General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 19 March 2019
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, J Geyer, M McKeon, D Paget, G Parker,
S Raine, J Richardson, M Syer In Attendance: Cllr Dunn
Apologies: None
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate
3. SECURITY: POLICE UPDATE 14/02/2019 to 14/03/2019: Burglary 8 reports including electrical items and
alcohol; Theft 8 reports including a large garden ornament, wheelie bin and items from the Co-op;
Criminal damage 5 reports including a number of smashed windows. Youth anti-social behaviour 12
reports including ongoing issues with youths, which are being addressed by police.
PACT Meeting 14 March 2019: 72 residents attended along with PCSO Steph Clarke plus the
three local county councillors, the County Durham Housing Group and Neighbourhood Wardens.
The multi-agency meeting was described as a lively discussion about drug-related issues and antisocial
behaviour.
At this meeting it was stressed that those who thought organisations did not act on their concerns
must report incidents to the relevant agencies because, without this evidence, it can only be
supposed that the incident never happened.
Cllr Blakey provided a leaflet with numbers to report incidents for residents and noticeboards.
JANET
It is hoped that this first meeting is the start of a process to bring the police and people together; a
future meeting will take place on 10 April at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre
Future PACT Walkabout:27 March 2019 2.00pm starting at Bowburn Community Centre.
4. MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 19 March 2019 agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: DCC phases on MW roundabout – Craig MacLennan DCC informed that the
MW phases are still under review, and a reasonable amount of certainty is needed before he
releases them.
At this meeting it was agreed to contact Craig about unsafe pedestrian access to Tursdale Road
whilst the road works are in place; and to ask him for clarification on the lane markings from
Durham Road onto the roundabout i.e. MW north & Peterlee, Coxhoe, MW south & Spennymoor.
MAURA
20/03/2019 The lane markings, above, were confirmed to Cllr Dunn in writing.
Integra reports to Parish: The Parish Council meet on 20 March when this item will be on the
agenda.
Tilery visit: The History Group and Partnership wish to express their thanks to Integra and Durham
University for the excellent visit to the 200 year old tilery which was uncovered on the site.
JANET
Redhills seat: The token was shown to this meeting. It will be placed on the Bowburn seat number
151 at Redhills. The tokens are put onto the seats in batches and once our token is in place, we
will receive an invitation to the next Open Day to look around Redhills and see the sponsored seat
token in place.
Durham Plan Reports: The reports, concerning Bowburn in the Durham Plan compiled by Richard,
have been submitted in preparation for the Examination in Public.
Bird Boxes: Both the Infant and Junior Schools plus the Youth Club are very grateful for the
opportunity to erect the camera bird boxes.
Gasbox: M Ridley informed that the paint is with the decorator and will be given back.
RICHARD
Martin Ridley: Martin was thanked via email by the Chair for his contribution to the Partnership
meetings.
Partnership computer: Janet now uses her own personal laptop for Partnership business, as the
original Partnership computer no longer works and needs to be written off.
Gary will scrap the Partnership computer and, if possible, regain information from the machine.
GARY
5. FINANCES: i)Treasurer’s report: Income of £63.00 Quiz monies and £12.50 from Tea/Raffle
tonight. Paid £100.00 for the Redhills token and £30.00 in quiz prize money; balance at the end of
February £10.681.74 of which £9283.60 is restricted.
It is the end of the financial year and Donna has kindly agreed to independently examine the
finances for the AGM.
DONNA
ii) Raffle: M McKeon won the raffle kindly donated by M Bell. J Blackburn will bring the prize in
April.
iii) New quiz ‘Performing Arts’ £1 per copy, return by 18 May 2019.
6. POLICIES: Agreed to appoint G Parker as Health & Safety office for the Partnership.
The Health & Safety policy will be reviewed in June at the Trustees meeting.
GARY
7. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Old Quarrington, Durham Road West
8. LOCAL REPORTS: i)PLANNING: Durham Plan – See item 4 above.
County Hall: The planning committee was minded to approve the application, but it has been
referred to the Secretary of State who may call it in.
Hill Top View footpath: Awaiting a decision from DCC.
Parkhill site: Ongoing.
Nature Trail: There is to be a meeting in March; there has been no information to date.
‘Old’ Coop area: Building work upstairs is ongoing; skips have been used to clear the rubble. The
police have met with the developer about the future tenants.
At this meeting it was said that it would be helpful if nearby residents had CCTV to gather
evidence and hopefully CCTV would be placed on the building.
Old Quarrington barn conversion: DCC is expected to be minded to decline planning permission.
ii) Community Centre: AGM Meeting 26 March at 6.00pm followed by a General Meeting which will
include a celebration of the 40th anniversary of becoming an association.
Affiliated members were reminded to attend the AGM and one other meeting to continue their
affiliation.
iii) Youth Centre: An application to the AAP Holiday Fund has been submitted for the Easter
Holiday. Sessions are going well for all ages from Year 6 to 17 years old. All fitness classes are
busy and young people take priority if a class is full. The Gym is more popular with young people
who are taking up monthly membership. Young volunteers chose and organised a 12-hour Spin
with half-hour time slots from 9am to 9pm. Many people came along throughout the day to support
the event and they raised £300.
iv) Bowburn Primary School: No news on planning application.
A new school logo has been agreed, which combines 3 designs from the children.
9. CORRESPONDENCE:
Consultation on the review on Polling Districts and Polling Places is available online until 31
March.
10. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA: Board meeting Tuesday 7 March was cancelled.
Next Board Meeting: Monday 20 May in Bowburn Community Centre
ii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP:
Cllr Blakey: Footpaths have been renewed; bollards re-sited and the cut between Mary Terrace
and Bede Terrace resurfaced; Prince Charles Avenue and Surtees Avenue surfaces are in a poor
state.
Cllr Dunn: Progress is being made to look for solutions to the drainage problem in Bowburn. There
will be a detailed model of the system for the whole village. The scheme is likely to compete for
funding for the whole of the county and NW think that Bowburn has a realistic chance of being
successful.
At this meeting it was said that NW Ltd should be warned that it might be considered liable for
flooding in future by the Environment Agency.
Cllr McKeon: The green at Parkhill has been reseeded; bus shelters have been checked in
Bowburn for future repairs; Tweddle Terrace grass was churned up by the Clean and Green Team.
The developer is to repair the fence in Charlesworth Court.
iii) PARISH: Report of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council, 20 February 2019
There was further discussion about the proposed Coal Column, and a working group was
convened on 27 February. Members were advised that Coxhoe PC was seeking to acquire the old
mineral line (part of the Clarence Railway) and wanted to know if CcQ were interested in acquiring
the part of the line within our Parish. It was intended to turn the line into a cycle path (grants
available). Councillors agreed this would be beneficial but required further detail on costs. The
trailer blocking Bridleway 36 had now been removed; The next meeting will be the last meeting for
the clerk, Mr Peter Thorpe, who retires this month.
Next meeting: 20 March Next Litter-pick: 6 April meet at 9.30amin the Community Centre
car park.
Neighbourhood Plan: Progressing towards the consultation stage.
Coal Column: The Parish Council had agreed to go ahead with the project, which was reported to
Facebook that night resulting in unfavourable opinions. The Parish decided to consult further as
the project needs evidence of community support. A questionnaire will be delivered separately with
the Interchange.
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: The next meeting will be in April 2019.
11. GROUP NOTICEBOARD:
i) Banner: The proposed route for parading the banners is from the Infant School to the War
Memorial, via Monteigne Drive and Edward Avenue. There will be an entertainer at the Eve of
Gala concert.
ii) BVC: Issue 90 will be delivered at the end of this month.
Quiz night Friday 29 March 2019 from 7.30pm on Crowtrees WM Club.
iii) History: The History Room is open on Wednesday’s between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
9 April, 7PM in the Community Centre, ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ drama about Coxhoe during
WW1.
12. AOB: The Old Quarrington road surface needs urgent repair – a member hopes for an update.
A ditch in an OQ property is polluted and has been reported but nothing has been checked.
It was advised that those who report items online ensure that they receive a registration number.
Back Durham Road West is being used as a rat run by traffic avoiding the C12a junction with
Durham Rd.
13. NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 16 April 2019 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre