Northumbria in Bloom 2019

This year has seen Stanley Town Council’s first entry in the Northumbria in Bloom competition in the large town category. As we shared earlier, some of the groups and organisations we worked with this year received their own recognition in Northumbria in Bloom as well as being a part of the town’s overall submission.

St Josephs School in Stanley received a GOLD award in the Schools category; the Just for Women Centre has received a SILVER award in the Special Awards category and PACT House Stanley has received a BRONZE in the Commercial Premises category! Copper Beech community garden in White le Head received a SILVER award and the Town was awarded an overall SILVER.

There were also special mentions for the Haven, Catchgate Partnership and Annfield Plain Infants school in the “It’s your neighbourhood” category

These are fantastic results Congratulations to all our partners who worked with us to deliver our In Bloom entry this year and brighten up the town.

This is a great achievement for our first entry and the fact that so many of our partners also received separate recognition is a great thing for our communities.

Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2018/19 Accounts

In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Council is required to publish a n notice informing electors that the final audited accounts for the year 2018/19 have been published and how they can be inspected if required by the public.

The Notice of Conclusion of Audit can be accessed HERE

The Annual Governance & Accounting Statement can be accessed HERE

Celebrating Tanfield’s Railway Heritage

Stanley Town Council, working in conjunction with the Tanfield Railway and Midland Railway Society recently unveiled a heritage plaque in celebration of local man, the son of a pitman from Clough Dene who went on to become a pioneer in the development of the Victorian railway, the first Locomotive Superintendent of the Midland Railway,  founder of the massive Derby works and designer of steam locomotives some of which survived in service for 80 years, through both world wars to the end of steam.
Matthew Kirtley was born in February 1813 in Clough Dene, Tanfield. It is perhaps no coincidence given that Tanfield was a pioneering place in the development of the railway that Kirtley joined the Stockton & Darlington Railway as an apprentice aged 13 in 1826 and would have worked under either the Stephensons or Timothy Hackworth. In any case, it is likely he was present as a 16 year old at the now legendary Rainhill trials, won by Stephenson’s Rocket (but at which Hackworth also sold his locomotive, Sans Pareil). Indeed he was soon on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway working as a fireman. Kirtley’s career was closely linked to the Stephensons and it was under their patronage that he rose through the ranks.
Kirtley’s career progressed – he became an engine driver and by 1836 he was employed by the London & Birmingham railway looking after locomotives and static engines at Camden shed. An urban myth has persisted for many years that it was he who drove the first train into the new terminus of the railway,  Euston station – he may well have driven works trains into Euston before it was opened but it is highly unlikely he would have taken the controls of the first public train into the station.
By 1842 Kirtley had risen to the position of Locomotive Superintendent at the Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway. Two years later, when the Midland Counties, North Midland and Birmingham & Derby Junction merged to form the Midland, Kirtley only 33 years of age and the Superintendent of the smallest of the three companies was appointed Locomotive and Carriage Superintendent for the new railway.
Kirtley had to oversee the standardisation of a vehicle fleet which contained a myriad of different locomotive designs from different makers. This trend continued as the Midland expanded rapidly, absorbing company after company. Kirtley needed to consolidate the repair maintenance and manufacturing capability of the railway. By 1851 Derby could build its own locomotives.
Matthew Kirtley died on May 24th 1873 at his home in Derby aged 60. His funeral was attended by all the management and foremen of the company and some 800 workers, such was his popularity after 30 years with the company.
The plaque was unveiled by Town Mayor Cllr Carole Hampson in a ceremony attended by Don Asher of the Midland Railway Society, representatives of the Tanfield Railway, local residents and Town Councillors for the Tanfield ward who put the request for recognition of Mr Kirtley forward.
A more detailed biography of Matthew Kirtley by Don Asher of the Midland Railway Society can be found HERE

Period for the Exercise of Public Rights Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2019

Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)

 

Stanley Town Council’s Annual Return needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd. Any person interested has the right to inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts and other documents relating to those records or documents.

 

These documents for Stanley Town Council are to be made available on reasonable notice by application between the hours of 9.30am and 4.00pm on Mondays to Fridays (excluding public holidays) commencing on Wednesday 12 June 2019 and ending on Tuesday 23 July 2019.

If you wish to view them then please contact Stanley Town Council’s representative:

Mr A Shaw, Town Clerk

Civic Hall

Front St, Stanley

Co Durham, DL9 0NA

Tel: (01207) 299109

Local Electors and their representatives have rights to question the auditor about the accounts and object to the accounts or any item in them. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the Town Council.   The auditor can be contacted at the address below for this purpose during the inspection period which commences on 12 June 2019 and ends on 23 July 2019

The Council’s annual return is subject to review by the appointed auditor under the provisions of the local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the NAO’s Code of Audit Practice.

The appointed auditor of Stanley Town Council is: Mazars, Salvus house, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5TS Tel: (0191)  383 6348

This announcement is made by Alan Shaw, Town Clerk 10th June 2019

Copy of Annual return is linked below:

Governance & Accounting Statements 2018/19

Annual Council Meeting 28th May 2019 – Papers Uploaded

The Annual Meeting of Council will be held next Tuesday, 28th May 2019, at 6.30 pm in the Civic Hall.

The Annual Meeting will see a new Town Mayor elected and will perform important functions in reviewing the Council’s governance documents, determining Committee membership and approving the Council’s annual accounts.

‘AGM Agenda 2019

AGM 2019 Reports

Prior to the AGM, at 6pm there will be a meeting of the Planning Committee to enable the Council to take a view on a proposed development of 260 dwellings between Beamish Rise and No Place.

Planning Agenda 28-05-19

Stanley Funding Panel – Expressions of Interest

The Town Council has recently announced that the new Stanley Community Fund is now open for applications. The County Durham Community Fund which is administering the fund will oversee an independent funding panel comprised of local people to review applications for funding and make the grant awards.

Applications are now sought from local residents of the Stanley Town Council area who wish to contribute to the area by participating in the funding panel.

The panel will meet locally 3 or 4 times a year to assess applications to the fund, to assess them against relevant criteria and prioritise and agree which projects are funded. Panel members will also participate in monitoring outcomes of the funded projects.

APPLY TO JOIN THE PANEL

 

Stanley Community Fund Open for applications

The Town Council took the decision to use its grant funding budget to establish a community fund in partnership with other local funders 1n 2019. The partners include the Stanley Area Action Partnership, Police & Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg and local MP Kevan Jones. 

Applications for funding from the Stanley Community Fund can be between £2,000 and £10,000. A total of £120,000 in funding will be awarded in 2019/20.

Applications will be assessed in a rolling 3 month application window, with the first awards due to be made in June 2019.

The fund is open for applications NOW. For more information and to apply, please visit the County Durham Community Foundation’s webpage HERE

The Town Council’s own Strategic Fund is also open for applications for small grants of between £250 – £2000. Find out how to apply on our grants page

Stanley Strategic Fund open for Applications!

The Town Council’s new strategic grants fund has been established to provide small cash grants to local community groups, sports clubs and organisations to help them cover their running costs or deliver specific projects. The first application window will open on the 1st April and is open to all relevant groups in the Stanley parish area. For full details and to get an application form, check our Grants page.

Play in the Park Dates Summer 2019

We are pleased to announce the dates and locations for this year’s summer Play in the Park Events, which can be found on our Play in the Park page HERE

Now in our fourth year, the popular free events have become a firm family favourite in Stanley. This year we are bringing an even more diverse mix of activities to the events – the full programmes will be announced closer to the day. For now, just get the dates in your diary!

Announcing Blooming Good Fun 2019!

The Town Council are announcing the return of the ‘Blooming Good Fun’ competition for 2019, this time to support our application for an award in the Northumbria in Bloom competition.

We are hoping to encourage gardeners from right across our Parish to make a special effort to brighten up their surroundings – and everybody else’s by bringing colour and floral displays to Stanley.

Entry is FREE and there are CASH PRIZES to be one.  There are awards for the best garden, tubs, window boxes, back yard, open space or communal space and  businees so it’s open to everybody.

To get an entry form, see our Blooming Good Fun page