GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 November 2011 from 6.30pm
Present: J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, L Fletcher, J Geyer, K Griffiths, G Kitson, S Robinson,
S Sudder, M Syer, S Thompson R Walsh (Chair), S Walworth.
In Attendance: J Anson, PC Cockburn, M Ridley
1. Apologies for absence: M Coultas, K Haigh, A Richardson, M Robinson, M Williams
2. Police Since the last Partnership meeting the following crimes have been committed:
Parkhill – 2 Damaged windows; Cassop – 1 Theft of farm fence battery; Bowburn – 2 Burglary of garages broken
into; 1 aggravated vehicle taking when a stolen vehicle crashing into another; 6 Theft, 3 were pedal cycles and that
investigation also revealed stolen property, 1 of plastic barrels and 1 of diesel – these cases may be connected, 1 of
number plates; 4 Criminal damage of garage door handle/tyres/window/fencing.
A trial bike has been successfully confiscated and crushed. Anti-social behaviour increased as usual around bonfire
night but this has now quietened down.
Julie Anson asked PC Cockburn if it was possible to keep an eye on the newly installed outdoor gym equipment.
He will pass on this information to the local PCO’s.
PC Cockburn was thanked for his attendance and left the meeting at 6.40pm.
3. Masterplan Updates – Project Leaders along with a report from Julie Anson, Regeneration Team Leader:
i)Highways: There is a meeting on Monday 21 November.
ii) Parkhill: No report
iii) Community Centre: The refurbishment is going well. There is a meeting on Thursday to sign off the roof and
prioritise the remaining schemes.
Julie suggested that the group needs to consider opening the computer room, under supervision, once security eg
firewall has been installed - this could provide information on job searches.
Cllr Blakey explained that the front entrance is being repaired whilst the cycleway is under construction –
unfortunately the flagstones that had to be taken up have been stolen before they could be re-laid.
iv) Youth Centre: There is a meeting this week for Phase 2 of the garden. The grant application from Esh has been
passed onto another group which means a new application has to be submitted requiring three quotes causing a
delay. Otherwise the work in the grounds is looking good.
1v) Environment: There has been consultation on the Mabey Road lighting scheme. 5 residents out of 25 consulted
have objected and as the council do not own the road it means that the scheme cannot go ahead. It is possible that
the owners of the Mabey site may light the road when the housing development takes place.
However discussion amongst members at this meeting showed strong disappointment that the scheme was not
going ahead. It was asked if Highways could reconsider - as this footpath is a popular route for residents in the
wider area of Bowburn who use it to access the schools, Community Centre and other facilities. (J Anson)
The 3 Streets scheme has been reduced after the response from the postal ballot and this could be adopted by the
council because it uses external monies. There is still a shortage of funds and the residents who did not respond
are to be asked if they will contribute to meet the shortfall. (J Anson)
vi) Park Project: The outdoor gym equipment has been installed and is already being used. There is to be a Park
meeting to put the remaining monies into other projects.
vii) Regeneration: There is a problem with blocked drains in the Marlene Avenue/Dallymore Drive area, caused
mainly by cleansing wipes being flushed down the toilet – they are not biodegradable and they blocks the drains.
The local member is in discussions with D Wilcox about the problem. (Cllr Blakey)
viii) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP: The Forum took place tonight to prioritise the projects for next year and look
in detail at problem areas in the villages.
ix) Future Plans for the Partnership:
Masterplan: Julie explained that since Halsall Lloyd Partnership produced the original Masterplan there had been
several changes in the village – the main one being that there is more than one house builder.
She met with Groundwork East to consider (i) Updating the Masterplan at a cost of £7000; (ii) Updating the
Masterplan and proposing future plans at a cost of £14 000. The costs could be met out of the Regeneration Pot.
Members at this meeting thought that:
>Including future plans for the village had value as a working document, which would carry weight to bring benefits
to the village – if we could afford it – because other projects could be financed with that money.
>A Masterplan could generate money from grants, but would it pay for itself?
>Schemes in the village have already had maximum grants from the big fund holders.
>We could have our own discussions with the partnership/parish/village - being clear what we want out of the
meeting.
>The Parish Plan is almost to completion and will be discussed in the village through the Parish Council.
It was agreed that the Partnership make enquiries about a combined consultation event with the Parish Council
when the parish plan is discussed in the New Year. (Action Janet)
Julie explained an Improvement grant that could target shop fronts combined with a training/apprenticeship scheme.
Applications could use the Regeneration fund and target the local community.
A member suggested that unfinished projects should be completed before starting another scheme e.g.
Broadmeadows lighting and the 3 Streets.
4. Minutes:
a) Minutes of the General meeting, 18 October 2011, were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising: Cape crossing point – now that the council have the funding works can go ahead to construct the
puffin crossing in January 2012.
For information - the Cape housing development will become part of Cassop-cum-Quarrington parish, if the latest
recommendations of the Boundary Commission are approved, and it is proposed that this parish becomes part of
the 3 member Coxhoe Ward for county council election purposes.
Item 3 i) Tipping in the lay-by on Sherburn Road seems to be worsening (Cllr Blakey)
b) Richard Walsh hopes to be moving out of the area in the near future and it was agreed that Richard Cowen will
take over the role of ‘chair’ from December until the AGM.
There was an appeal for members to come forward and volunteer to be trustees who meet the first Tuesday of
every month.
5. Trustees meeting 4 October 2011:
6. Correspondence:
> Closure of Community Buildings – With reference to the communal buildings in Bede Terrace and Lawson
Road it was felt that their continued opening could not be justified from the use that they get, and there are
alternative venues in the Community Centre, Church, and Marlene Avenue community building.
2It was said that it was unfortunate that the possible hiring of the community buildings had not been widely
publicised, which may have protected them from closure.
>Credit Unions – it was agreed to make enquiries into setting up a Credit Union bank in Bowburn.
(Janet)
>Computer teacher training – it was agreed that the Partnership pay for room hire from the remaining training
budget to enable a resident to gain teaching experience through an IT course for residents.
>Sustainable Communities Act to give parish councils new powers to better assess major planning
applications that affect their community – It was agreed to ask our local MP to support the planning reform
proposal. (Action Janet)
>East Durham Leader – members are invited to a celebration event on 1 December at the Glebe Centre in
Murton from 4.00pm. Find out more about possible funding for small businesses.
> NALC and CPRE are organising an event in Bowburn Community Centre on 2 December regarding
neighbourhood plans under the Localism Bill and draft NPPF. Contact Steve Ragg for details.
> ‘Heat or Eat’ fuel poverty awareness event on 25 November in the Haswell Centre from 9.30 – 3.00
7. Items of Any Other Business:
A member would like a dog bin to stop the used dog-bags being left in the trees at the footpath behind the
community centre.
It was asked how to find the plans for the Mabey site? (Cllr Blakey will fwd the link)
i) Footpath changes
ii) Robson Crescent
iii) RSPB talk
8. Treasurer’s Report:
> The treasurer distributed a 4 monthly update of the finances for the year 2011/2012.
The main expenditure was £1649.99 for software and teaching of the Photoshop course leaving £18,328.55 in
restricted funds, and after quiz and room hire payments £2,888.73 remains in unrestricted funds.
> Raffle prize: M Ridley won the prize donated by J Blakey.
> October quiz results: First J Easton, Second P Williams, Third S Walworth.
New quiz - ‘Tis the season to be jolly’ with drink related answers. The closing date for entries is 14 January.
9. Reports and matters arising:
i) Parish Council:
ii) The County Durham Plan re Localism: See Item 6 Correspondence.
iii) Quarry Liaison: The next meeting scheduled for 8 December.
10. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
>Banner: The AGM is on 21 November and everyone is welcome to attend.
>BVC: The December Interchange is being written and organised – please send in photographs and articles.
The service of Remembrance went well and there was a picture in the Northern Echo.
One more resident could be added to the memorial who was killed in action in WW1.
>Football Teams: Bowburn Youth – The U13 team is easily top of their league and the U12 are second in their
league. The Xmas party is open to the entire village – non football playing children pay £1.
The Junior School won an inter schools championship.
Bowburn FC are doing well in the league; they run a football draw in the oak tree; they bought a second hand strip
with special thanks to Martin Ridley; they produce a matchday programmes for home games in which you can
sponsor a player for £1/game and adverts for £5/game; they are on twitter @BOWBURN FC, have a facebook
page, and a brand new website http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bowburnfc/
Once again we would like to thank everyone who has helped keep the club afloat and take it forward.
>History: No meeting
>Website: The website has picked up once again although we could do with more so if you have any news,
birthdays etc please email to bowburnnews@aol.com
John Gray will also be sending information and the history page is being updated
11. Any Other Business:
i) Railings will be installed at the Infant School corner when the tarmac has cured.
The noticeboard at the Cooperage reduces visibility.
ii) A request was made for parking spaces in the green at Robson Terrace. 3
(Cllr Blakey)iii) The RSPB is having a talk called the ‘Celebration of Birds’ by Peter Holden in the University on 13
December.
12. Date and Time of Next Meetings 20 December 2011 at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
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