General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 20 January 2009
From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: J Blakey, S Colquhoun, J Dinning, N Dixon, S Featherstone, J Geyer, A Gregory, K Haigh, R Jackson,
B Jennings, John Kane, Judith Kane, G Kitson, R Millerchip, L Purves, S Raine, A Richardson, V Richardson,
Maggie Robinson, Maureen Robinson, J Shields, M Syer, S Thompson, R Walsh (Chair), D Whittaker.
In Attendance: J Anson, B Cockburn, G Marsden, M Williams
1. Apologies for absence: M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen, P Dawe, J Kushnirenco, Ian Hunter Smart, H Mason,
M Ridley.
2. P.C. Cockburn reported that there had been two cases of criminal damage at Cassop and twp at Park Hill, and
one burglary, two fuel thefts, six cases of criminal damage in Bowburn. A member reported that, when she had
phoned the police to report finding some drugs paraphernalia, she had been told to pick it up and dispose of it; P.C.
Cockburn apologised for this, saying the person who took the call had misunderstood the situation. A member
asked who to contact for crime prevention advice; P.C. Cockburn advised calling 0345-6060-365 and asking for Pat
Varley on extension 6682814. A member reported a warning about bogus callers in the area.
3. Masterplan Updates – Community Development Officer and Project Leader:
Highways: Nothing to report.
Parkhill: Julie Anson reported that mixed messages had been received from the first consultation about the
proposed community building, so further consultation would be conducted on site in April and May.
Heritage Room: Mike Syer reported that the room had now been decorated and it was planned to start moving
equipment etc. in over the next few weeks. (A message sent with apologies by Mal Bell to the Secretary added that
a padlock was being purchased and a modification done to the security door. Some items of equipment had been
bought – Laptop, Desktop computer, Projector – which would be installed once the above issues were resolved.)
Community Centre: Julie Anson reported that Mike Thompson was to meet the Finance Director about the
Community Association’s application to the Regeneration Fund. The chairman pointed out that this matter was due
to be considered later on the agenda, as it had been raised at the Trustees’ meeting. (See Item 4, below.)
Youth Centre: Nothing to report.
Church: Maureen Robinson reported that top soil had been laid, hard core for the car park was due to be delivered
at the weekend, and shelves etc. had been put up inside.
Centenary – Bowburn School: It was noted that there was no report, as the school had been engrossed in seasonal
activities. It was agreed to seek a full update for the next meeting. (Action – Secretary)
Unadopted Roads: Julie Anson and the chairman reported that a Regeneration Fund application had been received
from 3 Streets and it was agreed to consider this immediately. The application was £77 500, that being half the
estimated cost of re-constructing the highways in Grange Park Crescent, Neville Terrace and Lansdowne Crescent
being considered by the County council, who were expected to choose a project to pilot that scheme in the near
future. A member of the group suggested that approving the grant applied for would enhance the prospects of the
residents and that the existing highway was dangerous. Another member reported that an ambulance had recently
been unable to go up one of the streets. Julie Anson reported that there would be enough in the Regeneration Fund
to cover this after the Community Centre grant was approved, but she did not yet know the likely cost of the
prioritised environmental improvements. (See below.) A member queried whether schemes, similar to ones we were
expected to fund from the Regeneration Pot, were being funded by the local authorities elsewhere. Cllr. Williams
reported that the law did not allow councils to fund private street works. Julie Anson agreed to find out how the
URRI scheme in Coxhoe was being funded. After further discussion, it was agreed to support the £77 500, with no
one against. (Action – J. Anson)
Park Project: Julie Anson reported that work on the sensory garden (on the former putting green) was in progress
but had been delayed by the weather. The toddler trim trail had been started. Re-turfing was planned.
A member asked if the paths had been cleaned and Julie said they had been brushed as well as possible, however
construction of all the new paths was due to start in March or April. She agreed to see if this could be brought
forward and Cllr. Blakey offered to approach Service Direct (the contractors) to see if the work could be speeded
up. Cllr Williams reported that progress was being made on getting a proper path into the park from Beaumont
Close. Julie, however, reported that immediate neighbours of this path were opposed to it.
(Action - J Anson; J Blakey)Concerns were raised about the deep mud on the former recreation ground and there followed a lengthy discussion
about working methods that were alleged to have contributed to this problem, about the dangerous nature of the
mud, and about parental responsibilities. Julie reported that the top soil was to be re-mounded, much of it being
needed in due course for planting.
On being asked whether “No motorbikes” notices etc. would be erected, Julie reported that these were included in
the plans.
Julie agreed to bring a detailed report, with a timetable of all future Parks works, including which paths were to be
[re-]constructed, to the next meeting.
Environment and URRI: Julie Anson reported that the URRI scheme in the Co-op area was due to begin on 9
February.
She was waiting for a report from the County Council on the anticipated costs of the eight environmental schemes
prioritised by B&PCP. However she expected an application to the Regeneration Fund for these to be submitted to
our February meeting. (Action – J. Anson)
4. Minutes of last general meeting and matters arising: 16 December 2008
Subject to two addenda, the minutes were approved as a true record ([proposed – Maureen Robinson; seconded –
R Jackson). The addenda proposed by the Trustees, were as follows:
(i) After “PH: There is a presumption … City of Durham Local Plan”, add “Mr. Herbert agreed that the planners will
take into account the potential line of the Western Spine road when considering planning applications for this area”.
(ii) After “PH: Yes, Highways should … Partnership will be consulted”, add “Mr. White agreed that all new roads
would be built to an adoptable standard and be adopted”. (Action – Secretary)
Correspondence written by the Secretary in accordance with decisions of the December meeting was noted.
Item 4. Community Centre: An e-mail from the secretary to David Marrs, Chief Executive of Durham City Council,
and his reply, dated 18 December, were read to the meeting. Julie Anson explained that additional information was
now wanted by the Council’s Officers Management Team (OMT), before it would consider applications to the
Regeneration Fund. She would ensure that this was included when her report on the 3 Streets application was
written.
Concern was expressed at what was seen to be a further delay in securing funding for the Community Centre
refurbishment, leading to the possibility that it would be lost when the City Council disappeared in April. Cllr.
Williams assured the meeting that the County Council would honour commitments to the community made by the
expiring council. It was agreed that the Secretary write to Mr. Marrs’ enquiring what further financial information was
needed. (Action – Secretary)
Concern was also expressed at what was taken to be the discourteous nature of Mr. Marrs’ e-mail. However it was
agreed to see, at the next meeting, what reply the secretary received in response to her enquiry about financial
information, before any further action was considered.
Item 11. Quarry Liaison Committee: The recent exhibition at Quarrington Hill, about proposals concerning Old
Quarrington and Cold Knuckles quarries, was noted and It was confirmed that Mike Young, of Tarmac Ltd., should
be asked (if he had not been already) to give a presentation, possibly to the March meeting. (Action – Secretary)
5. Report – Trustees’ meeting: 13 January 2009
Addenda to minutes of General Meeting on 16 December – see above.
E-mail from D Marrs re Community Centre – see above.
Regeneration Working Groups/Walkabout – see below.
Correspondence – see below.
The next Trustees’ meeting is on Tuesday 3 February 2009.6. Correspondence:
> A letter to the Durham Times from John Hepplewhite on behalf of the Durham District partnership. concerning
community representation on the new Area Action Partnerships, was read out and discusses. Cllr. Robinson said
she would be reporting to the Parish Council on a meeting she would be attending on this subject. Julie Anson said
she was attending a meeting about it on 29 January and would report to the next meeting. She agreed to ask Lee
Kirby for a brief written summary. Cllr. Blakey reported that any arrangements made for the first year of the new
Council would be subject to review, not final. (Action – J. Anson)
> An e-mail from Jamie Bickersteth, of Climate Durham, concerning “green action” was read out. It was agreed that
the website mentioned (www.climatedurham.org) be included in the minutes.
7. Items of Any Other Business:
(i) Parking on footpath in Durham Road
(ii) [Tail upon End Lane field – See Item 10, below.]
(iii) Tea at B&PCP meetings.
(iv) Bowburn beck
(v) “What’s On”.
8. Treasurer’s Report and Fundraising:
Accounts: The Treasurer tabled a written summary of transactions and balances. In December, the main payments
made were for the Xmas event, Community Chest and Tree Planting. £5222.86 remained in the funds, made up of
Restricted Funds - £2508.95, and Unrestricted Funds - £2713.91.
Quiz: “Common Phrases, Names and Titles”. The closing date is 13 February 2009.
9. Community Chest: No new applications had been received.
10. Reports and matters arising:
Regeneration Working Group/Walkabout: It was noted with concern that the next meeting of the Regeneration
Working Group had been cancelled, it now being four months already since the last one, and that no walkabouts
were planned. Cllr. Blakey agreed to seek a walkabout. (Action – J Blakey)
Prince Charles/Horton Crescent: Cllr. Blakey reposted concerns about the building site “spot light”, plastic blowing
in the wind, and parking in Philip Avenue and Robert Terrace. She agreed to take up the need for “Give Way”
markings with the county Council. (See also Item 12, below). (Action – J Blakey)
Tail-upon-End Lane site: Concern was expressed about the untidy appearance of this site. It was agreed that a
letter be written to Mike Thompson, as chairman of the Regeneration Working Group, asking when building would
commence and, if that was not likely to happen in the near future, if the field can be re-seeded and unsightly
security fences removed. (Action – Secretary)
Cape Site: To be considered at the February meeting, when Geoff Woodcock would be attending.
Parish Council: Sylvia Raine reported that Angus White, on behalf of Durham Green, had attended the last Parish
Council meeting and that members had supported the business park in principle, but queried the siting of the first
phase of the development within the area owned by the applicants and regretted the shortness of the proposed
hammer-head that it was hoped would be the first part of an industrial estates spine road.
The Parish Clerk had written to the County council Economic Development section, regarding possible financial
assistance for struggling shops.
The precept for 2009/10 was to be set at the next meeting on 21 January.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): Nothing to report.
Noticeboard: It was anticipated that this item would not be needed on future agendas.
Quarry Liaison Committee: (See Item 4, above.)
LSP: Jan Blakey reported concerns about the lack of an adequate winding-down / exit strategy for the District Local
Strategic Partnership.
12 Villages Representative: Jan Blakey reported that 12 Villages had been involved ina number of Christmas
activities and in quarry liaison.
Unitary Council – Area Action Partnership: Nothing to report. (But see Item 6, above.)12. Group Noticeboard:
Banner (Mike Syer): Next meeting will be on 29 January.
BVC: (Maureen Robinson): Next edition of Bowburn Interchange will be in March. Deadline for contributions will be
late February.
Football Teams (J Kushnirenco, G Parle, G Hutchinson, A Wilson): There was no report for the meeting. (However
a message sent with apologies by Jayne Kushnirenco to the Secretary reported that the Bowburn Youth Football
Club was going from strength to strength and would like to thank the people in the village for their support over the
last 6 months. They now have over 100 children from Bowburn and the surrounding areas. They were putting in
another U9’s team because they had so many children. The U8 development had left to set up their own team but
new children were coming who would go straight into that team. They were having a Tribute to Bobby Thompson
night on March 7 at Bowburn Club – tickets £4.)
History (Mal Bell): In the absence of the secretary, Mike Syer reported that the last meeting had enjoyed studying
the North Durham 1869 Poll Book. (A message sent with apologies by Mal Bell to the Secretary added that, after
the usual business update, members had inspected recently purchased equipment and then used it to view the
1869 Poll Book, which had quite a few people from Bowburn and the surrounding area in it.)
Website (George Stoker): No Update.
13. Any Other Business:
(i) Parking on footpath in Durham Road – Concern was expressed about vehicles being parked on the new URRI-
scheme footpath in Durham Road. It was agreed that the Secretary write to the police regarding this, and also the
dangerously inconsiderate parking Terrace referred to in Item 10, above. (Action – Secretary)
(ii) (Tail upon End Lane field – See Item 10, above.)
(iii) Tea at B&PCP meetings – Nicola Dixon reported that, due to work commitments, it was getting difficult for her to
get to the Community Centre in time to prepare tea for those attending. Jan Blakey agreed to organise this for the
February meeting. It was agreed that the Secretary should e-mail an appeal for helpers for future meetings.
(Action – Secretary)
(iv) Bowburn beck – In response to a request for news on any progress made re flooding problem, Cllr. Blakey
reported that work was awaiting a report from environmentalists about when it would be legal to do clearance work.
Soil and deposit samples were being analysed to test for pollutants. The beck clearance would have to be done by
hand and could cost about £4000 a day. A date had not yet been fixed for the next multi-agency meeting.
(v) (“What’s On” – This item was missed as it was past 8.30pm. However Robin Millerchip explained to some
members after the meeting that the Durham District Community Partnership was putting together a community
“what’s on” newsletter for the district and was inviting entries from all local community groups.)
14. Date and Time of Meetings: General Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Next meeting is on 17 February 2009 at 6.30pm
Date of future meetings in 2009: 17 Mar, 21 Apr, 19 May, 16 Jun