General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 18 January 2011 From 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, S Featherstone, J Geyer, K Griffiths, K Haigh, G Kitson,
R Millerchip, D Paget, M Syer, S Thompson, R Walsh, S Walworth
In Attendance: B Cockburn, M Ridley
1. Apologies: J Anson, B Bates, R Cowen, J Kane, A Richardson, Maggie Robinson, M Williams
2. Police: PC Cockburn reported the following crime statistics for the last 5 weeks: Cassop 1 theft in Old Cassop;
Parkhill 1 assault (female arrested and interviewed), 2 vehicle damage: Bowburn 2 assault (2 arrests with one
remanded in custody and one interviewed), 2 burglary, 2 criminal damage, and worryingly 10 theft with 9 incidents
taking place at the MW Service Station – a crime prevention officer is advising on possible weaknesses in security.
Anti-social behaviour has lessened with the continued patrols by the Community Support Officers.
Members were encouraged to warn the elderly against allowing bogus officials into their homes.
PC Cockburn was thanked for his attendance and left at 6.40pm.
3. Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: The next meeting is in February.
(ii) Parkhill: No update.
(iii)Community Centre: Phase 1 works are complete, plus the resurfacing the front and rear car parks.
There are plans to white line the front car park and leave the back car park unmarked.
Currently quotations are being obtained for the following areas that have been prioritised - Servery, Toilets,
Additional heating to Lounge, Resurface the meeting room table and reception desk.
(iv) Youth Centre: There are plans to improve the outside recreational space, but funding is a problem because
funders require the space to be available to the public for a major part of the year. The Summer programme of
activities is under threat - again because of lack of funds, but the regular sessions are safe until the end of the year.
The young people enjoyed organising the Children in Need event, which was a great success.
(v) Unadopted Roads, Environment and URRI: Next meeting of Three Streets is Thursday 20 January.
There is nothing to report on the Environment projects.
1(vi) Park Project: A meeting with the steering group is to be arranged.
The snagging list and the final bill are still to be completed.
It is hoped to have signs in the football area to discourage dog owners from allowing their dogs to foul the pitch.
(vii) (a) Regeneration Fund: No update.
(b) Regeneration Working Group: No update.
(c) Walkabout and Housing issues: Prince Charles and George St. were closed to lay a new electric cable.
Boilers are being upgraded in Prince Charles and George Street.
A replacement ‘dog bin’ is needed behind the library and the litter bin there needs to be emptied regularly as
it is filled to capacity.
It was agreed to contact the Esh Group about cleaning mud off the A177and finishing the lay-by. It was agreed to ask the Durham Green developers and County Durham planners to the next Partnership meeting
to discuss the proposed changes in the plans for Durham Green. (Action Janet)
(Action Janet)
It was asked if the last 5 houses in Horton Cresc. were to be connected to the mains sewerage. (Action Cllr Blakey)
Cllr Blakey left the meeting at 7.15pm
(viii) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP) Board Meeting 5 January 2011
Various Local Neighbourhood Issues were raised and can be viewed on the Durham county AAP website (hard
copy available on request).
With sincere regret G Wills (Board Member – public Rep) resigned from the East Durham Rural Corridor AAP. A
procedure would be followed to fill the vacancy.
Board members decided to concentrate on the top 3 key priority themes from the AAP Forum as follows:
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
Steven Hart (health colleague) was present at the meeting to raise awareness on the work of Get Active and how
they can work in partnership with the AAP on the Cycle/Walkway Project Scheme.
John Davis (Statutory Partner – Fire) gave a brief overview on the Integrated Risk Management Plan Consultation
Document 2011-2015; the consultation ends 17 February.
£30,000 of Area Budget has been allocated to a Small Grants Pot. Currently there were more applications than
money. Applications were in the process of being appraised.
Meetings in 2011 will be on the first Wednesday of every other month: The next meeting is 2 March in Bowburn
Community Centre.
Cycle/Walkway update: Co Durham and Darlington Community Health Service will be providing free activities
through the Summer for young people and their families provided through a Get Active Cycling Club. Launching on
2 April to October two weekend bike rides targeting young people and their families on Saturday mornings, 10am –
12 noon, one from Sedgefield and one from Coxhoe lasting approximately 2 hours. The rides are suitable for all
ages and abilities and are led by qualified cycle instructors. Bikes and helmets are available for participants on free
loan. All routes are mainly off-road using a variety of networks. For info contact Get Active on 0191 569847 or
steven.hart@nhs.net
Also £2500 given to Coxhoe Leisure Centre to provide free bike rides for young people was not taken up, but will
now provide free bike rides for new parents/grandparents and their children; and Reception Year and Year 6
children as figures show this AAP area has a higher rate of obesity than the rest of the County.
At this meeting it was suggested that the Youth Club could apply to the AAP for funding.
(ix) Future Plans of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (B&PCP)
> 4a Identify Open Spaces: A County Council version of an ‘open spaces’ plan for Bowburn was looked at but it was
agreed that either an updated plan is needed or an annotated version of this existing plan for accuracy. (Cllr Blakey)
The Partnership will be aware of planning applications occurring in open spaces;
Protect green spaces by providing a ‘green development’ which is complementary to the area;
Check the ‘Open Space Society’ for advice on safeguarding. (Action Janet)
> 7b Lighting: Broadmeadows to Hallgarth estate: The local representatives are to allocate part of their
Neighbourhood Budget to continue the lighting along the C12a. (Cllrs Blakey and Williams)
Newburn Avenue lamp heads have been upgraded.
Parkhill Lighting columns have been installed and the Electricity Board is to connect them in the near future.
Works to upgrade the footpath in Parkhill are ordered; it is hoped that the increased VAT rate will not be charged.
Plans to light the Mabey footpath will be investigated.
It was noted at this meeting that the yard is vacant and possibly ready for development.
2> C13 Small grants: The first round of the AAP small grants fund is closed, but there may a second round.
> D14 Housing: Integrate new residents: AAP funding has been applied for to publish a welcome pack. The
‘Training Budget’ can be used for IT training.
It was agreed to advertise a possible evening class in IT training to see who would be interested. (Action Janet)
Check planning applications: Erection of 3 storage tanks at the MW Service Station and a Single storey extension in
Robert Terrace has no impact on the residents of the village and requires no action. Also refer to Item 3(vii) above.
Check allocation of housing for our area through the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) with
reference to the Cape, Mabey and Durham Green sites.
It was said that there was a need for the planners and developers to prepare more facilities such as shops, schools,
and doctors when they are developing large built up areas such as those in Bowburn.
Members were informed that there is a County consultation on their settlement, which they can take part in.
4. Minutes of last General Meeting: 21 December 2010
The minutes of the December meeting were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters arising:
Item 4 Flooding: Cllr Blakey is making enquiries into the recording of flooding incidents in Bowburn. Item 8: Enquiries are being made into taking out the VAT from the Lighting schemes through the AAP.
Item 11 AOB: Ken and Liz Atkinson thanked the Partnership for their good wishes on their retirement.
5. Report - Trustees’ meeting on 4 January 2010:
(Cllr Blakey)
> The trustees discussed the Action Plan (See Item 3 (ix).
> RC reported on the County Durham Plan and Localism Bill. (Copies of the reports are available on request)
6. Correspondence:
> County Durham Sport Partnership is in the process of developing a Sport Strategy. Have your say on Monday 28
February at 6pm in Ferryhill Leisure Centre.
> The North Road Development Consultation is available on the Limehouse System and lasts until 21 January.
> Tuesday 15 March One Voice Network is holding an event in Newton Aycliffe to look at the new health structures
in Co Durham and how VCS organisations can best engage with them. Contact P Locke 01207 529621
(peter@onevoice.co.uk).
> Chairman Mac Williams is holding an ‘Easter Bake sale’ in County Hall on 23 March, he would be grateful if you
could contribute any cakes/pastries or in kind to help hold this event – all proceeds go to the Chairman’s Charities -
Down’s Syndrome and the Seaham lifeboat.
7. Items of Any Other Business: (i) Durham Green
8. Treasurers update:
The treasurer gave the following report:
Expenditure: Two items have cleared - £20 Remembrance Sunday wreath; £31 Room hire.
Expenditure tonight was for the insurance and quiz prizes.
Income tonight from the tea and raffle was £10.70, with £2 taken out for refreshments.
Raffle Draw: The prize was won by A Punshon with thanks to J Kane for the prize.
Quiz: Prize winners for the ‘Merry Christmas’; First L Rumney, Second P Turpin, Third J Hutchinson.
The next quiz will be out on 15 February.
9. Reports and matters arising:
(i).Parish Council: The vice chair of the Parish Council kindly sent in this report – Garage tenants reported several
break-ins on the site near the medical centre and frequently find evidence of drinking and possible drug taking on
the site. The police were asked to increase routine patrols of the site but it was felt that gates would be the only
answer. The Clerk is to obtain quotes to fence the whole site and provide gates.
The County Council will probably request that the precept be received by 26 January and a meeting of the Finance
Committee was called for 12 January to set the budget.
An order has been made under the Road Traffic Act to temporarily close part of Footpath No1 to enable upgrade
works to the sewage treatment plant. This could be for 18 months – the projected length of the works.
Members discussed problems with flooding seen on parts of the footpath by Bowburn Beck. This may be linked to
recent works in the Park – Cllr Blakey was asked to seek advice on behalf of the Parish.
The next Meetings are: 16 February and 16 March in Bowburn Community Centre at 7pm. All are welcome.
3(ii) County Durham Plan and Big Society related to the area of benefit: See Item 5 above.
(iii) Quarry Liaison Committee: The December meeting was cancelled.
(iv) The 12 Villages: The AGM is on 25 January.
10. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
> Banner (M Syer): Preparations are being made for the arrival in July of 51 band members of The Best Damn Band
In the Land (TBDBITL) from Ohio. The route in Bowburn on Gala Day would start in Hallgarth Estate, cut through to
Lawson Road, march along Tunstall Avenue to the Co-op and then to the War Memorial to meet the busses going
into Durham.
There are to be two raffles for fundraising from April, and an eve of gala performance by TBDBITL.
> BVC (M Syer): Nothing to report.
> Church: No report.
> Football Teams:
Bowburn Athletic: (A Wilson) No report.
Bowburn Youth: (M Ridley) Mini-soccer has been played by the U8s, U9s and U10s on an all-weather pitch.
Bowburn Cooperage: (G Hutchinson) No report.
> History: (M Bell) The next meeting is on Thursday 20 January.
> Website: (G Hutchinson) No report.
11. Any Other Business:
(i) It was hoped that new housing developers would put something back into the village in the way of funding for
community projects.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is on 15 February 2011
Dates for your diary in 2011:
15 Mar, 19 Apr, 17 May, 21 Jun, 19 Jul, 16 Aug, 20 Sep, 18 Oct, 15 Nov, 20 Dec
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