ACT MINUTES - 17th January 2008
ACKLINGTON COMMUNITY TEAM
MINUTES OF A TEAM MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 17TH JANUARY 2008

Present: June Davison (JuD); John Davison (JoD); Bob Smailes (BS); Louise Hall (LH); Jeff Watson (JW); Alison Sharpe (AS); Violet Currie (VC); Sharon Thorpe (ST); Lorna Budge (LB); Barbara King (BK)
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The meeting continued straight after the AGM where the previous minutes had been read. The following matters arose:-
• LH asked JoD how the VOYAGE meetings were progressing. JoD replied that several meetings had been held and the application had been sent to reach Calor by the deadline of 30 November 2007. Future meetings were planned starting on 19 Jan 08. He also advised that the judging would be sometime between 14 and 27 April 2008.
• LH asked BK how the Community Leaflet was coming along. BK read out what she had prepared and said that there was a still a lot of work to do yet but any suggestions/criticisms would be gratefully accepted. She went on to say that a lot of the history and other general information had been gleaned from a previous Acklington booklet, which although now out of date, was a great help. This had been prepared by JoD many years ago! Mention was made to add District Councillors, Morwick Ice Cream Parlour, nearest re-cycling facilities, Curator is now Margaret Hoborough, include Guyzance area and website. BK said that the community leaflet was one of the objectives of the VOYAGE team and this would be gone through in further detail during their meetings.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS. The following programme was agreed but further events could be added as necessary:

Squirrel Coffee Morning SATURDAY MARCH 8TH Proposed by VC who has an extremely keen interest in the protection of the local red squirrel. It is hoped that this event could be held in Acklington Village Hall between 10am and 12 noon and be an informal get together open to anyone and would be a fun event to highlight the importance of the protection of the red squirrel. JW said that John Hoborough (one of the local district councillors) was also well into this preservation and maybe VC could contact him to see if they could join forces to make this a really spectacular event.
The Village Hall has been booked

Village Spring Clean SATURDAY APRIL 5TH Proposed at a previous meeting by LB who felt it would be an ideal time to tidy the Parish before the arrival of the National Village of the Year judges. Agreed. JW agreed to speak with the District Council and BK said she would ask AS to use her usual contacts to obtain protective clothing and bags. Timings to be set at the next team meeting.
AS has agreed to obtain protective clothing and bags.
The Village Hall has also been booked

Spring Open Gardens Day SUNDAY APRIL 13TH Previously proposed by BK for July but held over until this year. As the first one had been such a success it was agreed to try for a Spring Open Gardens day between 1pm and 4pm. BK said she would do as much as she could of the preparation work and advertising.
Publicity in the February Pelican and copied to JoD
Village Hall booked

May Day Table Top Sale SATURDAY MAY 3RD OR MONDAY MAY 5TH An extremely popular annual event held by ACT to raise monies for future events for the community. This year a booking has been made by Charles Evans for Saturday May 3rd. BS said he would speak with Charles, as he knows that some of his booked dates were being cancelled, and ask if it would be possible to change his dates of 3 & 4 May to another weekend. BS will let BK know as soon as possible. As an alternative the sale could be held on Monday 5th. This would be a morning event (10am to 12 noon). Table prices, admission fee, refreshments, raffle, etc. to be discussed at the next meeting. BK said she would liaise with AS regarding stall holders.
Village Hall booked for Mon 5 May 2008.
The village hall has also been booked for Saturday 2nd May 2009!!!
AS and BK to work together regarding stall holders
JW has advised that Sue Champion will be unable to set her plant stall up this year due to ill health but may be able to donate a tray of plants.

Quiz Night SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH Another annual event usually held twice a year but the Village Hall committee have expressed a wish to hold a quiz night so ACT will only be holding one this year. To be discussed in further detail nearer the time.
Village Hall booked

Ceilidh OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER VC will speak to Robert Whitehead so see if he would be available and what his charge would be.

History Talk NOVEMBER To be discussed at a future meeting

Pantomime SATURDAY DECEMBER 13TH A year could not go by without the ever popular pantomime.
Booked and confirmed by e-mail with the Bruvvers for 13 Dec 08 from 7.30pm
Village hall booked

Combined Fete with ACT and School JoD to approach Headteacher with views and possible dates and ideas.


ANY OTHER BUSINESS
• BK advised the meeting of an article in the Northumberland Gazette on 27 December 2007 stating that ‘Leonard Welch (resident) had won a commendation from the annual Alnwick District Councils Chairman Awards for his fund-raising activities and many hours keeping the village tidy’. All members were pleased to hear that his community spirit was being rewarded.
• JW advised that the Alnwick Council Offices had been looking for a new home for a large decorative concrete flower urn that was one of two which used to sit outside the Council offices. He had already said yes and thought of placing it at the East entrance to the village. VC suggested that maybe it could be situated outside the village hall where the current waste bins are sited. The waste bins could be moved around the corner and a small trellis built to make a small, but decorative, compound. JW said he needed to know for definite by the end of the month. VC said she would take it up with the village hall at there next meeting in a couple of days time. JoD also said that large wooden flower troughs could be sited at both ends of the village and the Parish Council would assist with costs. JW said he would get this cleared by the District Council. VC then said it would be nice if the one at the East end could be sited between the poles of the current Acklington sign and she had already broached Michael Gray about making an appropriate sign featuring Acklington as Northumbria Village of the Year costing from £50. It was agreed to discuss this aspect at the next VOYAGE meeting.
• JoD handed around a copy of a North Northumberland Leader Gold Small Grants Scheme showing that he had applied for, and been granted, a loan (with contributions from prize money from Northumberland Village of the Year and Acklington Parish Council), totalling £2,675.00, to set up an Acklington Parish website. The grant would cover complete setting up of the website, training for ACT members, publicity/marketing/administration and future maintenance costs. No-one had known that JoD had done this and he was heartily congratulated by all present.
• VC mentioned that she had enquired about the cost of signs (about £85 each) warning road users about red squirrels in the area. She said that some money had been donated by residents and others and ACT agreed to contribute upto £50 if needed.
• VC advised the meeting that she had spoken to Rory Wilson regarding obtaining land at the side of the village hall for a community garden. This is a village hall commitment but VC was keeping everyone upto date with progress.

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on TUESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2008 AT 7PM IN ACKLINGTON VILLAGE HALL