GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 August 2017 from 6.00pm
Present M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, J Geyer, K Griffiths, G Parker, J Richardson,
M Ridley, M Syer, S Walworth. In attendance: None
1.Apologies: M McKeon, D Paget, F Salisbury
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required throughout this
agenda.
3. Security (i) Police: No direct police report this month - new sergeant for the area is Sergeant Kevin
Hall.
Both the CPSO and the Sergeant have been contacted without a response.
The following information, from PCSO Abby Pattison (AP), was kindly sent by the Pater Thorpe
Parish clerk:
Could I (AP) please draw your attention to the information provided to the Parish Clerk's in relation to
police attendance and requests for reports, approved by Police Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg.
"Attendance at Parish Council meetings and requests for written reports ahead of meetings will
always be considered, however, this will no longer be routine practice. Instead, we would like to
make use of other, existing forums to share information and encourage people in our communities to
tell us about their concerns. There are a variety of ways in which the public can engage with us,
including PACT meetings (Police and Communities Together), AAP meetings (Area Action
Partnerships) or by visiting our website and Facebook pages."
We have a new sergeant at Sherburn Police Office who is keen to meet with all the parishes in our
area to discuss future engagement however, I am sure you can appreciate that it will take some time
to get round them all due to the vast area we cover and other operational priorities.
3(ii) PACT: No report
3(iii) Neighbourhood Wardens: As there has been no response from the Neighbourhood Wardens
since their introduction it was agreed to remove this item from the Agenda.
Report environmental offences on 03000 261000 or to DCC or to your local County Councillors Jan
Blakey (03000 268685), Stuart Dunn (03000 264342) and Maura McKeon (03000 268789).
4. Minutes: Minutes of the General Meeting 18 July: The minutes were approved and agreed by
members.
Matters Arising: All on the agenda.
5. Finances: Income: £50 Quiz monies; £10 tea/raffle
Expenditure: £23 Community Centre rent, £216 to R&C Builders for painting the gas boxes in
Durham Road.
Coop Community Fund: An application has been made for sets of bird box cameras and feeding
stations for the local schools and Youth Club; confirmation of success will be in November.
Gas boxes Durham Road: The total cost to fit and paint the boxes was £1752 (Fitting £1536; Painting
£216).
Members were impressed by the finish on the gas boxes and agreed that Durham Road looked much
tidier.
Endowment Fund:
The Partnership encourages contributions into the Bowburn & Parkhill Community Fund for future
applications. Such contributions should be made to Count Durham Community Fund and are eligible
for Gift Aid. ALL
History book: In progress.
MIKE
5ii) Raffle prize: M Syer won the prize kindly donated by F Salisbury; Mike Syer will donate a prize in
Sep.
5iii) Quiz: Winners of the last quiz were 1.J Barker, 2.M Banks, 3.P Hutchinson.
The new quiz ‘Down on the farm’ is on sale at £1 with a closing date of 18 November 2017.
6. Item for Any Other Business: Knitted poppies.
7. Current Masterplan:
7A Regeneration Fund: The railings along the C12A have been installed and the verge looks much
tidier.
The gas box project in Durham Road is complete.
It was agreed to leave the remaining £3301.50 in the Regeneration Fund.
Project
Notes
Prince Bishop B&B corner
Pointing Durham Rd
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.
18/04/17 Spruce Up works: Opposite Community Centre – Strimmed, raked and re-seeded. Edged paths in front of Community Centre
and Shops; Pruned shrubs next to library. Grass cut next to Tattoo shop; Pruned shrubs at side of Chemist. Tided area opposite Slater
Place – Cut back verge and strimmed. Removed tree post next to pit memorial; Weeded Memorial area; Planted 5 Birch either side of
the two memorials. General road sweeping of all paths and channels; General litter pick and cleaning of public open space. Checked
and cleaned DCC bus stops; Pavings washed where required. Replaced/installed bins at: Bus stop opposite the Hair Hut & Business
Centre, Community Centre, Traffic Lights, Carpet Shop, Mary Terrace , Main road bus stops x2.
18/07/17 Continue ‘sprucing up’: C Hindmarch informed that schools could encourage both children and carers to pick up litter in the
future. It was suggested that an incentive scheme in the schools could help encourage the children.
15/08/17 Encourage the children to keep Bowburn tidy for instance through school assemblies.
Trustees had discussed the possibility of seeking funding to pay a part-time project officer to work with the
schools.
Gas meter boxes in Durham Road
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. 8 new gas boxes were fitted 28 to 30 June, and all 32
painted by 17/07/2017
PLEASE SUGGEST OTHER ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS: A list of suggested environmental
ideas and others were given to members for future projects, but more ideas are welcome
ALL
8B Reports:
8Bi) Planning issues:
Surtees Avenue: No update
Carlin Close: Ian Heginbottom informed that Keepmoat is not responsible for repairing the original
mesh boundary fence; the issue of the groove in the footpath is ongoing, but the poor finish to the
tarmac will be replaced at the top of the steps to the site from the C12A.
JANET
Hill Top View: Only the Partnership has objected to the issue of a new certificate to remove any
pedestrian access to Durham Road from the Hill Top View site; the case has not been determined.
RICHARD
Parkhill: The reserved matters have been approved.
Cllr Dunn has met with Durham Aged Miners Homes to object to plans for bungalows to be built on
the land next to the micro-brewery.
Views would be expressed by members when a planning application is submitted.
Park bungalow: The demolition of the park bungalow is scheduled for September/October 2017.
Bowburn Hall extension at the rear of Bowburn Hall: The application is going to committee.
Ravensworth pub: The application is marked ‘pending consideration’ on the website.
Coop Licence for Bowburn south: The application for the licence 06.00 - 23.00 is to be considered on
23 Aug.
Oak Tree care home: The parking arrangements need to be reorganized
7Bii) Bowling green: The concrete post was made safe as the height barrier was installed. Thanks to
Martin.
7Biii) Bowburn Industrial Relief Road: Ongoing awaiting the Durham Plan.
Air quality on A177: Air Quality, Environment Health DCC, will establish a monitoring site at the
southern end of Durham Road at the beginning of September for one year.
JANET
7Biv) MW A1(M) junction 61: Ongoing.
8Bv) Community Centre: These two weeks are a relatively quiet period but the centre is still going
well.
8Bvi) Youth Club: A programme of summer activities for the young people and nearby youth clubs
has been organised during the holidays. An anonymous donation has enabled the young people to
go to Infinite Air. The next phase of Junior Youth is about to start.
Visit any time; Contact the Youth Club on 07788277321 and Facebook.
Gym: New members always welcome. Times: Mon to Sat AM 9.15-11.30am; Evenings Tue to Thur
6-8.30pm
8Bvii) Coal column: Agreed to get updates from the Parish Council in future.
8Bviii) Primary school: The councillors have met at the preferred site on the playing field of the
present Junior School, but other sites are being looked at. The school governors will amalgamate in
preparation for the Primary School in 2019.
An entrance is being considered past the football field within the park, but CISWO has not been
contacted about this right of way, and a hard stand for parking behind Broadmeadows – it was
pointed out that residents had strongly objected to this when the Park was being updated and it did
not go ahead. Members reflected that their views for a strip of land reserved for a road direct to the
present Junior School next to the Carlin Close site had been ignored.
No date has been set for the consultation process when all views can be expressed.
School parking: Cllr McKeon hopes to progress a walking bus to both schools to reduce the parking
problems.
8B xi) Shops: The Coop is going through the legal processes to open a store in the former
Cooperage pub.
9. Correspondence: A temporary closure of Clarence Street Park Hill and B6291 Front Street,
Coxhoe to enable carriageway resurfacing works will be undertaken from Wednesday 23 August
2017.
The side streets will be closed each day - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Closure of B6291 for the surfacing works will be on the Friday 0930 to 1530 and Saturday 0700 to
1900.
10. Reports and matters arising:
10i) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP: Key messages from the meeting on 19 July: Chair Roger
Goodes; A minutes silence was held for Cllr Nicholls who has died; Jane Bellis was welcomed back
from maternity leave and Jason Turnough thanked for his work covering for Jane; The chair in
2017/18 is Chris Varty (Pub Rep); and Vice Chairs are Roger Goodes (Partner Rep) and Stuart
Dunn (County Councillor); Thanks were given to the outgoing chair Roger Goodes and vice chair Jan
Blakey, and Janet Blackburn for her work with the AAP over the last 8 years; The Annual Report has
been circulated; The website for children and young people is almost complete and aims to go live in
August; the Mentor and Campaign project in 3 Primary Schools will begin in September; Chris
Hindmarch described the Spruce Up in Bowburn; Each AAP will receive £9902.00 for specific youth
activities annually, and town and parish councils would like to be consulted on future youth delivery
arrangements. An update was given on the Holiday Hunger project; the Board requested that further
updates be provided before a decision is made to support the allocation of £25 000 (£15000 Area
Budget/£10000 Welfare Reform). 2 Public Reps have been recruited - Eileen Dickenson reappointed
and Clive Crosby newly appointed.
The Participatory Budget (PB) committee met in June. The PB Guidance Notes and application form
have been revised to make the application easier. Applicants can apply for amounts from £1000 to
£4000; the closing date is 12 noon Friday 22 September. The event is on 25 November 10am-2pm at
Trimdon .
Community College. 2017/18 Priorities: Children, Young People & Families; Older People; Health &
Wellbeing.
Cllr Blakey asked that a roadshow be considered so that all villages are able to vote for the PB
projects.
Get the application pack by calling 03000 261128/9 or email eastdurhamruralaap@durham.gov.uk
A member expressed concerns about the way the participatory budget was organised and hoped that
arrangements would be changed for 2017.
10ii) County Councillors:
Cllr Jan Blakey had given information where appropriate throughout the meeting.
10iii) Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council meeting 19 July 2017: No report on this meeting was
available.
Next Parish Meeting is 16 August; Litterpick 2 September meet at 9.30am in Bowburn Community
Centre.
Neighbourhood Plan: A workshop will be held to discuss topics for the Plan.
10iv) Quarry Liaison: One year on, DCC is still trying to resolve the problem of the unauthorised track
to the anaerobic digester.
Old Quarrington Association: The issue of the Parish paths is ongoing. SYLVIA/
RICHARD
11. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The Centenary banner is to be repaired and new faces can be added to the banner. The
Heritage Open Day is Saturday 2 September.
(ii) BVC Interchange: Articles for Issue 84 should be sent to Mike as soon as possible.
Aycliffe Angels: On Saturday 21 October, the Mayor of Great Aycliffe is to present badges and
certificates to the families of ladies from Bowburn who worked at the Royal Ordinance Factory at
Aycliffe during WW11. A plaque will be placed in Bowburn Community Centre. Ladies who worked at
the munitions factories in Birtley and Spennymoor may also be recognised.
The next Quiz Night will be held on Friday 15 September 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 will be informed that children and family members are able to bank at the Community
Centre and continue saving through the holidays.
(iv) History: On 21 August old colliery maps will be discussed.
The Resources Room is open every Wednesday 1pm till 3pm.
(v) Fun Day: The Fun Day is arranged for Saturday 30 September 2017. The grants will subsidise the
rides for this year and next. Tiger-May Millington, Miss Durham, is to open the Fun Day; she could be
Miss GB on 15 September ready for the Fun Day opening.
12. AOB: The knitted poppies to commemorate those who were killed on the first day of the Battle of
the Somme have been made into a banner which could be displayed in various community halls. The
project has been a wonderful inter-community event.
13. Date/Time of Next Meeting and AGM: 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 at 6.00pm in Bowburn
Community Centre