GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 October 2017 from 6.00pm
Present M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, M McKeon, D Paget, G Parker, S Raine, J Richardson,
M Ridley, D Ryan (Left 6.45pm), M Syer, S Wilson In attendance: CPSO S. Young
1.Apologies: S Dunn, J Geyer, F Salisbury.
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required throughout this agenda.
3. Security (i) Police: PCSO Stephanie Young was welcomed to the meeting. She explained that PACT
meetings had not been productive and that they would be replaced with walkabouts lasting approximately half
an hour to concentrate on a chosen area in Bowburn. Residents in that area would be leafleted with
information about the walkabout. Future dates will be on the website.
PACT: The next ‘walkabout’ is 27 October at 10.00am meeting in Bowburn Community Centre car park.
Members at this meeting explained the parking problems at the Infant School particularly at the start of the
school day and Stephanie said that she had the power to give a verbal warning, followed by an obstruction
ticket for a repeat offence, however the problem is unlikely to stop.
Cllr McKeon explained the plans for a ‘walking bus’, and mini traffic wardens organised by the school.
It was reported that quad bikes are becoming a problem on the Industrial Estate South.
A request for a joint meeting with the Parish to meet Sgt Kevin Hall has been made. JANET
4. Minutes: Minutes of the General Meeting 15 August: The minutes were approved and agreed by members.
5. Finances: Treasurer’s report: Mike presented a list of transactions to date; the main expenditure was for the
Fun Day, and funding is already agreed for next year’s Fun Day thanks to grant applications.
A current balance of £6641.57 includes £4942.70 of restricted funds.
One Unite Partnership: Dom Ryan was welcomed to the meeting and explained that One Unite is a not for
profit organisation which generates funds to give back to an individual charity, or the community through their
Community Engagement Programme (CEP). One Unite do have their own criteria for funding, but it is not
restrictive. 80% of the commission from businesses is given to the charity/community and the remaining 20%
sustains the services of One Unite.
Dom suggested that the CEP could fit with the Partnership’s Acorn Fund and create links with local businesses
who, with permission, would be referred to One Unite in the hope of registering for a business health check to
create the commission. JANET
5ii) Raffle prize: A Shutt won the prize kindly donated by Mike Syer. Mal Bell will donate a prize in November.
5iii) Quiz: 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: None
7. Current Masterplan:
7A Regeneration Fund: It was agreed to leave the remaining £3085.50 in the Regeneration Fund.
Project Notes
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
18/04/17: DCC Operation ‘Spruce Up’ tidied verges, planted trees, reduced litter, installed new litter/
dog bins along Mary Terrace and outside the Community Centre in Bowburn.
C HIndmarch can provide incentive schemes to encourage the children to continue ‘sprucing up’.
06/09/17: 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 20 to 30 June, and all 32 painted by 17/07/2017
Children’s holiday
activities
A meeting is being arranged with Victoria Grieves (AAP) to discuss ideas for activities and funding for
holiday activities for children.
23/10/2017: Meeting with Victoria in Bowburn Community Centre. Janet
Trees on Mary
Terrace
19/09/17: The Partnership has applied to the APP Participatory Budget for environment projects to
plant trees beside the A177 opposite Mary Terrace; provide hedgehog boxes and a weather station to
the Bowburn schools.
17/10/207: An application has been submitted to the AAP and confirmed to go
through to the PB event on 25 November. Janet
Pick up a weed and a piece of paper every day to keep your pavements clear
FUTURE IDEAS: Additional seats in the park area to include dedications.
7B Reports:
7Bi) Planning issues:
Surtees Avenue: Agreed to object to the Surtees Avenue applications with strong planning reasons. RICHARD
Carlin Close: Cllr Maura McKeon continues to liaise with DCC officers to resolve the problem of the damaged
mesh fence alongside the boundary of the site. CLLR McKEON
Hill Top View: The application to change the planning permission to remove the proposed footpath between
the estate and the A177 has been refused.
To date the fence is still in place and the path has not been constructed.
Integra 61: There will be a progress update at the next meeting, 21 November.
Parkhill Miner’s bungalows: Awaiting a planning application to be submitted. RICHARD
Parkhill development: Reserved matters are approved and works could begin at any time.
Park bungalow: The park bungalow is scheduled for demolition in October 2017.
Co-op Crowtrees Lane: The shop is being fitted out and should be complete by 16 November.
7Bii) Bowburn Industrial Relief Road: Ongoing as we await the Durham Plan.
7Biii) Air quality on A177: The first results are expected shortly and will be put onto the air quality website for
Durham which can be accessed via the information icon. Further collections will be made over at least the next
twelve months with updates on the website. JANET
7Biv) MW A1(M) junction 61: Ongoing
7Bv) Community Centre: The AAP application to the Participatory Budget funding has been accepted. The
centre continues to do well. 20 October - Secondary School Reunion; 30 December - Panto with admission
held at £1 for all comers; 31 December - New Year’s Eve Family Night.
7Bvi) Youth Club: There are no changes to the Youth Club times and sessions. One youth leader is leaving to
live in Spain; Brett will be taking over that session. He has worked in Bowburn in the past when the Youth Club
was part of DCC and knows the young people and area well. All the youth clubs are increasing in number.
Topics this term are mental health & wellbeing, working together as a community, drug & alcohol awareness,
sport & fitness, arts, crafts & cooking. The Young People use the IT room computers and printer to do
homework. Young Mums and NEET groups have steady numbers each week. Spin classes are always fully
booked and Joanne is going to add Monday evenings after the Youth Club session (please note that apart
from the Saturday spin class which is a family fitness session Joanne does all spin classes in her own time
and the money charged, £1.50, goes back into the Gym). Young people use the community gym and spin
bikes during youth club sessions. CCTV has now been fitted. Contact the Youth Club on 0778827732.
Gym: New members always welcome. Times: Mon to Sat AM 9.15-11.30am; Evenings Tue to Thur 6-8.30pm
Joanne was thanked for her report and generosity for giving her services free to the spin classes for the
benefit of the gym.
7Bviii) Primary school: 18 October at 6pm – a primary school information event in Bowburn Community Centre
The consultation on the amalgamation of the schools continues until 12 November. RICHARD
Agreed at this meeting to support a new build primary school on the site of the Junior School, however there
were great concerns about the access to the new school off Surtees Avenue.
Members also hoped that, if the Infant School building (in the conservation area) closes it would be preserved
as a piece of fine architecture.
School parking: Cllr McKeon continues to progress the various schemes in DCC to find a package that will
work for both schools. CLLR McKEON
7Bix) Coop Bowburn south: The application for a number of exterior illuminated signage was questioned.
8. Correspondence: There was no interest in booking a presentation from ‘Well-being for life’.
NHS North Durham: 19 October patient congress meeting in Bowburn Community Centre will focus on mental
health; A request to take part online in a breast screening survey, and cancer survey.
Let by signs Request to remove ‘Let by’ signs in Durham Rd is being followed up.
17/10/2017 Thanks to Sylvia for highlighting the problem and thanks to Cllr
McKeon for aiding the removal of the ‘Let by’ signs on Durham Road.
Seats in the park 17/10/2017 Agreed to consult residents in Beaumont Close and Lansdowne
Crescent on installing a seat below the children’s enclosed play area. Janet
Pick up a weed and a piece of paper every day to keep your pavements clear
9. Reports and matters arising:
9i) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP: Update on Investing in Children projects included: Connecting Young
People website is now live www.aapvoicesproject.com; Working in Cassop Primary and Bowburn Infant
Schools to run a campaign about things that are important to the children; Peer mentoring sessions will run
from October. The Leader Programme Co-ordinator explained the availability of funding covering the whole of
the AAP area. Noted an update on the progress of the Joint Priorities Task and Finish Group meeting held on
17 May. Agreed that the current AAP priorities be carried over into the financial year 2018/19 and there be no
priority voting exercise carried out at the November 2017 forum. Noted the three-day closure of Kelloe surgery
due to a GP being off sick was a cause for concern; Jane Bellis agreed to contact Clair White about this.
Concerns were raised about the markings on the A1(M) Junction 61 roundabout; DCC has provided the AAP
with a response to the enquiry. Inspector Honeyman gave a verbal update on local policing information and on
neighbourhood issues previously raised by local residents. Durham Miners’ Association are launching a oneoff
sponsorship scheme to raise money for the renovation of the pitman’s parliament.
Next meeting: 25 November - Participatory Budget voting from 10.00am to 2.00pm.
Please be there to support the projects from Bowburn.
9ii) County Councillors:
Cllr Jan Blakey: The scrutiny committee have checked the DCC allotments in Bowburn. After an initial survey
of Bowburn beck, there was no evidence of water voles. However, the bushes will be cut back and another
check for voles will be made. If there is no evidence the beck will be cleared on a regular basis.
Anti-social behaviour has been reported in Phillip Avenue also dangerous tree trunks overhanging the A177.
Cllr McKeon: A field drain has been installed on the path in Brockwell Street, the ‘Cape’ estate. Litter bins have
been put in place on the industrial estate.
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).
9iii) Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council meeting 20 September 2017:
A planning application for internally illuminated fascia signs at new Co-op on Durham Road/Crowtrees Lane:
Parish objected on grounds that moving or changing images could be a road safety hazard.
Divisional Sergeant Kevin Hall stated in a recent email that police officers would no longer routinely attend
Parish Council meetings. Parish Councillors were advised to attend PACT meetings instead.
The five-yearly examination of headstones at Bowburn cemetery had revealed that 15 headstones were
defective, though not actually in a dangerous state. Each has been marked for the attention of the bereaved
families concerned so that repairs can be made. The Clerk is obtaining a quotation for the repairs in case the
cost falls on the Parish, as burial authority.
Next Parish Meeting - 15 November; Litterpick 4 Nov meet at 9.30am in Bowburn Community Centre car park.
Neighbourhood Plan: Policy documents are being drafted.
Coal column: Members of the Parish met with Grace Crawford, Groundwork NE.
9iv) Quarry Liaison: The unauthorised track from the Old Quarrington road to the A688 has been fenced off.
Old Quarrington Association: A response from DCC regarding a permissive path agreed for use during works
on Cold Knuckles quarry has been received and is still being considered. SYLVIA/RICHARD
10. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The Centenary banner has been taken to Houghton Feast and Heworth. There is one more outing
to the Remembrance service on 12 November then the banner will be repaired and new faces painted on it.
Cllr Blakey showed photographs of the knitted poppy displays and described the addition of astro turf
containing 41 poppies to commemorate the fallen at the memorial in Tursdale.
(ii) BVC Interchange: Issue 84 has been delivered with favourable comments.
Aycliffe Angels: On Saturday 21 October, the Mayor of Great Aycliffe is to present badges and certificates to
the families from Bowburn who worked at the Royal Ordinance Factory at Aycliffe during WWII.
The next Quiz Night will be held on Friday 8 December 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 Bowburn schools also save through the Credit Union.
(iv) History: The Resources Room is open every Wednesday 1pm till 3pm.
(v) Fun Day: The Fun Day was a great success.
11. AOB: None
12. Next General Meeting and AGM: 21 NOVEMBER 2017 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre
Trustees meeting: 5 December 2017 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre
Pick up a weed and a piece of paper every day to keep your pavements clear