ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – Minutes
Bowburn & Parkhill Community partnership – Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 May 2018 from 6.00pm to 6.15pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, J Geyer, K Griffiths, B Grove, M McKeon, G Parker,
S Raine, J Richardson, M Ridley, E Smith, M Syer, S Walworth
1.Apologies: D Paget
2. Minutes of last Annual General Meeting 16 May 2017:
The minutes were proposed by M Syer and seconded by M Bell, and approved by those present.
3. Chair’s Annual Report from April 2017 to March 2018:
Welcome to the 14th Annual General Meeting of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership.
• The Partnership were pleased to offer grants of £100 from the Endowment Fund for the first year,
with the Youth Club benefitting.
• The Bowburn Improvement Fund (The Regeneration Pot) paid for the replacement of damaged gas
boxes in Durham Road and a seat for visitors to the toddler play area in Bowburn Park.
• The Cooperative Local Community Fund made a first payment for the bird camera boxes, and part
one of ‘The history of Bowburn’ will be ready for sale by Christmas 2018
• We hold funds for The Fun Day and the Bowburn Opencast Action Group.
• We agreed not to proceed with possible funding from One Unite.
• We support a weekly Credit Union Bank; and supported DCC ‘Spruce Up’ works along the main road
through Bowburn; and supported a Children’s Easter Holiday Scheme, and applied for funding to plant
trees along the A177.
• The Parish Council took responsibility for the ‘Coal Column’ art piece, and inform the Partnership of
its progress.
The Partnership made comments on the following planning applications:
A gated pedestrian access to Durham Road from the Hill Top View site, and we continue to
campaign for a tarmac path constructed from the gateway to the A177.
Integra 61 continue to send representatives to meetings. We supported comments from the Parish
Council regarding the proposed road into the site and agreed to encourage the County Council to
make the exit from Durham Services a Left-Hand turn only, when a roundabout is constructed on the
A688.
Agreed to the plans for the new Primary School but was disappointed that trees along the road had
been stripped out for sight lines.
Agreed to the plans for the ‘old’ Cooperative buildings but objected that there was no provision for
recyclable waste or to dispose of trade effluent.
We were pleased to welcome the new Cooperative store in November 2017.
The Partnership supported residents of Surtees Avenue to object to 10 new houses and residents
next to Bowburn Hall to object to an extension and holiday lodges.
We engaged in the consultation event for the Parkhill development.
The Partnership agreed to press for trees to screen the anaerobic digester.
The Park bungalow was demolished in October; and the railings installed on the C12A.
We gave support to an operator’s licence for Katem Solutions but were concerned about possible
increased noise levels and air pollution.
Durham County Council agreed to have an air quality survey for one year along the A177.
• The Partnership is grateful for information from our local interest groups; County Councillors; the Area
Action Partnership, the Parish Council, the police PACT reports, and Durham County Council officers.
• Age Concern gave information on ‘Beat the scammers’, and Bowburn Fire Training Centre for a tour
of the centre.
I would like to thank the Trustees and members who consistently and conscientiously attend meetings
throughout the year.
In the future the Partnership will spend the Regeneration Pot on the 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.
4i. Statement of Financial Affairs:
Donna Paget examined the accounts and found them to be accurate
The finances were approved unanimously by those present.
4ii. Independent examiner for 2018 / 2019:
It was agreed to approach Donna Paget to be the independent examiner for 2018 / 2019
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:
Malcom Bell, Joyce Geyer, M McKeon, G Parker, S Raine, J Richardson,
The treasurer presented a report on the 2017-2018 accounts which showed that total funds had reduced
slightly from £7,074.93 to £7,000.19, of which £5,314.96 was restricted. Unrestricted funds had decreased
from £1,731.39 to £1,685.23, after income from tea/raffle, quizzes and fun day of £433.00
and expenditure of £488.68 on room rental, affiliation, quiz prizes, admin, insurance etc.