15 November 2016

GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151

Tuesday 15 November 2016 from 6.00pm

Present M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, K Griffiths, G Kitson, M Ridley, F Salisbury, M Syer M Stone, S Walworth

1.Apologies: Cllr Plews, D Paget, S Raine                      In attendance: James Taylor NPL, Cllr Williams

2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required throughout this agenda.

3 Integra61: James Taylor of Nathaniel Litchfield & Partners Planning (NLP) gave an update on the progress of the Integra61 negotiations.

There are two marketing agents, Naylor for housing development and Anderson & Young for commercial use. Tenders are being requested for Phase 1 housing of 150 dwellings. This phase will pump-prime the infrastructure on site which needs to be in place before building can start; this would include the roundabout, levelling the ground, a spine road through this phase of the build, and preparations for the utilities. Work should start in the New Year.

Also tenders are being requested for the industrial units.

Members’ questions were answered by James. He said that a roundabout would take several months to construct; it is not definite whether all traffic will have to turn left from the services; agreed to the History Group being involved with the archaeological dig; are considering colouring the industrial units to blend in with the horizon; as yet Brexit is not having any effect on future plans and it was hoped that any damaging effect would be small as there is a commitment to continue with this development; would inform of the environment studies and cycling plans one of which is a footpath from the site to the top of Durham Road West; would highlight the need for the Industrial Relief Road around the estate to increase in priority although there are land ownerships to overcome.

Before leaving the meeting James said that he would update the Partnership every quarter, and he was thanked warmly for his attendance.                                                                                                            JANET

4. Security (i) Police: PCSO Pattison emailed the following offences for last month:

Bowburn – 3 burglary, 3 theft, 3 Antisocial behaviour

4 (ii) PACT: Overall a low number of reported of offences in the Parish area. A Transit Van was stolen in Cassop; other similar vehicles have been stolen in the Durham area; please be vigilant when securing vehicles.

The next PACT meeting is 7 December from 6.00pm

4 (iii) Neighbourhood Wardens:  Contact the wardens is 03000 261000 and report environment offences online to DCC or to your local County Councillor Jan Blakey 03000 268685.

5. Minutes: Meeting 18 October: The minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.

6. Finances: The Unity Bank account is now closed and funds of £16 700.16 have been transferred to the new Cooperative Bank account giving a total of £17 496.14 at the October statement. Since then the Acorn Fund, CDCF, has been opened leaving £1 731.49 in unrestricted and £6 718.04 in restricted funds Whilst funds were held temporarily by B&PCP, 4Bs and BVC have contributed towards the bank charges made by Unity Bank.

Endowment Fund: The Acorn Fund has opened with a sum of £9029.61.

Regeneration Pot: Before the balance from the Regen Pot can be allocated to the Acorn Fund, Julie Anson has advised that the Partnership should promote the remaining funds for capital projects, and explain that if the funds are not taken up they would be invested in an endowment fund for future grants.          MIKE, JANET

Old Quarrington Association: The Association appointed a new treasurer who will hold onto the money at least for the present as an issue has arisen regarding the right of way circular route negotiated with the quarry and Council in 2011.

Co-op Local Community Fund: The funds raised to date for the B&PCP history book are £338.29.              ALL

6ii) Raffle prize: M Stone won the prize kindly donated by Martin Ridley. In January M Syer will donate a prize.

6iii) Quiz: ‘Anyone for camping’ results 1st C Chantler Bath, 2nd S Raine Old Quarrington, 3rd J Baker Chesterfield. The new quiz for fund raising, ‘It’s magic’ at £1, closes on 18 February 2017.

7. Item for Any Other Business:  School signs

8. Current Masterplan:

8A Regeneration Fund:

Durham Road planters: The planters for the lower end of Durham Road have been ordered.                  JANET

Railings along C12A: Brian Kitching DCC is in charge of the project; the S106 money is secured and the order has been commissioned. Ongoing.                                                                                  JULIE ANSON, JANET

Gas boxes: Janet has contacted Julie Anson DCC about using the Regeneration Pot to pay for the refurbishment of the gas boxes, to be told that because the project benefits private individuals in Durham Road, the decision was that the payment from the Regeneration Pot would not be possible.

Members at this meeting commented that:

1. The URRI schemes in Prince Charles Avenue had benefitted retail premises but Julie had pointed out that they were for the community so were allowed.

2. The highways works in the Three Streets were for private properties.

3. One part of the money that was allocated to the village (part of the SHIP Money) was specifically earmarked for the conservation area houses i.e. the colliery rows.

These points would be put to Julie.                                                                                                            JANET

Grass/weed strimming: There has been no response from the Ogden Group to cut back the hedges round the perimeter of their site.

Agreed to contact Jimmy Bennet about making the hedges safe.                                                              JANET

Project ideas

Project

Notes

Tidy Prince Bishop B&B corner

Point houses in Durham Road

DCC conservation does not recommend raking out pointing which is satisfactory as it could harm the bricks and allow water to seep in.

Grass strimming and weed strimming

Check with DCC; Pay Parish Council to do this.

Weeds growing in front houses look unsightly and blight the area; with the help of the Parish litter pickers it is proposed to strim the weeds.

20/09/16 There was to be a site meeting in Durham Road with Jimmy Bennett and Martin Briscoe on 21 September to discuss the strimming.

18/10/16 The Partnership was given permission from DCC to strim the grass verge from the Methodist Chapel to the bus stand opposite the Hare & Greyhound, and advised to write to Ogden to ask them to cut back the hedges to make the highway safe and tidy up the area. Awaiting a reply.

15/11/16 Agreed to contact Jimmy Bennet about making the hedges safe as there had been no response from Ogden’s.                                  JANET

15/11/16 Cllr Blakey informed that there will be a ‘Village Spruce Up’ by DCC in April 2017.                                                                                  ALL

15/11/16 Cllr Blakey has requested that the flower beds be removed from the front of Mary Terr and shrubs be taken out of the corner of Prince Charles Avenue.                                                                      Cllr BLAKEY

Gas meter boxes in Durham Road

19/07/16 After agreeing that the Partnership could contribute a reasonable sum towards improving this problem, it was agreed to contact all residents in Durham Road to gain ideas as to how to smarten up the gas boxes.

16/08/16 Three residents from Durham Rd are in agreement with the refurbishment of the gas boxes.

20/09/16:  Costing new gas boxes is in progress.

18/10/16: RJL Plumbing gave a quote of £192, including VAT, to replace each gas box after checking for gas leaks.

It was agreed to contact the residents of houses in Durham Road which have a damaged gas box about their replacement, and contact all residents in Durham Road to agree to the painting of the boxes.

15/11/16 There have been no objections to refitting damaged gas boxes; one person does not want the gas box painted.                                JANET

Please suggest other environment projects.                                                                                                   ALL

8B Reports:

8Bi) County Durham Plan (CDP): Waiting for the next stage in the timetable of the Durham Plan.

Planning issues: 

Cooperage: Agreed to contact DCC concerning reinstating the footpath alongside the Cooperage being with like for like paving; tarmac has been used in place of blocks.                                                                    JANET

Janet Maitland hairdressers:  Work is well under way and the shop should be opened in December 2016. Keep under review.                                                                                                                                     JANET

Parkhill site: There has been significant drilling on the site which has resulted in a lot of water on the site.

Anaerobic digester: The digester appears to be operational and there is a condition for screening and planting to be completed during the first planting season. Nothing has taken place as yet and no plans have been submitted but the planting season does not end until March 2017. Keep under review.                       RICHARD

8Bii) Community engagement – Keepmoat and Riverside: Riverside have agreed to move the planter at the top of Oxford Terrace see 7A above.

8Biii) Highways/Environment Group: Replacement seating in Mary Terr plus the entrance to Leyland Close, and the installation of a height bar at the park entrance off the C12A is being progressed through the Parish.

Bowling green hedge: A member will tidy the top of concrete post.                                         To Do      MARTIN

Park Bungalow: The possible demolition of the bungalow is still with both the Council and CISWO.        JANET

Durham Road: Inform the secretary of B&PCP of any parked vehicles on the pavement of Durham Road with photographs, date and time.                                                                                                                       JANET

The delivery van to the library does not use the car park but parks fully on the pavement in front of the library.

Old Quarrington parking: There is concern about the youths gathering and cars parking under the bridges on the road leading to Old Quarrington, particularly for people walking up the road.

A suggestion has been made to install bollards to prevent cars parking here, but not youths gathering, and there was a request for the Partnership to take on the process.

Attention was drawn to the fact that a mini-sweeper would not be able to clear broken glass and other debris from the pavement if bollards were in place. Further investigations would be made.                   CLLR BLAKEY

Old Quarrington/A688 access: A drone has been taking photographic evidence of vehicular traffic on the road.

It was suggested at this meeting that if this access road was made safe it would avoid farm traffic going through Old Quarrington.                                                                                                                       RICHARD

8Bvi) Community Centre: The pantomime will be held on 27 December; again at a cost of £1 because of good sponsorship. The order has been made for the electronically assisted door.

An application has been made to the AAP to refurbish the Left Hand games room members were requested to vote on this project at the PB meeting between 10am and 2pm in the Active Life Centre on 26 November. ALL

8Bvii) Youth Club: The One Point trip to Blackpool in half-term was very successful and the young people did Bowburn proud. A group was not successful at an Awards Ceremony, but did a good project on inter-generation inclusion and will extend the project in 2017.

Contact the Youth Club on Facebook; coxhoe&bowburndistrictyouthclubs; Visit any time; Phone 07788277321

Gym times: Mornings 9.15am till 11.30am; Evenings Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6.00pm till 8.30pm.

8Bviii) Coal column: A meeting is being arranged with Stephen Reed to make further enquiries of DCC through Cllr Plews for County to take ownership of the Coal Column project.              Cllr Plews, Janet, Mike, Richard

8Bix) School parking: There has been no reply from Ron Hogg’s department concerning the school parking in Bowburn.                                                                                                                                                     JANET

9. Correspondence: Email messages have been sent to all members.

10. Reports and matters arising: 

10i) EDRC AAP: Date and time of next meetings – The It’s Up 2 U Participatory Budgeting/Forum event will be held on Saturday 26 November 2016 from 10.00 am – 2.00 pm at The Active Life Centre @ Coxhoe

Next Board meeting - Tuesday 24 January 2017 from 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm at Kelloe Primary School            ALL

10ii) Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council: The government is looking into using “referendum principles” where Parish Councils increase their precepts significantly (ie, parishioners would be asked to vote for/against rises). This would only apply above certain levels and CcQ is well below the trigger point. Annual grants for financial assistance for local groups were agreed. Total grants of £1,550 were awarded including £100 for B&PCP, £400 for Community Centre Pantomime and £100 for Fun Day.

Litterpick on Saturday 5 November was a brief and damp affair, consisting mainly of weeding around the War Memorial in preparation for Remembrance Sunday. 3 bags of weeds were collected.

Next meetings: 16 November (Bowburn); Litterpick 3 December

Neighbourhood Plan: Questionnaires have been distributed to gain the views of the public; there is a PDF version and an online version on https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CCQNPLAN.

10iii) Quarry Liaison: Awaiting the next meeting date.                                                             SYLVIA/RICHARD

11. Group Noticeboard:

(i)Banner: The Centenary banner was seen at the Remembrance Day service in Bowburn on 13 November.

There will be a free concert on 18 November in Bowburn Community Centre from 7pm.

(ii) BVC Interchange: The next issue is being prepared and articles would be welcome asap.

The next Quiz Night will be held on Friday 2 December in Crowtrees Club at 7.30pm.

(iii) Credit Union Bank: The bank is open on Fridays from 11 am to 12 noon in the Community Centre.

Both schools have opened a Credit Union Bank for children and family members.

(iv) History: On 30 November at 7pm in Bowburn Community Centre, Julian Harrap will be giving a talk. A calendar is on sale for £3.00, showing before and after photographs throughout the history of Bowburn.

The Resources Room is open every Wednesday 1pm till 3pm.

(v) Fun Day 24 September: It was hoped that funds could be raised for another such event on 2017.

12. AOB: There was concern that the signage for Bowburn Infant School was not prominent.

13. Date/Time of Next Meeting:      17 January 2017 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre