Blakelaw & North Fenham Community Council
Making A Difference In Your Community Today
About Us
Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council is based within Newcastle City Council's Blakelaw Ward. The Community Council is split in to 3 Wards within the Parish boundary, Blakelaw, Cragston and North Fenham.Parish Boundary Map
BLAKELAW ward map.pdf
Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council is a local community council serving the people of Blakelaw and North Fenham.
Community Councils (also known as Parish Councils) are the first tier of local government and are statutory bodies. They serve electorates and are independently elected and raise their own precept (a form of council tax). Residents will know they live within the Community Council area as they will pay this additional precept charge. Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council are 1 of 10,000 local councils in England with over 30% of the country parished with 100,000 councillors serving in these local councils. Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have 12 seats on the Council with 6 of those seats currently being filled leaving 6 vacancies spread across all 3 Wards. The role of Community Councillor is not a paid role and those elected put themselves forward as volunteers.
Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council works hard to improve community well-being and providing better services. Our activities fall into three main categories: representing the local community; delivering services to meet local needs; striving to improve quality of life and community well-being.
Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council support community groups, campaign for community safety and crime reduction measures, hold their own community events, litter bins, street cleaning and youth projects amongst a number of other support community initiatives.
Your Community Councillors
James Gill (Jimmy)
Vice Chair
Blakelaw Ward Contact No. 07986 131 306 Email. jimmygill.bnfcc@gmail.com
Ann Keenan
Community Councillor
Blakelaw Ward Contact No. 07817 272 982 Email. annkeenan1952@gmail.com
Maureen Kelly
Community Councillor
Cragston Ward Contact no. 07375019288 Email: maureen.kellybnfcc@gmail.com
Vacancy
Community Councillor
Cragston Ward
Vacancy
Community Councillor
Cragston Ward
Vacancy
Community Councillor
North Fenham Ward
Vacancy
Community Councillor
North Fenham Ward
Vacancy
Community Councillor
North Fenham Ward
Helen Richardson
Clerk to the Community Council
your community council needs you - community councillor vacancies
Agenda's and minutes
FOR ALL MEETINGS OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL INCLUDING DROP INS AND SUB GROUPS, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAIR OR CLERK TO THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THE VENUE
Community Council Meetings
Meetings are held on the second Monday, bi-monthly, (except August and December), in the Community Room, Moorland House, Moulton Place, Blakelaw, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3RY - please check the website for times as they do vary. You are advised to check the location on each agenda. Please see the below for the agendas and minutes of each meeting.
Members of the public are welcome to attend and raise any issues before the commencement of the formal business. If you wish to speak during the formal business session, please indicate this to the Chair by raising your hand. The Chair will conduct the order of speakers and will indicate who will speak next.
Standards and Codes
The Standards (Parish/Community Councils) Sub Committee, oversees the operation of the codes of conduct by providing guidance assistance and training. See the Code of Conduct
Statement Of Internal Control 2025 - 2026.docx
2025/2026 - Agenda's and Minutes
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
| 10 April 2025 - CANCELLED NOT QUORATE | Agenda 10.04.25.pdf | |
| 08 May 2025 | AGM Agenda 08.05.25.pdf | |
| 23 June 2025 - Special Meeting | Agenda 23.06.25.pdf | |
| 14 July 2025 | Agenda 14.07.25.pdf | |
| 08 September 2025 | ||
| 10 November 2025 | ||
| 12 January 2026 | ||
| 09 February 2026 | ||
2024/2025 - Agenda's and Minutes
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
| 11 April 2024 | Agenda 11.04.24.pdf | Minutes 11.04.24.pdf |
| 09 May 2024 (AGM) | AGM Agenda 09.05.24.pdf | |
| 13 June 2024 | Agenda 13.06.24.pdf | Minutes 13.06.24.doc.pdf |
| 17 July 2024 - CANCELLED | No Agenda | No Minutes |
| August 2024 | No Meeting | No Minutes |
| 12 September 2024 | Agenda 12.09.24.pdf | Minutes 12.09.24.pdf |
| 03 October 2024 | Agenda 03.10.24.pdf | Minutes 03.10.24.pdf |
| 14 November 2024 | Agenda 14.11.24.pdf | Minutes 14.11.24.pdf |
| December 2024 | No Meeting | No Minutes |
| 16 January 2025 | Agenda 16.01.25.pdf | Minutes 16.01.25.pdf |
| 13 February 2025 | Agenda 13.02.25.pdf | DRAFT Minutes 13.02.25.pdf - TO BE APPROVED |
| 13 March 2025 - CANCELLED NOT QUORATE | Agenda 13.03.25.pdf | No Minutes |
2023/2024 - Agenda's and Minutes
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
| 13 April 2023 | Agenda 13.04.2023.doc | Rearranged to 20 April 2023 |
| 20 April 2023 | Agenda 20.04.2023.doc | Minutes 20.04.2023.doc |
| 11 May 2023 - AGM | AGM Agenda 11.05.2023.doc | Minutes 11.05.2023 - AGM.doc |
| 08 June 2023 | No meeting | No Minutes |
| Special Meeting 20 June 2023 | Extra-ordinary Meeting 20.06.2023.doc | Minutes 20.06.2023 (extra-ordinary meeting).doc |
| 13 July 2023 | Agenda 13.07.2023.doc | Minutes 13.07.2023.doc |
| 10 August 2023 | No meeting | No minutes |
| 14 September 2023 | Agenda 14.09.2023.doc | Cancelled to be rearranged |
| 21 September 2023 (Special (closed) Meeting | Special (closed) Agenda 21.09.2023.doc | Minutes 21.09.2023.doc |
| 12 October 2023 | Agenda 12.10.2023.doc | Minutes 12.10.23.doc |
| 09 November 2023 | Agenda 09.11.2023.doc | Minutes 09.11.23.doc |
| 14 December 2023 | No meeting | No Minutes |
| 11 January 2024 | Agenda 11.01.24.doc | Minutes 11.01.24.doc |
| 08 February 2024 | Agenda 08.02.24.doc | Minutes 08.02.24.doc |
| 19 March 2024 | Agenda 19.03.24.doc | Minutes 19.03.24.doc |
2022/2023 - Agenda's and Minutes
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
| 14 April 2022 (Cancelled) | Agenda 14.04.2022.doc | Meeting cancelled and rearranged to 28/04/2022 |
| 28 April 2022 (rearranged) | Agenda 28.04.2022(rearranged).doc | Minutes 28.04.2022.doc |
| 12 May 2022 (AGM) | AGM Agenda 12.05.2022.doc | Minutes 12.05.2022.doc |
| 09 June 2022 | Agenda 09.06.2022.doc | Minutes 09.06.2022.doc |
| 14 July 2022 | Agenda 14.07.2022.doc | Minutes 14.07.2022.doc |
| August 2022 | No Meeting | No Minutes |
| 08 September 2022 (postponed due to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) | Agenda 08.09.2022.doc | Minutes 08.09.2022.doc |
| 13 October 2022 | Agenda 13.10.2022.doc | Minutes 13.10.2022.doc |
| 17 November 2022 | Agenda 17.11.2022.doc | Minutes 17.11.2022.doc |
| December 2022 | No Meeting | No Minutes |
| 12 January 2023 | Agenda 12.01.2023.doc | Minutes 12.01.2023.doc |
| 09 February 2023 | Agenda 09.02.2023.doc | Minutes 09.02.2023.doc |
| 09 March 2023 | Agenda 09.03.2023.doc | Meeting cancelled and rearranged to 16/03/2023 |
| 16 March 2023 | Agenda 16.03.2023.doc | Meeting Cancelled |
Annual Governance & Accountability Return
Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR)
Each year Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council are required to complete and submit to its External Auditor, an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR). Once the return has been approved by the External Auditor, it is published on the Council’s website.
2024 - 2025
Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2024 - 2025
Notice of Conclusion of Audit
Internal Auditor Report 2024 - 2025
Public Right of Inspection Notice
Unaudited AGAR 2024 - 2025
Asset Register & Risk Assessment
Asset Register 2024 - 2025.pdf
Risk assessment 2024 - 2025.pdf
2023 - 2024
Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2023 - 2024
Blakelaw & North Fenham Community Council - audited AGAR 2023-24.pdf
Notice of Conclusion of Audit
Internal Auditor Report 2023 - 2024
Public Right of Inspection Notice
Unaudited AGAR 2023 - 2024
Asset Register & Risk Assessment
Asset Register 2023 - 2024.xlsx
Risk assessment 2023 - 2024.docx
2022 - 2023
Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2022 - 2023
Blakelaw & North Fenham Community Council - Audited AGAR 2022-23[8463].pdf
Notice of Conclusion of Audit
Internal Auditor Report 2022 - 2023
Final Internal Audit Report (G Fletcher).pdf
Public Right of Inspection Notice
Unaudited AGAR 2022 - 2023
Signed Unaudited AGAR 2022-23.pdf
Bank Reconciliation 2022-23 (1).xlsx
Explanation-of-Variances-2022 - 23.xls
Asset Register & Risk Assessment
Asset Register 2022 - 2023.xlsx
Risk assessment 2022 - 2023.docx
2021 - 2022
Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2021 - 2022
Notice of Conclusion of Audit
Notice of conclusion of audit.docx
Public Right of Inspection Notice
Public-rights notice 2021-22.docx
Unaudited AGAR 2021 - 2022
Asset Register & Risk Assessment
Asset Register 2021 - 2022.xlsx
Risk assessment 2021 - 2022.docx
2020 - 2021
Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2020 - 2021
Notice of Conclusion of Audit
Notice of conclusion of audit_2021[1786].docx
Public Right of Inspection Notice
Public Right of Inspection (14.06.2021 - 23.07.2021).docx
AGAR 2020 - 2021(amended)
Amended Part 3 AGAR 30.08.21(Initialled)[5771].pdf
Annual-Return-Part3-2020-21-3-e-enabled.pdf
Asset Register & Risk Assessment 2020 - 2021
Asset Register 2020 - 2021.xlsx
Risk assessment 2020-2021.docx
2019 - 2020
Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2019 - 2020
Section 1&2 AGAR (Signed Off).pdf
Section 3 AGAR (Signed Off).pdf
Notice of Conclusion of Audit
Notice of conclusion of audit_2020[1786].docx
Public Right of Inspection Notice
Public Right of Inspection (01.09.2020-12.10.2020).docx
AGAR 2019 - 2020
Asset Register & Risk Assessment 2019 - 2020
2018 - 2019
AGAR 2018 - 2019 - if you require a copy, please contact the Clerk to the Community Council
Accounts 2018 - 2019
Copy of B&NFCC 18-19 accounts.xlsx
Asset Register & Risk Assessment 2018 - 2019
2017 - 2018
AGAR 2017 - 2018 - if you require a copy, please contact the Clerk to the Community Council
Accounts Certificate March 2018.pdf
Accounts 2017 - 2018
Copy of B&NFCC 17-18 accounts.xlsx
Asset Register & Risk Assessment 2017 - 2018
2016 - 2017
AGAR 2016 - 2017 - if you require a copy, please contact the Clerk to the Community Council
Accounts 2016 - 2017
Copy of B&NFCC 16-17 accounts.xlsx
Asset Register & Risk Assessment 2016 - 2017
2015 - 2016
AGAR 2015 - 2016 - if you require a copy, please contact the Clerk to the Community Council
Copy of B&NFCC 15-16 accounts (1385).xlsx
Asset Register & Risk Assessment 2015 - 2016
Grant Funding
Blakelaw & North Fenham Community Council aims to improve the social and economic welfare of the residents of the Parish. It is essential that any organisation requesting financial assistance will be expected to support the aims of the Council and that its activities address at least one of the following objectives:-
- To enhance community cohesion
- To develop social inclusion
- To alleviate deprivation
Applications must be from a community based organisation. The Council will not consider applications from individuals, projects that are political or religious projects that do not demonstrate social or economic benefits.
You can apply for a grant funding by completing the below grant funding application(click on the link), don't forget to read the guidance notes thoroughly and ensure you have ALL relevant documents requested before you submit your application. The maximum amount that can be applied for by each organisation is £500.00.
Grant Application June 2020.docx
Grant application guidance notes June 2020.doc
Grant Monitoring Form June 2020.doc
In 2025 - 2026 Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have provided financial support to:
Tyne & Wear Veterans (African Community Football Tournament)
In 2024 - 2025 Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have provided financial support to:
Blakelaw Juniors Football Club
Blakelaw Flats TARA
Hilton Primary School
Thomas Walling Primary School
In 2023 - 2024 Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have provided financial support to:
Blakelaw Juniors Football Club
Blakelaw Flats TARA
Hilton Primary School
Thomas Walling Primary School
Tuesday Trailblazers Community Group
In 2022 - 2023 Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have provided financial support to:
Blakelaw Club Juniors Football Club
SEARCH
Blakelaw Flats TARA
Blakelaw & North Fenham Community Council have also donated garden seating to an area within North Fenham
Red Sky Foundation (Defibrillator)
Blakelaw & North Fenham Community Council donated Christmas Trees to Hilton Primary Academy and Thomas Walling Primary Academy
In 2021 - 2022 Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have provided financial support to:
Holly Court
Blakelaw Flats TARA
Blakelaw Club Juniors Football Club
Hilton Primary School
Thomas Walling Primary School
Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council also donated a laptop to an apprentice via Projects4Change
In 2020 - 2021 Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have provided financial support to:
Projects4change - Youth Work
Blakelaw Club Juniors Football
In 2019/20 Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have provided financial support to:
Blakelaw Pensioners Association
Newcastle West Kinship Carers
Blakelaw Flats Tenants and Residents Association
Holly Court Club
165 Tenants and Residents Association
Fostering in Newcastle
Jelly Tots Messy Play
Little Learners Nursery - Blakelaw
Newcastle United Foundation
Community and City News - updated 04/04/2025
SEARCH - JULY 25 ACTIVITIES
A4-FLYER-NEWCASTLE-PLAN-FEEDBACK.pdf
Leisure United - Updates
Energy Affordability Helpline
- Problems with your energy supplier?
- Worried about fuel bills?
- Need an emergency fuel voucher support?
- Want to save money?
- Need help to get on the Priority Services Register, to pay your bills or save energy?
Citizens Advice Newcastle (CAN) give free, confidential and independent home energy advice to people who live, work or study in Newcastle. You can speak to an advisor by phone, webchat or email. For urgent matters you can drop in for advice (subject to availability) from Monday to Friday, 10am to 12pm.
Telephone: 0800 448 0721
Email: citycab@newcastlecab.org.uk
Read more on InformationNOW about energy saving tips
Community Transport Lets Chat Hubs
Community Transport are applying for funding to set up three Let’s Chat Hubs for disabled people who experience loneliness and isolation in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside/South Northumberland. The Hubs are intended to provide a safe, welcoming place for people to drop in and simply be with others, socialise, enjoy mutual interests and make new friends. The project aims to:
- Use existing community or local resources for a hub that is warm, inviting, accessible all day and friendly.
- Provide a co-ordinator to manage the hub, co-ordinate activities and signpost to other services
- Recruit local volunteers to help welcome people to the hub, provide refreshments and simply talk with others.
- Provide accessible transport for those who cannot access the Hubs by other means.
Community Transport want to gather the views of local organisations and stakeholders on the proposed funded project including where it is most needed, what community resources are available and how best they can work together with other organisations.
You can give your views using their short survey found here
Read more on InformationNOW about Community transport or minibus services
New Dementia Care Group
New Dementia Group starting next Monday 26th February 2024
This will be a monthly meeting running the last Monday of every month, it will be a lovely session offering refreshments, activities and music and is completely free.
It is open to anyone living with Dementia, carers and family members.
Could you please to any contacts you think would be interested in this.
If anyone expresses interest please ask them to contact the centre on 0191 261 6027 to confirm attendance
Dementia group Final poster.pdf
The Newcastle Pantry is coming soon! We are a small social supermarket set up to help people on a low income save money on food shopping bills. We are part of the Newcastle West End Foodbank charity, but we have a separate brand and identity. Unlike a foodbank our members pay a subscription of £5 when they visit one of our pop-up pantries. In return they can choose a minimum of 10 items from a choice of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy items, tinned items plus other essential household items. Our pantry will accept Healthy Start vouchers allowing eligible households to pay for half of their membership (£2.50) this way. The remainder of their membership needs to be paid in the usual way.
Our first pop-up pantry will be launching at Blakelaw Community Centre in April. To help us celebrate and meet members of the community we’ve arranged a coffee morning on Tuesday 21 March between 10am and 21 noon. If you live in Blakelaw why not come and say hello, see how our pantry will look and find out how you can save money on your shopping.
If you support people living in Blakelaw who could benefit from the pantry please could you help us to promote this offer? I’ve attached a poster and some information on frequently asked questions about the pantry.
If you’re unable to make the coffee morning but would like to know more about the pantry and how it develops email: clare.fish@newcastle.gov.uk and we will add you to our pantry mailing list.
FAQ's - Newcastle Community Pantry
Newcastle Community Pantry FAQ's.docx
The return of the Community Defibrillator
Following the sad news that our original defibrillator had been stolen in April 2022, Blakelaw and North Fenham Community have successfully obtained a replacement life saving Defibrillator to help support the community and all the residents in the area of Blakelaw and North Fenham. With the support of the The Red Sky Foundation and the continued support from Your Homes Newcastle, the defibrillator has been placed on the outside of Moorland House.
Alcohol Awareness Leaflet
Alcohol Causes Cancer 2022 PARTNER TOOLKIT FINAL LA7[4552].docx
RCH
Tik Tok Awareness Leaflet
Thomas Walling Primary School - Queen's Green Canopy
Mr Serfontein, Deputy Lieutenant, attended Thomas Walling Primary Academy on Monday 11th October, 2021. He addressed an assembly of pupils, explaining the significance of the Queen's Green Canopy and included some very interesting facts about trees. The children thoroughly enjoyed joining in with his 'wow' moments and felt very excited and privileged to be the recipient of one of only 70 birch trees as part of this important initiative. Following the assembly, Mr Serfontein planted the birch tree (betula ermanii) with members of the School Council. It now has pride of place on 'the hill' outside of the school's dining hall, where it can be viewed every day.
More information about the Queen’s Green Canopy, ‘Plant a tree for the Jubilee’, can be found at this website:
Useful Links
Newcastle City Council, Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QH
Telephone No. 0191 278 7878
Community Council Newsletters
Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council aim to provide a community newsletter 4 times per year. If you would like to contribute to our newsletter. Please email bnfcc@outlook.com with your request. Our Newsletters are below:
March 2020
BNFCC Newsletter MARCH 2020[10699].pdf
June 2020
BNFCC Newsletter JUNE 2020[11955].pdf
October 2020
Christmas Update December 2020 and 2021 Calendar
January 2021
BNFCC COVID final Flyer January 2021.pdf
Spring2022
BNFCC Spring Newsletter 2022[5460].pdf
Summer 2022
BNFCC Summer Newsletter 2022[5461].pdf
March 2023
BNFCC Spring Newsletter March 2023[5452].pdf
christmas 2021
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
Christmas has started in the world of Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council. On the 25 November, off we went on a special journey to Northern Christmas Trees based in Gosforth to select 2 very special Christmas trees. These special trees were being donated by the Community Council and heading off to 2 special venues to brighten up the faces of the staff and children at Hilton Primary School and Thomas Walling Primary School. The trees were picked and delivered to the schools at the beginning of December and I’m sure you’ll all agree they are beautiful. It was a pleasure to be able to donate these gorgeous trees to our community.
Christmas 2020
BLAKELAW AND NORTH FENHAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL
CHRISTMAS UPDATE
Despite the recent Coronavirus uncertainty Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council have continued to work hard supporting various organisations within the community, below is an update of what has been happening including some photographs for everyone to see.
Christmas Trees Christmas has started in the world of Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council. On the 27 November, off we went on a special journey to Northern Christmas Trees based in Gosforth to select 2 very special Christmas trees. These special trees were being donated by the Community Council and heading off to 2 special venues to brighten up the faces of the staff and children at Hilton Primary School and Thomas Walling Primary School. The trees were picked and delivered to the schools last week and I’m sure you’ll all agree they are beautiful. It was a pleasure to be able to donate these gorgeous trees to our community.
Anyone for a Christmas Selection Box Did you know there are around 900 children attending the both Thomas Walling and Hilton Primary Schools and Little Learners Nursery in the Blakelaw and North Fenham Parish boundary area. With a little help from the Community Council, Santa Claus managed deliver to the schools and the nursery a selection box for everyone – we hope that you all enjoy your sweet treats.
Christmas Tree Hamper Appeal It is with great pleasure that Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council were able to donate £500 worth of food to support the Christmas Tree Hamper appeal in aid of the community’s older residents who will be spending Christmas on their own this year. We hope that those receiving a hamper this year enjoys all the surprises inside.
Christmas Gallery
STATEMENT OF CHAIR AT MEETING DATED 17/11/2022
It is with great sadness that as Chair of Blakelaw and North Fenham Community Council I am having to make this statement. The community council (council) have recently been made aware of a Facebook post made by an ex-community councillor that made a number of inaccurate statements. Whilst it would not be usual practice for the council to comment on such nonsense, given this post created quite a significant amount of discussion with feedback being received from residents that the ex-councillor continues to speak ill of the council it was felt that we had no other option but to respond. My apologies that this will be a longer statement than I would ever wish to make but feel it’s important to share the councils version of events.
Firstly, I need to point out that Parish and Community Councillors are NOT volunteers, they are elected in to the position of councillor by the electorate ie the residents of Blakelaw and North Fenham. In July 2022 I was alerted to a serving councillor receiving £660 of grant funding from a grant recipient at Christmas 2021. The original grant application had stated that the organisation would be spending the funding on a lunch out, if an applicant wishes to change the use of the funding then they must contact the council to ask permission. On receiving the monitoring forms from the organisation, it appeared that a serving councillor had received the funds to provide a Christmas lunch, this was confirmed by the organisation. As Chair, I am required to investigate the claim especially as this particular issue has been raised and discussed on a number of occasions with councillors agreeing that NO councillor should financially benefit from any grant funding being awarded by council – this councillor attended every meeting that this matter was discussed and knew this funding application had been granted. Whilst this practice is not legally wrong it is viewed as being morally wrong within the remit of the council. On meeting with the councillor, a number of statements they made concerned me and at the end of the meeting I informed them that due to comments made by them, the fact that I had spoken to this councillor before about their conduct and my concerns, I as Chair would be referring them to Newcastle City Council’s(NCC) Standards Board for “misappropriation of council funds” NOT for aggression although the councillor did become aggressive when challenged. This type of referral is a confidential matter between the parties and the councillor will have been reminded of this when spoken to by NCC. Whilst this councillor was spoken to NO investigation ever took place, this was NOT because there was NO case to answer but because the councillor resigned prior to any investigation taking place. To be clear this is an unpleasant process for everyone but a one I felt needed to be undertaken on this occasion.
In relation to comments made with regards to the “toxicity” of the council and a subsequent 3 resignations for this same reason, the council did contact each person regarding their resignations. One person confirmed that the reasoning for their resignation was due to other commitments that they had and NOT due to the reasons stated in the ex-councillors Facebook post, the other 2 people did not respond to my request for further discussion and evidence of this type of behaviour. At no point during these councillor’s term of office have they ever raised concerns regarding toxicity and/or bullying and when at a recent staffing meeting were shocked and surprised when the clerk raised as a concern the conduct of some councillors. The council takes these types of allegations very seriously and are currently awaiting advice from NCC on how to self-refer to their Standards Board which will hopefully review processes, practices and comments made although I am confident that the council have not conducted itself in a manner that would question its reputation or the work it does within the community.
In relation to comments made about being jealous following the awarding of a BEM – why would those who serve on the council be jealous of another serving councillor, are we not meant to be working together? The council shared congratulations along with many others. I do find this statement very odd as councillors undertake the work they do on behalf of residents to help, support and enhance residents lives and the area they live in not to receive awards!!!!
We have also received feedback from a resident that this ex-councillor has also stated that we refused a funding application for the play group for the recent October half term. I can confirm that the council did not receive an application for funding from the playgroup. The council will not tolerate this type of behaviour and will be monitoring the various feedback we do receive. The people of Blakelaw and North Fenham deserve the best and the council want to continue working hard to support the community in achieving this. We would welcome the opportunity to work alongside as many organisations as possible to enhance the lives of residents but this works both ways.
Finally, the council is a tier of local government and are expected to follow very specific process, practice and regulation, just like any other government institution. To ensure that the resident we serve are receiving the best possible support and value for their precept payment questions need to be asked and challenges to information are required. We do not have an endless pot of money and any spend has to enhance those residents lives who pay the precept.
Contact Us
- Blakelaw, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Meeting are held at Moorland House, Moulton Place, Blakelaw, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3RY
- +44-07588154441
- bnfcc@outlook.com
- Community Council Meetings: 6pm - 7.30pm, 2nd Monday of the month, bi-monthly except August and December