GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 July 2012 from 6.30pm
Present: B Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, J Geyer, G Kitson, D Paget, M Syer, S Thompson
In Attendance: PC Cockburn, PCSO C Dunn
1.Apologies for absence: J Anson, K Griffiths, K Haigh, S Raine, A Richardson, M Ridley J Sudder, S Sudder, S Walworth, M Williams
2. Police: PC Cockburn and PCSO C Dunn gave an update on statistics since the last meeting.
Parkhill 1 Theft of an iron gate; Cassop 1 Burglary from the boarded up Victoria pub; Bowburn 1 Burglary from Clever Cloggs Nursery followed by an arrest, 1 Theft of petrol syphoned from a car, 4 Criminal damage - windows, vehicle and outhouse roof, 1 bilking - making off without paying for a taxi fare.
Youth nuisance in Tunstall Avenue behind the co-op is being given attention when possible
A member asked if the criminal damage was targeted.
PC Cockburn said it was possible, because of parking issues in certain streets.
A member reported frightening antisocial behaviour caused by drink on Big Meeting Day in Durham Road bus station and on the service bus to Bowburn.
PC Cockburn suggested that some incidents are treated differently on such days as the Big Meeting to avoid a major escalation of anti-social behaviour, but did not want to lessen the problem and will pass on these concerns.
A member was pleased to see in press reports that metal thefts had halved over recent months.
PC Cockburn and PCSO Dunn left at 6.45pm, and were thanked for their attendance.
3. Masterplan Updates – Project Leaders:
ai) Highways: The next meeting is in August.
ii) Parkhill: There was no meeting this month.
iii) Community Centre: The next Phase of refurbishment will consider a new entrance and frontage – £3000 of funding could be given for the entrance through the participatory budget held on 21 July – if it is voted for.
Quotes are being found to upgrade the small kitchen, and new stage curtains.
The next meeting for representatives will be 25 July.
iv) Youth Centre: The garden project has been delayed because of bad weather. Some of the girls have taken part in the Race for Life. £3000 of funding for Under 13’s sessions could be given through the participatory budget held on 21 July – if it is voted for.
v) Environment:
> Street Lighting from Broadmeadows:
The lighting columns for the next phase of this project have been ordered.
> URRI: The URRI department should replace the missing litter bin from the bus stand on Durham Road.
vi) Park Project: The grass in the football pitch and the rest of the park was cut today. It was hoped that the grass around the outdoor gym equipment would be strimmed.
>Bungalow: Tiles are being removed from the bungalow roof in the park.
>The Bowls Group: No update.
vii) Regeneration Fund: The final balance of Regeneration monies has been requested from Julie Anson.
viii) Planning: > The application to remove the 30% quota of affordable housing on the Cape site was refused – the Partnership’s concerns were taken into consideration.
>An application has been made to install a 34metre high wind turbine on the escarpment at Heugh Hall farm.
Members unanimously objected to the position of the turbine being placed on an important feature of the landscape that defines Bowburn, and agreed to send an official objection about the above application. (Action Janet)
>An application has been made to construct a 46metre high wind turbine on Low Butterby Farm Croxdale; firstly members were concerned that, although this turbine is not in our area of benefit, it is extremely close to the boundary of Bowburn and will be visible from several parts of the village; secondly the turning point to the site for 40ft long lorries from the A177 will be very tight, and potentially dangerous for walkers where the path bends and crosses the railway bridge. Members agreed to send their concerns about the above application. (Action Janet)
ix) Housing: A site visit with Keepmoat to the 5 infill houses in Robson Terrace suggested putting in extra drainage.
x) Integrate new residents: The ‘Bowburn Village Information Leaflet’ is almost ready for going to print.
3b) Future Masterplan/County Durham Plan/Big Society:
The Local Plan will go to Cabinet on 24 July and should be ready for consideration in September.
The Parish Plan is ready for circulation.
4. Minutes:
Minutes of the General meeting,
The May General Meeting was cancelled and replaced by a Planning Meeting concerning Local Plans.
The minutes from 18 June 2012 were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising: 3 (v) The bin should be replaced by the URRI; The roadworks sign is still behind the street sign.
(vi) The grass in the park has been cut.
4) Numbers remain small for people joining the Credit Union bank (Fridays 11-12 noon in the Community Centre).
5. Correspondence:
>Low flying aircraft: The chair wrote to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) concerned about low flying aircraft over Old Quarrington and Bowburn.
The MOD argued that it is difficult to judge the height of a Hercules plane of 97 feet in length; the RAF police only conduct inquiries into those incidents where more than one person complains about unusual activities of an aircraft. They are permitted to fly at 250 feet but the MOD will continue to do all they can to minimise disturbance.
>Free Schools: It is unclear whether the Free School application is successful (Helen Tilder campaign group), or “through to the next stage” which will involve consultation with the Local Authority (David Williams corporate director).
6. Items of Any Other Business: None.
7. Treasurer’s Report:
> Expenditure: Photoshop training - Computer room rental £130; Mr Boseley expenses and honorarium £150.00. The 2p remaining from the Training Funds will be transferred to Unrestricted Funds: 3 months Room hire of £51.00
Income: Quiz monies of £76.
> Raffle prize: J Blackburn won the prize kindly given by B Bates.
> Quiz winners: First – S Walworth (Bowburn); Second – D Richards (Dumfries); Third – D Odam (Nottingham)
8. Reports and matters arising:
i) East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership:
Participatory Budget event, 21 July, will run to the following times:-
9:30am to 1:30pm Registration; 10am until 2pm Voting; 3pm Announce results.
There are three projects from Bowburn which would like your votes. They are: a new entrance to the Community Centre, Project 4Bs to encourage pollinators into our area, and Youth Club provision for under 13 year olds.
There is a minibus leaving the Community Centre car park at 11am and 1pm on Saturday.
Date and time of following Board meeting – Wednesday 12 September at Cassop Community Centre.
ii) Parish Council Discussion took place about the alleyway behind the Co-op which some members felt was being used as a “rat-run”; when there was trouble outside the Co-op and police arrived at the front, the trouble-makers could evade them by using the alley, either on foot or on bikes. Further investigation was necessary.
The Parish Council adopted the NALC (National Association of Local Councils) recommended Code of Conduct. A code had to be adopted by 1 July or as soon as feasible after that date, to comply with the Localism Act, and the Parish Council had agreed to adopt this new Code in place of its previous one.
Waymarking of local footpaths was to take place with P3 Officer Elaine Crow on July 6th. (n.b. this has since been re-scheduled)
Next meetings: 18 July in Bowburn Community Centre. 15 August in Cassop Community Centre.
Litter Pick: Saturday 4 August meet at 9.30am in Bowburn Community Centre Car Park.
iii) Quarry Liaison: No meeting to report on. However the footpath is eroding because of the wet weather.
9. Group Noticeboard:
>Banner: Thanks were given to all those who were involved in the Eve of Gala evening, which went better than expected, and Gala Day itself.
>BVC: Interchange 63 was declared a good read. Articles should be to mike for publication by the end of August but the earlier the better.
“Bowburn Youth”: The young players are involved in games throughout the summer.
>History: The Heritage Room is in use and is a much more convenient space.
>Fun Day: This is being held on 8 September with a table top sale at £5 per table. Members agreed to book one table for the Fun Day – those who are able please volunteer to man the table on the day.
11. Any Other Business: None
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 21 August 2012 at 6.30pm. in Bowburn Community Centre.