VILLAGE HALL MINUTES - THURSDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2012
Present: Eddie Critchlow (EC), Violet Currie (VC), Steve Thorpe (ST), Barbara King (BK), Barbara Cock (BC), Lorna Budge (LB), Alison Sharpe (AS) & David Hammond (DH).
Apologies: Sharon Thorpe (SHT), Graham Cock (GC) & Bob Smailes (BS) .
Minutes of last meeting: Read and agreed.
Matters arising not covered elsewhere on agenda:
BC mentioned that both her and GC have the same email address but get 2 copies of minutes and agendas. ST said he would try to ensure this does not happen in future.
ST said that SHT had missed 2 meetings, including today’s and wanted to put in her resignation as Secretary and from the committee.
The committee considered how they would operate without a Secretary and would need to look at the constitution.
AS proposed a vote of thanks to SHT for all her hard work and the Committee wholeheartedly supported this.
ST agreed to take the minutes for this meeting.
BS had spoken to Linda at the school and they had now paid up to March 2012. This was a total of £176 at £8 per session.
AS would ensure that Village Hall Booking Agreements were completed by all future users.
The current Key Holders are David Hammond, Bob Smailes, Alison Sharpe, Barbara King, Sharon Thorpe, Barbara Cock and Sylvia McClure.
Correspondence: SHT had received notification of a meeting of village halls to discuss “Hallmark” to be held on 7 February 2012 between 09.30 and 12.30 at Breamish Hall, Powburn.
VC offered to go and ST said that SHT might be interested.
Letter received from NCC about new “Food Hygiene Rating”. EC will deal with. From EC 20-02-12 - I rang NCC about the Food Hygiene Letter that we received today. They will update their database to record that we do not make and supply food to the public. However, because we have a kitchen we may still need to be inspected to ensure that the kitchen meets the minimum required hygiene standards.
Fundraising: VC said that Doxford was a great success and she had received very positive feedback. The net profit was £5,900.
ST proposed a vote of thanks to VC for the way she had taken this on and she was the only one on the committee who could have made it a success. The committee fully supported this. VC thanked the committee for the flowers.
BC said that the total raised from all fundraising events was now £8,354. The ACT Craft Fair raised £250. Sale of calendars raised a profit of £140.
SHT had sent thanks to Anna Coils, Paul Groves and Stuart Robson for donations made.
VC and EC reported that named bricks were popular and we could raise more money this way. The committee agreed to go ahead with this.
VC estimated the price of a named brick as £25 but would get more details. Unnamed bricks stay at £5. All donors would be named on a scroll in the new room. The named bricks would be displayed on the outside of the new room.
EC said that John Coombes had very kindly offered a loan for us to use if necessary if we wanted to start the building work before the £25,000 Barclays Bond matures in August 2012.
ST confirmed that the extension planning application expired 19 July 2013.
Committee discussed future events including Treasure Hunt and Hog Roast at Guyzance Hall on 22 June. ST agreed to email Robert Parker for more details of the event.
VC said that at a music evening at Guyzance Hall she had met Robert Parker (RP) and he had offered the use of his house in the Dordogne for one week. It had been decided not to raffle this at the Doxford event and instead run an auction early in 2012. ST will email for information RP.
The marketing was discussed and it was agreed that the auction run from 1 March to 18 March. Closed bids to BS by telephone. The website will show the current bid. After discussion on 16 Feb it was agreed that the auction would be on 18 Mar at 6pm in the Village hall. Any biddres unable to make it on this date and time could leave their bids with BS.
BK wanted to ensure the Pelican had all the details but the deadline for contributions was 19 February. Final details will be discussed by the committee after the meeting on 16 February.
Copies of the plans for the new back room were required as other potential builders had come forward with offers to price the work. VC will ask the architect if he can provide copies.
Treasurers Report: In the absence of the Treasurer, BC confirmed the Current account showed £1,633, Saver account £13,827 (includes £8,354 from fundraising) and £25,000 on deposit. The profit from the Quiz was £70.
General Maintenance repairs and decoration.
The timer switch for the outside light is broken. AS will deal with.
EC wants more street lights outside the village hall and the committee agreed. EC will take this up through the Parish Council.
The stop cock under the sink in the kitchen is leaking. AS will deal with.
A spring clean of the village hall will take place on the morning of the litter-pick, 24 March.
The committee expressed concern about the heating and that the heater nearest the stage had a problem with the pilot light blowing out with strong westerly winds. The possibility of a baffle plate being fitted to reduce the wind strength was discussed.
The committee were concerned that we could lose bookings if the hall could not be heated to a reasonable temperature. VC wanted gas central heating installed sooner rather than later, particularly as we had the funds for this work. EC will look into “green” heating and funding and discuss with Jeff Watson.
EC noted the unsightly aggregate bags were still on show and would try to get these hidden around the side of the hall shortly.
Changes to the garden will be discussed at the next meeting.
Hall Bookings:
AS said that there was an enquiry about Brownies using the hall.
AS had put the hall on the CAN (Community Action Northumberland) list as a venue for future meetings.
AS wanted to know future WI and church bookings for village hall?
AS agreed to keep the monthly diary on the village hall notice-board up-to-date but if any problems to contact the Secretary.
AS mentioned that the lady who ran the Zumba class had booked the hall on Saturday 18 February for a coffee morning.
AS said the School had booked the hall for 16 February.
User Group Reports:
ACT. The following events have been organised: 17 March, Indian Supper. 5 May Table Top Sale. ACT will also renew/repair/paint all planters and troughs throughout the village.
WI reported that the hall was very cold for the December meeting but that did not deter members.
Sports Club. Numbers had fallen for the over 8 group and not currently paying its way. However a flyer for more members had been sent out.
Bowls. Nothing to report.
Parish Council. They are looking at the state of the planters but will now liaise with ACT.
Church. DH announced the sad news of the death of Revd Janet Brearley. The church is open with a book of remembrance and the funeral is on 14 February at Warkworth.


Next Meeting: 8th March 2012 @ 7pm

Open Meeting to discuss Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Celebrations:
16th February 2012 @ 7pm.