GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 19 April 2016 from 6.00pm
Present: J Blackburn, K Griffiths, G Kitson, B Little, D Paget, M Ridley, F Salisbury, S Walworth
1.Apologies: W Bates, M Bell, J Blakey, PC Cockburn, R Cowen, C Parker, S Raine, M Stone, M Syer
In attendance: None
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required throughout this agenda.
3. Security (i) Police report from PC Cockburn: The two PCSO’s were unfortunately tied up with other matters so passed on their apologies. The incidents since the last meeting to find the following:
Cassop - Nil Parkhill - Nil Bowburn 1 Fraud where males stayed at a guest house and left without paying. 3 Minor Assaults in Surtees Avenue , Bow Street, and Bowburn Children’s Home. 4 Thefts from Tweddle Terrace, Crowtrees Lane, Bowburn South Industrial Estate, and Bowburn Hall. 1 Making off without paying for fuel at Bowburn Services. 4 Damage at Tursdale, St Johns Crescent, Philip Avenue and Mary Terrace.
4(ii) PACT: Next meeting 27 April at 6.00pm All
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.
4. Minutes: Meeting 17 February: When F Salisbury was included in those who attended; the minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters arising Item are within the agenda. Item 6iii Mike is creating guidelines using the CDCF format; 8Bi Correction - It is the timetable of the Durham Plan has been agreed with DCC – not the pre submission draft; 8Bii There is no progress on the Janet Maitland plans.
6. Finances: Income £7.50 tea/raffle (21/03/16), net of £1 costs; £500 from Durham City Homes for the Fun Day.
Expenditure of £2500 to DCC for Bowling Green works.
6ii) Raffle prize: G Kitson won the prize, donated by the Partnership. Next month R Cowen will donate a prize.
6iii) Quiz: The next quiz is ‘Transport’ at £1; closing date 14 May 2016.
7. Item for Any Other Business: Sewers and drains
8. Current Masterplan: 8A Regeneration Fund: It was agreed to check the Masterplan for unfinished projects; Postpone decisions until ideas for future projects are in from the Interchange. Janet, Mike
At this meeting suggestions were: Tidying the corner areas next to the Tattoo parlour and B&B; repair the surface of the footpath on ‘old’ Henry Avenue;
That BPCP buy and replace the flower tubs on the A177 with large containers to match those of the DCC – with the Parish planting and maintaining them. Janet, Martin
8B Reports: 8Bi) County Durham Plan: The timetable was released on 8 April. Richard
8Bii) Planning: Integra61 The application was approved;
The Council is consulting on its Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) until 13 May. It sets out how local communities can play a role in the planning process, the County Durham Plan and planning applications.
The SCI is available to view at the Council’s Customer Access Points; libraries and on our website at: http://www.durham.gov.uk/consultation.
It is divided into 4 broad sections
1) Consultation re Local Plans 2) DCC involvement re Neighbourhood Plans
3) Consultations - Planning Applications 4) DCC offering assistance to persons making planning applications
As far as the Partnership is concerned, there may be the following broad points
1) We in Bowburn may wish to have perhaps a greater involvement and meaningful discussions re the Durham Plan in current situation in and around Bowburn given the significant or even major applications that have been approved - ie to push education and transport issues given the current situation
2) Neighbourhood Plans are more an issue for the Parish but this seems more to recite what the requirements are rather than just what DCC will do to assist
3) There should perhaps be more discussion with local forums re major applications such as Integra 61.These have such a major impact that I think the officer can only really get to know what locals think if he comes and talks with us, rather than just getting letters and giving us 5 mins total to speak at committee
4) In some ways, the 4th issue does not really affect us as it looks more like assisting applicants to make suitable applications, but in a way it looks like this service is provided to developers but not to communities.
Perhaps the only other thing worth mentioning is that of communicating with AAPs. Our AAP seems not to want to get involved with planning issues and perhaps this suggests they should take a greater interest.
Certain members felt that confidence in DCC Planning had been undermined by recent decisions, however members feel points 1 - 4 are worth considering. Richard
Heath Close: Mr Bill Croft of Partner developments was pleased to receive the praise from B&PCP on cleaning the roads outside the Heath Close site; 8Biva Janet has contacted Mr Stephen Reed concerning the railings; 8Bivb Awaiting a response from Highways
Keepmoat: Sarah Booth, Community Engagement and Investment Manager, is happy to help with the S106 application for the railings on the C12a.
8Biv) Highways/Environment: Meeting on 5 April, Agreed
To check the visibility on the footpath at the back of the Community Centre after a month; To ask DCC if panels between the bollards on Durham Road would be suitable as a deterrent to parking; To discuss protection of the Relief Highway and gain a pedestrian controlled crossing from the Integra61 site; To seek a 20mph zone around the schools; To replace the rubble planters with flower planters similar to the County Council planters.
8Biva) Railings on C12A: Janet has contacted Stephen Reed of DCC Planning who has given a broad timetable for the S106 monies from Keepmoat at 'Crows' Tree estate. Keepmoat would pay in the monies to DCC towards the end of May, B&PCP would complete the S106 application form and return with 3 quotes, Stephen Reed would consult with our 3 County Councillors, the AAP and Parish, A report would be sent to the S106 board presided over by Cllr Neil Foster. If all went to plan that could be the meeting on 17 June.
8Bivb) 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. Continue to await a response. Janet
8Bv) Parkhill: No update this month.
8Bvi) Community Centre: At the AGM, the officers remained the same for 2016/2017.
The Centre is doing well. Next meeting is on Tuesday 24 May at 6.00pm.
8Bvii) Youth Club:
Contact the Youth Club on Facebook; coxhoe&bowburndistrictyouthclubs; Visit any time; Phone 07788277321
8Bviii) Coal column: Contact Esh about taking the S106 application forward. Janet, Jan, Mike, Richard
8Bix) General housing: No updates.
8Bx) School parking: Ron Hogg’s office will liaise with the Neighbourhood Inspector and will request an update regarding the dangerous parking problems outside the schools to see what police response there is.
In respect of the wider issue about parking outside schools in County Durham, this has been a priority in the current Police and Crime Plan but unfortunately, Mr Hogg, will not be able to offer any further comments about plans for the future due to the restrictions imposed during the purdah period and the forthcoming PCC elections in May.
9. Correspondence: Sign up to the police ‘Keep in the know’ to receive free regular crime updates, information on road closures and learn about what your policing team is doing. Contact www.keepintheknow.co.uk
Consumer advice From 1 April 2016, consumer services for County Durham residents will only be available from the Citizens’ Advice consumer helpline.
10. Reports and matters arising:
10i) EDRC AAP Board Meeting: The Area Action Partnership would have a £40,000 Participatory Budget in 2016/17 for capital projects, with minimum grants of £5,000. (A further £60,000 would be allocated to Health, Older People and Children, with grants to be determined by a panel.)
Next meeting AGM/Board – Tuesday 17 May from 5pm in Quarrington Hill Community Centre.
9ii) Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council:
Parish Council's Webmaster Cllr Salisbury recommended changing the Parish Council's website to another provider when the current contract runs out, as the existing provider is mainly for business users – this was accepted and is hoped to be completed this year. Agreed - not to sponsor the Beautiful Durham competition, as had been done in previous years, as the number of local entrants had dwindled significantly in recent years.
Next meeting: 18 May, Next litterpick: 4 June
Neighbourhood Plan: Councillors had previously discussed the possibility of working with neighbouring councils on a joint Neighbourhood Plan, but after discussions with Coxhoe & Kelloe PCs, the NP Steering Committee recommended this was not a suitable course of action, so CcQ will continue with the Neighbourhood Plan for our Parish area alone, though regular meetings with Coxhoe PC are envisaged, to share research and resources where possible. The NP group will take part in two half day training sessions and a public consultation will be held on 23 June, regarding broadening the plan's remit beyond just housing.
9iii) Quarry Liaison: The issue of BW34/5 no longer being on the definitive map was raised at the Quarry Liaison Group meeting, and the Tarmac Estates Manager gave assurance that it would be ( as did Mike Tweddle for the County), but the paperwork was currently on his desk. It was assumed that when the old BW34/5 was stopped up, the new one would just replace it, but apparently it's more complicated than that and the new one has to be registered/adopted. Also asked for a meeting with Owen Shaw regarding the state of the steep end of the new bridleway, and its total unsuitability as a cycleway - walkers are not happy either, but there were no horse riders present this time, so their opinion is not known.
10. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The Centenary banner and the Children’s banner are at Beamish for the Old King Coal festival.
(ii) BVC Interchange: The next quizzes will be held on Fridays 20 May and 1 July 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: The next talk is on Wednesday 27 April at 7pm in Bowburn Community Centre by John Davison about Bowburn men in the Battle of the Somme; admission £3 (free if Local History Society member). The next guided walk is on Friday 13 May about Pits, Paper Mills and Trillesden; cost £4 through DCC Countryside Services.
The Resources Room is open every Wednesday 1pm till 3pm.
11. AOB: The sewers at Lawson Road have been blocked with twigs and it was wondered if this could be from the houses being built by Keepmoat.
There was concern about the poor state of the footpath from Crowtrees Lane past the Infant School.
12. Date/Time of Next Meeting:
The AGM is on 17 May 2016 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre
Followed immediately by the General Meeting