General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 16 March 2010 From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, K Griffiths, K Haigh, R Jackson, G Kitson,
S Raine, V Richardson, Maureen Robinson, S Thompson, R Walsh, S Walworth
In Attendance: PC Cockburn, J Elmer, G Marsden, M Ridley
1. Apologies for absence: J Anson, R Millerchip, Maggie Robinson, S Robinson, J Shields, M Syer, M Williams
2. P.C. Cockburn: Gave the report to date:
Parkhill – No reported cases; Cassop – 1 Theft of car number plates, 1 Vehicle searched but nothing taken;
Bowburn – 1 Burglary from an allotment, 4 Thefts - Shoplifter from Co-op has been arrested, Drill and charger
taken whilst work going on at house, two sets of car number plates; 1 criminal damage of a vehicle.
It was advised that stolen number plates should be reported immediately because they are being used on
vehicles that drive away from filling stations without paying for the petrol.
Youth nuisance has been less frequent, and problems in Philip Avenue have declined.
Re the concern about the reported racial abuse – On 2 December 2009 a resident’s car was damaged,
enquiries were made and there were no suspects. The Hate Crime Officer was contacted - the only detail was
of the damage to the vehicle, above, and no other incidents have been reported.
However, if the police are made aware of any incidents they will be looked into.
> A member reported that several allotment owners had complained of stolen feed.
PC Cockburn said that the PCSO’s had also been made aware of such cases, but no others have been
officially reported – again, everyone is encouraged to report all incidents.
> The large amount of rubbish tipped on the Old Quarrington road had been reported, and cleared by the
council. Other rubbish has been collected and set on fire at the Industrial Estate.
1It was said that there is a scheme by the Environment Agency to clear fly-tipping.
Everyone is urged to take and report the registration of vehicles that are seen fly-tipping or involved in
suspicious circumstances.
> Theft of the railway lines is being investigated by all sections of the police.
PC Cockburn was thanked for attending the meeting, and left at 6.45pm.
The following item was added to the agenda with the agreement of the trustees.
Digital Democracy:
Jonathan Elmer introduced himself as the managing director of ‘Democratise’, a project to pilot an
experimental website www.digitaldemocracy.gov.uk which enables individuals and their communities to
identify their top concerns. Simply log on to the above website, type a concern anonymously, suggest a
solution, register, and wait for others to decide on the top proposal either locally or nationally.
This happens every fortnight and the results are sent to the MP who then responds to the community’s top
concern on the website.
A discussion took place on the following: Safeguards in the system to identify lobbying; they are there but JE
wants a concern to be made by as many people as possible.
JE feels that his site is more thorough and thoughtful than the Downing Street site as it allows opposing views.
JE hopes his idea will make the Internet a useful tool in mass involvement in democracy, both locally and
nationally.
The chair has set up a facebook group “Bowburn and Parkhill Community Partnership” on www.facebook.com to
encourage local discussion. He hopes it will be promoted to others in Bowburn.
Jonathan was thanked for his presentation and left the meeting at 7.40pm.
Raffle for fundraising: The raffle was won by J Blackburn. With thanks to R Walsh for donating the prize.
3. Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
Julie Anson sent reports on certain items
(i) Highways: The next meeting is 22 March.
(ii) Parkhill: No report.
(iii) Community Centre:
JA sent the following information on funding:
County Durham Foundation £1000, unsuccessful as it was part of a larger project.
Sherburn House Charity £2,000, successful
Parish Council £1,000, successful
Awaiting funding responses from CISWO and the councillors’ Neighbourhood Budget for £4,000
It was said that the contractor, Vest, has been engaged with a start date in May, but will need to set up
equipment and start preliminary clearances before that. Unfortunately the contractor for the electrics has gone
into liquidation and an alternative contractor has been appointed, which could mean higher costs.
(iv) Youth Centre: No report.
Church: Work is ongoing to the dividing wall. One set of internal doors has been installed.
A member asked about a bus shelter that could be put on church land.
Cllr Blakey explained that the bus stand should have been planned for the footpath and other possibilities are
being looked into.
Unadopted Roads: The group is still looking to get the Equity Share Scheme in place.
A Quiz Night is being held on Friday in Bowburn Club.
(vii) Park Project:
Service Direct is on site putting in the lighting columns, and work starts on the bases for CCTV this week.
Football Foundation Update: The revised changing room plans have been accepted, and the Football
Foundation will arrange a date to meet up and go through the application.
It was said that the path will be top-coated after the landscaping and CCTV/lighting columns are finished,
which should be by the end of April. The BT connection should take place in the middle of April.
2(viii) Environment and URRI: Durham Road: The Beck has been cleared through the park and further work will
be done in front of Lansdowne Crescent and under the road towards Old Quarrington.
(ix)
(a) Regeneration Working Group: No meeting.
(b) Walkabout: Cllr Blakey reported the following:
She had criticised the state of the road in Tail-upon-End Lane, but the footpath would be open before the
closure date agreement; and she was told that the drains in Prince Charles Avenue are to be inspected.
A member complained that Tail-upon-End Lane was being used as a site road, and no provision had been
made to take deliveries within the site. This causes traffic to be stopped for an unreasonable amount of time.
(Action Cllr Blakey)
A concern was expressed that the Wellsprings building in Durham Road was running on a short term lease
and may be pulled down to make an access road to the Business Park.
(c) Housing: Building starts in Robson Crescent next week.
(x) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP):
The next Board meeting is on 17 March at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Pass on questions to the Board by email or telephone: jane.bellis@durham.gov.uk OR Tel 0191 527 4764
Regeneration Fund:
A discussion took place on the £100,000 creamed off from the Regeneration Pot, leaving £1.8M for projects.
A member felt that the trustees had a responsibility to see that the Regeneration monies were properly looked
after – as they could be answerable to the Charity Commission.
Members would like to know how the £100,000 was allocated to demolition and acquisitions.
The following options were considered:
(a) Do nothing;
(b) Take legal action
(c) Ask for an enquiry by the Council which could be done via a Scrutiny committee.
Members felt that option (c) was preferable, and the chair would request that this was done by the County
Council. (Action Richard W)
A discussion took place as to how the £150,141.00 remaining in the funds for the 8 Environment Schemes and
Unadopted Road Scheme should be allocated.
Members agreed to allocate the Unadopted Roads their full amount of £77,500.00, with the remaining funds
going to the Environment projects where other funding may be available to make all the projects possible.
4. Minutes of last General Meeting and: 19 January 2009
The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a true record. The only matter arising raised was the Transit
15 response from Harris Harvey who noted the request for a Park & Ride scheme off the A177, and replied
that “quite simply this is not an option under this project. Their (trustees’) view will nevertheless be logged
accordingly with the consultation record.”
It being past 8.30pm, it was agreed that the meeting be closed, and that all outstanding business be referred
to the Trustees’ meeting on 6 April, in order to deal with any urgent matters.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is 20 April 2010 at 6.30pm
Future meetings: 18 May (AGM), 15 Jun, 20 Jul, 17 Aug, 21 Sept,19 Oct, 16 Nov, 21 Dec
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