Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership – Charity Number 1112151 – met on 20 May 2014 to hold the Annual General meeting followed by the General Meeting for the month of May
6.25PM to 7.30PM GENERAL MEETING – Minutes
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, S Featherstone, J Geyer, K Griffiths, G Kitson, B Little, D Paget, C Parker, S Raine, F Salisbury, M Syer, S Walworth
In Attendance: Cllr M Plews
1.Apologies for absence: D Chambers, K Haigh, M Williams
2i. Police: PC Cockburn gave his apologies for his absence during this year, but he has been able to send email statistics – for which the Partnership is grateful.
Parkhill 1 shed broken into and horse equipment stolen; Old Cassop Damage to fence between highway and field;
Bowburn Thefts of fuel and insecure vehicle from Tursdale Business Park; 7 tubs of easy-cement; spare wheel from Tursdale Road; motorbike which was recovered and 2 persons, not from Bowburn, have been arrested and charged; from a cherry-picker van in Steavenson Street; Damage to a living room window; At the Services a Newcastle man was charged firstly charged with taking off without paying a taxi fare and secondly for aggravated vehicle theft when he drove off in the taxi.
6.45pm PC Cockburn left the meeting and was thanked for his attendance.
2ii. PACT meeting: The meetings for 2014 are – 9 July, 17 Sep, and 12 Nov: 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
2iii. Neighbourhood Wardens: No report this month.
3. Minutes: The minutes of 15 April were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters arising: > Hedge at the Junior School – a council representative has checked the hedge and as it is the school’s priority the caretaker will make every effort to clear the area. Bowburn litter-pickers will also help to clear the area when necessary.
6Bi Highways:
> Dave Battensby, Area Traffic Engineer, will arrange a site visit at the Infant School during term time – re parking.
R Cowen is awaiting a response from D Battensby DCC. (R Cowen)
Damaged verge at Dallymore – has been repaired.
10 Litter adjacent to the beck from the units in Bowburn Industrial South. Check the factories. (Cllr Blakey Janet)
4. Finances:
Income: Tea & raffle income April £13.58, minus £1 costs for refreshments. Entertainment quiz income £70
Payments: Room hire £51.
Income and expenditure relating to the Fun Day: Update in June.
Raffle prize: F Salisbury won the prize, kindly donated by R Cowen.
Quiz: Winners “It’s entertainment” – 1 P Salisbury (Parkhill), 2 J Grey (Bowburn). 3 E Mudd (Scarborough)
The new quiz, at £1, for prizes of £20, £10, and £5 is ‘Jobs’. Closing date is 16 August.
5. Item for Any Other Business: Zip slide.
6. Current Masterplan:
6A. Regeneration Fund:
Community Centre: J Blackburn, J Blakey, D Paget, M Ridley, and M Syer declared an interest but it was not prejudicial.
M Ridley, chair of the Community Association, thanked the Partnership for the grant and agreed to the terms and conditions. They aim to complete the work by the end of June 2014.
6B Reports:
6Bi Highways:
>It was agreed that if there is a successful re-application to build on the ‘Daisy Field’ consideration would be given to reducing the speed limit on the C12a.
> It was suggested that the 40mph speed limit may need to be reduced to 30mph on the A177 south at the Gulf filling station - if there is an increase of traffic on the A177 because of the new speed humps.
> Bollards on Durham Road: The installation date has not been arranged.
Install flower tubs between the bollards on Durham Road to prevent vehicles driving onto the pavement; to improve the gateway into the village and to recognise the conservation area.
At this meeting it was thought inappropriate to use the phrase ‘Conservation Area’ as the street did not resemble its original design. However flower troughs were acceptable with the name ‘Bowburn’ – which discourages theft.
The pot hole in the road to the front of Somal’s has been repaired.
Oxford Terrace south has problems with water ponding near the lay by.
Gulley at the former newsagents in Durham Road West has problems with a blockage.
R Cowen attended a course on “Cycle proofing roads” – the MW roundabout will be looked at for such a scheme.
>Review service 59: there are sufficient funds to run service 59 until early 2015. The Parish Council will review the situation in January 2015
Bollards opposite the community centre have been installed.
It is not established that reduced lighting has caused a significant increase in accidents but there is some evidence to this effect. The matter needs to be kept under review.
6Bii Parkhill: Parkhill Residents Association has their AGM in June when they will review their situation.
6Biii Community Centre: The first dance festival in the centre was very well received.
The Brenda Collins charity concert was well attended and enjoyed by all.
The next meeting is on 28 May when committee reps should attend.
6Biv Youth Club: Youth services have been restructured with the youth workers being salaried; one auxiliary has left but will do a part time session; funds have been raised to refurbish the toilets.
6Bv Environment: The secretary will liaise with Mr Armstrong in June concerning a piece of art for Bowburn. (Janet)
6Bvi Planning applications:
>Heath Close – awaiting a planning application before comments on the parking will be made.
>There has been no planning application for Parkhill housing.
>An application for 24 wind turbines has been submitted for The Isles near the Bradbury Interchange on the A1(M)
and could have an indirect impact on Bowburn.
6Bvii Housing in general: Consultation about the proposed stock transfer will take place throughout the summer.
6C Area Plans:
6Ci Future Masterplan: Members suggested improvements for the Masterplan priorities of Environment, Housing, Heritage & Culture, Children & Young People, Recreation & Leisure, Traffic & transport, Religion.
6Cii County Durham Plan: The Plan has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
6Ciii Neighbourhood Plan: The designated body is the Parish Council, notice of this status has been made public and objections can be made up until 30 June.
7.Correspondence:
Deputy Mayoress, Cllr Blakey, thanked the Partnership for the opportunity to attend the 10th Anniversary
Celebrations.
Active Life: Group Exercise Class Timetable; Saturday Afternoon Family Film Club; Membership Rewards; and some great half term holiday activities for 4-11 year olds.
Northumbrian Water: NW has been fined £30,000 after sewage polluted two streams. The company was taken to court by the Environment Agency where it admitted two charges of discharging polluted matter into watercourses.
One incident occurred in August in Bowburn Beck and NW was informed about the problem but failed to investigate for four days, claiming there were difficulties accessing the site. A one kilometre stretch of Bowburn Beck had many dead and dying invertebrates, with a small number of dead fish. A Northumbrian Water spokesman said the firm had strict liability for the pollution, even though the problems were not of its making.
8. Reports and matters arising:
8i AAP: The following are the key messages from the Board Meeting held on 12 March 2014
• Councillor Jan Blakey was in the chair
* Roger Goodes, Head of Policy & Communications presented the Council Budget Consultation where it was expected that funding the voluntary sector was stretched and education/ training was a factor to consider.
* Sue Williams gave a presentation on Community Resilience, enquiries can be made on 03000 264645.
* Phil Jackman gave an update on Digital Durham. Young representatives explained their proposal for the Voices Project; Board members allocated £40,000 to the young people for a participatory budget scheme and Small Grants Pot.
* Bill Lightburn gave a presentation on Healthy Horizons asking for funding of £12,500 from 2014/15 Area Budget and allocation of £12,500 from 15/16. The Board felt more time was needed to make a decision and the project would be discussed at a meeting of the Task & Finish Group.
* Louise Harlanderson gave a presentation on the Community Engagement Project. It was noted that 415 members had joined My NHS since January 2014.
* A presentation took place to recognise the nominees from our AAP for the Chairman’s Medal award.
*/Next meeting – Wednesday 4 June 2014 from 5.00 pm at Bowburn Community Centre.
8ii Parish Council: Roberta Blackman-Woods MP visited the Parish Council meeting by invitation, and discussions took place on various subjects, including secondary education provision for Bowburn children. The Parish councillors discussed the possible compilation of a directory of employers in the Parish, as proposed in the Parish Plan, but a quotation of £1,000 to produce such a directory was regarded as excessive and not accepted. Progress on a possible neighbourhood plan was reviewed, and the desirability of such a plan was discussed at length.
Further advice is to be sought from planning experts.
The next meetings are 21 May in Bowburn Community Centre, and 18 June in Cassop Community Centre.
The May litter-pick collected 14 bags from allotment area/beckside, and a bridge across the beck, made from flytipped doors, was reported to the County.
Litter picks 7 June and 5 July weather permitting – from Bowburn Community Centre at 9.30am – all are welcome
8iii Quarry Liaison: Great crested newts have been found in the quarry Ponds on the Crowtrees LNR but this is within the specified distance from proposed workings for Cold Knuckles and must therefore be addressed.
9. Group Noticeboard:
9i Banner: The Brenda Collins concert on Friday 25 April was very successful and well attended. The eve of gala concert is a free event with music from “Brassed Off” by Oil Lamp Productions on 11 July, with no age restriction, and a French band will also play that evening. They will also play at the Infant School, kindly paid for by local councillors.
9ii BVC: At the AGM on 6 May the officers remained the same.
The next issue of the Interchange is out in June. Please forward articles as soon as possible in May.
Please contact Mike Syer through mike.syer@btinternet.com if you could deliver the Interchange in your area.
The last Quiz Night on Friday 16 May was very enjoyable.
9iii Credit Union Bank: Open on Fridays from 11am to 12 noon in Bowburn Community Centre, when new members can join. It is hoped to take the CU to the job club for the young people in the Youth Club.
9iv Football: The U9s won at Blackpool for the second year running, a fantastic achievement.
9v Fun Day: The Fun Day is 27 September. Stalls will be £5 as in previous years.
Volunteers needed: If you enjoy and want to see the Fun Day(s) continue please come along to the next meeting on 3 June at 5pm in the Youth Club to help organise this year’s event.
9vi History: The May meeting has been cancelled due to lack of space in the meeting room.
9vii Durham Times: News and events for the paper which must be in by the Monday before the Friday edition. It is free and helps groups to receive more members. Please send any information to bowburnnews@aol.com.
9viii Website: ‘News’ is now on <www.communigate.co.uk/ne/bowburnnews>. B&PCP, Bowburn Interchange and the Banner Group are still on <www.bowburn.net>.
Communigate website has picked up and is getting regular hits; also minutes of the Partnership appear on it.
10. Any Other Business: It was asked if the zip- wire in the play park could be replaced (Cllr Blakey)
11. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 6.30pm 17 June