GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 16 September 2014 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, S Featherstone, K Griffiths, K Haigh, G Kitson, D Paget, C Parker, S Raine, M Ridley, F Salisbury, M Syer, S Walworth. In Attendance: Cllr M Plews
1.Apologies: PC Cockburn, J Geyer, B Little
2i. Police: PC Cockburn sent the crime statistics - as he was on duty.
Parkhill 1 theft of toaster from outside address in Park Avenue; 1 Offence of Cultivation of Cannabis in Parkhill Estate: Cassop 1 Theft of diesel from vehicle in Dene View: Bowburn 1 Container burglary at Persimmon Homes Site – Nothing taken; 1 Damage to vehicle in Horton Crescent; 1 Damage to window in George Street
2(ii) PACT meetings for 2014 – 17 September and 12 November at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Police will focus on anti-social behaviour in Horton Crescent for the foreseeable future.
2iii. Neighbourhood Wardens: The new contact number for the wardens is 03000 261 000
3. Minutes:
General Meeting 19 August – The minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising – All to be discussed on the agenda.
4. Finances:
>Expenditure this financial year:- Unrestricted funds £218.17; Restricted funds £500 (50% Fun Day rides)
Income this financial year:- Unrestricted funds £206.80; Restricted funds £305.00 (3 councillors, BVC stall)
Totals to date: Unrestricted funds £2350.07; Restricted funds £18,761.03
>Noticeboard repairs: Awaiting a quote from Interplan for the rubber seals needed for the repair of the boards.
>Raffle prize: F Salisbury won the prize, kindly donated by M Syer.
>Quiz: The new quiz ‘Fantasy’ is available for £1, for prizes of £20, £10, and £5, and closes on 15 November.
5. Item for Any Other Business: Park & Ride, Post Office
6. Current Masterplan:
6A. Regeneration Fund: Community Centre: The new stage lighting and chair lift have been installed and when G Parvin confirms receipt of the invoices payment will be made from the Regeneration Fund.
6B Reports:
6B(i) Planning: Letters have been sent on all planning matters relating to The Cooperage, Daisy Field, Heath Close, Parkhill estate and Wylam Terrace – we are awaiting the decisions of the Planning Committees.
In relation to the primary school the Chairs of Governors at the Junior and Infant Schools have sent their views about the loss of the Daisy Field to DCC Planning Department. The letter takes into account the points made at the campaign meeting.
The Partnership has also written to Planning saying that we are aware of, and support the governor’s views.
Mrs Sheila Palmerley, DCC, had so far been unable to give the information asked for concerning evidence of future numbers on roll, the size of and a safe access to the school.
An emailed response from S Palmerley was received on Tuesday evening 16 September timed at 18.56h.
The Action Group will meet on 22 September to discuss the information from County.
In respect of Wylam Terrace, it was suggested that if the application was refused but is resubmitted as a smaller scheme, the Partnership would review its decision.
(ii) Highways/Environment: There is to be a joint meeting of both the Environment group, asked for in the last general meeting, and the ongoing Highways group. The next meeting is 27 October at 6.00pm.
Durham Road bollards and paving are on order but no start date can be given.
Agreed to order cast iron planters for Durham Road with the name ‘Bowburn’ highlighted on them. The design will be sent to Stephen Jones so that they can be risk assessed. We would then need confirmation of funding, insurances and liability agreements. (??? - see e-mail.) (Janet)
The new MW roundabout markings are causing concern. Members complained about the lack of signage for Coxhoe on the A177; the imbalance of traffic to Peterlee and the traffic to the sliproad south/services/ Coxhoe; why the work has not been completed; the disrespectful amount of rubbish left behind; the lack of consultation on the signage; poor monitoring of diversion signs; no provision for cyclists. Apart from that everything was fine. [Joke] (Janet)
6B(iii) Parkhill: The Residents’ Association have agreed to buy a seat to replace that at the entrance to the footpath for the cemetery off the MW roundabout. (Sandra)
Agreed, that Parkhill Residents buy two planters, but with the name ‘Parkhill’, and seek insurance liabilities from the Parish Council, plus permissions from County jointly with B&PCP. (Sandra/Janet)
6Biv Community Centre: Nothing to report.
6Bv Youth Club (Joanne Eden): Nothing to report
6Bvi Artwork: Mr Paul Armstrong of Esh – has discussed the column with Geoff Woodcock and they were of the opinion that the art installation would be best placed within the public areas to be formed by a proposed new education academy and office extension. Should the ‘by-pass’ ever get off the ground then this would be a gateway to Bowburn’s new employment and education ‘quarter’.
Members noted that the artwork would be hidden from the village and only visible by the workforce of Esh.
Mr Armstrong has been contacted to suggest that the ‘Coal Column’ is sited across the road from the Grange Estate, south of the Jet Garage at the north entrance of the village. (Janet)
6Bviii General housing: Nothing to report.
6C Area Plans
6Ci Masterplan: Continue to suggest ideas that met the criteria could be incorporated into a future Neighbourhood Plan or Parish Plan.
6Cii County Durham Plan: The Examination in Public is in October and November at the cricket ground Chester-le-Street. (Richard)
6Ciii Neighbourhood Plan: There is a project meeting on 17 September at 5pm to identify the focus for the Neighbourhood Plan.
7 Correspondence: None to report
8. Reports and matters arising:
(i) AAP:
>Melvyn Carr chaired the Board Meeting. >C Payne, Head of Children’s Services advised on the Review of Children’s Centres between 31 July and 23 October. >S Robinson is no longer working for DCA resulting in a partner vacancy. J Hepplewhite has resigned from his position as a public representative on the Board. A procedure to fill the two vacancies will follow. >S Richardson gave a verbal presentation on the Healthy Starts project with funding of £2,895.00 which engaged with families to help them make healthier choices. >T Case, Durham, Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Group gave l presentation on the proposed changes to improve the ambulance service in their area. >A Waite, accompanied by Keith, a stroke survivor Stroke Association, gave a presentation on their mission to prevent strokes.
>Next meeting: Wednesday 29 October 5.00 – 7.00; Quarrington Hill Community Centre.
>Youth PB applications close on 3 October. Each young person will receive 4 votes one for each of the following areas 1) Sedgefield, Fishburn, Bradbury & Mordon. 2) Bowburn, Coxhoe & Tursdale
3) Quarrington Hill, Kelloe & Cassop 4) Trimdons Village/Grange/Station
8ii Parish Council: Meeting, 20 August 2014 – Sylvia Raine
The following objections were made on the following planning applications: Daisy Field - school/flooding issues; Wylam Terrace Parkhill - asked for road to be to adoptable standard as per previous conditions; Crowtrees Lane - access; Cooperage - poor standard of architecture in a conservation area.
Landscaping works at Miners' Memorial/War Memorial to be completed by 1st week in September (now complete). Damaged water culvert at allotment site now repaired. Parish is seeking quotations for a drainage scheme at the lower end of the cemetery, which is prone to flooding after heavy rainfall.
17 September 6pm - WWI commemoration meeting to discuss arrangements for a service on 11 November.
8iii Quarry Liaison: The upgrading work has been done on the bottom track to provide zig-zags on the steep climb up to Quarrington Hill, which it is now possible to cycle up.
9. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The Tursdale banner went to Easington Lane. The Centenary banner was at the DLI WWI commemoration as well as a facsimile of the Edith Cavell banner. There was much interest and contacts were made.
(ii) BVC Interchange: The paper is due out this week and a request was made for more deliverers and if possible could the paper be delivered early next week to advertise the Fun Day.
A Quiz Night will be held on Friday 19 September to support the printing of the Interchange.
(iii) Credit Union Bank: The bank is open on Fridays from 11 am to 12 noon in the Community Centre.
(iv) Football: The U10s team will be playing in a National Tournament at New Wembley stadium – well done.
(v) Fun Day 27 Sep 11am to 3pm: Bookings of stalls is going well. Cars must be removed from both car parks by 10am. Attractions will take place in both car parks and the Youth Club.
(vi) History: The storage facilities are still in limbo. 16 October there is to be a talk on Casualties of WWI.
(vii) Website: www.bowburn.net carries information about the Partnership.
10. Any Other Business:
>For information the contract of the Park and Ride busses has been won by the Scarlet Band.
>The Leazes Post Office closes at the end of business on Monday 20 October.
The Jet filling station opens for Post Office business on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 October.
11. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 6.30pm on 21 October 2014
Actionable items
6Aii Highways/Environment and 6Biii: Make enquiries about the suitability of planters for Durham Road and Parkhill verges.
MW roundabout: Report concerns to the Highways Agency about the works at the MW roundabout.
6Bvi – Environment art work – Continue to liaise with Paul Armstrong of Esh.
6Cii – Report on the Examination in Public for the Local Plan