General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 19 January 2010 From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, R Cowen (left 7.15), K Haigh, R Jackson, J Kane, G Kitson,
R Millerchip, S Raine (Left 7.15), J Shields, M Syer, R Walsh
In Attendance: J Anson, G Marsden, M Ridley, PCSO Wilkinson
1. Apologies for absence: PC Cockburn, Maggie Robinson, M Williams
2. P.C.S.O. Wilkinson: Gave the report for 16 December to date:
Parkhill – 2 Cases of Damage; Cassop – 1 Assault on PC making arrest; Bowburn – 2 Assault bus driver with
investigation ongoing and dispute in the Club with 1 arrest ongoing, 3 Burglary, 5 Thefts, 7 Criminal Damage with
investigation ongoing into neighbourhood dispute.
PCSO Wilkinson was thanked for attending the meeting and left at 6.50pm.
3. Masterplan Updates – Community Development Officer and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: Next meeting 15 February.
A member asked if JA could enquire about ‘quick drying’ tarmac to be used to fill the pot-holes in the Three Streets.
Parkhill: Peter Henderson has now handed over Parkhill to Julie Anson. The Parkhill residents’ meeting was
cancelled because of bad weather. So discussions about alternative projects will take place at their next meeting.
(iii) Heritage Room: On hold.
(iv) Community Centre: Funding applications have been submitted: Biffaward have acknowledged receipt.
JA suggested making an application for LEADER funding.
(v) Youth Centre: The opening took place on 18 January by Cllr Myers. There was a good attendance including past
and present members and leaders.
(vi) Church: Now that the Church has the necessary policies it can submit two applications for the dividing door and
youth equipment.
(vii) Unadopted Roads: Next meeting 11 February.
It was hoped that discussions will re-start with D Wilcox concerning the Equity Share Scheme
1(Action Mike)
(viii) Park Project: S Hawley and P Alderson did a site visit, but work cannot start this week because of the recent
bad weather and the site will be checked next Monday. Machinery will be back on site when work begins.
A member asked JA to investigate a ‘lake’ of water that has formed above the trim trail track at the top of the park.
(ix) Environment and URRI: Durham Road: The bollards will be installed when weather permits.
Julie referred to a letter from Greig Cavey Commercial Ltd, agent for the Co-op’s landlords, where he says that he is
unhappy about the repairs needed to the wall and he was enquiring what progress there was on the installation of
CCTV cameras.
Julie commented that it would be some time before CCTV was in the Co-op area.
She asked if there was any progress on the Parish applying for planning permission on the Park’s behalf.
A member said he would make enquiries about this matter. (x) (a) Regeneration Working Group: No meeting.
(b) Walkabout: Haslam are to repair the pot-holes outside their car park on the estate at Prince Charles Avenue.
(c) Housing: The application for 5 Three Bed houses in Robert Terrace was granted planning permission.
It was said that 5 objections and that of the Parish were omitted from the report to the planning committee and there
had been an apology for the error, Haslam homes are to lower a fence which will face one of the existing houses.
A member suggested that anyone could write to County with their concerns about the reporting of information to the
planning committee.
(xi) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP):
The next Board meeting is on 20 January at 6.30pm in Trimdon Community Centre.
Pass on questions to the Board by email or telephone: jane.bellis@durham.gov.uk Tel 0191 527 4764
Julie explained the role of the Economic Regeneration function, of which she is a part, within the Regeneration and
Economic Development service in the County’s restructure programme. The responsibilities include; identifying
regeneration priorities, develop community led regeneration initiatives, masterplans and consultation, develop
employability, training and apprenticeship opportunities, and project management. The Central and East team –
manager G Wood, area manager John Tindale, employability officer B Curry, team leader Julie Anson (Bowburn
and Parkhill), 4 officers Adam White (Cassop, Kelloe, Coxhoe, Q Hill), K Clements, L Mahoney, L Garraghan.
Janet was asked to forward this information to other local groups. (Action Janet)
Julie was thanked for her attendance and left the meeting at 7.35pm
4. Minutes of last General Meeting and: 17 November 2009
The minutes were approved as a true record.
Matters arising: Item 3: (x) (c)
Mud on A177. Derek Rayner, construction manager for Esh, believed that they are keeping the road clean and was
not aware of any problems, but both he and his contracts manager will personally monitor the area.
Houghall Theme Park. Peter Herbert, principal planner, was not aware of any feasibility study and no planning
application has been received. Such an activity raises a number of concerns because the site is highly sensitive
being in a Green Belt and an Area of High Landscape Value, which has been made clear to the developers.
The Industrial Highway is some years away, although its probable route is being safeguarded.
5. Report – Trustees’ meeting: 1 December 2009 was cancelled due to the bad weather.
6. Correspondence:
> Public Consultation – Schools’ Admissions 2011/2012. “The deadline for responses is 31 January. Note – this
does not contain secondary schools as the oversubscription has been determined by the Schools Adjudicator”.
Reply online via www.durham.gov.uk/admissionsconsultation
> Greig Cavey Commercial Ltd: See Item 3 (ix)
> Tamiflu Collection -Tesco Dragonville: ID is needed for both the patient and flu buddy. Queries to 0191 374 4123
> Fuel Poverty Awareness Event: 22 January at the Glebe Centre in Murton.
> Skillshare: Make the secretary aware of any course you are interested in, and a group class could be arranged.
> LinK leaflet distributed. 23 January, tea and coffee in Old Elvet Church, to celebrate LinK and answer questions.
> Anaerobic Digester: P Johnson has applied for an Environment Permit following planning permission for his
composting facility. The Environment Agency (EA) must decide whether to grant or refuse the application. If it
grants the application, it must decide what conditions should be included in the permit.
Discussions took place concerning: The planning application being for 10 000T waste with resultant digestate to
spread on the land, and an electricity output; The EA application for 49 999T waste with resultant digestate and gas
output. Concern was expressed about the smell which will come from the waste in the wagons and on the fields.
An unknown objector has already made representations to the EA.
It was agreed that B&PCP should express their concerns to the Environment Agency. 2
(Action Janet)7. Items of Any Other Business: None
8. Treasurer’s Report and Fundraising:
Treasurers update: The current balance is £4948.48, of which £2644.56 is unrestricted. Income £72.60 (On
Broadway plus Tea/Raffle). Spending £333.24 (Insurance and Lottery licence)
Raffle for Fundraising: The raffle was won by R Jackson. With thanks to J Kane for donating the prizes.
Quiz – Round Objects: First prize M Minto, Second prize K Haigh, Third prize D Bradley. The next quiz will be out in
February.
9. Reports and matters arising:
Mabey housing: Nothing new to report.
Parish Council: Items discussed on Wednesday 16 December at Cassop. (i) County Council Consultation re the
problems at Philip Avenue with only one person out of 150 replying; (ii) Details of the Parish precept for 2010/2011
are to be received by the Council by 30 January, therefore a meeting of the Finance & Forward Planning Committee
took place on 13 January to make recommendations; (iii) There was correspondence from County re School’s
Admissions for 2011/2012, but not including “voluntary and controlled secondary schools” as this has already been
determined by the Schools’ Adjudicator. The clerk is to contact the Council saying this is an “unreasonable
constraint”; (iv) And correspondence re anti-social behaviour working group – the Parish expressed concerns about
dog-fouling, fly tipping, and parking on pavements.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): Nothing to report
Quarry Liaison Committee: Nothing to report
12 Villages Representative: Meeting cancelled.
10. Group Noticeboard:
Banner (M Syer): Plans are being made for the Big Meeting on 10 July. The march of the banners is “School to
School” from Wylam Street, via the Library, Burn Street, Runcie Road, and Monteigne Drive to Surtees Avenue.
The group plans to ask for ideas for routes in future years.
BVC: The next edition of the Interchange is being planned with the deadline for articles being the end of February.
Church: No report.
Football Teams:
Bowburn Youth (G Hutchinson): The Xmas party was a success despite the bad weather and all raffle prizes were
claimed. Training is still inside and everything is going well.
Cooperage (G Hutchinson): There is no report as no games have been played due to the bad weather.
The team is still looking for a manager and committee for next season.
> History (M Bell): The Calendar is still on sale at £3.
At the last meeting it was explained that the books donated by COSA have been digitised by the County Council
and the group’s members will be compiling an index for the Council’s Record Office, which will eventually be
available on the internet. There will be a talk on 19th C. collieries on 18 February.
> Website (G Hutchinson): The site is still growing and has more new members.
11. Any Other Business: None
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is 16 February 2010 at 6.30pm
Future meetings: 16 Mar, 20 April, 18 May (AGM), 15 Jun, 20 Jul, 17 Aug, 21 Sept,19 Oct, 16 Nov, 21 Dec
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