General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 21 December 2010 From 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, K Haigh, G Kitson, M Syer (Chair)
In Attendance: G Marsden, M Ridley
1. Apologies: B Bates, B Cockburn, K Griffiths, S Raine J Shields, M Williams, R Walsh, S Walworth
2. Police: No report
3. Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: The next meeting is in January.
(ii) Parkhill: No update.
(iii)Community Centre: A ‘wish list’ has been agreed for the remaining funds i.e. Car Park, Servery, Toilets, Table
Store Cupboard, Heaters in Lounge.
(iv) Youth Centre: Bowburn Youth Football Club thanked the Youth Centre for providing the Hall for training.
(v) Unadopted Roads, Environment and URRI: No updates.
(vi) Park Project: The snagging list is still to be completed.
A member asked if there was an update on the park bungalow. This has been given priority by the Park Group at
meetings with the Council and it is hoped that this can be resolved as soon as possible in 2011.
(vii) (a) Regeneration Fund: It was reported in March 2010 that £100,000 out of the £1.9M of the Regeneration
Pot had been spent on demolitions and site clearance. We now know that we are not getting this back. The newly
formed Unitary County agreed to take on the responsibilities of the former City Council, however the City Council
had not told anyone that £100,000 had been spent, and this money was not available.
In addition to the £1.9M was £500,000 SHIP monies to be spent on Apprenticeships and the Conservation
Area. The County Council have found that there is £116,000 still not spent and has agreed that these monies can
be spent on the same purposes, with the Partnership having a say on how this is spent.
1However it is still the case that no one can guarantee when we will get these monies.
(b) Regeneration Working Group: No update.
(c) Walkabout and Housing issues: It was pointed out that the Head of Planning had been informed about
the need for the footpath in Robson Crescent before planning permission had been granted.
(viii) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP) Forum Event 17 November 2010
There were 3 aims;
(1) To provide an overview of the Council’s Budget situation for the next 3 years. Members at the Forum were asked
for their views and selected;
Top three services to protect: Youth Centres/ Youth Workers; Community Development; Public Transport
Top three services to reduce: Policy, Improvement and Scrutiny; Resources; Arts, Cultural Services and Museums
It was said that the consultation results from all 14 AAPs will be presented to Cabinet to aid future decision making.
(2) To update the work of the AAP and its direction of spend for 2010/11
(3)To discuss and rank the key priority themes for the AAP to address in 2011/12.
1. Support for Voluntary Community Sector/ Community Spirit & Aspirations – 42 votes
2. Activities for Children and Young People - 40 votes
3. Employment and Job Prospects - 27 votes
4. Private Rented Accommodation - 15 votes
5. Sustainable Transport and Traffic Issues - 15 votes
6. Crime and Community Safety - 15 votes
7. Environmental Issues - 5 votes
Meetings in 2011 will be on the first Wednesday of every other month beginning 5 January at Cassop Centre.
(ix) Future Plans of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (B&PCP)
The trustees and members put forward the following Action Plan:
> 4a Identify Open Spaces: The Haslam Homes Open Spaces assessment of open spaces in relation to the Tail
upon End Lane site was viewed and the following suggestions were made: Check if there is a County version of
‘open spaces’; Be aware if planning applications occur in these open spaces; Protect by providing a ‘green
development’; Check the ‘Open Space Society’ for advice on safeguarding.
> 7b Lighting from Broadmeadows to Hallgarth estate: The local representatives are to allocate part of their
Neighbourhood Budget to continue the lighting along the C12a possibly with sodium lamps.
Plans to light the Mabey footpath will be investigated.
> C13 Small grants: The AAP will allocate one off grants of up to £2000 – application forms are available.
> D14 Housing: Integrate new residents - Preparations are being made to publish an information leaflet; Check
planning applications; Check allocation of housing for our area through the Strategic Housing Land Availability
Assessment (SHLAA)
4. Minutes of last General Meeting: 16 November 2010
The minutes of the November meeting were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters arising:
Item 3 Flooding: Bowburn is not in the first group of priority areas at risk of flooding, but Cllr Blakey will be following
this up to see if the assessment has taken account of the flooding incidents in Bowburn. (Cllr Blakey)
Item 5 CCTV: The Parish Council have been informed that the camera could be moved to survey the
allotments.
Item 5 Footpath 29: The secretary contacted the Ramblers Association and Roger Cornwell has been in touch with
the Council where Owen Shaw said that the obstructive barbed wire and missing stile are being attended to.
5. Report - Trustees’ meeting on 7 December 2010:
> The trustees discussed the Action Plan (See Item 3 (ix).
> It was suggested that the Partnership may wish to comment on the Mineral plan in the County Durham Plan.
‘At this General Meeting Richard C put forward a report on the mineral plan as follows:
1) OQ Quarry is not, so far as I can see, mentioned by name so is not a "strategic" site. I presume however it is a
non strategic site
22) Thrislington, Raisby, Cornforth, Witch Hill, Crime Rigg and Bishop Middleham Quarries were proposed as
"strategic" mineral extraction sites but only Thrislington seems to be accepted.
3) Pittington was proposed as an area of strategic coal extraction but the County again appear not to wish to
proceed with this
4) The County are still undecided about identifying Thrislington as a strategic waste site.
There are problems with the water-table at Thrislington.
There have been objections from environmental charities such as Durham Wildlife Trust. They have noted our
comment about using the A177 through Bowburn as a route. The County has identified impact of traffic as an issue
- I'm not entirely sure whether that includes our point or not.
From the Partnership's point of view, I do not think this document has a major impact on Bowburn; subject possibly
to point 4 above. However, I do not interpret this to mean that no extensions etc can be carried out at OQ Quarry
and no doubt we will need to keep vigilant if any further application is made.’
> Localism Bill: RC would report on the Localism Bill, which could affect our Future Plans.
> The secretary is now applying for the ‘AAP Partnership’ fund of £1000 to pay for a duplex printer and software.
> After a review of the Partnership, the CVS recommended that B&PCP adopt the following policies: Complaints,
Conflict of Interest, Equal Opportunities, Reserves, Trustees’ Code of Conduct, and Volunteering.
It was agreed that a sub group adapt the policies to fit the needs of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership
(Action Janet, Richard C, Ken, Mike, Richard W) with a view to adopting them.
The CVS also recommended a Trustees’ Indemnity for B&PCP.
At this General Meeting it was suggested that the secretary could attend a course to update skills on software.
It may be possible to arrange a community course in Bowburn if there is interest from 10/12 residents. (Action Janet)
6. Correspondence:
At this meeting it was announced that the secretary had received the Chairman’s Medal for work in the community
from Cllr Mac Williams.
Janet said she was overwhelmed and thrilled to receive this award.
The Eco-Schools Programme is run by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation of Environmental Education.
The programme was created to raise awareness of sustainability and environmental responsibility within schools.
They rely on a bank of volunteer assessors to visit local schools who apply to receive a Green Flag award. If you
are interested in becoming a volunteer Eco-Schools assessors you will be paid expenses, and full training is
provided. – contact Janet for more information.
7. Items of Any Other Business: (i) Anaerobic Digester (ii) Papershop
8. Treasurers update:
The treasurer gave the following report:
Income since June ‘10: £16,943.22 (Cllr Neighbourhood Fund, DCC (AAP) lights/footpath, Quiz, Tea/Raffle,
Cassop-cum-Quarrinton Parish Council)
Expenditure since June ‘10 - £5,291.50 (Speedwatch Units, quiz prizes, room hire, refreshments, wreath and lottery
licence)
Current balance - £27,958.56
Raffle Draw: The prizes were won by M Bell and R Cowen with thanks to J Blackburn for the prizes.
Quiz: The new quiz, ‘Merry Christmas’ is on sale. Answers to be handed in by 17 January.
It was agreed to check with County that the footpath/lighting scheme was invoiced before 31 December to avoid
paying the increased VAT charge in January 2011. (Action Janet)
Three Streets Raffle draw: 1st Blue 491, 2nd Salmon 306, 3rd Yellow 826, 4th Salmon 276, 5th Blue 461
(All prizes have been collected)
9. Reports and matters arising:
(i) Parish Council –
The next Meetings are: 19 January and 16 February in Bowburn Community Centre at 7pm. All are welcome.
(ii) County Durham Plan and Big Society related to the area of benefit: There are several documents for
consultation following from the Core Strategy; the closing date for LTP3 is 31 December 2010.
3(iii)Quarry Liaison Committee: The December meeting was cancelled.
(iv) The 12 Villages: No report.
10. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
> Banner: – No meeting
> BVC: The December issue has been delivered. All past editions of the Interchange are now on-line, with an index
to follow in due course.
> Church: No report.
> Football Teams:
Bowburn Athletic: (A Wilson) No games played because of the bad weather. U16s hope for promotion and play in
the Umbro Cup in July; U14s are improving and have students from Sheffield University working with them; U8s are
doing well; there should be two new teams, U9s and Development U7s, in March 2011.
Bowburn Youth: (M Ridley) The Xmas Party in the Community Centre was a success.
Bowburn Cooperage: (G Hutchinson) The team has not played for two weeks but is 6th in the league. They are still
looking for a manager for next season.
It was said at this General meeting that football training should start on the Bowburn pitches in March 2011.
> History: (M Bell) – The last meeting was cancelled, but work is going ahead on the Heritage Room. The 2011
calendar is on sale for £3.
> Website: (G Hutchinson)Topics 69; Posts 231; Members 1339. In November – 6431 hits and 240 new members;
The website is still popular and attracting a lot of new people. Gary has had computer problems but things have
improved and the site is live.
Main complaints: Estates not gritted especially near the bungalows in Lawson Rd and Dallymore; Some drivers are
driving badly in the snow and a delivery driver nearly lost control because he was going too fast; Snow from drives
and roads is blocking pavements; in reply people say if the roads were cleared they wouldn’t have to do it, and
snowploughs block drives
Praise went to the church for holding their Xmas Fair, despite the bad weather.
11. Any Other Business:
(i) A permit has been issued for the Anaerobic Digester at Old Quarrington.
The Environment Agency and planners have agreed to talk with residents from Old Quarrington about concerns.
(ii) Closure of the papershop in Durham Road. It was suggested that the shop could be taken over as a community
project by the Partnership as part of the Big Society. It was pointed out that as the shop was being sold at auction
the full cash payment would be necessary.
It was agreed to send a letter of appreciation to Ken and Liz Atkinson for services to Bowburn. (Action Janet)
Everyone was wished a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is on 18 January 2011
Dates for your diary in 2011:
15 Feb, 15 Mar, 19 Apr, 17 May, 21 Jun, 19 Jul, 16 Aug, 20 Sep, 18 Oct, 15 Nov, 20 Dec
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