MINUTES
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership
Charity Number 1112151
GENERAL MEETING
Tuesday 20 December 2005 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Calvert, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, P Dawe,
N Dixon, J Gray, K Haigh, J Halford, R Jackson, S Millerchip, G Parle,
S Raine, Maureen Robinson, W Stainthorpe, G Stoker, M Syer, R Walsh,
D Whittaker, A Wilson
In Attendance: J Tindale
1. Apologies for absence: M Bell, B Bellis, F Brettwood, B Cockburn, J Eden,
J Geyer, J Kane, L Kirby, J Lunn, A Richardson, Maggie Robinson,
S Robinson, C Thompson, J Thompson, S Thompson, S Walworth
2. PC Cockburn had to attend another meeting.
3. Minutes of last meeting – 15 November 2005
The minutes were accepted as a true record by K Calvert and J Blakey.
4. Matters arising: None
5. Items of Other Business – register issues for item 11: None
6. Treasurer’s Report: Robin sent the following information.
General Fund (Credits) - Pop quiz = £63.57, and Parish Council = £150
Total £353.15
Home Front Recall (Debits) – Street Party and Big Band = £6337 92
Balance £2 260.98
Community Chest (Credit) – £6 798.64
Debits – Crowtrees FC = £1 131.84, Girls/Boys FC = £1 185, Lawson Rd = £235.86,
Methodist Drop In/Kids Club = £3 898.45, Senior Citizens = £347.49
Balance Nil
7. Community Chest: Maureen informed members that she would not discuss the
Community Chest with the City Council, alone. It has never happened and never will.
There are four revised applications and two new applications.
Cooperage FC revised bid approved Homing Society revised bid approved Toddlers revised bid approved Crowtrees Darts revised bid approved £1975.00
£1645.00
£ 251.80
£ 944.61
Banner Group – Children’s Banner – recommended and approved £465.00
(M Syer declared an interest)
Church Community Gp–PC, Printer, Scanner–recommended and approved £2604.91
(Maureen Robinson declared an interest)
Applications approved to date total £18 384.96
M Syer queried the BVC application but was told that it needed the completed
estimates.
A suggestion was made to re-advertise the Community Chest to encourage further
applications.
18. Correspondence:
>T Punton reported that the area next to the football field will be returned to formal
maintenance; area next to the beck will continue to be reduced with an annual flail
cut plus regular inspections; bio-diversity opportunities and provision of nature areas
within park will be further assessed with full consultation. (Letter 15/11/05)
>Charity Commission wrote to confirm that the partnership had been entered in the
Central Register of charities. (Letter 18/11/05)
>L Lyons thanked the Partnership for the Street Party. (Letter 21/11/05)
>J Twitty thanked the Partnership for the Home Front Recall events (Card 22/11/05)
>J Lunn and J Snowball expressed thanks of Methodist Church for grants from
Community Chest (Letter 15/12/05)
>CVS Managing Money advice and support (Application Form 16/12/05)
>A Wilson thanked the Partnership for grant from Community Chest (letter 19/12/05)
>Secretary thanked J Tindale, C Brown, volunteers, exhibitors, donators, Junior
School for their contributions to the Home front Recall events. (Letters 20/11/05)
>Secretary registered donation to Children In Need via the PO. (Receipt 21/11/05)
>Secretary thanked T Punton for cutting football field, but expressed concern about
area alongside the beck when the grass is at its full height. (Letter 25/11/05)
>Secretary to J Tindale re Cooperage FC and Homing Soc. for Community Chest
(Letter 02/12/05)
>Secretary thanked Parish for donation to Partnership. (Letter 20/12/05)
A member asked for a letter to be sent concerning deep holes in the old BMX Track.
They have been blocked up in the past but the filling has washed out.
9. Reports:
John Tindale (Community Development Officer) reported that Carol Brown will begin
her work as community development for Bowburn in the New Year, as well as having
other responsibilities. Her time will be monitored on projects in the Masterplan and
other projects, which may be brought into the area. If Bowburn warrants a full time
person then this will be reviewed in the longer term.
A member asked if Carol can attend both the Trustees and General meetings and
John replied she can attend whatever Bowburn feels is of benefit.
John has received the following information from the County Council:
>Traffic lights: there have been no personal injuries between 2000 and 2005 and
DCC have no plans, but if the Partnership think it is a priority then they would look at
it at and it would cost approximately £100 000.
>Street Lights: the village will be surveyed to identify gaps. Necessary new lights will
be paid for. However lights for enhancement will be estimated.
>Traffic Calming: costs could be between £4500 and £9000 for Bede Terrace, Philip
Avenue and Prince Charles Avenue.
>Crossing Patrol Parkhill: the road is suitable for a crossing at a cost of £8000,
dependent on an electricity supply.
Members discussed the dangers of the Tursdale Road past the Motorway Service
Station, and the lack of signage, for the A177, on the road past Parkhill Estate.
The secretary was asked to query this at the Traffic Section of County Hall.
Concern was noted concerning the lack of lighting along the footpaths at David Terr,
Broadmeadows to the Hall, Runcie Road to Burn St, Junior School to Park.
John Tindale gave an update on the Apprentice Schemes. Carillian and Haslam
Homes restrict both the trades (bricklayers, joiners, painters) and age range (16/17
2years), whereas NECT (Esh Group) who are keen to get involved have more areas of
training, plus a wider age range (16/25). However Esh Group cannot guarantee a job,
but do give a qualification. Trainees can be fast-tracked to level 2 in six months or
take twelve months for a level 2 qualification. Apprentices are paid for by the provider
It is necessary to find out the level of interest from both school leavers and older age
groups, using schools, Job Centre Plus, and Connexions. NECT would be contacted
for costings, and how the schemes would be organised in 2006. Publicity could be
created through the Interchange, or word of mouth which could be slow at first but
should then generate more interest.
John Tindale left the meeting at 7.30pm.
Regeneration Working Group: Mike reported that John had already explained the
details of the apprentice schemes.
On Rehousing/Demolition Mike told the meeting that there had been only one left to
move from the 2nd phase, who should now have moved. All but three residents in
Horton Crescent had been consulted, which was surprising, because it was felt that
all should have been informed. It was worrying that only two blocks of bungalows had
been demolished before the holiday because there was concern at leaving a semi-
derelict site over Xmas. The comment from the Regeneration meeting had been that
they “would do their best”. They felt that there were less anti-social behaviour
problems off Prince Charles Avenue, and there were steel shutters on some
bungalows lessening the problems.
Mike said that, concerning the Masterplan, Fiona had commented on the ranked
projects in each cluster saying there were two things to consider; (i) how long they
would take to realise; (ii) how practical they were to do and how likely they were to
happen. She would report at the next meeting.
At the Regeneration meeting Brian Spears felt that three big schemes (Community
Centre, Coop area, PARC) should be undertaken and completed in Bowburn.
However, Mike commented to members that the Consultative Event did not tell us
anything that we did not know, and the scores are so close together that no one
scheme could be claimed to be of a higher priority than another, and the residents
should choose.
Members commented on the problems of Fiona’s survey: the inclusion of an
unrealistic Linear Park, although some would like to improve the ‘drive through
image’ of the village; the rejection of incomplete forms which could have skewed the
results, but not according to Fiona.
A member would like to see a more attractive, bustling village. Another asked what
we should do if we decided on different projects from those of Brian Spear’s, and the
answer seems to be to get more costings and information such as those brought by
John Tindale and then take a more informed decision.
Parish Council: No representation
Outreach Workers: Nothing to report on the progress of the teenshelter.
Trustees: Discussed the bio-diversity area and asked T Punton, again, to look at the
danger surrounding the beck; looked at the various options put forward by J Tindale
for the dedicated worker in Bowburn; gave support to the residents group and hoped
that they can find the necessary funding; backed the idea of forming a Liaison Group
with the quarry.
12 Villages/SRB6 Representative: There has been no meeting since the Partnership
last met.
3Home Front Recall – and finally: Janet thanked everyone for all the help and support they had
given to the Home Front Recall events. Three out of four had been huge successes and had
given a lot of pleasure to our residents, both young and old, and we ought to feel very proud
of ourselves. Be ready to do it all again for the Centenary!
10. Group Noticeboard:
Banner: The group has been awarded the grant for the Children’s Banner. These events have
been planned for 2006: 27 January - Arthur Moyes, 3 March - N Emery plus installing of
banner case, 11 March - Reg Vardy Band plus install Racecourse Banner in its case,
7 July - unfurl new banner plus children’s banner in the afternoon.
There will also be a series of information events and a special edition of the Bowburn
Interchange.
Bowburn Website: G Hutchinson sent this report saying that the Bowburn site has had a
brilliant response from near and far. Groups and individuals can celebrate their events by
emailing Bowburnnews@aol.com. Many thanks from Gary.
At the meeting George Stoker let members know that the site is paid for privately by a UK
host. There is a mock up of the site, and the links will work when it is up and running.
Boys/Girls Football Teams: Alan brought a photograph of the children holding the cheque
from the Community Fund as a thank you from the teams, and the equipment is on order.
There had not been many games but the younger children were playing well in the cup
matches, and they have a website with all the information.
BVC: The last edition came out in December and there will be a special banner edition in
February 2006. In the centenary year there will be a colour edition of the Interchange, and the
Reg Vardy Band will attend the Remembrance Service.
Centenary: The bid is almost complete for a folk night with commemorative programme.
There will be presentations of a Miner’s Token for the children and we are just waiting for a
price. A member was told that the cut off age for tokens would be 16 years. K Calvert said
that he had a contact for medals which might be useful.
Community Centre: No representation
Cooperage Football Team: Gary Parle, manager, thanked the Partnership for the grant. It was
not easy running a team and the grant helped. They had no games to report on.
History: John Gray had given an interesting talk on ‘Retail outlets’.
PARC: No representation
Youth Centre: Bowburn has youth provision 4 nights a week. The club is open 3 evenings and
the sessions are well attended. From 12 January J. Niblo and Joanne will be the detached
workers. As the club is not held on Thursdays, the centre can be used, if they feel the need.
11. AOB:
Members were asked if they were interested in forming a Liaison Committee with the quarry
as there is an interest from OQ, and south Bowburn. It is a condition of planning but has not
happened yet. It was decided to write to Tarmac and put the onus on them because members
did feel that it was a concern to the whole village as it affected the children going to school. A
member thought the committee would consist of representatives from County, District, Parish,
OQ, and Partnership; meeting, perhaps, 3 to 4 times a year.
Date and time of next meeting:
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month.
The next meeting is 17 January at 6.30pm
Future meetings for 2006: 21 Feb, 21 Mar, 18 April, 16 May, 20 Jun. 18 July
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