General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 15 October 2019 From 6.00pm
PRESENT: M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen, J Geyer, G Parker, S Raine, J Richardson In Attendance: Cllr Dunn
Apologies: M McKeon, D Paget
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate
3. SECURITY: Police: All crime and ASB 90 in Bowburn, Cassop, High Shincliffe, Shincliffe for August.
ASB 17; Bicycle theft 1; Burglary 5; Criminal damage and arson 17; Drugs 1; Other crime 2; Other theft 7;
Possession of weapons 1; Public order 6; Shoplifting 5; Vehicle crime 4; Violence and sexual offences 24
This meeting asked for a breakdown of offences for Bowburn, and the range of violent and sexual offences.
Pact meeting: The chair attended the meeting, along with Cllrs Blakey and McKeon. Youths gathering
under the MW bridge was discussed, but no other themes or problems.
Cllr Dunn felt that there is now a more positive attitude towards the police compared with a year ago.
Police apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with Northumbria University has a starting salary of £24,177;
applications close Friday 25 October.
If any residents have any information or anything to report, contact Steph via the email
Stephanie.Clarke@durham.pnn.police.uk or contact 101; or 999 in an emergency.
ii) Speedwatch: Cllrs Dunn and McKeon to co-ordinate a timetable. To do. CLLRS DUNN AND McKEON
4. MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 17 September 2019 agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: Consider a weight restriction from Red Briar to the 688 and towards Bowburn.
Cllr Dunn explained that this item will become a priority when the Primary School approaches its opening
date. There is useful traffic data from the preliminary investigations into planning the new school.
5. FINANCES: i) Treasurer’s report:
Income: Tea & Raffle £10.50; To be confirmed Community Kitchen donation from the Fun Day.
Expenditure: Paint for gas boxes £21.48; Balloons £20; Youth Club holiday fund £3000
Summary: Total funds £5860.89 of which Restricted funds £4649.24
ii) Raffle: S Dunn won the raffle kindly donated by J Richardson. S Dunn donated the next prize. STUART
iii) Quiz: New quiz ‘Buildings’ £1 per copy, return by 16 November 2019.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Slimming World billboard
7. LOCAL REPORTS: i) PLANNING: The Durham Plan: The examination hearing sessions start at the end
of October then over four separate weeks. Richard has prepared answers on behalf of the Partnership
where appropriate to the 14 matters asked for by the Inspector.
Richard was thanked for the detailed information presented in his replies.
Hill Top View footpath: The Parish will be asked to survey the views of Hill Top Estate for and against the
footpath at their meeting on 16 October. PARISH
Railings on MW roundabout: The railings are now in place.
MW: Acoustic railings will be installed along the MW in front of houses to deflect noise.
Integra 61: Piling is finished but only one third of the steel work is complete; the shed will reach the edge of
the site roundabout. The final completion date is July 2020 and the opening date is 24 August 2020.
Richard emphasised that as development comes towards Bowburn, site noise must be contained within
reasonable times. He complained about an increase in the mud on the Tursdale Road.
Cllr Dunn said that the councillors have made this request about noise to Planning, but the hours of working
has been extended from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. Stuart said that mud clearance was being taken seriously with
a hard stand for a majority of vehicles and wheel washing available at all times.
Parkhill site: An objection to the revised plans to build an additional 21 houses on the site has been made,
and a request for such increases not to be given permission on further sites.
Nature Trail: Geoff Scott will arrange a meeting in October JANET
OQ Barn: The application has been refused.
It has since been discovered that the application is still pending a decision.
ii) Community Centre: Next meeting Tuesday 26 November start time 6.30pm.
iii) Youth Centre: The new times and sessions have started well. Year 7 are taking a while to settle into
their new night. Some Monday seniors have stayed on to join the Gym and spin sessions. The girls’ fitness
has been slow to take off and due to having a broken wrist Joanne will advertise the session in the next few
weeks. 5 more spin bikes have been purchased due to demand for spaces. Saturday Gym 8.30 to 10.30.
iv) Bowburn Primary School: The planning certificate has been issued. The merger of the two schools and
staff is going well except for some IT problems. More support is now available for Special Needs pupils with
the increase in finances from the Junior School.
The Infant School building is going into the Neighbourhood Plan to safeguard the building. Cllr Dunn
understands that the building and land will go to social housing with Section 106 monies for housing
available to subsidise social housing.
8. CORRESPONDENCE: Updated by email
9. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA:
AAP: Key messages from Monday 23 September at Bowburn Community Centre.
Malcolm Gray was chair; he was unable to provide an update on ‘livin’s’ first Business Strategy.
Chloe Brown, Investing in Children accompanied by five young people from the Youth Forum gave an
update. Board members received an update on progress made through the Joint Priorities Task and Finish
Group meeting. Sgt Alex Clarke gave a verbal update on local policing information.
Neighbourhood Budget projects were considered:
Sedgefield Cricket Club: Councillor(s): Brown / Robinson: No Interest Declared: Amount: £4,000 Kelloe
Lights: Councillor(s): Dunn / McKeon: No Interest Declared: Amount: £3,200 (£1,600 each
There were no objections to these projects.
Xmas lights: The application for the Xmas Lights has been granted.
ii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP:
Cllr Dunn: If the new routes were to go ahead through the Nature Reserve, DEFRA would stop all
payments until the land is re-mapped. This may take 18 months or more, which is unacceptable to DCC.
The ecologist is however looking at an alternative.
iii) PARISH: Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council meeting on 18 September
Neighbourhood Plan: Cllr Salisbury updated the Parish on progress. It was almost complete apart from the
Environment section which was still under discussion with DCC. This meant the plan would not now be
complete until late October or November, so a 6-week consultation would be better held after Christmas.
Parish Council vacancies: the vacancy in the West Ward had been advertised but it was not yet known
whether an election would be called. The East ward vacancy was still unfilled.
A resident of Ramsay Street, Tursdale, had made a request to purchase a strip of allotment land which they
currently rent from the Council. A local estate agent has valued the land and the Parish is to consider
selling it, provided all legal costs are paid by the buyer.
Cllrs Dunn and McKeon are waiting for the Parish to take on the cost of maintenance of 11 salt bins in
Bowburn which do not meet DCC’s criteria, and 17 planters in Cassop, before they are purchased.
Next meeting Bowburn Community Centre 20 November from 6.30pm
Litter pick: Saturday 2 November – meet at 9.30am in the car park of the Community Centre
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: There was a useful presentation of ongoing work from the new manager.
The alternative route is considered in Cllr Dunn’s roundup above.
Quarrington Hill cemetery: The movement is judged to be localised by a geologist and the immediate threat
is receding. Tarmac are to do a movement settlement survey on the gravestones.
The graveyard is officially open, but the Church do not want any visitors in the graveyard on health and
safety grounds.
10. GROUP NOTICEBOARD:
i) Banner: The Centenary banner went to Houghton and hopes to go to the Tommy Hepburn day.
ii) BVC: Issue 92 is ready to deliver. Issue 93: Articles should be sent to interchangebowburn@gmail.com
Writers’ Workshops: Workshops for interested journalists start on 23 October at 6.30pm in Bowburn Centre.
Quiz night: The next quiz night is 6 December 2019 from 7.30pm in Crowtrees WM Club.
iii) History: The ‘thank-you’ celebration for Mike Syer was much appreciated and enjoyed by all.
2nd Tuesday talks in Bowburn Community Centre at 7.00pm, for £3.00
12 November – Mike Syer ‘Electoral Registers’
10 December – Chris Lloyd ‘Attacking the devil and sinking the unsinkable’
The History Room is open on Wednesday’s between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
11. AOB: Slimming World billboard: The advertising placard for Slimming World fastened to a bollard
outside the new Coop is restricting the view of drivers approaching the A177 from Crowtrees Lane.
Agreed to ask Sharon to find a safer area to place the placard. JANET
12. NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 19 NOVEMBER at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre