ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – Minutes
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership – Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 16 May 2017. From 6.00pm to 6.20pm
Present H Armstrong, M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen, K Griffiths, M McKeon, G Parker, T Phillips, S Raine,
J Richardson, M Ridley, M Stone, M Syer, S Walworth
1.Apologies: G Kitson, F Salisbury, In attendance: S Dunn
2. Minutes of last Annual General Meeting 17 May 2016:
The minutes were proposed by M Bell seconded by M Ridley and approved unanimously by those present.
3. Chair’s Annual Report from April 2016 to March 2017:
Welcome to the 13th Annual General Meeting of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership.
During 2016/17 the Partnership moved their bank account to the Cooperative Bank plc with the same signatories
Janet Blackburn, Richard Cowen and Mike Syer; this was because Unity Trust Bank started making bank charges.
Members were happy to hold funds for Bowburn Village Celebration and Project 4Bs whilst these groups moved to
new bank accounts.
It was agreed that the criteria for an Acorn Endowment Fund would be overseen by the County Durham Community
Foundation (CDCF), and if the Partnership were to close, to leave the monies in CDCF targeted for the
Bowburn/Parkhill area. The Endowment Fund opened with a sum of £9029.61 and increased to £9217 after
commission payments.
The Co-operative Local Community Fund accepted the Partnership’s application to publish ‘The history of Bowburn’
in a softback form.
After further discussion and a site visit, permission was given by DCC to place two planters along Durham Road,
Bowburn; these along with three planters on Mary Terrace and one on Oxford Terrace were payed via the Bowburn
Improvement Fund, (The Regeneration Pot) leaving a sum of £4837.50 for future projects. In future years the
Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council will take responsibility for the planters
The match funding of £2500.00 held by the Partnership for the PARC Group has been paid to DCC for the removal
of the bowling green and three surrounding hedges.
We continue to hold funds for The Fun Day and the Bowburn Opencast Action Group.
We have supported:
A Spruce Up by DCC of the main A177 road through Bowburn with a promise of further works within the village at a
later date.
And a weekly Credit Union Bank with volunteers from the Partnership
The Partnership has written in respect of the following:
• The issues and options stage of the proposed refreshed County Durham Plan
• The New Level Nursery planning application for motorhome storage and a caretaker’s house.
• Requesting a community consultation process for the markings on the MW roundabout at Bowburn.
• A Statement of Community Involvement prepared by the County Council
• To Ogdens regarding their site in Bowburn
• The information currently being given by the council about the proposal for a Relief Road around Bowburn
• Congratulations to Janet Maitland about the refurbishment of the former papershop to a hairdressers
• Further discussions took place with Groundwork to bring about the Coal Column project, however after
information from DCC it was agreed that because of the complications of managing such a project it should
be referred to the Parish Council who agreed in principle to be responsible for the Coal Column.
• Community engagement was developed with Partner Construction for the Hill Top View and Keepmoat for
the Carlin Close developments.
• Integra61 have liaised with the Partnership to give an update on the progress of the early stages of the
development
• The Partnership have expressed concern about dangerous parking at both the Infant and Junior Schools
resulting in signage for a reduced speed of 20mph approaching the Junior School, but the speed limit is on
hold at the Infant School
• The Partnership were pleased to hear that a new primary school is to be built in Bowburn but pointed out
that the school must be built for purpose and the increase in Nursery School places be taken into account
• Discussions with DCC have continued throughout 2016/17 to replace the railings along the C12A; the S106
money is secure and the order has been authorised
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
• 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.
We are sorry to lose Gloria and Jan from the trustees; they have been valuable members.
We would welcome new members to come forward during this next year
In the future the Partnership will continue to spend the Regeneration Pot on the sympathetic refurbishment of the
village; 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 2016-2017 accounts which showed that total funds had reduced from
£22,379.65 to £7,074.93. This was due to unrestricted funds of £5,000.00 and restricted funds of £4,029.61 being
deposited in the Bowburn Community Fund managed by County Durham Community Foundation, restricted funds
of £2,500 for the bowling green and £3,077 for 6 planters. Earnings from tea/raffle, quizzes, fun day, bank charges
from 4Bs and BVC, and the Parish grant amounted to £489; and general expenditure amounted to £495.59 for room
rental, affiliation, quiz prizes, bank charges, and insurance.
The finances were approved unanimously by those present.
4(ii) Independent examiner for 2017/2018:
It was agreed to appoint Donna Paget as the independent examiner for 2017/2018.
5. Election of Officers: The election of the following officials was agreed by the members:
Chair: Richard Cowen Vice Chair: Sylvia Raine
Secretary: Janet Blackburn Treasurer: Mike Syer
6. Election of Trustees: The following members were elected as trustees:
Malcolm Bell, Joyce Geyer, Martin Ridley
7. Close of AGM:
The chair closed the AGM and thanked members for attending and looked forward to seeing them at future
meetings.