GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 19 September 2012 from 6.30pm
Present: M Bell, R Cowen (chair), J Geyer, K Haigh, G Kitson, D Paget, M Syer, S Thompson, S Walworth
In Attendance: PCSO David Airey (till 6.45pm), M Ridley
1.Apologies for absence: B Bates, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Griffiths, S Raine
2. Police: The Chairman voiced the meeting’s sympathy following that day’s news of police deaths in Manchester.
PCSO Airey presented the following statistics:
Cassop – Attempt theft of gate from Hilltop Farm.
Parkhill – Theft from insecure vehicle in Holmfield Villas (Black North Face jacket and some loose change stolen); Burglary of wash house in Park Avenue (Mountain bike, security chain and motor cycle gloves stolen).
Bowburn – Burglary of BT premises (Diesel stolen); Shoplifting at Co-op (Whisky stolen); Theft from vehicle in Durham Services (Diesel stolen); Theft from rear yard in Burn Street (Roller shutter stolen); 0/S door of vehicle damaged in Tweddle Terrace; Vehicle scratched in Surtees Avenue; Window damaged in Tunstall Avenue - 1 arrested (Fixed penalty); Vehicle interference at Durham Services where petrol cap damaged; 2 shoplifting + bladed article at Co-op and Somals - 1 arrested.
PCSO Airey was thanked personally for his attendance at the recent Fun Day and thanks were expressed for other assistance, including with parking and bringing police dogs (as one of the attractions).
3. Masterplan Updates – Project Leaders:
Ai) Highways: The next meeting of the partnership’s Highway Committee is in November. News was reported that Footpath 29 had been re-opened, on the 1912 line, and prosecution of the landowner for blocking the right of way had been dropped.
ii) Parkhill: The residents’ group met on 11 September. However there was no report available.
iii) Community Centre: The last phase of indoor improvements, namely to the small servery between the Games Rooms, had just begun. Draft plans for improvements to the main entrance were displayed to the meeting and would be posted in the Foyer. Members were invited to attend the next Community Association committee meeting, on 26 September.
A question was asked about the provision of a replacement cigarette stub box. It was noted that this would be considered at a forthcoming review of the Centre’s smoking policy.
iv) Youth Centre: The garden make-over was complete and had been formally launched during the Fun Day. The Charity’s AGM had been held and officers re-elected. The new Under 13’s sessions were starting that evening (18 Sept.) and the girls’ sessions had resumed last week.
v) Environment:
> Street Lighting from Broadmeadows: Cables were currently being laid. It was reported that some of the new poles were not upright.
vi) Park Project: There was no news re future maintenance of the bowling green. The football pitches were being cut and marked out. No action had yet been taken on the vandalised surface in the play area. Hedges had not yet been trimmed. Action Janet re play area
vii) Regeneration Fund: No report.
viii) Planning: Dunelm Homes’ application to amend the affordable housing condition on its planning application for The Grange had been successful.
ix) Housing: No report.
x) Integrate new residents: No report.
3b) Future Masterplan/County Durham Plan/Big Society: The emerging Local Plan was now out for consultation. Members were urged to attend the event on 4 October in Coxhoe Leisure Centre from 4pm to 8pm. Recommendations were made that particular attention be paid to the lack of a route shown, on maps so far published, for the Bowburn Industrial Estate Relief Road, nor any commercial elements on the former Cape site, nor sites on which Bowburn's proposed future housing allocation could be located (with possible implications for the "Daisy Field" which may be needed for educational purposes). It was agreed to discuss these matters at the next meeting, with a view to making representations from B&PCP.
4. Minutes: (i) Minutes of the General meeting held on 15 August 2012 were approved as a true record.
Matters Arising: There was no news re parking at the Infant School. Other matters arising were covered elsewhere on the agenda.
(ii) Report on Trustees’ meeting on 4 September: B&PCP will be applying to the Parish Council for a small grant. The trustees were willing to hold the funds of the Bowburn Opencast Action Group, with restrictions on how this can be spent, if that group dissolves; there will be an open meeting proposing dissolution at 6pm on 16 October (before the next B&PCP General meeting). This willingness was endorsed by the General meeting. The outline supermarket planning permission had been approved.
The driving of vehicles on the allotment site was reported to be a problem and there was some discussion about the possibility of fitting gates or bollards to prevent access from the Park. As the allotment site is owned by the Parish Council, Mike Syer agreed to raise concerns at its next meeting. (Action: Mike)
5. Correspondence: None to report.
6. Items of Any Other Business: Motorway Service Station.
7. Treasurer’s Report:
> Income: £8.90, less £1 costs, from tea & raffle at last meeting + £13.63 from Fun Day stall.
On behalf of the Fun Day organisers, who had no formal constitution or bank account, Martin asked if B&PCP would be willing to hold the £200 (approx.) raised, ring-fenced for a further event next year. This was agreed.
> Raffle prize: K. Haigh won the prize kindly given by J. Geyer.
> New Quiz: ‘Going for Gold’ for £1 with a closing date of 13 October – quiz sheets were available at the meeting.
8. Reports and matters arising:
i) East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership: Report of Board meeting on 12 September
Cllr Jan Blakey, chair, welcomed Board members and members of the public to the meeting. Stuart Timmiss, Head of Planning and Assets, gave a presentation on ‘The County Durham Plan Preferred Options’ – the consultation ends on 2 November. Our communications options have been updated to include Facebook. New office signage has been put up at Trimdon thanks to funding from Livin. Cllr Blakey presented information about the Participatory Budget event, ‘It’s Up2U’, to the County Durham Partnership where it was noted that our AAP gained the highest match funding. A request for an Equality and Diversity representative will go out to Board members via email. A report is available on the ‘It’s Up2U’ event where 23 projects gained funding; over 600 people attended, 221 new Forum members joined, and it attracted £30,000 match funding. Loraine O’Donnell gave a presentation on ‘The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy’ – consultation ends on19 October. It was agreed to hold the next AAP meeting at Bowburn on 3 October from 4pm to 6pm when Board members will vote on projects from the carousel event.
ii) Parish Council: The following report for the August meeting was sent via email:
The Parish Council reviewed its vetting procedures for applications for financial assistance from local groups. An application form is to be provided for future applicants, giving bank details and stating briefly what the grant is required for. Inspection of monuments in Bowburn cemetery was to begin in September.
The Clerk had written to the County Planning Service expressing members’ concerns about new homes and lack of job opportunities in the Parish, as highlighted by respondents to the Parish Plan questionnaire.
Next meetings: 19 September and 17 October, both in Bowburn Community Centre, starting at 7pm.
Next Litter Pick: Saturday 6 October - meet at 9.30am in Bowburn Community Centre Car Park.
iii) Quarry Liaison: The next meeting is on 20 September.
9. Group Noticeboard:
>Banner: The Centenary Banner had attended the Heritage Open Day at Felling on 8 September. The Children’s Banner and the Tursdale Banner were displayed at the Fun Day on 8 September.
>BVC: Interchange 64 was at the printers.
> Credit Union Bank: Response had not been as good as had been hoped.
> Football: The men’s team had had an unbeaten run of four games, albeit after a poor start to the season. There had been a big change of players, who were on average now much younger.
> Fun Day: All impressions had been very favourable. An evaluation questionnaire had been given to stall-holders and their responses would be considered at a forthcoming meeting. It was noted that children especially liked games and competitions, rather than things to buy. The youth club had been very pleased at number of people who had visited and admired their building (and garden). The Welcome Mat in the community centre had been greatly appreciated. It was noted that the Matters group were to make another mat, especially to show the B&PCP logo.
>History: Further planning of the Heritage Room and a new programme of meetings to be held on 20 September. Room making progress, with more shelves and window bars in place. All are invited to a series of talks that is being planned. A request for photographs to hang in the Community Centre foyer will be considered favourably.
>Website: Durham Times, and Bowburn Radio: No report.
11. Any Other Business:
>Bowburn Services: It was observed that the new McDonalds was generating additional traffic, at an already dangerous junction at the entrance to the motorway service station.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 16 October 2012 at 6.30pm. in Bowburn Community Centre.