MINUTES_- Annual General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership – Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 21 May 2013. From 6.00pm to 6.20pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, S Featherstone, K Griffiths, G Kitson, D Paget, S Raine, A Richardson, A Robinson, F Salisbury, M Syer, S Thompson, S Walworth
In Attendance: M Ridley
1.Apologies for absence: PC Cockburn, J Geyer, K Haigh, M Williams
2. Minutes of last Annual General Meeting 15 May 2012:
The minutes were taken as a true record by K Haigh and M Bell, and the meeting agreed them unanimously.
3. Chair’s Annual Report:
The chair welcomed everyone to the ninth Annual General Meeting of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership.
Over the past year the Regeneration Fund has contributed to further upgrades inside the Community Centre. As a result of previous matched funding the Urban and Rural Renaissance Initiative (URRI) completed the paving scheme on Durham Road West from the Hillcrest Guest House to the Methodist Chapel. The lighting columns from Broadmeadows to Tail-Upon-End-Lane have been completed,
The Partnership were pleased to be told that the street lighting maintenance costs from Broadmeadows to Tail-Upon-End Lane is to be covered by Durham County Council which gives a sum of £25 000.00 to return to the Regeneration Fund. With the £17 047.00 of unspent monies in the Fund this gives a final total of £42 047.00 to spend on further regeneration projects. It was agreed to allocate £3000.00 of these funds to the Community Centre as a contingency fund to complete the refurbishment of the outdoor area. Expressions of Interest have been requested for new projects.
The Partnership’s Project Fund supported lighting schemes on the Cemetery Road and the Old Quarrington Road, and a leaflet of local businesses and community organisations to distribute to new residents.
We agreed to accept dissolution funds from other groups for intentions compatible with the Partnership’s charitable purposes. We hold funds for The Fun Day; Bowburn Opencast Action Group and the Bowls Group.
We have supported:
Keeping open Marlene Avenue Centre by holding trustees’ meetings there
A bus service for the Cape site and a Sunday bus service to the Arniston Centre.
A Puffin Crossing on the A177
Reinstating the original line of Footpath 29
A weekly Credit Union Bank in the Community Centre with volunteers from the Partnership
We have commented on
The County Durham Plan and submitted issues that could have an effect Bowburn and the surrounding area
And a number of planning applications including
Two wind turbines at Croxdale and Heugh Hall
Housing at the Daisy Field which may affect future proposals for a future Primary School and
The Fire Service’s proposed training area on the South Industrial Estate
We have not objected to a proposed mast between Bowburn and Shincliffe but will view any application for a wind turbine in this location with concern
We are also consulting on an external coal-seam Art work at the entrance to the Village with the Esh Group
Partnership members include locally elected County Councillors who regularly attend Partnership meetings; members are represented on the East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership and the Parish Council as well as local interest groups. Reports are received each month from each of these groups.
I would like to thank:
The Trustees who have conscientiously attended meetings throughout the year in particular Shirley Walworth and Karen Griffiths who are standing down as trustees this year
The locally elected members for their support
The Parish Council for their information
The advice and support from Julie Anson and the County Council
PC Cockburn, the PCSOs and Neighbourhood Wardens for their attendance at the meetings.
In the future the Partnership will continue to support local groups and liaise with statutory bodies to put forward issues that concern the village of Bowburn and its residents.
The report was accepted by A Richardson and S Raine and agreed by the meeting.
5. Statement of Financial Affairs:
The treasurer presented a report on the 2012-13 accounts, by the independent examiner, the City of Durham Council for Voluntary Service [CVS]
The report was proposed by J Blakey and seconded by S Raine and approved unanimously by the members present.
6. Election of Officers: The election of the following officials was agreed by the members:
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 Haigh, G Kitson, S Raine
8. Close of AGM:
The chair closed the AGM and thanked members for attending and looked forward to seeing them at future meetings.