General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 19 October 2010 From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, K Griffiths, K Haigh, B Jennings, S Raine,
Maggie Robinson, S Robinson, J Shields, W Templar, S Thompson, R Walsh, S Walworth
In Attendance: J Anson, G Marsden, M Ridley
1. Apologies: B Cockburn, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, G Kitson, D Paget, A Richardson, M Syer, M Williams
2. Police: PC Cockburn kindly sent an update by email - crime statistics for the last 5 weeks as follows:
Cassop 0; Parkhill 1 theft; Bowburn 2 garden sheds broken into, 9 theft, 9 criminal damage.
3. Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: The next meeting is 25 November.
(ii) Parkhill: Signage has been erected, but is awaited in the main park.
(iii)Community Centre:
Once the costs for this first stage of the refurbishment are paid, it will be possible to take decisions on future
plans.
1Open night to celebrate the refurbishment on 12 November starts at 7pm and will be opened by the Chair of
the County Council, Mac Williams, and users will publicise their activities with an exhibition or display.
(iv) Youth Centre: Everyone is invited to the AGM on 10 November from 6pm. and volunteers for the
management committee would be most welcome.
(v) Unadopted Roads, Environment and URRI: Julie is waiting for information relating to the Unadopted Roads
Report before updating the costs.
The AAP have confirmed the funding for the footpath and lighting columns in Parkhill, and to upgrade the
lamps in Newburn Avenue in Bowburn. These projects can be deleted from the Environment schemes.
A report into unadopted roads across the County will go to Cabinet on 12 November; full council meets on 24
November when residents can ask questions of the council.
(vi) Park Project: The committee is still waiting for the final evaluation - then making good the former ‘tennis
court’ area will be considered.
Members reported that: The litter bins still need emptying regularly, and one bin is missing; two kerbs are
missing, the gate is to repair, the tarmac path at the community centre needs to be finished, herris fencing is
missing and the permanent fencing needs to be put up.
A member informed the meeting that unfortunately young people ran riot in the park after the ‘Not in my
neighbourhood week’ and it was said that the CCTV camera was facing towards the houses rather than the
park. The position of the camera will be checked. (Action Cllr Blakey and JA)
The link to the Co-op has planning permission and the order has been made.
A member was concerned about the footpath below the allotments. (Action S Raine)
(vii) (a) Regeneration Working Group: No update.
(b) Walkabout and Housing issues: The 5 new council houses in Robson Crescent have been let.
Again there was a request for the trees overshadowing these houses to be pruned because they could cause
problems for the photovoltaic cells. (Action Cllr Blakey)
Information was given about the Climät Hus which is an eco-friendly house on the former Cape site.
There is a DVRC meeting on Friday.
Mr Les Hall of Northumbrian Water will be coming to the November meeting to discuss flooding issues in
Bowburn.
At this meeting a member said that the Tail upon End estate was now connected to the main sewerage system
without the explicit permission of NWL. It was said that the number of houses ‘connected’ is the same number
as before the regeneration of housing, there is great a concern about flooding in Bowburn and at the
Community Centre in particular - as it is assumed that there would be no indemnity from NWL, planners or
builders.
(viii) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP):
Forum meetings are a twice-yearly opportunity for residents and interested organisations to discuss options,
put forward their ideas about how their parts of the AAP area can be improved and to vote on priorities.
The next AAP Forum meeting will be in Bowburn Community Centre, on Wednesday 17 Nov. From 3.00pm –
6.00pm there is an open event of information stands. The Forum business takes place 6.00pm – 8.00pm.
Book a place through Marie Ainscough on 0191-5274807, or marie.ainscough@durham.gov.uk
Meetings in 2011 will be on the first Wednesday of every other month starting on 5 January at Cassop Centre.
(ix) Future Plans of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (B&PCP)
In the matrix it was agreed to prioritise: A 4a Identify Open Spaces; 7 Improve Street Lighting; C 13 Publicise
funding for specialist equipment for Sports Clubs and Groups; D 14 Integrate new residents.
4. Minutes of last General Meeting: 20 September 2010
The minutes of the September meeting were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters arising: Item 2 Police: The alarm at the Junior School had been triggered by a spider and the matter
will be raised at the next governors’ meeting.
item 10 (i) Parish Council: Mr Peter Thorpe, clerk of the Parish Council, contacted the secretary to let her know
that there are no immediate plans for a special meeting to discuss Footpath 29 with the Rights of Way Officer.
25. Report - Trustees’ meeting on 7 September 2010:
The meeting suggested priorities in the ‘Future Plans for B&PCP’ to bring to the general meeting.
6. Correspondence:
> The September issue of LINk was given out to members.
> Leesa Bennison Invite to the Community Cohesion meeting on 21 October.
> Notice to contact County Durham Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, SHLAA, consultation –
have your say on identified sites with potential for new housing development.
> Invite to the Open Evening of Bowburn Community Centre at 7.00pm on 12 November.
> St John Ambulance courses on health&safety and first aid from Oct 2010 and June 2011.
> Total Home Safety Initiative to assess homes of vulnerable people to reduce burglaries and fires.
7. Items of Any Other Business: None
8. Treasurers update: The treasurer sent a report as follows:
Income - £1.00 from the quiz; £15.70 from the tea and raffle receipts.
Expenditure - £2.00 refreshments; £46.50 room hire.
The current balance of £12,363.46 includes £8,431.68 restricted funds of which £6.071.76 is for street lighting.
Raffle Draw: The prize was won by J Blakey with thanks to K Haigh for the prize.
Quiz: “Singing” Prize Winners: First - P Brierly, Second - F Hodgson , Third – D Odam.
9. Reports and matters arising:
(i) Parish Council – The next Meetings are: 20 October and 17 November in Bowburn Community Centre at
7pm. All are welcome.
(ii) Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) – Keep under consideration.
(iii)Quarry Liaison Committee – The next meeting will be in December.
It was reported that Coxhoe quarry are open to arranged visits.
(iv) The 12 Villages – Meet 25 October.
10. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
> Banner: – Those who went to the Heworth meeting enjoyed the day and heard a good speaker - George
Galloway.
> BVC: The September Interchange has been delivered.
Please send stories and photographs to Mike for the December issue.
> Church: No report.
> Football Teams:
Bowburn Youth: (M Ridley) – training is taking place in the village. All members are being kitted out with a
coat, hat and gloves for the winter. The Halloween Party is on 29 October.
Luke Ridley who was awarded Young Coach of the year for Durham and Chester-le-Street but unfortunately
not for the county.
Bowburn Athletic: (A Wilson) - U16 Boys are pushing for promotion and are 4th in their League. U14 Boys are
doing well and have a full team. U8 are enjoying their football and winning most of their games. The two older
teams start winter training at Maiden Castle whilst the younger teams are at Coxhoe Sports Centre. We have
two Newcastle University Sports Degree students on placement with the Club helping out with the teams.
> History: (M Bell) – Progress is being made on preparing the new resource room, the former computer room,
which will be open to the public by the time of the Community Centre’s open evening on 12 November.
> Website: No report
11. Any Other Business: None
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is on 16 November 2010
Followed by 21 December.
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