GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 16 June 2015 from 6.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen, A Gallagher, K Haigh, G Kitson, B Little, M Pragnell (until 7pm), N Pragnell, S Raine, M Ridley, M Syer,
1.Apologies: J Blakey, K Griffiths, D Paget, Cllr M Plews, F Salisbury, S Walworth, M Williams
In attendance: None
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required through this agenda.
3(i). Police: There was no report for this month.
3(ii) PACT meetings: 2015 – 8 July at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
3(iii) Neighbourhood Wardens: The new contact number for the wardens is 03000 261 000
4. Minutes: General Meeting 19 May – Members had the opportunity to view the minutes on-line; unfortunately they could not be brought to this meeting.
Matters arising Item 5 Bowling Green: Residents from Beaumont Court were present at the meeting and were in favour of keeping the beech hedge, but had concerns that if the three other hedges were removed ‘the park would be brought closer to their houses’ and ‘the travellers who have encamped this year on the grassed area next to the bowling green could be back in increased numbers if the levelled area was doubled in size’.
Agreed to have a site meeting with residents to resolve the current problems. (Janet)
All members were concerned that travellers had pitched their caravans on the former tennis court in the park.
It was said that the matter had been reported and was under observation by DCC.
5. Annual General Meeting 19 May 2015: Members had the opportunity to view the minutes on-line; unfortunately they could not be brought to this meeting and would be brought to the next meeting for provisional approval.
6. Finances: Income: Restricted funds: £250 donation towards the Fun Day from Joanne Ridley and Tim Neasham
Expenditure: Restricted funds: £240 deposit on the slides for the Fun Day.
Agreed to pay Donna Paget a donation of £20 when she has independently examined the accounts. (Mike)
Fun Day Meeting – 26 May: The meeting agreed the rides and attractions; the stalls are £5 by application form. Next meeting is 28 July in the Community Centre at 6.30pm. (Martin, Mike)
Raffle prize: R Cowen won the prize, kindly donated by G Kitson. Next month S Raine is to donate a prize.
Quiz: New quiz ‘Baking’ at £1; closing date 15 August 2015
7. Item for Any Other Business: Consultation
8. Current Masterplan:
8A. Regeneration Fund: Awaiting a quotation from the Clean & Green department for small planters for Bowburn and large planters for Parkhill – via Gillian Parvin. (Janet)
8B Reports:
8B(i) Planning:
County Durham Plan: The council is taking the Inspector’s Report into the County Plan to a Judicial Review. ‘Interested parties’ have been contacted but the Partnership is not one of those. The Secretary of State has asked for a delay until 10 July for discussions with DCC. (Richard)
(ii) Highways/Environment: Next meetings is Monday 6 July.
Durham Road gas boxes:
National Gas Network is not responsible for tidying up gas boxes; it is the responsibility of the owner of the property.
Agreed to leaflet the landlords of those properties with damaged gas boxes, adding contact details for the National Gas Networks, requesting that the landlords examine and repair the boxes. (Janet)
Railings on MW approach: Metal railings on the approach to the MW roundabout are the responsibility of DCC.
Brian Buckley DCC said that, at present, there are no plans to upgrade the fencing but DCC will continue to maintain them from a safety perspective. Brian Kitching and his team manage the highway assets, including fencing and he will ask Brian’s team to review both locally to our area, and the wider county.
Agreed to request costings from DCC for both the railings on the C12a and the MW roundabout approaches in preparation for the Section 106 application. (Janet)
MW roundabout markings to Coxhoe: Colin Mortimer, A-one+, apologises for the delay in responding. He informed that after some minor changes, a second survey has been commissioned; this is nearing completion and when released he will endeavour to advise of its outcome. (Janet)
Environmental improvement schemes: The secretary contacted the owner of the former paper shop in Durham Road, Janet Maitland, to discuss if it could be tidied up and she was told that work on clearing asbestos had begun that very day, and the new shop will look ‘stunning’. (Janet)
A member put forward the area between the chemist shop and the Wellsprings Centre for improvement – possibly a car park. (Janet)
8Biii Parkhill: No report this month.
8Biv Community Centre:
The grant for CCTV cameras was being discussed by County Durham Community Foundation on Wednesday 17 June.
A family New Year’s Eve Party will be held plus a games room at £10 adults, £5 fourteen to eighteen years, under fourteen’s free.
8Bv Youth Club: At the AGM Mike Syer announced his retirement as secretary, but will remain in post until September when Julie Bailey becomes the new secretary. Otherwise all officers remained unchanged.
8Bvi Coal column: On 21 May Colin Rose emailed “I will be in touch when I hear anything. Thank you for your continued interest in the work.” This item will be kept under review. (Janet)
8Bvii General housing: Railings – see Item 8B(ii)
8Bviii Education:
It is now known that one of the children refused a place in Bowburn Infant School has been offered a place.
8C Area Plans: 8Ci Masterplan: Suggest ideas which could be incorporated into a future Neighbourhood Plan.
9. Correspondence: WW1 Centenary and exhibition with guest speakers will be held on Saturday 5 September 10:00 - 16:30 (Doors open 09:00) in Cornerstones, Chester-le-Street Methodist Church, Ticket Price £25 (includes tea/ coffee, buffet lunch) Contact: Phone: 07594964930 E-mail: wfadurham.events@live.co.uk
Jack Drum Arts: Have converted to a community interest company and are now recruiting adults for a new Management Board. If interested in this voluntary position please email helen@jackdrum.co.uk.
Healthy buddy project: Several people have volunteered to be buddies for vulnerable and older people. However there are few clients. So if you know of someone who needs support with shopping, attending social activities, attending medical appointments or someone to chat to please contact healthybuddy@pcp.uk.net
Nathaniel Litchfield: Are acting on behalf of the Citrus Group who is proposing to bring forward development proposals for a largely employment-led development on land south of Bowburn. Citrus Group as the developer has acquired the land east of the Leamside Line. The project is at its initial conceptual stage, however the teams feels it important to introduce themselves and the project to the local community at the earliest opportunity given the sites chequered history and previously failed attempts to deliver.
The proposals could include up to 175,000sqm of industrial/ commercial floorspace alongside potentially 150 – 300 homes, with ancillary retail and leisure uses, including a hotel, gym and potential nursery. This is part of the land which has the allocation in the adopted City of Durham Local Plan and emerging County Durham Plan for industrial uses. There is also the potential for a Railport facility on other land to the west of the disused Leamside Line once storage and distribution uses are established on our site and subject to that site coming forward for development in the future.
There will be a community consultation event to present the initial proposals, discuss and receive feedback from the local community at the Bowburn Community Centre on 15 July from 12 noon until 7pm.
At this meeting members agreed that this was a major pre-application decision for the village.
A discussion followed as to the merits of putting our views to the pre consultation meeting on 15 July. Those members who are able will attend the meeting.
10. Reports and matters arising:
10(i) AAP: The Lord Lieutenant of Durham encouraged members to nominate residents in the AAP for the honours awards of possibly the OBE Order British Empire – outstanding achievement nationally; MBE Member of the British Empire – significant achievement locally, BEM British Empire Medal – sustained achievement over a short period of time say 3 to 4 years. Help could be given with the application form and covering letter.
Task/Finish: Health: Aims: Tackle binge drinking; Tackle alcohol dependency in adults 18+ depending on the outcome of Michelle Baldwin’s conversation with Kirsty Wilkinson; Tackle obesity in adults and children; Tackle risky behaviour in young people.
Older people: The agreed definition of older people would be those aged 60+.
The areas of need agreed were: Transport issues; Health Buddy Scheme; Luncheon clubs
A gritting/clearing service for older people during the winter was suggested - Sandra Stephenson is to contact Terry Collins to see if he has any practical thoughts on this.
Children and young people: Agreed to take this priority to the Youth Forum for their initial thoughts.
East Durham Rural Corridor Summer Forum will be held on Wednesday 15 July in Trimdon Community College from 6pm to 9pm, and includes three brass bands.
10(ii) a) Report of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council Meeting, 20 May
The Parish agreed to a donation of £200 for Bowburn Infant/Nursery School for benches in the school garden in memory of Jen Syer, governor, Alix Bussey, teacher, and Nuha, a pupil, all of whom had recently died. Also confirmed was the Chair's action in agreeing to buy a series of books to help children to cope with bereavement.
The Parish were invited to attend a licensing hearing re Bowburn Filling Station & PO; they did not wish to send a representative but asked for our objections to be read out and considered.
A Councillor had resigned from the Parish due to family issues. The vacancy would be advertised in the Parish according to electoral rules.
Next meeting 24th June at Cassop: Annual meeting of electors followed by ordinary monthly meeting. Followed by a meeting on 15 July in Bowburn Community Centre.
Litter-pick July: S Raine will be away so there will probably not be one. The last one was a great success, with 25 bags picked, plus 3 tyres and several road signs. Special thanks to those present who joined Councillors/spouses.
b) Neighbourhood Plan: Ongoing
10(iii) Quarry Liaison – The next meeting is in September
11. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The Eve of Gala concert is free entry. It will start with Pitting Brass and finish with the band DENNIS. On Saturday 11 July the Gala parade begins in Cavell Drive to commemorate Nurse Edith Cavell.
(ii) BVC Interchange: Volunteers will deliver The Interchange in the course of the next week. The last Quiz Night was a success so watch out for the date of the next one.
(iii) Credit Union Bank: The bank is open on Fridays from 11 am to 12 noon in the Community Centre.
iv) Football: No news this month
(v) History: The Resources Room is open on Wednesdays from 1pm until 4pm.
12. AOB: Consultation – See Item 9 Nathaniel Litchfield
13. Date and Time of Next Meeting:
General Meeting 21 July 2015 at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre