MINUTES_- Annual General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership – Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 May 2012. From 6.30pm to 7.00pm
Present: B Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, J Geyer, K Griffiths, K Haigh, G Hutchinson, G Kitson,
D Paget, S Raine, A Richardson, M Syer, S Thompson, S Walworth
In Attendance: M Ridley
1. Apologies for absence: PC Cockburn, R Millerchip, M Robinson, S Robinson, M Williams
2. Minutes of last Annual General Meeting 17 May 2011:
The minutes were taken as a true record by G Kitson and M Bell, and the meeting agreed them unanimously.
3. Chair’s Annual Report:
The Chair welcomed everyone to the eighth Annual General Meeting of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership.
The year began, with Richard Walsh as Chair and Richard Cowen thanked him, in his absence, for his term of office as
Chair both of the Partnership and the Trustees until he left the area in December.
Over the past year the remaining monies from the Regeneration Fund have continued the refurbishment of the
Community Centre; upgraded the path from Newburn Avenue to Mary Terrace to an adoptable standard; and completed
the upgrade of the Park in Bowburn. The Regeneration Money was used as match funding to install 5 new lighting
columns along the C12a and to upgrade the road in the 3 Streets to an adoptable standard.
Training course money was used to run a free computer course, through New College along with the purchase of 12
Photoshop Elements and Publisher programs which were donated to the Community Centre for general use. A second
free course was run from the remaining training budget – to give teacher training experience to a resident.
Members of the Partnership have taken part in the many and varied consultations from the Parish Plan to County
planning applications, and received reports from the East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership. They have also
been involved in the procedure whereby the former Coxhoe Leisure Centre (now the Active Life Centre @ Coxhoe)
transferred from the County Council to local residents. Members have also continued to support the Bowburn Interchange
and the Bowburn Web Site.
Redscape Ltd for Parkhill Village, Mrs Johnson for an Anaerobic Digester, Durham County Council regeneration team for
an update of the Masterplan, and Mr Rooke for the Credit Union have given presentations to the meetings where
members had the opportunity to ask questions.
Trustees agreed to meet quarterly instead of monthly. Thanks were extended to the trustees; to the locally elected
members for their support; the Parish Council for their information; the advice and support from Julie Anson, Economic
Regeneration team leader and the County Council. Thanks were also given to PC Cockburn for his attendance at the
meetings.
Local groups have given monthly reports to advertise their activities and meetings.
In the future the Partnership is planning to be involved in discussions for a Neighbourhood Plan for the village; produce a
leaflet to promote businesses in the area and encourage new residents to be part of the Partnership.
Richard Cowen publicised a government scheme to protect biodiversity which the Partnership may want to add to their
future plans.
4. Project groups: The Secretary and chair presented the annual updates:
Banner: The Ohio State Band played on the Eve of the Gala and marched the banner through Bowburn and in Durham –
their enthusiasm was enjoyed by everyone. The group held a very successful Heritage Open Day which displayed 54
banners - they were supported by Beamish Museum. The Centenary Banner has been taken to several different venues.
Bowburn Football Club (adults) nearly folded at the beginning of the season but was kept together with a new manager
and some new players. We finished a very good 3rd in the league and have been promoted.
Bowburn Youth FC:
Have over 120 children and just over 100 playing competitive football with more wishing to join. The teams are as follows:
Tots; Under 8's Development - have won the Winter League and should win Cup competition; Under 8's: Under 9's -
should win their league; Under 10'. All these teams are Small Sided and the Season runs June to November and March
to May in the Russell Foster League.
Under 11's; Under 12's - won their league moving up to the Premier League and going to a presentation at the Russell
Foster League; Under 13's - won their League; Under 15's - leaving the club due to no manager.
These teams are 11 aside and the Season runs September to May.
We have held several events in the community centre including a Presentation Night, Halloween night and Christmas
Disco which were well attended by members and families of the club, and people from the community.
We had a fantastic opening Day last July and would like to thank everyone who helped make it a very special day
including The Ohio Gala Band who stopped an extra night to entertain everyone; Jan and Mac our local councillors who
donated a trophy which was won by ourselves against Coxhoe United, who thanked us for inviting them and have asked
us to take part in their fun day.
The club would like to thank the community for their continued support - from Businesses to parents and the wider
community, the coaches and committee members without which we would not have a club.Community Centre:
The centre is doing really well and the staff has coped well during all the phases of refurbishment including the following
for this year - the Servery, the Roof and Cladding, Parking Bays in the car park, and Decoration of the RH Games Room.
Further updates are planned for the coming year.
Durham Times correspondent: Reports to the Partnership.
Highways:
Supported: The Speedwatch Units through the AAP; The crossing at the Cape Site which is now being constructed; The
Western Relief Road; The Cycle/Walkway through Bowburn to the Industrial Estate which has encouraged the Wheels to
Work scheme; A weight limit on the C12a; The Urban Renewal Renaissance project to pave Durham Road West.
Unfortunately there was insufficient support to upgrade the lighting on the ‘Mabey’ footpath.
History:
The group have not been able to hold many meetings this year as they wait for a new heritage/meeting room.
The Durham in Time brought software for archiving. They produced the Bowburn Calendar for 2012.
Internet Radio:
Bowburn has an internet radio which goes out daily and although it started for the football club, it is now for the village of
Bowburn at requests from everyone. They let people know local news, weather, sport events, what’s on in pubs and clubs
as well as songs that people request. After ONLY two weeks they had over 500 unique listeners and the shows have
been played over 1000 times - it is growing daily.
Park in Bowburn:
The final works to refurbish the park have been completed to - level the old tennis courts, install adult gym equipment;
correct the drainage at the back of Broadmeadows to prevent flooding; and erect the entrance signs.
Parkhill Residents’ Association:
Angela Richardson, chair, reported that the year once again, has been mostly uneventful.
We have been looking at new projects and have a number of ideas on the table, but decisions are yet to be finalised. We
purchased a bench for the graveyard, in conjunction with the Parish Council, which is now installed and looks well. Sent
out consultation leaflets for the upgrade of the footpath to the park which was agreed; the path is finished but the lights
are awaiting a link to a power source. A public meeting was held after the announcement of new houses being built in
Parkhill to be named Parkhill Village. This is on-going as it may be up to 5 years before anything happens.
The AGM is 12 June at Browns Close in Coxhoe at 7pm.
Youth Centre:
Joanne Eden has encouraged the young people to take part in many and varied activities both at Bowburn and the
surrounding villages, particularly Coxhoe.
The main project this year will be to create a useable outdoor area – work has already started.
5. Statement of Financial Affairs: The treasurer presented the independently examined accounts from the CVS which
showed that the opening balance was £27,080.47 which is made up of mainly restricted funds. The report was approved
by the members present.
6. Election of Officers: The election of the following officials was agreed by the members:
Acting Chair: Richard Cowen Vice Chair: Jan Blakey
Secretary: Janet Blackburn Treasurer: Mike Syer
7. Election of Trustees: The following members were elected as trustees:
W Bates, M Bell, J Blakey, K Griffiths, K Haigh, G Kitson, S Raine, S Walworth
8. Close of AGM:
The chair closed the AGM and thanked members for attending and looked forward to seeing them at future meetings.