ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – Minutes
Bowburn & Parkhill Community partnership – Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 21 May 2019 from 6.00pm to 6.20pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, M McKeon, G Parker, S Raine, M Syer, S Walworth
1.Apologies: R Cowen, J Geyer, K Griffiths, J Richardson
2. Minutes of last Annual General Meeting 15 May 2018:
The minutes were approved by those present.
3. Chair’s Annual Report from April 2018 to March 2019:
Welcome to the 15th Annual General Meeting of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership, the Partnership.
• The County Durham Community Foundation (CDCF) awarded £3100 towards trees in Tweddle and
Mary Terrace. The Partnership added £600.00 from their Endowment Fund. The trees were planted
in March 2019. The Fund was increased by two donations last year of £300 and £1000.
• The Regeneration Pot contributed £684.09 to printing the History Book.
• The Cooperative Local Community Fund paid for the bird camera boxes for the Infant and Junior
Schools and Youth Club, and part funded the History Book.
• An application to the AAP funded a successful Summer holiday play scheme at the Youth Club
• We hold funds for The Fun Day, the Holiday Club and the Bowburn Opencast Action Group.
• The Partnership sponsored the ‘Bowburn’ seat in Redhills for £100.
• A ‘teardrop’ banner was bought from General Funds to advertise the Partnership.
• We have supported a weekly Credit Union Bank.
• The ‘Coal Column’, a potential piece of art for Bowburn, was handed over to the Parish Council.
• The air quality survey for Bowburn in 2017 recorded 31.1 μg/m3 compared with the national annual
mean air quality objective of 40 μg/m3.
Comments were made on the following planning related issues:
A list of Preferred Options for our area which included the Bowburn Industrial Estate Access Road
and Leamside Line.
Integra 61 continued to send representatives to the Partnership until March 2019 when they agreed
to make updates to the Parish Council. We commented on certain design issues, including the
design of the new large building and the path from the housing estate to Bowburn.
The Partnership were pleased that DCC agreed that the lane markings from Durham Road onto the
roundabout will be: Left-Hand lane MW north & Peterlee, Middle lane Coxhoe, and Right-Hand lane
MW south & Spennymoor.
The Partnership were successful with a proposal at Durham Services to make the exit a Left-Hand
turn only when a roundabout is constructed on the A688 and there will be restrictions on R Hand
turns at other junctions with the A688 as the road works are completed.
Concern was expressed about a proposed barn conversion at Old Quarrington; the planning
application has not yet been determined.
The Partnership was pleased with plans for the new Primary School but disappointed to find that DCC
did not have the agreement of CISWO for an entrance into the site which has delayed the scheme by
one year.
We continue to encourage Highways England and DCC to complete a footpath from Hillcrest housing
to the A177.
We continue to engage in the Parkhill development and comment on the nature reserve.
Ogden’s renewal application for a supermarket was not opposed but a comment was added to
integrate traffic lights at the entrance and make an access from the Relief Road to the shop.
Although the proposed Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared by the Parish Council, members of the
Partnership have contributed to it
The Partnership is grateful for information from the County Councillors, the AAP and the Parish Council; the
police PACT reports plus advice and support of Durham County Council officers, and reports that are also
received from local interest groups which the Partnership then circulates to the area of benefit.
I would like to thank the Trustees and members who consistently and conscientiously attended meetings
throughout the year. We would welcome new members to come forward during this next year
In the future the Partnership will continue to spend the Regeneration Pot on the sympathetic 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 and its residents.
4i. Statement of Financial Affairs:
Donna Paget examined the accounts and, in a written report, found them to be accurate.
The treasurer presented a report on the 2018 / 2019 accounts which showed that funds had increased from
£7000.19 to £10 694.24. of which £9283.60 was restricted. Unrestricted funds had had decreased from
£1685.23 to £1410.04, after income from tea/raffle, quizzes and Fun Day of £445.02 and expenditure of
£719.61 on room rental, affiliation, quiz prizes, admin, insurance, advertising banner flag, Pitman’s Parliament
seat token etc.
The finances were approved unanimously by those present.
All members thanked Mike Syer for the work he has done as treasurer of the Partnership.
4ii. Independent examiner for 2018 / 2019:
It was agreed to approach Donna Paget to be the independent examiner for 2019 / 2020
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: Janet Blackburn - temporarily
6. Election of Trustees: The following members were elected as trustees:
Malcom Bell, Joyce Geyer, M McKeon, G Parker, S Raine, J Richardson, M Syer