General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 21 May 2019 From 6.20pm
PRESENT: M Bell, J Blackburn, M McKeon, G Parker, S Raine, M Syer, S Walworth
In Attendance: None Apologies: R Cowen, Cllr Dunn, J Geyer, J Richardson
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate
3. SECURITY: POLICE UPDATE 10/04/2019 – 8/05/2019: Burglary - 1 report of damage to an outer door.
Investigations on going. Theft - 12 reports including meat and coffee taken from Co-op and fuel thefts from
Shell Filling Station, Bowburn Services. Investigations still on going. Criminal Damage - 3 reports including
smashed windows and a satellite cable cut. Investigations closed. Anti-social Behaviour - 13 reports
including youths causing a nuisance, an individual subject to abusive comments; cars driving in an antisocial
manor at Bowburn Services, and a report of youths trying to start fires which has been dealt with.
PACT MEETING report by PCSO Stephanie Clarke: Our next meeting will be Wednesday 12 June, 10am,
Bowburn Community Centre.
If any residents have any information or anything to report, do not hesitate to contact Steph via the email
Stephanie.Clarke@durham.pnn.police.uk or contact 101; or 999 in an emergency.
ii) Speedwatch: Volunteers were encouraged to carry out the scheme. Cllrs Dunn and McKeon are coordinating
a timetable for our area. CLLRS DUNN AND McMEON
4. MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 16 April 2019 agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: DCC phases on MW roundabout – Craig MacLennan DCC emailed the schedule of
works for the MW roundabout, which he emphasised are subject to change.
A digital updated copy will be sent to members. CLLR McKEON
Gas box paint: Martin Ridley is to contact the decorator for the black paint. RICHARD
Redhills seat: The Partnership copy of the seat token for Bowburn seat number 151 at Redhills was given
to the Banner Group to put on display.
Nature Trail: The site teams at Parkhill have been extremely busy with year-end targets, however they are
keen to arrange another meeting in the forthcoming weeks. JANET
5. FINANCES: i) Treasurer’s report: Income: Quiz £61.00; Tea/Raffle £6.50. Expenditure – Quiz prizes
£30; Bird boxes £2291.90.
When all transactions are completed, Restricted funds £6600.98 and Unrestricted funds £1411.54
Cllr McKeon informed the meeting that the AAP will not be funding a Summer Holiday Club but will supply a
list of possible funders to pay for this. CLLR McKEON
ii) Raffle: J Blackburn won the raffle kindly donated by R Cowen. J Geyer to bring the prize in June. JOYCE
iii) Quiz: Prizewinners for ‘Performing Arts’ 1st J Taylor, 2nd C Chantler, 3rd J Hutchinson.
New quiz ‘Bodycare’ £1 per copy, return by 17 August 2019.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Health & Safety on the Fun Day.
7. LOCAL REPORTS: i) PLANNING: The Durham Plan is waiting to be sent to the Secretary of State.
County Hall: Durham City Parish is preparing a challenge.
Hill Top View footpath: It is hoped that DCC will create the path from Hilltop View to the A177 and repair the
railings when the works on the MW roundabout are in progress.
Parkhill site Nature Trail: See Item 4 Matters Arising
‘Old’ Coop area: Concerns were expressed about works appearing to have stopped and a possible leak of
asbestos after the damage to the ceiling in the Hairdressers.
Agreed to report this to DCC Health & Safety Officers CLLR McKEON, JANET
ii) Community Centre: Next meeting Tuesday 28 May start time 6.30pm
iii) Youth Centre: The Easter programme was over 4 days for School Years 3-5 with activities and sports as
well as a hot meal. On average 25 children attended; the activities were overseen by paid staff, volunteers
and two Young People from our senior session, and Jan Blakey. Everyone evaluated every session and the
children’s feedback was positive. The usual Youth Clubs continued each evening and were offered the
same food as during the day; it was appreciated by the young people.
iv) Bowburn Primary School: A planning application will be put forward in the week of 28 May for a decision
in September. It is hoped that the new school will open after Easter 2021.
8. CORRESPONDENCE: Age concern – ‘Keeping safe and well’ an information road show with a free
lunch on Thursday 13 June 2019 in Bowburn Community Centre – book for lunch on 0191-374-6568.
Cllr McKeon said that these road shows, funded by the AAP, have been successful in other parts of our
area resulting in future lunches.
9. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA:
i) AAP Next Board Meeting: On Wednesday 24 April 2019, Durham County Council hosted an event to
recognise 10 years of the Area Action Partnerships. Each AAP nominated a project they had funded and
the winning project for the East Durham Rural Corridor AAP was awarded to Plastic Fantastic. The project
was delivered by Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialist and piloted in three schools. Children
spoke to older members of the community about life before single use plastic and were taught about the
impact it has on towns and villages in the area.
Next Meeting: 18 July starting at 5pm.
ii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP:
Cllr McKeon: Parkhill residents are concerned about the dust problems from the ‘bungalow’ development.
Cycle paths are to be created along the A167 as part of the Great North Cycleway; The Clarence Cycle
Route will add to the cycle route to Durham City; The state of the cycleway down Shincliffe Bank is to be
investigated. The Youth Offending team are reporting lower numbers of repeat offenders.
iii) PARISH: Report of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council Meeting, 17 April 2019
The Parish objected to the felling of an ash tree at Kirby’s Drive, as many trees in this area had already
been felled, and they were meant to be protected as part of the original planning application. Following
Jason Marsden’s resignation from the Parish, due to pressure of work, the vacancy in the East Ward had
been advertised. The due date for the Returning Officer to receive the requisite number of signatories to
call an election was 3 May. James Taylor of Lichfield and Partners was unfortunately unable to attend the
meeting. The revised allotment tenancy agreement had been circulated to Councillors for their comments.
The main amendments were about restrictions on certain chemicals and the requirement for “hedgehog
holes” in fences. It was suggested that gender-neutral terminology should be used in the document.
Report of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council Meeting, 15 May 2019
The due date for parishioners to request an election in the East Ward had now passed, and the Council
was able to co-opt a replacement member. County Councillor Maura McKeon was chosen as our new
member. James Taylor of Lichfield and Partners was unfortunately unable to attend the meeting.
Meetings: 19 June in Cassop Next Litter-pick: 1 June meet at 9.30am in the Community Centre car park.
Neighbourhood Plan: The Neighbourhood Plan had been passed to DCC for a “health check” before being
made available to the community for comment and feedback.
Coal Column: The result of the Coal Column consultation was now in, and Joanne Ashworth gave the
figures to the Parish: of 703 returned questionnaires, 635 respondents agreed the artwork should
commemorate the village’s mining heritage; 184 approved the Coal Column, but 510 did not. It was agreed
that several artists should be invited to suggest ideas, and the chosen project should be carried out with
input from local children and members of the public.
iv) QUARRY LIAISON 9 MAY: Sylvia and Richard attended the meeting
School Visits: Students from the university had been to study fossils but schools tend to visit larger
quarries. Enquiries were made to the Education department for schools to visit Quarrington which has a
number of interesting features not necessarily seen in the other quarries.
The “Blue Path”. The path that has been closed since the land was sold. Provisional dates were fixed at the
meeting to discuss an alternative route.
Dust from the quarry, particularly at Quarrington Hill may well get to OQ and cause problems. There have
been no official complaints so Council officers do not know about it so, if necessary, make an official
complaint to DCC and the quarry manager.
10. GROUP NOTICEBOARD:
i) Banner: Preparations are being made for the Eve of Gala night on 12 July and Gala Day on 13 July.
ii) BVC: Issue 91 will be delivered in June; send articles and photos as soon as possible.
Quiz night: Friday 17 May was a successful night with a small but interested group of quizzers.
The next quiz night is 26 July 2019 from 7.30pm in Crowtrees WM Club.
iii) History: The History Room is open on Wednesday’s between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
The Second Tuesday talk takes place at 7pm on Tuesday 11 June: Bill Armstrong ‘A pineapple church’.
11. AOB: It was confirmed that the Fun Day contractors each had an up-todate Public Liability Insurance.
12. NEXT TRUSTEES MEETING: 4 JUNE at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre
NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 18 JUNE at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre