ACT MINUTES - 9th May 2007
ACKLINGTON COMMUNITY TEAM
MINUTES OF MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 9TH MAY 2007

Present: Lorna Budge(LB); Sharon Thorpe (ST); Mark Shone (MS); Louise Hall(LH); Violet Currie(VC); David Currie(DC); John Davison(JoD); June Davison (JuD); Isobel Lillie(IL); Barbara King(BK);

Apologies: Bob Smailes (BS); June Smailes (JS); Jeff Watson (E-mail sent offering apologies due to an ADC meeting. However, Jeff does say the following “Please let people know that I am really sorry and also please tell them I will try to work for Acklington even more than before as Sue is gone and my new colleague on ADC lives in Warkworth”).
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The meeting was opened at 7.00pm by Louise Hall who welcomed all those present.

The minutes of the last Meeting held on Tuesday 3rd April 2007 were read and recorded as an accurate account. The following matters arose:-
• VC hadn’t had the opportunity to speak with the Duchess High School regarding potential booking for a Ceilidh or to Vera Vaggs for a history talk due to being on holiday but will now have the time to get onto it.
• JoD telephoned Enid Carr to say that, unfortunately, ACT was not able to accept her very generous donation of 6 Oak trees.
• JoD said that the entry for the Village of the Year competition, being run by Community Action Northumberland, was ‘in hand’.
• The flower tubs, donated by Acklington Parish Council, had now been distributed around the village. VC has donated the bedding plants.

Treasurer's Report – LH thanked VC for taking over the role of treasurer. A report was distributed to all those present. The May Table Top Sale had been a huge success with just under Ł500 being raised. VC had already spoken to ST and she now proposed that the 50% for ACT should be donated to the Village Hall as, having recently lost a funding grant, they were desperate for funds to improve the hall. Everyone present agreed. BK has rung the Village Hall secretary and treasurer, who were delighted at the very kind gesture. VC said that she had been able to purchase good quality paper hand towels from Heighley Gate at a very reasonable price. The team agreed that this could be continued.

Sports Club Report – LB informed us that the sports club finished at the end of April but they had managed to have cricket, a bouncy castle and disco organised before the end of the season. The sports club will reopen in September.

Open Gardens – The ACT Open Gardens was planned for the whole of Acklington Parish, which involves Acklington and Guyzance. JoD mentioned that Sue Champion had advertised, in The Pelican magazine, an Open Gardens event for June with proceeds going to North Northumberland Hospice. Those present felt that if Sue had contacted ACT this could have been a joint venture with half the proceeds going to the Hospice. LH offered to speak to Sue.
In light of the above, it was felt that with Guyzance, Warkworth and ACT holding their Open Gardens all round the same time that this would be too much. A proposal was made to changing our date. After discussion it was decided that September could be the best time and BK said she would contact those who had already offered to open their gardens asking which month they would prefer. One didn’t mind; two preferred September and two preferred July but were willing to open in September . BK contacted LH and a decision was made to move the open gardens to September. BK contacted all team members and cancelled the hall booking for Monday 14th May.

Any Other Business – LH suggested that a ‘Calendar of Events could be made and put onto the door of the village hall. This way, the whole community would know what was happening. LH agreed to contact the village hall clerk and regular users with a view to asking them for details of their planned events. MS agreed to draw up this calendar.
JoD said he had been approached by Nicola Brennan (Head teacher Acklington First School) regarding use of the school for community events i.e. IT, out of school hours. The team felt that this was an excellent idea but that Nicola Brennan should advertise the school rather than ACT, although we would spread the word.

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on Monday 3rd July 2007 at 7pm in the Village Hall. (Village Hall booked).
There being no further business Louise thanked every one for attending and closed the meeting 8.15pm.