not fully explained – Clerk updated details with calculations to explain differences and re-submitted.
- Accounting Statement restated as ER NIC in wrong box and re-submitted.

External Auditor happy with updated information. Await official report and certificate.

AGAR Accounting Statement for 2024/25 corrections initialled by Chair and Clerk.  

Clerk had a further discussion with IA on Checklist:
- Ensure financial items are in minutes correctly with purchase and payment figures Resolved.
- Financial correspondence to Clerk.
- Review ICO Publication Scheme to ensure items in correct place.
- Contract needs to include 2 Cllrs as Line Manager.

AGAR 2026/27 – same IA as we have a 2-year contract.
- AGAR will be submitted online. Training available through LALC on 19th Nov. It was Resolved that budget for training up to £40.

065/26. AOB:
- PCC would like to advertise church services on Church Lane planters
- Flood pumps to be checked and run.
- Playing Field broken bench and table removed. All Hedges and trees cut and pruned.
- VH&PFA made a loss in last financial year.

066/26. Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday 13th January 2027
Clerk queried whether it is necessary to have bi-monthly meetings. Suggestion that November meeting be cancelled. Discussed further after meeting and agreed. Additional meetings can be called as required.
Agreed dates for 2027:  17th March & Annual Parish Meeting
20th May Annual Parish Council Meeting (2 weeks after Elections)
8th September

Meeting finished at 21h05.