GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 16 February 2016 from 6.00pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen (7pm), K Griffiths, G Kitson, D Paget, C Parker, S Raine, M Ridley, M Stone, M Syer, S Walworth
1.Apologies: W Bates, F Salisbury, B Little, T Slater, Cllr M Williams
Jan Blakey, vice chair, chaired the meeting in the absence of Richard Cowen.
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required throughout this agenda.
3. Security (i) Police report from PC Cockburn: The beat team were on rest days so unfortunately nobody could attend the Partnership meeting. Crime incident logs for the area since the last meeting are as follows:
Cassop - 1 Damage to fencing; Parkhill - 1 Shed broken into; Bowburn - 1 Arson of allotment shed, 5 Minor assaults, 1 Criminal Damage, 1 Harassment, 1 Making Off from petrol station
3(ii) PACT: Next meeting 17 February at 6.00pm when the number of parked cars at the Infant School during the day and not just at opening/closing times of the school to be discussed. All
3(iii) Neighbourhood Wardens: Littering, dog fouling, abandoned vehicles and build-ups of food waste continue to be tackled in Durham. 67 fixed penalty notices were issued in December 2015, including 53 for littering, one for dog fouling, 12 for untidy gardens or yards and one for an abandoned vehicle.
Contact the wardens is 03000 261000 and report environment offences online to DCC or to your local County Councillor Jan Blakey 03000 268685.
4. Minutes: General Meeting 19 Jan: The minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters arising Item 4: The pavement in front of the Cooperage has been opened; 7A Regeneration Pot Lighting is now not necessary at the back of the Community Centre that the bushes have been cut back.
Thanks were given to the staff of the Community Centre.
5. Finances: Income: £16.90 tea & raffle; £91.00 quiz receipts.
Expenditure: £20 Lottery licence; £90 January rent and affiliation fees; £120.12 Insurance; £25 quiz prizes.
5ii) Bowling Green: The Partnership will contribute £2500 towards the cost of stripping out the bowling green when the project is finished, using the grant for such purposes.
5iii) Endowment Fund: The trustees will discuss the Fund and bring back outcomes to the Partnership.
5iii) Fun Day Meeting: A grant of £500 was accepted with pleasure from Riverside who manage the Heath Close development; this will be added to next year’s Fun Day account.
5iv) Raffle prize: C Parker won the prize, donated by J Blakey, and has kindly donated it for next month.
5v) Quiz: Winners of the ‘Party Time’ quiz were 1st C Chantler Bath, 2nd S M Jones Derby, 3rd H Cook Marske.
The next quiz is ‘Transport’ at £1; closing date 14 May 2016.
6. Item for Any Other Business: None
7. Current Masterplan: 7A Regeneration Fund: It was agreed to check the Masterplan for unfinished projects; Make use of the Interchange to ask for ideas for future projects in our area of benefit. Janet, Mike
7B Reports:
7B(i) County Durham Plan: Ongoing. Richard
Planning:
Integra61: Proposals have been submitted based on suggestions from the January meeting. Richard
Oak Tree: It was suggested that a boundary fence could be needed to screen the bedrooms in the proposed application. Members did not think this was necessary and there were no objections to the application.
Heath Close: Lee Bailey community liaison officer had a positive meeting with the officers of the Partnership to discuss community engagement with Riverside, the manager of the Heath Close site.
A member congratulated the site manager, Mr Bill Croft, on the considerate parking in the layby on the Old Quarrington Road. Mr Croft welcomed any enquiries about the site from local residents.
Kirby’s Drive - Tree pruning: There were no objections to the crown pruning and reshaping of the trees.
The meeting was informed that tree planting on Mary Terrace was to soak up excess water.
Members were asked to report any signs of cherry tree disease to County. All
Keepmoat: Sarah Booth, Community Engagement and Investment Manager, has provided a second quotation for the railings on the C12a.
7B(iv) Highways/Environment: Next meeting is Tuesday 5 April at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Drivers will be diverted as a week of resurfacing takes place on the A688 Spennymoor Bypass. Resurfacing of the carriageway takes place between Saturday 13 February and Sunday 21 February.
iva Railings on C12A: Three quotations have been received to remove the concrete fencing and replace agreed sections with birdsmouth fencing along the C12a:
G&I Fencing @ £5,819.00; Deerness Fencing @ £6,327.50; Durham County Council @ £17,761.00
The cheapest quote, G&I, would be chosen to do the work once DCC has confirmed that the quotation is compliant with DCC criteria.
The S106 application to pay for the fencing will be completed in the near future. Janet, Mike, Richard
ivb MW roundabout markings to Coxhoe: Colin Mortimer A1+ has re-assured me that B&PCP would be contacted with the results of their survey in the near future. Awaiting a response. Janet
7Bv Parkhill: No update this month.
7Bvi Community Centre: The Grab-a-Grant fund has given £500 towards the defibrillator; there is a quote for an electric door; suggestions are needed for future refurbishment plans. Next meeting is on Tuesday 22 March at 6.00pm. This is the AGM when all group representatives should attend to keep their affiliation benefits.
7Bvii Youth Club: Sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All sessions have a targeted approach where young people are expected to take part in activities that are on offer, which are decided with the young people at the end of each session for the following week. Only Year 7 attend the Junior Youth due to their high numbers and lack of staff. Girls’ group attend regularly enjoying art & craft, cooking, fitness and health and well-being issues. Lads’ group take part in sports, cooking, and discuss issues around drugs and alcohol.
Consultation on the youth service is open to the public. Open access evening sessions are at risk. Bowburn has external funding from the Parish which has enabled a full programme and the staff are constantly applying for funding. This year 3 members of staff have left and Joanne is struggling to keep a full programme running. The grant aid from the council will end so external funding is needed to maintain the building. Aimee Youll who has been volunteering at the project for three years is going to start as an auxiliary in the Junior Youth club. Joanne Eden, youth leader, is trying to be positive as some youth work will continue in Bowburn.
Contact the Youth Club on Facebook; coxhoe&bowburndistrictyouthclubs; Visit any time; Phone 07788277321
7Bviii Coal column: Henry Jones, chief planner for this area, has advised that the Partnership contact Esh to decide who is taking the lead on the S106 application and take this forward. (Janet, Jan, Mike, Richard)
At this meeting a member informed that the footpath in the proposed area of the Coal Column has been removed and grassed over. The design could gain from this and not be restricted by the path.
7Bix General housing: Keepmoat will be replacing roofs on houses at Parkhill
7Bx School parking: There are still concerns about parking at the Infant School and it was agreed to take the following suggestions to Ron Hogg, Police Commissioner, Prioritise this area for the 20mph County scheme; Double yellow lines on the east side of Crowtrees Lane; Pedestrian refuge. Janet
8. Correspondence: Email communications were sent out as appropriate.
Transport Manifesto: The North East Combined Authority (NECA) has begun a consultation on a 20-year ‘Transport Manifesto’ that covers both urban and rural areas of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The consultation will look at every aspect of transport. Whether you use or provide transport, the Manifesto team want to hear your thoughts and suggestions by an on-line questionnaire viawww.northeastca.gov.uk/news/have-say-future-transport-north-east; ring 01912771156 for a paper copy to be posted out to you. Closing date for responses is Friday 8 April.
9. Reports and matters arising:
9(i) EDRC AAP Board Meeting: Wednesday 27 January. P Brookes (Chair) and M Carr were re-appointed as public reps; G Plews (School places team) gave an update on the proposal to amalgamate Trimdon Grange Infant/Nursery School, Trimdon Village Community Infant School and Trimdon Junior School into a single primary school across Trimdon Grange Infant/Nursery School and Trimdon Junior School from 1 September 2016; J Smith Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service are consulting on a Risk Assessment Plan 2016/17 – findings will be available late spring 2016; R Goodes informed of a conference in early 2016 on Durham’s Poverty Action Plan; the existing AAP priorities will continue in 2016/17 – Activities for Children & Young People, Older People, Health & Wellbeing with Crime & Community Safety running alongside the first two priorities. The autumn Forum date is to be arranged.
Next meeting – Wednesday 9 March from 5pm in St Albans Church Hall Trimdon Grange.
Chairman’s medal: A new category has been introduced honouring County’s outstanding young people. AAP’s are looking for countywide nominations. Cllr Jan Blakey, Chairman of Durham County Council, will double the award recipients from 14 to 28. She is working with the AAPs to find people and organisations that have gone above and beyond to make a difference and in particular is keen to highlight the Young Person’s Medal.
Nominations for both the Chairman’s Medal and the Young Person’s Medal should be submitted by Monday 14 March to: The Chairman’s Office, Durham County Council, County Hall, Durham DH1 5UL
Central heating fund: DCC has government funding to install FREE* central heating systems into qualifying properties *subject to eligibility and survey. To qualify you must meet the three criteria below:
1. Be a private homeowner, or rent from a private landlord; 2. Be a household with a gross income of less than £26,000 (proof of any benefits may help qualification) 3. Have a home with no central heating OR has electric storage heaters OR has partial solid fuel central heating. If you answer yes to the above, a Warm Up North energy assessor can survey your home to confirm your eligibility and work out the best type of heating system for your property on 0800 294 8073 (option 3) and quote code DURCHF or visitwww.warmupnorth.com
Terms and conditions apply - see www.warmupnorth.com/chf Offer subject to qualification and survey.
9(ii) Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council:
Planning Applications: i) Integra 61 – The Parish objected to residential development on what was originally designated as land for employment, but had no objections to industrial/commercial use. ii) Oak Tree - no objections to former Oak Tree public house being converted into a residential home for disabled children and young people. The Parish considered the precept for 2016/17 and in line with recommendations from the Finance Committee which had met earlier in the month agreed to an increase of 2%, to cover any extra funding required for Youth Work / Neighbourhood Plan. The Parish agreed to fill the current vacancy on the Council, and having received a valid application welcomed Janet Blackburn as a member. This brought the Parish Council back up to full strength. The next meetings are 17 February and 16 March in Bowburn Community Centre at 6.30pm. Litter Pick 5 March 9.30am Bowburn Community Centre
Neighbourhood Plan: The Parish questions have not been answered by County. Coxhoe Parish are considering working with Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish on a joint Neighbourhood Plan.
9(iii) Quarry Liaison: There have been no meetings.
10. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: 11 March there is a concert by DENNIS in Bowburn Community Centre. The route for the Banner procession has been decided and will be in the Interchange for consultation.
(ii) BVC Interchange: Issue 78 is being prepared; stories and photos should be sent as soon as possible.
The next quizzes will be held on Fridays18 March and 6 May 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.
The Infant School has opened a Credit Union Bank for both children and family members. The Junior School will open a Credit Union bank after half term.
(iv) History: A talk by Gary Bankhead about medieval artefacts from the River Wear is on Wednesday 24 February at 7pm; admission £3 (free if Local History Society member).
The next talk is on Wednesday 23 March by Rob Langham World War 1 historian about the North Eastern Railway in the First World War.
The Resources Room is open every Wednesday 1pm till 3pm.
11. AOB: None
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting:
General Meeting 15 March 2016 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre