General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 November 2009 From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
B Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, R Jackson, G Kitson, A Richardson, J Shields,
Present: R Walsh
In Attendance: J Anson, PC Cockburn, G Marsden, M Ridley, M Williams
1. Apologies for absence: R Cowen, N Dixon, A Gregory, P Henderson, R Millerchip, S Raine, Maggie Robinson, M Syer,
2. P.C. Cockburn: The report is for the weeks 20 October to date:
Cassop – 1 Burglary at Old Cassop. Warning - many outbuildings have been broken into throughout the County,
1 Criminal Damage followed by an arrest; Parkhill – 1 Burglary, 1 Criminal Damage; Bowburn – 3 Burglary one of
which was a vehicle taken after the car keys were hooked through the letter box, 2 Thefts, 3 Criminal Damage, 1
car filled with petrol and driven away without payment.
A walkabout took place in Phillip Avenue to consider ways to deter young children causing a nuisance in the area
by using a multi-agency approach. The problem will take time to improve but it is being monitored.
It was thought that there was an increase in crime, but PC Cockburn said that overall numbers were average for the
local communities. Unfortunately there is no pattern to the crime, but there are several travelling criminals targeting
the villages and large items are able to be taken from outside buildings by their vehicles.
PC Cockburn was thanked for attending the meeting on his day off, and left at 6.55pm.
3. Masterplan Updates – Community Development Officer and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: > Although not his area, B McVicker believes that the first phase of housing on the Cape site does
comply with the inspector's report.
At this meeting, it was said that the main drainage had started on the Cape site.
> There is some doubt about the production of the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 3 in 2011. Transit 15, outstanding
from LTP2, is in discussion to speed up the travel time of the X1 bus and this would include a bus lane approaching
Shincliffe traffic lights.
> It was agreed to ask for a Village Boundary sign at the motorway bridge on the C12a to alert drivers that they are
approaching the village.
> Phases 1 and 2 of the Limestone Linx cycle way have been approved. Grants have come from various funders.
1There was a suggestion from the Highways group to link in Bowburn via the motorway bridge to Durham Green and
the Industrial Estates to produce a cycle-to-work route
A member at this meeting commented that the cycle route at Parkhill crossed the road and went through the
housing estate, which seemed unwise.
(ii) Parkhill: The representative for Parkhill reported that there had been a site meeting on the playing field to
discuss lighting on Parkhill Park behind the houses and bungalows.
The chair reported that the trustees had recommended that, as lighting had not been part of the application for the
Park, money from the Regeneration Pot could not be used to fund such a scheme, and the decision taken at the
Partnership meeting of 20 October stood.
The Parkhill Rep said that the Parkhill ‘lighting money’ was not Regeneration money but a gift, totalling £12,500.00 -
from the Parish Council and a City Councillor’s budget, which was paid over to the City.
It was asked if the donation from the Parish had been given for a piece of play equipment, as in the case of
Bowburn P.A.R.C. group.
It was said that the Parish minutes could be checked to show how this grant was allocated. (Action Janet)
The chair summed up as follows - if this information is correct, then it is not the business of the Partnership but that
of the Parish, the former City Council, and Parkhill Residents to locate and agree how the money is to be spent.
Julie stressed that the CDO’s would not take money unless it was for the play equipment on the park.
It was agreed that Julie should look into this and liaise with Parkhill Residents and the Partnership. (Action JA)
(iii) Heritage Room: Because of the ongoing refurbishment, the AfA have agreed to extend the grant to February
2010. A resident has donated a selection of books.
(iv) Community Centre:
A sub-group is looking into funding for Stage 2. The Biffaward is almost ready which includes the windows in the
Hall and Lounge and the re-wiring, to take advantage of the £50 000.00 grant.
There has been no response from CISWO.
The £226 000 from the Regeneration Pot is ready to call down as well as £10 000 from Awards for All.
The £180 000 held by the County Council needs to be resolved and applied for. (Action Janet)
A member asked if the contractor was ready to start the works, because the History Group will have further
problems with their grant in February.
Julie and a representative from the community centre said that the contract is ready as soon as monies are
confirmed.
A member advised that the AfA have given extensions for up to one year.
‘On Broadway’ goes ahead on 4 December, tickets £2 and concessions £1.
Notify the Community Centre of any food donations for the event. (Action All)
(v) Youth Centre: The refurbishment is finished and the centre has been transformed. The young people are very
pleased with their ‘new’ building. There will be an official opening and presentation night in January.
(vi) Church: The funding application has been amended and is almost ready to send. Thanks were expressed to MB
on behalf of Henderson’s.
(vii) Unadopted Roads: Dave Wilcox, Durham Council, has not been in contact about the Equity Loan Scheme but
there has been no progress. The group question whether the scheme will be put into practice.
Cllr Williams was more positive and said that the Director is pressing for it.
(viii) Park Project: Most of Phase 2 is complete and the drainage systems have been tested. There is some
seepage in the area of the cottage but that should be stopped in Phase 3. The base of the footpath is complete but
the top coat will be done when all work are finished. Once connected CCTV for the park will be up and running
immediately. The Co-op CCTV camera will be connected separately.
An e-mail received from the Football Foundation requested only minor amendments and additions to the
application, but appear to be supportive of making a contribution of up to £175 000.
It was said that the Community Centre will need to know the date that the ducting is to be laid, as the car park will
be out of action.
There is a slight shortfall in the funding and it is hoped that there may be AAP funding, and there are some
contingency monies.
A member asked if the bank side could be rolled to stop it being a mud bath when the children were playing on it.
Everyone was reminded that there is a competent engineer in charge and he would leave the site in a fit state.
Cllr Williams asked if the temporary path to Beaumont Close had been made up. Julie A said it would be.
2(Action Janet)
(ix) Environment and URRI: Durham Road: The secretary and Cllr Blakey will liaise with County to decide where
the additional bollards will be installed. (Action Julie A)
(x) (a) Regeneration Working Group: Meeting 15 November 09
The meetings at Lawson Road have not been as effective, as Richard Bass of DVR and Haslam Homes has not
been able to attend. So it is hoped to go back to the old system of following a DVR meeting with a Regen meeting.
(b) Walkabout: None since the last meeting.
(c) Housing: Cllr Blakey had asked for the roads to be cleaned.
(xi) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP):
The next Board meeting is on 18 November in Trimdon Station Community Centre. Start time is 6.00pm.
A Forum meeting will be held on 10 December – everyone is invited. Trimdon Station Community Centre from 5pm.
Pass on questions to the Board by email or telephone: jane.bellis@durham.gov.uk Tel 0191 527 4764
Julie was congratulated on her promotion to Economic Regeneration Team Leader. She will have a team of six to
cover physical regeneration projects that cover the old City of Durham area and Easington; she will be based in
Easington.
A member said he was pleased the team was set up but why change a system that had worked.
JA said there should be little change but one of the team may be delegated to a project and Julie would oversee it.
P Henderson will change post and will be allocated to an AAP.
4. Minutes of last General Meeting and: 20 October 2009
The minutes were approved as a true record.
Matters arising:
Item3, Parkhill: A member had believed that the monies from Parkhill that were agreed to go to Bowburn
Community Centre were to be over and above the original £500 000 allocated.
It was said that the allocation of the extra money would be decided by the members at a later date. It had been
made clear at the last meeting that there would be no extra money for the Community Centre.
However the secretary would check. Item 3, Regeneration Working Group. Cllr Blakey declared an interest in this matter.
The plans for Robson Crescent will go to Committee on 8 December after they were called in by Cllr Blakey.
It was said that many of the measurements on the plan were wrong and if the houses were built correctly there
would be no objections. It is hoped that it will be 2 sets of semis rather than a block of three and two.
Highways object to the lack of parking places.
Item 4, The wet pore finish at the park has been repaired but has been damaged again.
Item 11, The Partnership will be involved in the Statement of Community Involvement.
5. Report – Trustees’ meeting: 3 November 2009
Cllr Blakey had been informed that the traffic survey on Tail upon End Lane was complete.
At the trustees’ meeting a discussion took place concerning membership for the purpose of the insurance return.
At this general meeting the following recommendation was agreed:
“Members are deemed to be individuals (over the age of eighteen years) living in the area of benefit, who attend
the meetings since the beginning of the preceding Financial Year and are interested in furthering the work of the
Charity”.
The Core Strategy guides the County Council in planning new developments and is out for consultation with
responses by 27 November 2009. It aims to find out what topics should be discussed and whether anything has
been forgotten. It was agreed to make the following suggestions:
> Include the Industrial Access Route to carry traffic to the Industrial Estates, Business Park and the Motorway from
the A177 at the Filling Station.
> Support the inclusion of the Rail-Freight Interchange at Tursdale.
> Include Cycle to Work Routes to link up with Durham Green via the Limestone Linx Cycle Route.
> Ensure that drainage is adequate for the number of new builds being constructed, which would alleviate many of
the flooding problems. (Action Janet)
This meeting agreed to the above.
6. Correspondence:
> 26 October Houses in Robson Crescent – to date still not on the delegated powers list.
> 1 November – Resignation of A Gregory. A letter of thanks has been sent to Audrey.
> Planning application at Crystal Nursery in Parkhill for caravan storage and an accompanying bund.
It was agreed to express concern about the access to the site.
> Link membership. It was agreed that B&PCP will become a member of Durham County LINk
> Infill Houses at Robson Crescent. See Item 4 above.
> Invitation to attend ‘A Total Place’ in Murton on Friday 20 November.
3Members were informed that the Taekwondo Club in Bowburn will be sending an agreement to the conditions by
the next meeting.
7. Items of Any Other Business: (i) Speed survey (ii) Kirby’s Drive
8. Treasurer’s Report and Fundraising:
Accounts: The secretary gave a report sent by the treasurer:
Receipts of £15 from Tea/Raffle, £75 from Quiz and £100.00 from the Parish Council.
Members expressed their thanks for the support of the Parish.
Expenditure of £35 in quiz prizes and £20 for the Remembrance Wreath
October statement: Balance £5106.92 plus a net income of £125 gives £5231.92, of which £2359.92 is restricted.
Raffle for Fundraising: The raffle was won by R Walsh. With thanks to S Raine for donating the prize.
Quiz – Round Objects: The cost is £1 and the final date for returns is 15 January 2010.
9. Reports and matters arising:
Mabey housing: Nothing new to report.
Parish Council: The secretary read out a report sent by S Raine, vice chair of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish
Council. At the Parish meeting held on 21/10/9, Councillors agreed:
> To write to the County Council expressing members’ concerns about the location of a scheme to build 5 houses at
Robson Crescent, Bowburn (NB Cllrs Blakey and Morgan both declared prejudicial interests in this matter and took
no part in the discussion)
> To award grants of £100 to each of 17 local organisations requesting financial aid under the annual donation
scheme, plus one grant of £50. B&PCP received a grant of £100.
> To write to the Boundary Committee Review Officer for Durham, regarding the anomaly of the former Cape Site
being located within the Shincliffe Parish area, whilst access and services for the new housing to be built on the site
will come from Bowburn; to ask him/her to vary the existing Parish boundary to include the site in Cassop-cum
Quarrington Parish.
> To hold a site meeting with a contractor to investigate the problems with overgrown vegetation at the Black Trod
footpath in Park Hill, and to obtain a quotation for its clearance; also to obtain permission from the Church
Commissioners and the other local land owner for this work to go ahead.
At this meeting it was said that the Parish Litter Pick collected 11 Bags of litter, 1 Tyre, and 1 Piece of Metal.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): No meeting.
Quarry Liaison Committee: No update.
12 Villages Representative: No meeting.
10. Group Noticeboard:
Banner (Mal Bell, Martin Ridley): The banner was taken to the Memorial Day service.
BVC: The next edition goes to press at the start of December; deadline for articles is 30 November. This includes a
photographic competition - Unusual Views of Bowburn.
Church: The spire and base have been permanently removed.
Football Teams:
> Bowburn Youth (M Ridley): Thanks were given for the storage cabin which has now been installed on the field.
Winter training takes place in the Youth Club and they have been offered an extra night for training. The Tots train
at Coxhoe and the others at Ferryhill Comprehensive School. Good news - the teams are beginning to win their
games. The group is working with Julie A on Phase 3. 19 December - Xmas disco at Crowtrees WMC.
> History (Mal Bell): The Calendar will be on sale soon. Thursday’s meeting will hear a talk on the Vemco Site.
> Website: No Report
11. Any Other Business: Speed Survey: Cllr Blakey said that the traffic survey on Tail upon End Lane (T-u-E) was
complete; almost 60% of drivers were over the speed limit of 30mph. A limit of 40mph had been suggested.
There was disappointment that Highways had agreed to the houses on T-u-E being built facing the highway.
Kirby’s Drive: Vans working on the housing site in T-u-E park on the junction blocking site lines. (Action Cllr Blakey)
There was also discussion about the dangers on the small roundabout at Parkhill.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is 15 December 09 at 6.30pm:
Future meetings. Please make a note of these dates in 2010: 19 Jan, 16 Feb, 16 Mar, 15 April, 18 May (AGM)
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