Present: General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership: Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 20 May 2008
From 7.00pm to 8.30pm
K Barber, W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Calvert, S Colquhoun, P Dawe, S Featherstone,
J Geyer, A Gregory, B Gregory, K Griffiths, K Haigh, R Jackson, G Kitson, M Malek, R Millerchip, S Raine,
A Richardson, V Richardson, Maggie Robinson, Maureen Robinson, J Shields, M Syer, S Walworth, D Whittaker
In Attendance: J Anson, PC Cockburn, G Marsden, M Williams
1. Apologies for absence: R Cowen, N Dixon, J Eden, , I Hunter Smart, B Jennings, John Kane, Judith Kane,
S Millerchip, M Ridley, W Rumney, G Stoker, R Walsh, A Wilson
2. Police Report:
Crime Statistics: Cassop None; Parkhill 2 Theft; Bowburn 1 Burglary, 1 Attempted Burglary, 1 Assault – arrested,
5 Thefts, 5 Criminal Damage. Alcohol is still being confiscated. Information is passed on, once evidence is
collected.
An email from Sgt Turner reported that the main themes at the Neighbourhood Forum were complaints in relation
to: (i) youths congregating at the rear of the industrial estate which, whilst this was of concern, was not bothering
residents; (ii) re-cycling collection.
A member noted that youth numbers had increased at the Co-op area and created a feeling of intimidation.
Thanks were extended to the police for the search and rescue of a local resident.
The meeting thanked PC Cockburn for his presence at the meeting as he left at 7.15pm.
3. Masterplan Updates – Community Development Officer and Project Leaders
Highways: Agreed to seek assurance that Footpath 29 is included in the Digital Countryside Map; the Wheatley Hill
link road is on time and on budget; agreed to seek permission for a weight limit on the c12a from the Cooperage to
the bottom of Red Brier Bank, and to extend the 30mph limit past Broadmeadows onto Tail-upon-End Lane.
Resurfacing of chippings along the c12a takes place on 9 June.
Parkhill: Work on the Park begins in the week of 26 May, two weeks behind schedule because of bad weather.
A resident from Parkhill felt that their area was not represented on the trustees committee, but it was pointed out
that the trustees did not speak for a particular area, but for all areas.
Heritage Room: The Resource Centre is being cleared, decorated, and fitted with grilles so that it is fit for purpose.
Community Centre: The Centre thanked the Partnership for considering the application for the electric testing but
decided to go with the lower estimate. However the centre needs a feasibility study and is applying to the
Community Chest for part of the funding. M Syer, P Dawe, and J Blackburn declared an interest.
R Millerchip and A Anson presented the application. RM described the project as buying a service for the Centre.
JA explained that the study was necessary so that the Community Centre will know what is needed in the
refurbishment, and the benefit could be possible grants of £100 000 - £150 000. Once the study was carried out an
application from the Community Centre would be made to the Regeneration Fund.
Funding of £787.50 was granted from the Community Chest for the feasibility study by a majority of members.
Youth Centre: An application can be made to the Big Lottery Fund for £50 000 towards the refurbishment.
MS reported that the weights room was open for the young people and there would be an opening ceremony when
a representative from the Partnership would be invited. Talks have been arranged to organise the landscape works.
Church: Scaffolding will be erected to fix the roof trusses, and the campanile (rocket) is to be washed. In two weeks
the internal walls should be fixed, and MR was anxious that the money from the City was paid into their account.
JA said that arrangements should be made soon when she would be monitoring the works every two weeks.
Centenary – Bowburn School: No update.
JA reported that the Junior School were interested in a sensory garden and resurfacing their football area.
Unadopted Roads: Repairs to the STR3ETS has taken place thanks to the Community Chest and ‘Tarmac’.
D Warburton of the County Council is to attend the residents meeting on 12 June to give an update on the scheme.
Park Project: Planning permission has been received and work starts on the Bottom Park in July. The secretary has
a copy of the Park lease. Progress on the football area is slow, but information from Bowburn Youth should
progress matters. Their AGM is on 4 June when the City Council hopes to have 100% commitment to the scheme
from the committee.
1Environment and URRI: Work is to start on 2 June (Correction 9 June) on the Durham Road scheme.
G Cavey agent for the Co-op site has given permission for works there.
17 June, 3.30-7.00pm, Consultation Event in Bowburn Community Centre about Romaine Square and the Co-op
area; including CCTV at the Co-op; Sustainable Energy in the Community Centre.
After a member asked if the Romaine Square/Co-op schemes did not go ahead would the money be put into
Durham Rd, it was thought that this could happen.
Sirius, responsible for decontaminating the Cape site, will inform the next Partnership meeting, 17 June, about their
work.
When a member asked if Bowburn Beck was being dealt with, it was announced that there was to be a meeting on
12 June to discuss water related problems in Bowburn.
CISWO has been asked to agree to the footpath at the back of the Community Centre, which could cost £2500.
SHIP Fund: There are 5 places for apprentices from Bowburn which can be filled, in order of priority, by:
(i) 16/17 years (ii) Over 17-20 year olds (iii) 21-50 year olds.
It was agreed that, if none of the above options filled the 5 places, apprentices may be found from Cassop.
J Anson left the meeting and the Chair thanked her for her attendance.
4. Minutes of last General meeting and matters arising: 20 May 2008:
The minutes were proposed as a true record by R Jackson, seconded by G Kitson, and the meeting agreed them
unanimously.
5. Report - Trustees’ meeting: 22 April 2008:
Made enquiries to County Hall about the proposed digester at OQ Farm; Community Chest payments would be paid
directly to a supplier if a group did not have a bank account; Agreed to ask those attending the PAT course to
discuss an agreement to hire the equipment; Discussed comments for the Primary Strategy for Change. Next
meeting is 3 June.
Minutes for the Trustees’ meeting of 25 March were distributed to members.
6. Correspondence:
> Letter from Durham County Council - Permission has been given for a noticeboard on highway land near to the
library.
> Letter of thanks from the Youth Club for the grant from the Community Chest.
> Letter of thanks form Bowburn Banner Group for the grant from the Community Chest.
> Notice of the Volunteer Co-ordinator’s Forum on 17 July in Bowburn Community Centre.
7. Items of Any Other Business:
(i) Litter at the Co-op; (ii) Tail-upon-End Lane building site.
8. Treasurer’s Report:
After payments for the Community Chest, Quiz, and the Garfield Weston grant to the PARC group a balance of
£2774.20 remains in the funds; made up of Restricted £2195.64 and Unrestricted £578.64.
> The raffle for fundraising was won by S Colquhoun.
> Quiz £1.00: The questions for the ‘Numbers and Letters’ quiz have a number in each title that is a significant clue
to the answer. Note the Return Date is 11 July
9. Community Chest:
The Cooperage Football Club applied for new kit and equipment but it was decided to delay the request until the
June meeting and ask whether this application was necessary given that equipment will have been taken to the
Cooperage in the transfer from the Hare & Greyhound.
10. Reports and matters arising:
Regeneration Working Group: On the Tail-upon-End Lane site earthworks have started. Before building work
commences, the site needs a plan agreed for drainage and sewerage works to comply with planning conditions.
There have been 3 house sales and work could start in July/August. About 100 trees have been professionally
transplanted on the site and members wished to extend their thanks to Haslam Homes for this.
Building of the Social Housing will start in July on the Prince Charles/Horton Crescent site.
Members declined the offer of the Haslam noticeboard as they did not wish to repair and maintain it. (Action Janet)
2 Weeks notice will be given of the closure of David and Robert Terrace before new drainage work begins.
It was agreed to ask for a more general notice to inform villagers of this closure because it is a popular route into
the estate. (Action Janet)2Prince Charles/Horton Crescent: See above
Tail-upon-End Lane Site: See above
Parish Council: See board in the Community Centre
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): Email from G Scott: The land at Tursdale for the Road/Rail development is
recognised in the emerging RSS – the finalised version is due later this year – and is currently protected in the local
Plan by the fact that it is reserved for rail freight uses i.e. it should not be used for other purposes.
Noticeboard: See correspondence.
Quarry Liaison Committee: No report.
LSP: The community Network AGM was well attended in February; B Riley is the new LSP coordinator on the
Durham District Partnership; Policy group projects include – Future Business Magnates, Green light, Healthy
Horizons. Access to services is a new group to take a lead in developing a framework for transport delivery.
12 Villages Representative: No report. It was asked if Jan B. would be involved in this work now that she is a
County Councillor, but this is not known.
11. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
Banner (Mike Syer): The next meeting is on 2 June and the AGM is on 30 June. Tickets are free for the eve of Gala
concert.
BVC (Maureen Robinson): The next paper is due out in June; articles and photographs for publication are most
welcome by the end of May,
Football Teams (Gary Parle): The report is for the Hare & Greyhound FC soon to revert to the Cooperage FC.
The team finished 7th in the league, but were looking to be in the top four. Hope is high for improvements next
season. A Dunn was top goal scorer and for the 4th year running D Watchman was Players’ Player of the year. New
players and sponsors are needed and if you are interested training starts in June. The club extended thanks to the
Partnership for its support in enabling and assisting the adult teams to play football in Bowburn.
History (Mal Bell): The last meeting discussed photographs for an exhibition and calendar – there was an appeal for
copies of photographs of the old school; the Open Day at Croxdale was very good; the group should take over the
Resource Centre in June.
An offer of the date stone form the Church was accepted.
Website (George Stoker): No report
12. Any Other Business:
A member raised concerns about a feeling of intimidation from groups of youth gathering at the Co-op, which seems
to have increased over recent days, and the amount of litter that is dropped in this area.
A request for a road sweeper and cleaner was requested for the Tail-upon-End Lane site whilst work is taking place.
13. Date and Time of Meetings: General Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
17 June > Date of next meeting
> URRI Consultation on Romaine Square, the Co-op site,
and CCTV
Date of future meetings in 2008: 15 Jul, 19 Aug, 16 Sept, 21 Oct, 18 Nov, 16 Dec
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