GENERAL MEETING
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 March 2011 from 6.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, K Griffiths, D Paget, S Raine, A Richardson, S
Thompson, R Walsh, S Walworth
In attendance: J Anson, J Hepplewhite, G Marsden, M Ridley
1, Apologies: B Cockburn, S Featherstone, G Kitson, Maggie Robinson, M Syer, M Williams
2. Coxhoe Sport’s Centre:
J Hepplewhite gave an update on the Action Group campaigning to keep Coxhoe Sports’ Centre open.
He said that Coxhoe has been earmarked as one of the leisure facilities in the county that could close - the problem
is one of viability, but it is the only centre in our AAP and the action group wants to work with the council for advice
on making the centre workable, and possibly setting up a charitable trust. JH provided this meeting with a
consultation questionnaire and asked if someone would represent the partnership on the campaign group. The MP
is to meet with the group in County Hall. It was agreed that:
• Everyone should be encouraged to fill in the questionnaire – to be collected from the Community Centre or
Sports Centre or online.
• The Partnership should fill in the questionnaire as a group.
• That R Cowen should represent the Partnership at future campaign meetings.
Cllr J Blakey and J Hepplewhite were thanked for attending the meeting, and left at 7pm.
3. Police: Thanks were extended to PC Cockburn for emailing the following. Parkhill – 1 Assault, 1 Damage;
Cassop – 1 Theft, 1 Attempted Theft; Bowburn – 3 Burglaries (Other), 5 Theft, 1 Assault, 2 Damage.
Members had reported anti-social behaviour from young people on motor bikes, who need to be caught red-handed
before action can be taken against them.
1There is a missing pothole cover at the bottom of the colliery rows.
4. Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
i) Highways: The next meeting is on 30 March at 6.30pm.
ii) Parkhill: The group are now having monthly meetings. Parkhill Park has had an inspection by the Big Lottery, and
Angela will send the final report in May. The group are now looking for their next project.
iii) Community Centre: With the remaining funds for refurbishment amounting to £53 569.00 the working group took
the decision to re-roof the foyer and computer rooms – this work is taking place now. Quotes are in for the units in
the Servery so that works can start soon.
The group has just been informed of the good news that the rest of the allocation of Regeneration monies
amounting to £118 882.00 is available.
So now prices are being obtained for the top priority to re-roof the main hall and the back of the building, followed by
an upgrade of the front door and the grounds at the front of the building.
iv) Youth Centre: They are waiting for the outcome of the AAPs Small Grants Fund to create a useable outdoor
recreation area.
v) Unadopted Roads and Environment: There is to be a further meeting at the end of the month with Terry Collins
and Bob Young to update on the Equity Share Scheme; a fundraising collection takes place in April and if anyone
would like to help the 3 Streets Group they could bring useable clothes, shoes, bags, bedding (not duvets) to Janet.
Julie is to set up an Environment meeting with SR, KH, JB, Cllr JB and MS to update the projects.
vi) Park Project: The ‘tennis court’ behind the bowling-green will be landscaped ready for an outdoor gym area.
There will be a consultation event on 19 April from 1.30pm to 7.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre. Have your
say when you come to the next Partnership meeting.
There was a visit from Entrust today to check on how the funds from Biffa have been spent on the play park. They
were very impressed and pleased to see that the money had been spent correctly.
Mrs Lyons, head of the Junior School, has agreed to leave the football posts on the school pitch to use as a
overflow pitch for training and matches.
Julie Anson was thanked for attending and left the meeting at 7.10pm.
vii) a) Regeneration Fund: See funding update in 4(ii) Community Centre.
b) Regeneration Working Group: No questions.
c) Walkabout and housing Issues: It was said that the planning conditions in Prince Charles Avenue were not
adhered to concerning connecting the houses to the sewage system. However Northumbrian Water think the
system is adequate.
Agreed – to show concern about the procedure followed by DCC. [Copies to Cllr Blakey and M Ridley]. (R Cowen)
viii) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP: Key messages from the Board Meeting on 2 March 2011 at Bowburn:
L O’Donnell (Assistant Chief Executive) gave a detailed presentation to feedback on the County Council’s Medium
Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2011/2012 to 2014/2015. A question and answer session followed.
G Wingrove (Traffic and Community Engagement Manager) gave a detailed presentation on School Gate Parking.
A question and answer session followed.
S Stuart (Chief Executive of South Durham Enterprise Agency) delivered a presentation on the SDEA Regional
Growth Fund Bid for South Durham and explained that further detail on the benefit to the AAP would follow.
It was announced that J Bowles (Board Member – Public Representative) had decided to resign from the East
Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership.
With regard to the potential closure of leisure centres, it was requested that a Special Board Meeting be held for
Board Members and the community to express their views and to discuss what role the AAP could play in the future
of the leisure centres. The Cabinet report and Consultation Questionnaire is available online.
Date and time of next meeting – Wednesday 4 May 2011 at 5.00pm in Kelloe Primary School.
It was said the Community Centre and Cooperage car parks are available to make the road at the Infants’ School
safe; there is a school bus from Parkhill; the police can issue parking tickets.
2ix) Future Plans for the Partnership:
>Open Spaces: RW apologised when he could not update the Open Space Plan - it will be done at the next meeting.
> Lighting: Broadmeadows to Hallgarth estate: The local councillors have agreed with D Wafer to install half the
lights along the C12a this year and half next year. To comply with new regulations there will be LED lighting units of
16w. In future it is hoped that the C12a will be allocated a lower speed limit - discussions are on going.
Works to upgrade the Parkhill footpath and install lighting is under discussion with D Wilcox.
At this meeting a member of the Parkhill Residents’ Group said the group had no objections to lighting the path.
> Funding: The AAP Small Grants Fund has been re-opened and the closing date is 21 March 2011.
AAP funding to publish a welcome pack has been spent on a duplex printer, publisher, Word 2010 and a toner
cartridge. Janet has discussed an ICT course with New College using the ‘Training Budget’. 12 students are
needed, otherwise we would be paying full price for the numbers that fall short of the twelve.
6 members (B Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, D Paget, S Raine, M Ridley,) showed an interest in the course.
Janet will check if there is an age limit on courses funded through New College. (Action Janet)
> Planning applications: A box to upgrade Broadband is being installed near the bus shelter at the Cooperage.
Low Butterby Farm: It was agreed to question the planning authority concerning the construction of a track to
transport felled trees on a popular recreational route. (Action R Cowen)
> Housing for our area through SHLAA: Janet will be in touch with First Industrial to ask them to attend the
Partnership meeting in April to discuss the plans for Durham Green. (Action Janet)
5. Minutes of General meeting and matters arising 15 February 2011:
The minutes of the February meeting were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
All actions are covered in the agenda.
6. Trustees meeting 1 March 2011:
See Item 3(ix) for Future Plans. Each member of the Policies’ sub-group has adapted one policy for discussion.
7. Correspondence:
> Big Spring Clean: It was agreed to advertise the county wide litter picks but add the Parish monthly litter picks.
> Affordable housing: The Grange site has had the application for the removal of the condition for affordable
housing granted subject to conditions.
> Footpath 29: A new stile has been erected on footpath 29 plus 2 footpath signs.
8. Items of Any Other Business: Free school, Council Estate, Bus stop, Cape crossing, Fence, Buses, Sponsor
9. Treasurer’s Report:
Finances: Expenditure: BCA affiliation for 2 years; Room hire for 2 meetings; Laptop and software plus Printer
Income: Tea and raffle from 15 February.
Raffle prize: K Griffiths won the prize donated by S Raine.
Quiz: The new quiz ‘Cartoon Characters’ is on sale for £1.00 – closing date 18 April.
10. Reports and matters arising:
i) Parish Council: 1) The Parish was briefed by the Chair of the Parish and Town Council sub-Committee of the
County Council Standards Committee about anticipated changes to Local Authority standards procedures: it seems
that if the Localism Bill becomes law there will be no statutory requirement for a Code of Conduct for local councils
(including parishes).
2) In accordance with police advice following several break-ins at garages on the “Group site” (between Community
Centre and Medical Centre) the Parish is seeking quotations for fencing of the whole site, with lockable gates at
each end.
3) In view of the current financial situation the Parish council has agreed to keep its precept (money raised from
Council Taxpayers) at the same level as last year. Garage and allotment rents will also be kept to last year’s levels.
The next meeting is on 20 April at 7pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
ii) County Durham Plan and Big Society: Minerals: Pittington is not a strategic site for open cast mining but a
planning application for the area has now been received (note – there are 2 sites mentioned at Pittington in the
Minerals Plan – RC is not sure which one the current application relates to). It was agreed to note this, while
3accepting that traffic was more likely to travel towards the A690 we should consider a condition of restricting mine
traffic on the A688 should it travel towards Bowburn – if the scheme was given permission.
The planning Policy Team have been advised that the coal would be transported to the A690 and then to Junction
62 of the A1(M).
Flooding: RC had attended a flooding meeting, ‘Floods and SUDS’ where he asked how important flooding is in
planning applications and was told that it was becoming more and more important. The Environment Agency is
responsible for main rivers and the coast; the local lead flood authority in our area is Durham County Council.
He also asked where organisations fitted into the overall plan – and was told that this is being worked on.
RC thought it was worth finding out if there is a Wear Rivers Trust similar to the Tyne Rivers Trust which fund raises
to improve the environment of the River Tyne and its tributaries. (Action Janet)
iii) Quarry Liaison Committee: If the planning application relating to cold Knuckles Quarry is approved there will
have to be an order to stop up the existing bridle path. If the shorter alternative route is opposed the issue would
have to go to the Secretary of State.
iv) 12 Villages Representative: There was no representative at the last meeting.
11. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
Banner: (M Bell) The Edith Cavell information pack is next to ‘her’ banner. The American Ohio Band will bring 51
band members and 40 guests. A rare model Locomotion 1 will be raffled at the Toy Fare on 3 April and drawn on 15
May in Bowburn Community Centre; tickets are 50p each.
BVC: The March/April edition of the Interchange is ready to go to print.
Church: Nothing to report.
Football Teams:
>Bowburn Youth: (M Ridley) The pitch will be inspected shortly with a view to training after Easter. Casual players
have been asked to stop playing during this closed season and join the local teams.
>Bowburn Cooperage: (G Hutchinson) The team lost a game to a premier division team that would have taken them
into the ¼ finals of a major cup, despite leading twice. The team is still looking for a manager. They are hoping to
bring the first players from Bowburn Youth into the club which is good for the future of the adult team.
History: A speaker gave a talk on Past Times.
Website: (G Hutchinson) Members 1992, Posts 241, Topics 69, Categories 8, Boards 15; Hits for February 4443.
12. Any Other Business:
Free School: There is a meeting on 16 March to give information about a proposed Free School for this area.
Council Estate: It was suggested that the council estate should be given a descriptive name.
Bus stop: There was a request for a litter-bin at the Durham side of the Hare and Greyhound bus stand.
Cape puffin crossing: It was asked why work had not started on the safe crossing point at the Cape site. (Janet)
Fence: Waste metal from the old fence around the Junior School has been left near the bungalows in Lawson
Road. RW will deal with this matter. (Action RW)
Buses: The Sunday subsidy for buses will be removed in April this will reduce the number of services.
Sponsor: The Snooks family hope to raise money for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund in the Freeman Hospital with a
sponsored bike ride in the French Alps. To sponsor the family visit www.justgiving.com/andrewsnook
13. Date and Time of Next Meeting:
19 April 2011 at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Dates for your diary in 2011: 17 May (AGM), 21 Jun, 19 Jul, 16 Aug, 20 Sep, 18 Oct, 15 Nov, 20 Dec
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