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GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 June 2014 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, Cllr Blakey, R Cowen, S Featherstone, J Geyer, K Griffiths, G Kitson, D Paget,
S Raine, M Ridley, F Salisbury
In Attendance: Cllr M Plews
1.Apologies: W Bates, D Chambers, K Haigh, B Little, C Parker, M Syer, S Walworth Cllr Williams, PC Cockburn
2i. Police: PC Cockburn sent a report - as he had an early morning police operation.
Parkhill - Nil: Cassop -1 Shed Burglary: Bowburn - 1 House Burglary; 5 Criminal Damage
(4 involved vehicles and 1 to a fence gate)
2(ii) PACT/Neighbourhood watch/Speedwatch: www.durham.gov.uk/crimeprevention
A range of postcards and posters have been developed to support the above. If you can display and distribute the
materials in your local area, copies can be ordered by emailing sheila.gray@durham.gov.uk
PACT meetings for 2014 are – 9 July, 17 Sep, and 12 Nov: 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
2iii. Neighbourhood Wardens: No report for June.
3. Minutes: Minutes - Annual General Meeting 20 May – Provisional agreement was given to the minutes
Minutes - General Meeting 20 May – The minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising – (School parking , Litter at Bowburn Industrial South, Zip wire) and Picnic bench for Youth Club –
mislaid by the Council. (Cllr Blakey)
4. Finances:
Income: There was nothing to report since the General Meeting of 20 May 2014
Income and expenditure relating to the Fun Day: Update in July.
Raffle prize: R Cowen won the prize, kindly donated by G Kitson
Quiz: The new quiz, at £1, for prizes of £20, £10, and £5 is ‘Jobs’. The closing date is 16 August.
5. Item for Any Other Business: Leak on MW bridge; Leak on Durham Rd W; Bollard on Durham Rd
6. Current Masterplan:
6A. Regeneration Fund:
Community Centre: J Blackburn, J Blakey, D Paget, M Ridley declared an interest but it was not prejudicial.
The chair lift has been fitted, and the stage electrics should be complete by the end of June.
6B Reports:
6B(i) Highways: Mount Joy Cycleway – Report from V Lloyd, DCC: There will be alterations made to the road
markings at Mount Joy, in addition to signage. The main change proposed will reduce the width of the NW bound
general traffic lane to encourage motorists to overrun the advisory cycle lane. This should give the impression that
the general traffic lane is obviously not wide enough to safely accommodate motorists, and they should proceed into
the cycle lane. The reduction in lane width will be achieved with centre hatching.
The redesign of the scheme will be resubmitted to the Safety Audit Team for comment before works commence.
The proposed works and signage will coincide with resurfacing of this road in August/September.
The speed limit will not be reduced to 30mph as this was not supported by the police.
At this meeting a member reported a problem seeing the cycle lane depending on the direction of the sun, and
another member queried why the police refused a 30mph speed limit change on the southerly approach to Mount
Joy. (Richard, Janet)
Planters: The Partnership would like to install a series of planters between the bollards already installed on Durham
Road off the A177 through Bowburn, and between those already ordered but as yet to be installed.
The planters would prevent vehicles driving onto the pavement between the bollards and they would also help to
improve the gateway into the village, which is also a popular route into Durham City and recognised in the
Masterplan for Bowburn. There has been agreement from Cllr Plews.
The Parish Council has been asked to work alongside the Partnership on a joint project to bring about this proposal
with a view to the Parish accepting and adopting the planters for upkeep and maintenance. (Janet)
A member was concerned at the cost to the Parish of watering and planting each year.
Another member thought that the planters would be vandalised.
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6Bii Parkhill: ‘Parkhill Residents’ has agreed to close their association because of falling numbers. They took the
decision that their remaining funds should be held by Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership. Once two seats
are bought and planters have been maintained the outstanding monies would be donated to the Partnership. (SF)
It was asked if the rubble tubs on the central reservation at Parkhill could be removed unless the Parish Council
agreed to maintain them.
6Biii Community Centre: A private christening went well and a variety of enquiries are being made.
6Biv Youth Club: The gym is now in the ownership of the Youth Club.
A pool table has been donated to the Club.
6Bv Environment: There was no response from Mr Armstrong in June. More enquiries will be made in July. (Janet)
6B(vi) Planning: Daisy Field Campaign
The Chairs of Governors at the Junior and Infant schools have called a public meeting in the Community Centre on
14 July at 6.30pm to gauge the interest of the village to safeguard the land at the ‘Daisy Field’ for a single site
Primary School.
B&PCP had already raised the issue of a future Primary School in the representations to the Local Plan and we
would make further arguments about this at the Examination in Public; it would be an issue for a potential
Neighbourhood Plan, but, as a reapplication was possible to build houses on the Daisy Field, in view of the
comments of the inspector who determined the planning appeal; members were in full support of this project.
Invitations would be sent from the two chairs of governors to various officials from education and planning at County
Hall, the MP, Local County Councillors, Parish Councillors, and School Governors.
Dennis Morgan is to Chair the meeting and Mike Syer would act as clerk to the meeting.
Agenda: Opening remarks to summarise the situation along with a large scale plan showing the location and area of
the existing Junior School and adjacent Daisy Field; Response from invited speakers; Discussion from the floor with
‘officials’; action plan, if approved, to protect the Field; Summation of the meeting.
It was also agreed that protecting the Daisy Field as a community asset was a possibility.
For information – there is no renewed planning application to date.
6Bvii Housing in general: A consultation has taken place to build houses on land at Heath Close.
6C Area Plans
(i) Masterplan: The suggested improvements to update the Masterplan were distributed and it was put forward that
the ideas that met the criteria could be incorporated into a future Neighbourhood Plan or Parish Plan, and they
could form the basis for a questionnaire. (Janet)
6Cii Co. Durham Plan: Submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and waiting for a date for the Examination in Public.
6Ciii Neighbourhood Plan: The Parish Council is waiting for a response to the announcement to be the designated
body. There will then be a meeting with officials from the local authority.
7 Correspondence: Weardalehouse.co.uk: Activities 26/29 August for 8-15 years:
Noticeboards: Quotation from Interplan is £300 to refurbish, replace the backboard and glazing, then reinstall.
Further quotations to be investigated.
Bird Identification talk by Richard Crossley to Durham RSPB on 11 November
8. Reports and matters arising:
(i) AAP: Key Messages AGM/Board Meeting, 4 June 2014 at Bowburn Community Centre: Cllr Blakey (Chair)
Tom Simms was welcomed to his first meeting as Board member (Fire representative).
Melvyn Carr (public representative) was appointed as the new Chairperson for 2014/15; Rachael Swales was
appointed as Vice Chair (Statutory Partner); A decision to appoint a Vice Chair (Cllr) will be made after the Local
Councils Committee AGM on 18 June.
Helen Mulhearn, Investing in Children, gave a verbal update on behalf of the young people from the Voices Project
and shared their initial thoughts for the AAP’s consideration on how they would like to make changes and run the
AAP Participatory Budgeting Event in 2014. The topic and what the young people wanted to do were highlighted.
There will be an update at the next Board meeting.
Janet Blackburn (Lead) gave an update of the meeting of the Health and Older People Task and Finish Group held
on 20 May. Summary information on the Healthy Horizons project had previously been circulated to the Board;
members were happy to allocate £12,500 subject to consultation and agreement to where the project is to be
delivered. A decision to approve the application was deferred. It was agreed that £12,500 would also be allocated
from 2015/16 from the Area Budget subject to a successful review of the project.
Date/time of next meeting – Wednesday 9 July from 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm at Sedgefield Methodist Church Hall
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8ii Parish Council:
Report of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council AGM and ordinary Meeting, both held on 21st May 2014
At the AGM, Andrew Shutt was appointed Chair and Sylvia Raine Vice-Chair, both elected unopposed.
Neighbourhood Plan: notice of application to be the designated body to produce a Neighbourhood Plan had
appeared in the Northern Echo; consultation period of 6 weeks would end on June 30th; agreed - to invite speakers
from Planning Aid to a special meeting about the pros and cons of a Neighbourhood Plan.
A water culvert on the allotment site had been damaged; Parish Council to pay for repair as it is under Parish land;
a quotation awaited.
The next meetings are 18 June in Cassop Community Centre, and 16 July in Bowburn Community Centre.
Litter picks 5 July weather permitting – from Bowburn Community Centre at 9.30am – all are welcome
A member was grateful for the litter pick at Lawson Road which cleared a difficult area around the Junior School.
8iii Quarry Liaison: The next meeting is proposed for October.
9. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: 30 June 2.30pm, 24 new faces on Centenary Banner will be revealed; 11 July Free Eve of Gala Concert;
12 July Big Meeting Day – the Kippax Band plays at Park Hill at 8am followed by a wreath laying at the Community
Centre, and march through Bowburn via Burn St to Dallymore Drive.
(ii) BVC Interchange: The June edition is being distributed, Quiz night Friday 27 June in Crowtrees Club
(iii) Credit Union Bank: The young people at the Youth Club have shown some interest in joining the bank.
(iv) Football: Well done to the U8’s who won at the Blackpool Tournament – on penalties.
Bowburn Athletic finished 9th in their first Season in adult football. They were awarded the Durham Sunday League
2013/2014 Fair Play Award. The team stays at Mainsforth Sports Complex and pre-Season training is underway,
and more players want to join from the area.
(v) Fun Day: There is an increase in the number of attractions; stalls cost £5 payable to Martin Ridley.
(vi) History: No meeting this month
(vii) Website: Unfortunately the website www.communigate.co.uk is to close but www.bowburn.net still carries
information about the Partnership.
10. Any Other Business: MW bridge is to be reported directly to the Highways Agency. (Janet)
There is a leak on the kerb outside the former papershop in Durham Road. (Cllr Blakey)
A bollard was accidentally knocked down in Durham Road. (Cllr Blakey)
11. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 6.30pm 15 July
Actionable items
3 Matters Arising: Litter at Bowburn Industrial South, Zip wire and Picnic bench for Youth Club (Cllr Blakey)
6Bi Highways. Ask why the police refused a 30mph speed limit change on the approach to Mount Joy.
(Richard, Janet)
Enquire if the Parish accepting and adopting the planters for upkeep and maintenance. (Janet)
Awaiting a response from D Battensby DCC – re school parking (R Cowen)
6Bii Parkhill Residents’ to advance their remaining funds should be held by B&PCP (Sandra Featherstone)
6Bv Environment: The secretary will liaise with Mr Paul Armstrong next month (July) Janet)
6Ci Masterplan suggestions may form the basis for a questionnaire. (Janet)
10 AOB: MW Bridge is to be reported directly to the Highways Agency. (Janet)
There is a leak on the kerb outside the former papershop in Durham Road. (Cllr Blakey)
A bollard was accidentally knocked down in Durham Road. (Cllr Blakey)