GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 20 March 2018 from 6.00pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey (From 6.25pm), R Cowen, J Geyer, M McKeon, G Parker, S Raine,
J Richardson, M Ridley, M Syer In attendance: Cllr S Dunn
1.Apologies: D Paget
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required throughout this agenda.
3. Security: (i)PACT: ‘Walkabouts’
Friday 13 April at 10.00am Hill Top View Estate; meet at the main entrance.
Friday 11 May at 10.00am Cavell Drive, Robert Terrace; meet outside Bowburn Hall
PCSO Butterfield emailed the following incidents for Bowburn from 16 February to 15 March.
2 incidents of burglary all of these from businesses; 2 incidents of theft one from the petrol station and one
from a farm; 4 Incidents of criminal damage; 7 anti-social behaviour reports.
There have been several anti-social behaviour reports relating to youths causing a nuisance; a number of
youths have been spoken to in relation to this.
4. Minutes: Minutes of the General Meeting 20 February 2018: The minutes were approved and agreed.
5. Finances: i) Treasurer’s report: Mike presented a list of transactions to date.
Youth Club application to the Community Fund: Still awaiting notification of the payment for the Xmas Party.
Contribution to Endowment Fund: The Partnership is running at an annual loss of approximately £235.
Agreed not to donate to the Endowment Fund this year.
Seats near toddler play area in the park: The Partnership are not VAT registered and DCC would charge VAT,
but not charge for maintenance.
Agreed to send a voluntary contribution to DCC equivalent to the cost of a steel seat minus VAT and ask DCC
to buy the seat and retrieve the VAT on their own account. JANET, MIKE
Coop community funds: The Co-op Local Community Fund is now open to more local groups, including small
unregistered charities, with a closing date of 8 April 2018 for a pay-out throughout 2019 until October 2019.
It was suggested that one of the groups - Community Centre, Partnership or Youth Club - involved with
children’s holiday activities should apply to the Co-op Community Fund for future funding. Jan, Martin, Janet
One Unite: Agreed not to proceed with the offer of possible funding from One Unite as the Partnership is
concerned about the implications that may affect its link with local businesses.
5ii) Raffle: J Geyer won first prize, and R Cowen won second prize both kindly donated by Gary Parker.
Richard Cowen will donate a prize for April.
5iii) Quiz: The new quiz ‘Astronomy V Astrology’ is on sale at £1 with a closing date of 12 May 2018.
6. Item for Any Other Business: Durham Services to discuss within Planning Item 9(i).
7. Current Masterplan:
7A Regeneration Fund:
Project Notes
Pointing
Durham Road
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 discussed the possibility of funding to pay a part-time project officer to work with 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
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.
16/01/2018 The first replies to the consultation are in favour of the seat.
20/02/2018: DCC to price a seat suitable for the park.
20/03/2018: Partnership to donate £620 to DCC to buy and install a seat in the park.
Pick up a weed and a piece of paper every day to keep your pavements clear
7B. Future environment ideas:
8 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Future community engagement ideas: Cllr McKeon has arranged a ‘Jobs
Fair’ of local businesses in the Community Centre on 23 April. The Partnership will engage in this event.
9.LOCAL REPORTS:
9i)Planning issues:
Katem: J Davison of Katem has been informed by VOSA that there are some objections to Katem establishing
a depot in the industrial Estate North, but he hopes that they can be smoothed over. Richard sent the
Partnership comments re Katem to J Davison and hoped that they would not read as negative comments.
Intergra 61: Hedges are being removed from the Integra 61 site.
Agreed, that as work has started, to bring forward the update meeting with James Taylor and David
Cullingford to the next Partnership meeting on 17 April. JANET
A member advised that there was to be an extension to the Motorway Services, if this was approved it was felt
there was a strong case for all traffic to turn left. RICHARD
Carlin Close: Unfortunately the officer designated to the Carlin Close site has retired but not replaced as yet,
however Cllr McKeon continues to liaise with DCC officers and potentially the site owners to resolve the
problem of the damaged mesh fence alongside the boundary of the site. CLLR McKEON
Hill Top View: DCC Planning Department hopes to resolve the problem of permissions from Highways England
and Assets to construct the footpath to the A177. COUNCILLORS
Parkhill development: Plant is on site.
Bowburn Hall: The extension to the ballroom went through, but there were assurances from the Environmental
Health Officer that the new doors to the extension will be open to extend the use of the patio area during the
day and will be closed by 10.00pm if there is a ‘noise’ event; with a sound cut-off system if levels go above an
acceptable level.
Lodges in the grounds of Bowburn Hall: Members expressed views that a second application to place 5 twoperson
lodges within the grounds was inappropriate for Bowburn Hall. RICHARD
Anaerobic digester: At the time of this meeting no trees had been planted to screen the digester. CLLR BLAKEY
9ii) Ongoing: Bowburn Industrial Relief Road: Await the Durham Plan. Councillors advised that the Relief Road
was being included in discussions involving Bowburn within County Hall.
Properties on the Cape site: Cllr Dunn explained that when the draft Local Plan was withdrawn the Relief Road
no longer existed in Planning Policy, and he has been told that County could legally defend their position not to
reveal this in searches for the Cape site.
Air quality on A177 – Await a result in September 2018; MW A1(M) junction 61 – No progress to date
9iii) Community Centre: The LH Games Room will have a new oak floor and the servery will be blocked from
that room. See Item 11ii.
9iv) Youth Club (Contact 0778827732): Monday 13-17 year olds work with Elemore Hall school and Coxhoe
young people’s home; the focus has been on drug and alcohol use and staying safe. Resources have been
bought to support these sessions. Tuesday Y6/7 have been given funding to deliver internet safety; Y8/9 work
on appropriate topics through cooking and sport as well as community cohesion. On Wednesdays the drop-in
for young mothers has increased with a first aid course for babies and toddlers; the NEET group work with
Partner organisations including Durham Works and Princess Trust to give Young people the best possible
advice and guidance, and the task group continue to plan and organise events. The Friday drama group, run
Children’s
holiday
activities
A meeting is being arranged with Victoria Grieves (AAP) to discuss ideas for activities for children.
23/10/2017: Meeting with Jane Bellis provided examples of holiday activities throughout the AAP.
21/11/2017: Agreed - a joint meeting with the Youth Club, Community Centre and Library led by Cllr McKeon.
16/01/2018: Survey of holiday requirements for Bowburn is online.
Jane Bellis informed that an AAP grant application will be available for the summer holidays.
20/02/2018: Joint talks - Youth Club, Community Centre and Partnership for the Easter Holiday Activities.
20/03/2018: There is a good response places to places being booked for this Easter.
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 schools.
17/10/207: An application has been submitted and confirmed to go through to the PB event on 25 November.
21/11/2017: ‘Tree Week’ funding of £150 for a tree in Mary Terrace.
16/01/2018: Apply for grant to CDCF to plant trees to the south of Mary Terrace.
20/03/2018: Application made to CDCF to plant 19 trees in Mary Terrace.
Camera bird
boxes
Co-op local Community Fund success – spend on Co-op products up to October
2018, will increase our fund for camera bird boxes in the schools and Youth Club.
Hedgehog
boxes
Agreed to ask HM Prison Durham to make 6 hedgehog boxes for the Youth club,
Infant School and Junior School; up to a cost of £50.00 JANET
Pick up a weed and a piece of paper every day to keep your pavements clear
by the university, ended on Friday. Gym and fitness classes have increased, but adult volunteers would be
welcome to help at the Gym where new members are always welcome.
Gym times: Mon to Fri 9.15-11.30am; Evenings Tue to Thur 6-8pm. Spin classes Mon and Wed evening.
9v) Primary school: A public exhibition will be held in Bowburn Community Centre to display the plans for the
new primary school which will show excellent use of space and light. CISWO have agreed in principle to the
new road; there are concerns about acquiring the land for a roundabout and flooding problems on site.
vi) Shops: It is hoped to bring a new retailer to the old Co-op building.
Agreed to ask the owner of the old Co-op building for an update. JANET
New Coop: Mr Roberts of Co-op properties informed that the new Co-op has far exceeded expectations.
10. CORRESPONDENCE: Lucy Machin researcher for True North Productions, an independent British
television production company based in Leeds is looking for families from Durham to get involved in a new
consumer TV series, preferably families with children, but anyone who is interested can get in touch to meet
experts, test products and budget their weekly shop. Contact Lucy Machin at info@truenorth.tv
Tursdale: The side road to Tursdale Memorial will be closed on Saturday 24 March from 10.30am to 11.45am
11. REPORTS IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY
11i) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP: The last Board meeting was held on Thursday 15 March 2018.
The key messages will be reported at the next meeting.
11ii) County Councillors: Cllr Dunn was involved in the following discussions and decisions – Plans for the new
primary school – See Item 9v; there are sufficient S106 monies, funds held by the council from developments
in Bowburn, for art to construct the Coal Column: a consultation with residents on further facilities for the park:
a litter pick along the main road from Parkhill to the Jet garage: providing power supplies for Christmas lights
in Cassop and Parkhill; a proposal to the Parish Council to provide extra salt bins in areas that do not qualify
under DCC criteria; asking residents to report pot-holes resulting in holes being filled and a possibility of the
road beside Parkhill Park being repaired.
Cllr McKeon has requested help in kind from Tarmac for works associated with the Coal Column; organised for
the Brownies to be part of a Women’s Suffrage event at County Hall; went walkabout with Martin Briscoe to
highlight the problems of dog fouling, graffiti and unsightly bushes.
All three councillors donated £1000 to the Community Centre to upgrade the dance studio floor, but they did
not fund a defibrillator at the Youth Club because of the nearness to the surgery and the Community Centre
but will consider support for heating in the main hall or storage facilities.
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).
11iii) Report of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council Meeting, 21 February 2018:
Katem described the movement of traffic from the proposed site at Henderson, and possible local jobs for the
community; discussed the need for a Data Protection Officer.
Next Meeting: 21 March; Litterpick: 7 April (in conjunction with Chloe Brown and Bowburn Infants’ School)
Neighbourhood Plan (NP): Richard and Mike are to complete a map for the parish area to show potential open
spaces that should be protected; the three topics have been prepared, namely: Design of new development;
Quality of the environment; Rural setting of settlements; the task groups are awaiting a meeting to finalise the
draft NP.
Coal column: The cost of the Coal Column will be paid from S106 monies held by the council as above, and
the Parish are to take a decision to commission Groundwork NE to project manage the work.
11iv) Quarry Liaison: The next meeting is 23 April at 10.00am.
12. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The route of the Gala Parade is in the latest issue of Bowburn Interchange and the Back Room
Boys will play at the Eve of Gala Concert.
(ii) BVC Interchange: The latest issue of Bowburn Interchange will be delivered at the end of this week.
The next Quiz Night will be held on Friday 18 May 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; there is an article in the Interchange re Christmas.
(iv) History: The Resources Room is open every Wednesday 1pm till 3pm.
(v) Fun Day: The Fun Day will take place this year with the funding already in place.
13. AOB: Discussed in 9(i)
14. Next General Meeting: 17 April 2018 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Pick up a weed and a piece of paper every day to keep your pavements clear