GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 March 2015; 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Griffiths, K Haigh, G Kitson, D Paget, S Raine, F Salisbury, S Walworth M Ridley, M Syer
1.Apologies: PC Cockburn, R Cowen, B Little, M Williams
In attendance: Cllr M Plews
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required through this agenda.
3(i). Police: There has been an exceptionally high incidence of anti-social behaviour over the last month particularly in Bowburn and Parkhill with a mix of incidents and people. Off road bikes are being ridden around the Parish area but mainly in Bowburn; unfortunately there is no longer an off-road section to detect these effectively.
Crime rate over the last month: Parkhill Nil; Cassop Nil; Bowburn – 2 criminal damage of two windows, one defaced, 2 vehicle crimes of driver’s window damaged and diesel stolen, 1 burglary of white goods.
3(ii) PACT meetings: 2015 – 18 March and 13 May 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 17 February – The minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising: [3]
The Parish Council have funds within the Neighbourhood Plan monies to contribute to any Rule 6 payments.
5. Finances:
Expenditure:
£1 refreshments, £164.88 insurance premium, £35 quiz prize, room hire £51, refreshments re C Rose visit £15.20
Income: Unrestricted funds £101 (Quiz), £13.05 (Tea/Raffle); £15,908.22 is in the bank with £14,345.60 restricted.
Fun Day: The County Durham Community Foundation application for next year’s Fun Day on behalf of the Bowburn Community Association and the Youth Club has been successful – thanks to Mike. Two conditions are in place that the Community Association and the Youth Club do not hire attractions until the funds have been obtained to cover their costs and that the Community Association and the Youth Club underwrite any loss.
A Fun Day meeting will be held as soon as possible to decide how the funding will be spent. (Martin, Mike)
Bowling green: Nigel Dodds, Strategic manager culture and sport, replied to a query about the future use of the bowling green in Bowburn Park saying that no groups had come forward to take over the asset and he would be willing to discuss the matter.
Agreed, if possible, to use the grant from Garfield Weston to improve the bowling-green area by removing the railings/hedges and levelling the area as a grassed play-ground like the former tennis courts, depending on the terms of the lease and a consultation process with the surrounding residents
It would then be hoped that the Council would maintain the area within its grass cutting schedule. (Maria)
Hire of County Communal Rooms: Agreed to use the Community Centre for extra meetings in future rather than the communal room in Bede terrace. It had been agreed in the past to support communal rooms in the hope that the room in Marlene Avenue would be retained – this did not happen.
Raffle prize: S Raine won the prize, kindly donated by J Blakey
Quiz: New quiz ‘Movements’ at £1, closes 16 May 2015
6. Item for Any Other Business: Waste bin
7. Current Masterplan:
7A. Regeneration Fund:
J Anson has advised that the design of the agreed planters for Bowburn and Parkhill should be sent to G Parvin to find three like-for-like quotes which are problematic, as it has not been possible to find 3 suppliers making similar products. (Janet)
7B Reports:
7B(i) Planning:
County Durham Plan: A brief summary of the inspector’s Interim Report for County Durham was given to the meeting so that those findings which had implications for Bowburn and Parkhill could be discussed as follows:
Q. If more housing was planned, how much would be acceptable?
A. It was impossible to answer this question and significantly more housing should only be allowed if significant improvements in amenities were tied in with any possible housing.
Q. What is the stance regarding ‘up to 300’ houses on Durham Green?
A. Did not want to give up land for employment to housing – the Cape site has already been lost to housing.
Q. Will the proposed site for a new primary school be big enough for all these houses; if not, where should it go?
A. Did not think the proposed site would be big enough, and the school should go on Durham Green.
Q. If developments go ahead, what other services may be put under strain?
A. Retail / Transport / Health / A177
Q. Do you still want no housing at Parkhill?
A. Yes
Q. Are you happy with the Policies for Durham Green and Tursdale and the Leamside Line being given better priority?
A. Yes
Parkhill housing application: Re Statement of Case by Richard Cowen: ‘local primary school’ should read two separate schools Infant and Junior, and the consultation process was poor as it was in the wrong place, Coxhoe, and attracted little interest. Once these points were made:-
It was agreed to accept Richard Cowen’s prepared draft Statement of Case for the Public Inquiry into the appeal by the developer at Parkhill. (Richard)
Esh extension: Opinion was divided: Against - do not give away employment land otherwise it sets a precedent that Bowburn is happy to give away land for employment, and could be held against us at a later date.
Agree - allow the 63 through on condition that there was an adequate contribution to education, which would relieve the pressure on other sites planned for housing. It would demonstrate that Bowburn is not anti-development per se.
In summary - we are extremely unhappy about losing employment land and would not want this to be taken as a precedent. But we will not object to the application if there is an adequate contribution to education.”
Re email from James Taylor, associate director Nathaniel Litchfield, concerning the contribution from the proposed Esh application to education ‘to pay £82,000 to the places that cannot be accommodated’.
There was a strong desire from members to have this phrase clarified – what exactly is this £82K for as there was a fear that this amount is simply to pay for transport to bus primary school children out of the village. It was queried how Council officers first arrived at a figure of £575,190 and then reduced it to £82K?
A suggestion was made that the money may be for one demountable classroom, but that would not be adequate; there should in fact be two extra classrooms, one at each school Infant and Junior, which means that the sum of £82K is inadequate, but the use of demountables is considered undesirable as would be the prospect of building permanent classrooms at schools that were old and in need of replacement.
Agreed to contact Sheila Palmerley, DCC, with the concerns and suggestions above. (Janet)
(ii) Highways/Environment: Next meetings: Wednesday 8 April at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
7Biii Parkhill: Queried when the funds from Parkhill Residents’ group would be transferred to BPCP. (Janet)
7Biv Community Centre: The AGM is on Tuesday 24 March when one member of each affiliated group must attend to keep their reduced payment for next year.
7Bv Youth Club (Joanne Eden): All sessions are very busy especially the junior youth club with about 30 members every week. The ‘lads’ group and ‘girls’ group have focussed on a healthy life-style with the lads joining the gym and the girls testing their cooking skills with a ‘thank you’ meal for the Gym volunteers. All sessions focus on community issues including respect for property, appropriate behaviour, personal and community safety in respect of their behaviour and actions. The ‘Young Mam’s Group’, run in partnership with One Point, is becoming more popular as it becomes better known. There are 5 volunteers who support staff across all sessions and are working towards a recognised accreditation.
7Bvi Artwork: Trustees met with Colin Rose, the artist of the coal column, when details of the design and position were discussed. The column, which will be at the north end of Bowburn opposite Mary Terrace, will be about 11m tall with a diameter of 70cm. If the design is approved by planning, further discussions will take place. (Janet)
7Bvii General housing: Julie Anson has passed on to Keepmoat a request to remove all remaining railings along the C12a from their development to the junction of Tail-upon-End Lane with birdsmouth fencing, plus the metal railings on the northern entrance to Tail-upon-End lane replaced with similar fencing to match. (Janet)
7Bviii Education: See above Item 7Bi re the Esh extension.
7C Area Plans
7Ci Masterplan: Continue to suggest ideas that meet the criteria which could be incorporated into a future Neighbourhood Plan or Parish Plan.
7C(ii) Neighbourhood Plan: There were nearly 200 returns from the questionnaires and the results can be found on the Parish Council website. Advice will be taken from Mr T Woof, a planning consultant, to complete a funding application, and help with analysis of the consultation returns and drafting policies. (Frank)
8. Correspondence: None.
9. Reports and matters arising:
9(i) AAP: EDRC Partnership Board Meeting 4 March at Quarrington Hill Community Centre.
Thanks were given to Allan Blakemore as his 4 year term of office as a Public Rep has ended. Jen Straughan is a new Public Rep on the Board. The following updates were given:
Voluntary Service initiatives; Healthy Horizon Project, NETPark, Suicide Prevention.
The Board agreed to an Area Budget allocation of £24K to fund play equipment in Trimdon Station (to be match funded by Trimdon Foundry Parish Council) and to run activities on 4 existing play sites within the AAP area in conjunction with Groundwork. The Area Budget quarterly report was discussed and an update will be requested for the Targeted Business Improvement Scheme for Coxhoe. Neighbourhood Budget projects were agreed for Cassop speed calming; Food Education Programme Trimdons, and Jasmine Crescent verge hardening.
Date and time of next meeting – Wednesday 10 June 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm at Sedgefield Community Hospital.
In relation to the application above to fund play equipment Trimdon Foundry Parish it was asked at this meeting if Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council could maintain one piece of play equipment for Parkhill, the money for which is in the Partnership’s restricted income. (Janet)
9(ii) Parish Council: 18th February 2015
Re the planning application by the Esh Group for offices/ training academy plus 63 houses: the Parish sent a letter expressing objections and disappointment over the revised plans for this site. Following assurances from the County Council that they would bear the costs of relocating a camera and prosecuting offenders, the Parish agreed to enter a sharing agreement for a CCTV camera to combat fly-tipping. Work is to go ahead on replacing/repairing fencing around the cemetery and neighbouring field; the lowest tender had been accepted.
Next meetings 18 March and 15 April at Bowburn.
Litter-pick 4th April, part of Big Spring Clean, so please come along and support us.
9(iii) Quarry Liaison – The bridleway to Quarrington Hill past Old Quarrington is expected to close in July. This has been replaced by a path round the bottom of Cold Knuckles quarry which may be made accessible to horse riders, cyclists and wheelchair users – but not motor cyclists. Vegetation has been removed and Great Crested Newts will be relocated; then quarrying can begin. Some must start before 12 August to retain the planning permission when probably small amounts of sand will be removed over the next 15 years. There are to be new owners but the estates manager was optimistic that community liaison will continue.
10. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: Pye Hill Male Voice Choir will give a charity concert on Friday 1 May; tickets £3 Unwaged £2.
(ii) BVC Interchange: Issue 74 is due for distribution. The next Quiz Night is Friday 24 April to support the printing of the Interchange. Thank you to everyone who donated raffle prizes and refreshments.
(iii) Credit Union Bank: The bank is open on Fridays from 11 am to 12 noon in the Community Centre.
(iv) Football: No update this month.
(v) The Fun Day: Fun Day 2015 is on 26 September.
(vi) History: Meetings will resume in early April for the AGM.
There is a History related walk on 16 April from 1.30pm – meet in Bowburn Community Centre car park.
(vii) Website: www.bowburn.net carries information about the Partnership.
11. Any Other Business: The waste bin will be replaced at the ‘Wellsprings’ bus stand.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 6.30pm on Tuesday 21 April 2015