ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – Minutes
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership – Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 May 2016. From 6.00pm to 6.20pm
Present: J Blackburn, R Cowen, K Griffiths, G Kitson, B Little, D Paget, C Parker, F Salisbury, S Raine, M Stone, M Ridley, M Syer
1.Apologies: M Bell, J Blakey, S Walworth In attendance: PC Bruce Cockburn
2. Minutes of last Annual General Meeting 19 May 2015:
The minutes were proposed by G Kitson seconded by D Paget and approved unanimously by those present.
3. Chair’s Annual Report from April 2015 to March 2016:
The chair welcomed everyone to the 12th Annual General Meeting of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (The Partnership).
During 2015/2016 the Bowburn Improvement Fund (Regeneration Pot) has increased by £3600.00 with money reinstated from Parkhill play equipment.
Match funding of £2500.00 held by the Partnership for the PARC Group for works on the bowling green has been allocated to the removal of the bowling green in Bowburn Park by Durham County Council.
Although the Partnership sought to enhance the entry into Bowburn with flower planters along Durham Road, the monies to have come from the Regeneration Pot, Durham County Council advised that under highways’ legislation the pavement is not wide enough to permit planters.
The Partnership’s general funds have increased by £6483.98 with a transfer of funds from the now dissolved Parkhill Residents’ Association.
Agreement has been given by members to create an “endowment fund” with the County Durham Community Foundation.
We continue to hold funds for The Fun Day, Bowburn Opencast Action Group, and the remaining monies for the Bowburn Improvement Fund which is overseen by Durham County Council.
We have supported:
A weekly Credit Union Bank in the Community Centre with volunteers from the Partnership
Comments were made on the following:
Durham County Council will have to submit a revised County Plan which will mean a new Examination in Public. The Partnership showed concern that in the interim period developers would have no restrictions.
A second planning application from Hallam Properties for 190 units at Parkhill was given outline planning consent even though it was substantially the same as the first one and requested a call-in of the application; The Partnership made an application for costs for time wasted in preparing for the aborted public inquiry and a Freedom of Information request in respect of information given when public excluded from the committee meeting but both were unsuccessful; Legal advice was sought at a cost of £1260.00 which advised against seeking a legal challenge
The Partnership continues to be concerned about the effect on school places from the current spate of approved planning applications and have asked for contributions from developers towards, ideally a new primary school and failing that, provision for extra places at the Infant School followed by the Junior School in due course.
Discussions continue with the Esh Group and the artist Colin Rose to create a percent for Art in the form of a ‘coal column’ at the northern entrance to the village.
The Partnership had general agreement for the employment aspect of the application on land South of Bowburn, named Integra61, but an increase in the housing numbers for Bowburn without additional services in the village did not find favour.
The Partnership was pleased when the façade of the former Cooperage public house was changed but disappointed that a prospective retailer withdrew so that the building remains unfinished and unoccupied.
The Jet filling station was granted an alcohol licence at which members did not object but expressed their concern at the lack of training of the staff which could lead to problems.
The Partnership has been pleased to liaise with community officers; Sarah Booth of Keepmoat’s The Meadows, and Lee Bailey of Riverside’s Hill Top View estate.
The Partnership has worked with Durham County Council and Keepmoat to use Section 106 monies from The Meadows Estate for the removal of concrete posts and tubular railings along the C12a road, to be replaced by birdsmouth fencing with two rails.
Members have been concerned about parking at the schools and have put suggestions to Ron Hogg, Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham.
Members agreed that the area of benefit should be in the council’s plans to licence Houses of Multiple Occupation, HMOs as an increase in need for student accommodation in the city could move the student issue to the outskirts of Durham and the villages
The Partnership has shown concern over the change in Motorway markings approaching Junction 61 which have resulted in traffic jams in the village; this we see escalating in the future from the growth in houses on future developments; we await an up to date response from the MW Highways.
The Partnership is grateful for the support from:
Our locally elected County Councillors who regularly attend Partnership meetings.
Members who are represented on the East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership, the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan, and Quarry Liaison Committee as well as our local interest groups.
The advice and support from Julie Anson, Gillian Parvin and the County Council.
PC Cockburn has given invaluable information to the Partnership. We wish him well in the future as he retires from the police force in 2016.
Reports are received every month from local interest groups which keep the Partnership up to date on important issues in our area. The Partnership then circulates the information to the area of benefit.
I would like to thank the Trustees and members who consistently and conscientiously attended meetings throughout the year.
In the future the Partnership will continue to monitor the Bowburn Endowment Fund and the Partnership’s finances; support local groups and liaise with statutory bodies to put forward issues that concern the village of Bowburn and its residents.
4(i). Statement of Financial Affairs:
Donna Paget examined the accounts and found them to be correct.
The treasurer presented a report on the 2015-2016 accounts which showed that total funds had increased from £15,917.72 to £22,379.65. This was due to unrestricted funds being increased by £6,483. 98 from the dissolution of Parkhill Residents Group; of which £1200 was spent on legal advice. Earnings from tea/raffle, quizzes, fun day and Parish grant amounted to £598; and general expenditure amounted to £505 from room rental, affiliation and insurance.
The finances were approved unanimously by those present.
4(ii) Independent examiner for 2016/2017:
It was agreed to appoint Donna Paget as the independent examiner for 2016/2017.
5. Election of Officers: The election of the following officials was agreed by the members:
Chair: Richard Cowen Vice Chair: Jan Blakey
Secretary: Janet Blackburn Treasurer: Mike Syer
6. Election of Trustees: The following members were elected as trustees:
Malcolm Bell, Gloria Kitson, Sylvia Raine, Martin Ridley
William Bates if he is willing.
7. Close of AGM:
The chair closed the AGM and thanked members for attending and looked forward to seeing them at future meetings.