GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 19 May 2015; 6.20pm to 7.20pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen (Till 6.45pm), J Geyer, K Griffiths, K Haigh, G Kitson, B Little, D Paget, F Salisbury, S Raine, M Ridley, M Syer, S Walworth
1.Apologies: W Bates, J Blakey, Cllr M Plews, 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.
A member said that PC Cockburn reported back that the suspect for the incident outside the Community Centre after the last meeting denied being at the scene but PC Cockburn had made PCSO’s aware of the case.
3(ii) PACT meetings: 2015 – ????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 21 April – Once corrections were made to the Neighbourhood Plan report the minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
5. Finances: Income: Unrestricted funds: £9.70 (Tea/Raffle); Restricted funds: £750 grant towards the Fun Day.
Expenditure: £1 refreshments, £40 Room hire.
Fun Day Meeting - 26 May in the Community Centre following the Community Centre meeting. (Martin, Mike)
Bowling green: Cllr Blakey and Janet had a site meeting with Nigel Dodds, Nigel Douthwaite and one other officer to discuss removing the railings and levelling the green with a contribution from the grant monies already in B&PCP restricted funds.
It was agreed to cost the removal of 3 hedges and railings plus levelling the pitch with a view to completing the work in the autumn of 2015. Neighbouring houses have been notified that the beech hedge is to remain and they have the opportunity to comment on this. (Janet)
Raffle prize: K Griffiths won the prize, kindly donated by R Cowen
Quiz: Winners of Movement quiz: 1st S Sudder, 2nd J Gray, 3rd K Griffiths
New quiz ‘Baking’ at £1; closing date 15 August 2015
6. Item for Any Other Business: Parkhill play equipment.
7. Current Masterplan:
7A. Regeneration Fund: Designs of the planters are with Gillian Parvin to find three like-for-like quotes.
She is waiting for a quotation from the Clean & Green department for small planters for Bowburn and large planters for Parkhill. (Janet)
7B Reports:
7B(i) Planning:
County Durham Plan: The council is taking the Inspector’s Report into County Plan to a Judicial Review.
Parkhill housing application: The Statements of Case for the Public Inquiry into the appeal have not been received from the council or the appellant. The inquiry will take place on 29 September. (Richard)
Cooperage: The building will be demolished in the week beginning 25 May.
(ii) Highways/Environment: Next meetings: Monday 1 June at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Railings approaching MW roundabout: An enquiry into an ongoing programme of replacement railings is with Brian Buckley. (Janet)
7Biii Parkhill: No report this month.
7Biv Community Centre: Match funding for the CCTV cameras continues to increase as the Centre awaits a decision on the Community Foundation grant. A website is being designed and should soon be in use.
7Bv Youth Club: The AGM will be held on 8 June at 6pm.
7Bvi Coal column: An update has been asked for from C Rose and G Woodcock and a reply is awaited. (Janet)
7Bvii General housing: Re email from Stephen Reed DCC:
“Have now looked into this and as you may be aware can confirm that there is a £29,500 contribution towards public art and environmental improvements in the 106 Agreement that was signed as part of this approval.
I think the fencing would easily qualify as an environmental improvement so yes you could apply for the money in due course. I have enclosed a set of application forms for your use.
However the money is payable prior to occupation of the 20th unit so it will no doubt be a while before the contribution is received. Our policy is only to permit applications to access 106 money once it has been received.”
An application form is to be completed for the 106 monies to replace the railings. (Janet)
7Bviii Education: It was noted with concern that recent applications for two children’s places in Bowburn Infant School was refused with offers of places at Kelloe Primary School.
7C Area Plans
7Ci Masterplan: Suggest ideas that meet the criteria which could be incorporated into a future Neighbourhood Plan.
8. Correspondence: J Snailham informed the secretary that the trees felled in the park had not been cut down by DCC, and the trees in front of 1-4 Lansdowne Crescent were not on DCC land and could not be removed by them. Further enquiries will be made. (Janet)
9. Reports and matters arising:
9(i) AAP: EDRC Board Meeting will be Wednesday 10 June 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm at Sedgefield Community Hospital; 15 July the summer Forum will be held in Trimdon Community College and three bands will be playing there.
9(ii) Parish Council:
a)Planning application for variation of approval by New Level Crystal Garden Nursery, Park Hill; changes to roof elevation etc. – The Parish did not object in principle but pointed out works had begun before approval was gained. (Original application 2011)
Reply from Caroline O'Neill, Head of Education at DCC, to our letter about future provision of a primary school for Bowburn. She indicated that a merger of the two schools would not necessarily require a new building, and that anyway there were no current plans for a merger.
Discussion of application for a premises licence to sell alcohol by Bowburn Filling Station & P.O. Members felt this inappropriate for the following reasons: i) already enough outlets for alcohol in the village ii) not a good idea to offer alcohol to motorists iii) people collecting pensions etc. may feel intimidated by people buying alcohol.
Next meeting 20th May at Bowburn: AGM followed by ordinary monthly meeting
The litter-pick on 2 May was a great success, resulting in a cleaner, faster-flowing beck. Special thanks to new volunteers who joined us.
Next litter pick – 6 June - please come along and support us to keep your village litter free.
b) Neighbourhood Plan: The Parish has been granted £6000 by Locality, which will employ a consultant to write policies, and Locality has agreed to do a Housing Needs Assessment. Once this has been done Tom Woof has advised that the first phase of his work can begin.
9(iii) Quarry Liaison – A member was disappointed to see that more trees were cut in the bird nesting season within the quarry. Meetings are held twice a year. The next one is in September
10. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The Eve of Gala concert programme will start with Pitting Brass and finish with the band DENNIS.
(ii) BVC Interchange: Articles and photographs should be sent to Mike for the next issue as soon as possible; The next Quiz Night is Friday 12 June 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: U9’s won the National Championship for the second year running; U12’s won the League.
(v) History: The AGM will be held on 28 May.
The ‘Yesterday Belongs To You had a good response in New College.
11. AOB: Agreed to make enquiries of the Parish Council concerning maintenance of play park equipment at Parkhill with a view to spending the £3 600 from the Regen Pot allocated to play equipment. (Sylvia, Janet)
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting: Trustees meeting 2 June at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre
General Meeting 16 June 2015 at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre