GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 20 January 2015 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Haigh, G Kitson, D Paget, S Raine, M Ridley, M Syer, 1.Apologies: PC Cockburn, R Cowen, K Griffiths, B Little, F Salisbury, S Walworth M Williams
In attendance: Cllr M Plews
2. Declarations of interest: There were no declarations of interests on this agenda.
3(i). Police: PC Cockburn sent the report via email because he is on restricted duties.
Parkhill Nil; Cassop - Theft of metal feeders in field at Old Cassop Farm, Damage to garage door in Front Street;
Bowburn - Assault in Norton Avenue, Bowburn which has been detected, Assault in Clarence Street.
Shed broken into in Bede Terrace where tools were taken, Diesel stolen from tank in Bowburn South Estate, Theft of wheels from vehicle in Steavenson Street.
At this meeting it was reported that there have been several incidents of antisocial behaviour mainly behind the Hare and Greyhound carpet shop.
3(ii) PACT meetings: 2015 – 18 March 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 18 November – The minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising: [6] The revised design for the Cooperage is more sympathetic to the conservation area and the new plan shows cycle parking; local members to discuss Parkhill/Coxhoe (put on agenda in February); Oakfield Crescent construction traffic has been referred to the Parish for consideration by the developers; The Esh artwork will be discussed at a meeting with Mr Geoff Woodcock on Wednesday 21 January.
Planning: Parkhill –RC has checked the council website and there is no information re an appeal. Should there be one the Partnership will need to consider how we deal with that. In particular, we will need to decide if we want to be "Rule 6" parties so that we can give evidence and cross examine the other side.
5. Finances:
Expenditure: £20, £10 & £5 quiz prizes; £6 room hire (for highways group meeting). Michael Cowling of The Signs Man has repaired the three noticeboards at a cost of £495. The cost of the rubber seals at £64.80 took the total to £559.80, exceeding the £500 allocated for the repairs. It was agreed that this was a reasonable excess to pay for a good quality repair. £20 small groups’ lottery licence. It was agreed to check the public liability licence cover.
Income: Unrestricted funds £78 (Quiz), £10.40 (Tea/Raffle)
Fun Day: Agreed that the Partnership apply to the County Durham Community Foundation to fund next year’s Fun Day on behalf of the Bowburn Community Association and the Youth Club as the Partnership already holds the funds for the Fun Day with the following two conditions:
a) That the Community Association and the Youth Club do not hire attractions until the funds have been obtained to cover their costs and
b) That the Community Association and the Youth Club underwrite any loss. That is, if the Fun Day costs more than the income obtained, then they will reimburse the difference to the Community Partnership.
Raffle prize: M Ridley won the prize, kindly donated by M Bell
Quiz: New quiz ‘Celebrations’ at £1, closes 14 February 2015
6. Item for Any Other Business: Doctors
7. Current Masterplan:
7A. Regeneration Fund: There is £4214.50 in the Regen Pot, after £3600 is allocated to Parkhill play area.
J Anson and G Parvin have been informed of the proposed planters in Durham Road and advised that residents in Durham Road should be consulted about the proposed positon of the planters. (Janet)
7B Reports:
7B(i) Planning: Cooperage – See Item 3 above. No new date appears to have been set to determine the plans.
At the meeting with Geoff Woodcock the officers learnt that there is an application to apply for an extension to the land for 63 houses at the ‘Cape’ site which will extend into the land designated for the North Industrial Estate.
(ii) Highways/Environment:
The bushes have been cut back at the bus stand opposite the Hare and Greyhound; The Parish councillors accompanied by the Bowburn Walking Group inspected overgrown footpaths with a view to the Parish strimming them on footpaths 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10; ‘The Polly Parrot cartoon in the Interchange advertised the ‘pick up a piece of paper every day’ campaign. Transco is to be asked to tidy up the gas boxes in Durham Road. Extra signage to Coxhoe to take the right-hand lane onto the MW roundabout and an update about the cycle lanes on the MW roundabout is awaiting a reply. The road is being resurfaced at Mount Joy but the revised cycle lane markings are yet to be painted. There was a request for the number of road traffic accidents on Henry Avenue both reported and unreported.
At this meeting it was reported that essential gas works is being done at the traffic lights in Bowburn.
Work is ongoing to test the structure of the street lamp standards.
Concerns were expressed about the anti-social behaviour of the allotment holder opposite the Community Centre – a diary log of the happenings will be kept by the staff at the Community Centre.
Next meetings: 23 February at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
7Biii Parkhill: Nothing to report.
7Biv Community Centre: Unfortunately the community grant is to be ended; the AAP and Members’ budgets may be able to help fund activities.
Members of the Partnership were encouraged to become members of the Community Centre, at no cost.
7Bv Youth Club (Joanne Eden): Monday girls group 6 - 8pm; Tuesday Young people 16+ NEET 12 - 2.30pm;
Tuesday Junior’s Years 6&7; 5 - 6.30; Tuesday Mixed club 6.30 - 8.30pm ; Wednesday Mixed club 6.30 - 8pm
Thursday Toddler group 11am - 12 noon; Thursday Lads group 6pm - 7.30pm.
It is anticipated that the parish will be assigning funds to support the employment of the Youth Worker at the Club.
7Bvi Artwork: Mr Woodcock is to take the lead and find out if the proposed ‘Coal Column’ artwork is achievable.
7Bvii General housing: Keepmoat has not replied to the request to replace the fencing on the C12a.
7Bviii Education: It was agreed to keep Education on the agenda as housing may be built on Durham Green which would increase the population of Bowburn with a probable need for a larger primary school than that calculated by the County Education Department and so may need a larger site than the existing Junior School site. There may also be a need for a future secondary school with the news that the Free School is closing.
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.
7Cii County Durham Plan – The inspector for the Examination in Public visited Durham Green to consider the proposals put forward by the owners to look at the access provisions and the potential line of any relief road. He also assessed the policy in relation to the Tursdale rail freight facility and to consider this site at least a partial alternative location for Aykley Heads.
7Ciii Neighbourhood Plan: The Parish Council has inserted a questionnaire into the Interchange, and there is to be a consultation event on17 February in Bowburn Community Centre to promote the Neighbourhood Plan.
Please encourage residents to participate in these two items.
8. Correspondence: Volunteer Health Buddy Scheme – to provide short term support to clients in the community whilst promoting independence. There will be training of volunteers – contact Fiona.Chrichard@pcp.uk.net
Gritting pavements: T Collins has been asked if Durham County has a policy to grit pavements and did the NHS funding go ahead to grit pavements.
9. Reports and matters arising:
9(i) AAP: East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership Forum 6 December 2014
DCC recommended that - Children and young people should have a voice in the Area Action Partnerships to comment on and influence the priorities agreed by the AAP Forums. This led to the EDRC to establish a Youth Forum of 45 children to be involved in issues via the AAP Board meetings, Task/Finish groups, and Cllr surgeries.
The Youth Forum requested £40,000 for the It’s Up 2 U Voices Project 2014 PB Scheme. In total 15 applications were submitted; anyone aged between 8–17 years living or studying in the area could vote in schools. 12 schools took part (9 Primary, and 3 Comprehensive), one primary school chose not to take part; however the children had the opportunity to vote at the Forum Event/ Fun Day. The AAP were particularly proud of the ‘It’s Up 2 U’ Scheme in 2014 which resulted in the engagement with 1288 children and young people.
In total 10 new Forum members were signed up, 9 children and young people to the Youth Forum during the school roadshows and 1 on the day of the event. This has increased the total number of Forum members to 932, and we successfully engaged with 3 new groups, who are now aware of and being supported by the AAP.
396 people voted on the priorities for 2015/ 2016, and the results were as follows:
1)Retain priorities from 2014/15 Activities for Children/Young People, Health/Wellbeing, Older People, with Crime/Community Safety 450
2) Crime & Community Safety 119 3) Support to VCS 18
4) Employment & Training 117 5) Activities for Children & Young People 108
6) Older People 95 7) Environmental 65
8) Transport & Traffic 60 9) Health & Wellbeing 56
The Council Budget Consultation: At the Forum participants had the opportunity to assist the County Council with the task and requirement of making further savings of £100m (a quarter of the authority’s budget) by 2017. 181 surveys were completed on the day, and 86 people took part in group exercises, via 18 sessions.
Key Messages from the Board Meeting on 21 January at Cassop Community Centre with M Carr as Chair. Councillor Hovvels, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Healthier Communities delivered a presentation on the Safe Durham Partnership Plan Refresh 2015/18; R Hogg, Police and Crime Commissioner for Co Durham and Darlington gave a verbal update on the draft Refreshed Police and Crime Plan for 2015-17. As part of the consultation, it is proposed to increase the police element of Council Tax for 2015-16; A Ayres delivered a presentation on the Durham Dales and Easington (DDES) Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG); E Seed, Investing in Children gave an update on The Voices Project. The AAP meets the requirements of achieving Investing in Children membership which recognises and celebrates examples of imaginative and inclusive practice; Board members agreed to keep the priorities the same for 2015/16 and will focus on: Activities for Children and Young People; Older People; Health and Wellbeing; Crime and Community Safety will run alongside the first two priorities.
A decision on how AAP money should be allocated and ideas for the Forum for this year was deferred.
Date and time of next meeting – Wednesday 4 March 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm at Quarrington Hill Community Centre.
9(ii) Parish Council: A planning application for a supermarket on the Cooperage site - the latest plan was acceptable on design grounds, but the Parish expressed concerns about traffic implications e.g. delivery vehicles entering and leaving the car park. County is to introduce an initiative to combat fly-tipping, which includes Parish Councils singly or jointly purchasing CCTV equipment to put in suitable locations. The clerk is to ask County for further information. eg. Who will prosecute offenders? Local walking groups are to be asked to keep an eye on local footpaths when they are walking them, to see if strimming is required (in addition to that provided by the County Council). The Parish may seek a grant from Parish Paths Partnership to undertake such work if deemed necessary.
Next meetings 19 February and 19 March (Bowburn); the Parish litter pick is Saturday 7 February from Bowburn Community Centre at 9.30am, weather permitting. All are welcome.
Neighbourhood Plan: Members are welcome to attend the NP meetings. The Parish Council has inserted a questionnaire into the Interchange, and there is to be a consultation event on17 February in Bowburn Community Centre to promote the Neighbourhood Plan. Please encourage residents to participate.
9(iii) Quarry Liaison – The next meeting will be on 5 March 2015.
10. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: A cabinet has been fixed to the wall of the Community Centre to house models of a pit pony and miner carved by Michael Doyle. 1 May a Male Voice Choir will perform in the Community Centre; look out for details of performances by Brenda Collins and a brass band. There will also be the Eve of Gala concert with accompanying foreign band. The Gala Day parade route will start in Cavell drive to mark the centenary of the execution of Nurse Edith Cavell and finish in Dallymore Drive. See the website to double your donations.
(ii) BVC Interchange: The next paper is due out in March, please send articles and photographs in February. The next Quiz Night is Friday 23 January 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: The archive materials in the History room are being cleared into a store cupboard and meetings should resume shortly.
(vii) Website: www.bowburn.net carries information about the Partnership.
11. Any Other Business:
With the change of doctors and the addition of a Nurse Practitioner, it seems a little easier to get appointments.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 6.30pm on Tuesday 18 February 2015