GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 20 November 2012 from 6.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, S Featherstone, J Geyer, K Griffiths, K Haigh, G Kitson, M Syer, S Thompson, S Walworth
In Attendance: P Bage, P Parker, M Ridley, M Williams
1.Apologies for absence: PC Cockburn, G Hutchinson, D Paget, S Raine, A Richardson, J Sudder, S Sudder
2A. Police: Statistics for the last 5 weeks, sent via email thanks to PC Bruce Cockburn. Cassop – No Crime;
Parkhill– 1 Theft of hubcaps from motor vehicle; Bowburn– 1 Robbery (Ford Transit taken whilst driver with vehicle), 1 Shed Burglary, 1 Attempted Burglary, 1 Assault, 6 Theft, 2 Making off without payment, 6 Criminal damage.
2B. Neighbourhood Wardens: Paul Parker and Peter Bage introduced themselves as the neighbourhood wardens for East Durham and Durham City which includes Bowburn. They will work in our area to tackle environmental problems and antisocial behaviour and can be contacted on 03000 261 018. For immediate assistance on antisocial behaviour call Durham Police on 101.
Paul and Peter will come to the Partnership meetings, whenever they are on duty, to report on incidents in our area and take questions.
At this meeting they reported that there was a small amount of dog fouling; a low incidence of antisocial behaviour; and the bonfire season had been reasonably quiet.
A member asked what was being done about dustbins being left out in the street.
It was said that a process of education was being taken at present and not punishment.
Paul and Peter were thanked for their presence and left the meeting at 6.45pm.
3A. Masterplan Updates – Project Leaders:
i) Highways: Emails from DCC have given a favourable response to securing the position of an Industrial Relief Road and roundabout at the filling station in Bowburn.
The X1 service has been extended to stop at every stop between Coxhoe and Durham, which means it will provide the Cape housing estate with a bus service.
Service 58 has been reinstated and will run hourly between Hartlepool and Durham from Monday to Saturday; turning at the Cooperage, along Crowtrees Lane and Tail-upon-End Lane between 07:30 and 18:30. After which it runs along the main A177 through Bowburn between the Cooperage and Durham.
Service 59, when arrangements are finalised, will run a Sunday service from Cassop to the Arnison Centre, funded by local members from Coxhoe and Durham South; and Parish Councils from Coxhoe, Kelloe and Cassop-cum-Quarrington. This service will also provide an extra service for Bowburn on Sundays, and it is hoped that all communities will support this valuable extra service - to sustain its future beyond one year.
ii) Parkhill:
Parkhill Residents Group has a new secretary, Frank Salisbury. The group continues to develop their website.
iii) Community Centre: The plans and specifications for the outside area are complete. Julie Anson meets with Martin prior to them being submitted to the Planning department. There was an appeal for volunteers to man the ICT room to run classes and keep the room open on a regular basis. Check that you are recycling everything by looking at the Recycle Table in the foyer. There is to be a pantomime, Alladin, on 30 December at a cost of £1.
The next board meeting is on Wednesday 28 November when all group representatives should attend.
New users are impressed with the internal refurbishments.
iv) Youth Centre: The Under 13’s sessions are well attended. The gym area is being extended by removing the shower area which was not used. There is a proposal to have a mobile gym for a trial period to test - the interest of the village, session fees etc - this project could provide extra equipment at a reduced price.
There is free training to become a volunteer play leader with 5 to 11 year olds. It is a 7 hour course ran over two mornings at Bowburn Youth Club. Contact Joanne Eden on joanneeden@btinternet.com
v) Environment: > Street Lighting from Broadmeadows: Julie Anson advised that she has not yet been charged as the metered service connection is still not complete.
> The Parkhill footpath and lights: Janet has checked, and both lights along the footpath were working on 21 Nov.
vi) Park Project: It was reported that the CCTV camera is metered from the Community Centre. No-one from DCC has taken a reading to pay for the electricity which means that the Community Centre is footing the bill.
There is a review into CCTV cameras to decide if they are to be the responsibility of the Council or Community.
The maintenance of the Bowling Green is still under review.
There are legal issues with CISWO concerning the bungalow as to whether it should be demolished.
vii) Regeneration Fund: Julie Anson is still waiting for the final payment for Broadmeadows lights and then a decision can be made about spending the monies on projects from the Masterplan.
viii) Planning: Cllr Blakey did not take part in the following discussion:
>An anemometer proposed in an area between Bowburn and Shincliffe has been granted planning permission.
>The wind turbine application for South Grange Farm Croxdale has been withdrawn.
>The Artwork, which was one of the conditions of the ‘Cape’ site application previously discussed in our meetings, is being considered by Dunelm Homes. After a discussion with Mr Paul Armstrong, Technical Director of Dunelm Homes, it was agreed to take the ‘Coal seam column’ forward; this had been an idea put to BVC some 11 years ago in Interchange 17. The process is in the very early stages and depends on the cost.
The column could show all the coal seams worked by men from Bowburn or just those seams that are underneath the village and BVC would like consult on this idea see Interchange 65 out in December. (ALL)
ix) Housing: Covered above.
x) Integrate new residents: The ‘Bowburn Village Information Leaflet’ is going out to estate agents.
3B. Future Masterplan/County Durham Plan/Big Society:
Durham County Council has acknowledged receipt of the issues discussed in the last meeting.
Mr Peter Ollivere, Principal Spatial Policy Officer, agrees that there is a strong case for the Industrial Relief Road, “so would like to safeguard the route in the submission draft of the County Council Plan”.
Cape site planning applications: Persimmon Homes is seeking to approve the type and layout of houses for the next phase to construct 126 houses on the Cape site. The application protects the possible Bowburn relief road.
However members would like to enquire if it complies with the Cycling Strategy recently approved by the Council and complies with the open spaces proposed in the Preferred Options in the emerging Local Plan. (Janet)
The Esh Group have applied to renew the permission to develop homes and industrial units on the Cape site, which would run out on 28 October.
There could be no objections to the principle of this application as such but members suggested that it should conform to the Cycling Strategy for commercial applications; recognise the line of the Bowburn Relief Road, and conforms to the open spaces for commercial developments as well as residential applications (Janet)
It was proposed that a meeting with planners about the Local Plan could be arranged in the New Year.
4. Minutes of the General meeting:
After correcting the item numbers 10 and 11, the minutes from 16 October 2012 were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising: 3 (viii) Concerns were sent about the Croxdale wind turbine application, however the application was withdrawn. Any further applications will be considered if and when they are made.
Item 3b The Local Plan: Richard informed Mrs Lyons, head of the Junior School, about our proposal to protect the land above the school for any future primary school. Janet also informed Miss Ormerod at the Infant School.
5. Correspondence:
> Durham Gilesgate Sports College & Sixth Form Centre: Durham County Council is consulting on a proposal to change the age range of Durham Gilesgate Sports College and Sixth Form Centre from 1 September 2014 to pupils from 16 - 19 years.
An officer of Durham County Council has reported that, if Gilesgate School did not have 11-16 years provision, the nearest school for Bowburn would be Belmont, and the nearest school for Parkhill would be Ferryhill. Parents of children who are affected for September 2013 will meet with DCC officers at their individual Primary Schools.
A meeting for the general public is on Tuesday 27 November in Gilesgate Comp at 7pm.
Members wished to raise concerns about another change of secondary school for Bowburn children in the space of 3 years, which is stressful, costly, and could possibly happen again if Belmont School fell into a similar position. (J)
>Active Life, Coxhoe, will have a New Year’s Eve Party from 7pm-late; tickets from Active Life are £12 Adults and £6 Under 18s; or if bought before Christmas £10 Adults and £5 Under 18s.
>International Day of Disabled people have an evening performance of music at 7pm on Tuesday 18 December in the Sage Gateshead.
>Recyke Y’Bike is a project which refurbishes donated bikes in Byker to sell to the public, and send to Africa to support community programmes. There is a drop off point in Durham – contact Ken and Audrey on 0191 384 4195.
6. Items of Any Other Business: Rubbish bin.
7. Treasurer’s Report:
> Expenditure: Quiz prizes - £35, Room Hire for Marlene Ave - £5, Refreshments - £1
Income: Quiz - £63, Tea&Raffle - £8.60, Parish fund - £100.
Restricted income: Opencast £399.50
> Raffle prize: S Featherstone won the prize kindly donated by J Blakey.
> Quiz: The latest quiz to support the Partnership is “Link the words” with a closing date of 12 January 2012.
Contact Janet via email to get a quiz on jblackburn732@btinternet.com
8. Reports and matters arising:
i) East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership:
The AAP is taking three projects forward from this year’s budget, two of which are in Bowburn, the Young Enterprise and Healthy Hubs; the third scheme is the Targeted Business Improvement which will refurbish shop fronts in Trimdon. The Forum meeting on 7 November discussed priorities for the coming year 2013-2014. Details will be reported at the next Board meeting, which will be held at Kelloe Primary School on 9 January from 5-7pm.
Please don’t forget to register your attendance with Marie Ainscough if you would like to attend.
Meanwhile the AAP Board members will stand down next year; if you are interested in becoming a public representative contact Jane Bellis on 03000 261 129.
ii) Parish Council: A report will follow in the December.
Next meetings: 19 December in Cassop Community Centre, and 16 January in Bowburn Community Centre.
Litter Pick: Saturday 1 December and 5 January - meet at 9.30am in Bowburn Community Centre Car Park.
iii) Quarry Liaison: No meeting this month.
9. Group Noticeboard:
>Banner: The Centenary Banner attended the Service of Remembrance in Bowburn on 11November 2012.
>BVC: Interchange 65 will be printed next week.
There will be a Quiz Night on 30 November in Crowtrees WMC from 7.30pm to raise funds to print the Interchange. Look out for future quiz nights in March, June, September and December of 2013.
>Bowburn FC Ray Pirt has taken over as secretary/manager and is trying to bring in new players. It is hoped that the team will survive to the end of the season and bring in a new committee and manager.
>Credit Union Bank: The closure of the North Yorkshire credit union was a shock but all its members got their money back. Durham is in a good state and expects to declare a small dividend for the year ending September.
New members can join in Bowburn Community Centre on Fridays from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon.
Bite back against loan sharks: The Illegal Money Lending Team can provide funds for one off projects to target loan sharks and reduce crime and disorder by preventing illegal money lending.
Ideas were asked for at this meeting and Janet will make enquiries. (Janet)
>Fun Day: On hold until arrangements are made for a Fun Day in 2013.
>History: The group heard an interesting talk about “Bowburn colliery managers”. The group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
>Website: The site has been quiet and not updated because of lack of information and the easier social webpages. The website is not free, so it is a pity that it is not used. Send information to bowburnnews@aol.com
>Bowburn Radio: The radio was going well but Gary had family commitments; less news was coming in, and he then set up Durham City AFC radio. Though he has been asked to set up the radio again for Bowburn it is not easy.
10. Any Other Business: The waste bin at the Wellsprings bus stand has not as yet been replaced, and the litter is causing a problem at the bus stop. (Janet)
11. Date and Time of Next Meeting:
18 December 2012 at 6.30pm. in Bowburn Community Centre.