General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 21 January 2020 From 6.00pm
PRESENT: M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen, J Fuller, J Geyer, M McKeon, G Parker, S Raine, J Richardson
In Attendance: Cllr Dunn Apologies: D Paget
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate
3. SECURITY: Police: Bowburn, Cassop, Shincliffe, High Shincliffe
All crime and ASB 67: Bicycle theft 8; Burglary 4; Criminal damage and arson 5; Drugs 1; Other crime 1;
Other theft 6; Public order 1; Shoplifting 5; Vehicle crime 10; Violence and sexual offences 24
Go to www.police.uk website, enter your postcode to provide details of specific crimes.
PACT meeting Wednesday 12 February at 7.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre
The new PCSO for our area is Ashley Boardman who replaces Steph Clarke as she takes up her training
as a police officer. If any residents have any information or anything to report, contact Ashley via the email
Ashley.Boardman@durham.pnn.police.uk or contact 101; or 999 in an emergency.
ii) Speedwatch: Cllrs Dunn and McKeon to co-ordinate a timetable in the next three weeks COUNCILLRS
4. MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 19 November 2019 agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: Thanks to Jackie, who contacted Slimming World, both advertising boards at the new
Coop have been removed and relocated.
Coop Community Fund: Up to date, the Coop has raised £460.18 for trees in Bowburn.
Parkhill trees: Agreed to carry out a consultation of householders in the front street of Park Avenue to plant
trees in the green adjacent to the B6291.
Tree felling applications in Kirby’s Drive: The felling of a sycamore tree was refused, but the felling of the
oak tree was approved.
5. FINANCES: i) Treasurer’s report: Income: Tea & Raffle £7, Quiz £61, DCC Xmas Lights £12,720.90
Expenditure: Quiz prizes £30; Royal British Legion £20; CcQ Parish Xmas Lights £4834.80; Eukhost
website annual fee £11.99.
Summary: Total funds £13,770.00 of which Unrestricted funds £1,135.66
ii) Raffle: J Fuller won the raffle kindly donated by M Bell. J Blackburn will donate the next prize. JANET
iii) Quiz: New quiz ‘Tis the season to be jolly’ £1 per copy, return by Saturday 15 February 2020.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Scarlet Band bus service 58; BW 36.
7. LOCAL REPORTS:
i) PLANNING: The Durham Plan: There will be one more session on Housing Allocation
There is an Action Point on developing unallocated sites in settlements which has led to a modification of
Policy 6. This may mean some development is permissible outside settlement boundaries unless they are
specified in a Neighbourhood Plan. While the CcQ Plan does not define settlement boundaries, in view of
various caveats it is not considered this will be a major issue here. Richard to respond after consultation
with Shaun Hanson.
Although the Industrial Highway is included in the Plan it has only shown one access into the industrial
estates. Richard has referred to this in previous statements and mentioned that the only possible access
between the two estates would be through part of John Hare’s Wood, which is proposed to be an Open
Space in the Neighbourhood Plan. At present, this is not subject to any Action Point made by the Inspector.
Cllr Dunn has spoken to relevant officers in DCC to ask for the current position on this matter.
Integra electric cabinet is oversized but there were no objections as it is on site.
Signage alongside Bridleway 36: At the trustees’ meeting Richard reported that James Taylor explained
that the insurers had advised Integra to put up the ‘No trespassing’ signs to prevent anti-social behaviour
which had been detected in the woods off BW 36. For the moment Integra are taking a relaxed approach to
the situation and are unlikely to challenge anyone unless they find further evidence of misuse.
The trustees were happy with the position of Integra.
Parkhill site Nature Trail: Karl Henderson in correspondence to Cllr Dunn noted that ‘I (KH) personally
haven’t contacted anyone; I have only relayed what we would like to do back to our office. If you could point
me in the right direction, I’m more than happy to start talks myself, or alongside you’.
Cllr Dunn said that he offered to help but there had been no approach from Karl.
Agreed to keep in contact with Karl about the podiums. JANET
OQ Barn: A decision is still not determined because of an impasse relating to passing places, which cannot
be constructed without permission from the owner. Richard also mentioned that one of the passing places
could lead to intrusion onto his and a neighbour’s property and they were unlikely to grant permission. Cllr
McKeon mentioned that if the officer is proposing to approve the application under delegated powers, it will
be called in for a committee decision and site visit.
Bow Street garage: There were no objections to a garage being built on the land attached to the gable end
of the house.
Grangeway enclosed land: An open space adjacent to the garden has been included within it.
Richard commented that there should be no undue concern, but the loss of open space needs to be kept in
mind for a possible policy. RICHARD
Cllr Dunn is to consult with residents in the area of Newburn Avenue about parking spaces on the grassed
area opposite. There was concern that these grassed areas are useful sites for children to play on and this
should not in principle be lost. He suggested covering part of the grass with mesh where parking could take
place which was agreed in principle if that is what residents want.
ii) Community Centre: Next meeting Tuesday 28 January; start time 6.30pm
iii) Youth Centre: All Youth Clubs are very busy as expected at this time of year. A kids’ fitness session will
start on Wednesday’s at the end of January. Katie Bell, one of the Young Volunteers will join the staff for
Year 6 Youth Session. There is an increase in the number of 16&17-year-olds joining the Gym with regular
attendance. The Children’s Christmas party was well organised by the Older Young People. All Youth Club
members had a Christmas event of their choice. Both the air con and heating have made a massive
difference to the use of the sports hall. The Youth Club will work in partnership with local Schools and
Colleges with three Young People doing their work experience in the Youth Club and Community Gym.
iv) Bowburn Primary School: The school is on track for opening at Easter 2021. A contractor should be
announced soon for work to start in March 2020.
Cllr Dunn has forwarded our request for DCC to route the site traffic for the new school via the A688.
8. CORRESPONDENCE: Updated by email
DCA: Link to Wonderful Villages Photo Comp relating to Community Centres and their users.
DCA: Diversifying your income; Alternative income sources to grant funding.
9. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA:
1.AAP: Next meeting 27 January 2020 St Alban’s Church Hall, Trimdon Grange when Durham bus station,
Police Council Tax Precept for 2020/21 and an update on Primary Care Networks will be discussed.
ii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP: Cllr Dunn: The widening of the A688 has caused problems with
Northumbrian Water which will extend the works to April. A safe route to school will be created via the track
from the A688 to the Old Quarrington road; the path will be upgraded. Acoustic fencing at Hill Top View is
still being considered. Cladding on the large shed at Integra should be finished by the end of January. The
contractor has stored the Xmas lights in a container at Ferryhill at no extra cost.
Cllr McKeon: Martin Briscoe is to check on any issues that might affect the possible dog poo bin at Old
Quarrington, at the moment there are none in stock. He will also check the overgrown shrubbery at the
library, and a pile of soil at the unofficial opening in the fence on the Old Quarrington road by the A688
bridge.
iii) PARISH: Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council meetings on 20 November 2019: Shaun Hanson
gave an update on the Neighbourhood Plan. DCC recommended that policies 5 & 6 should be merged and
modified to cover aspects of design, including environmental issues. The NP Group agreed and following
the changes the consultation period could begin towards the end of February and finish around Easter.
George Storey of Cassop expressed an interest in the vacancy on the Parish Council. After addressing the
meeting, it was agreed that Mr Storey should be co-opted onto the Parish Council. He was especially
welcome as a resident of Cassop, currently not represented on the Parish. Cllrs Raine & Blackburn carried
out a survey of Hill Top View residents, regarding the proposed footpath linking the development to the
A177. Views from 60%+ of the residents made it clear that the footpath was not wanted, indeed actively
opposed, with a petition against it being submitted to the Parish Clerk; the construction of the footpath
would no longer be pursued by the Parish. A letter stating this was written from the Parish, and Cllr
Blackburn delivered a copy to every house on Hill Top View.
18 December 2019: Christmas lights were installed in Bowburn, with the costs for installation and storage
covered by the Parish. However, the invoice did not mention storage and there was confusion about
whether this was covered. County Cllr. Dunn agreed to contact the contractor who had installed the lights to
see if he could also provide storage (see above). There had been concern about the excessive light
pollution from the Integra 61construction; it was hoped that this would not continue after the building phase.
Cllr Dunn asked the Parish to raise the matter with DCC if excessive light continued after the construction
phase, as DCC is keen to limit excessive energy use and light pollution. Following a fire on an allotment, a
new fence was erected, but a member of the Litter-pickers group noticed there was still a lot of rubbish in
the area, and the fence appeared to be in the wrong position. The Allotment Superintendent agreed to look
into the matter.
15 January 2020: Members were sorry to hear that owing to his continuing illness Cllr Salisbury was
unlikely to be able to continue his work with the NP for some time. Richard Cowen agreed to take over the
work until Cllr Salisbury is fully recovered, despite not being a member of the Parish (though he has been a
member of the NP group and is familiar with the issues involved). Members agreed with this and expressed
their thanks to Richard. Following a meeting of the Finance & Forward Planning sub-committee, the Parish
recommendations included an increase in the provision for Parish Youth Work, partially because of the
forthcoming increase in minimum wage. The Council agreed to request a small increase in Precept
Demand for the next financial year in order to pay for this. Cllr Shutt reported that the allotment fence
rebuilt after the fire had indeed been put inside the existing boundary. Discussion took place about how to
deal with this and suggestions included a new hedgerow. This would necessitate clearing the area
beforehand. Further investigation into this possibility to take place.
Neighbourhood Plan: See above for Richard’s involvement in the NP. Shaun Hanson is to complete the
Environment section for the final chapter. The new National Design Guide covers energy including
materials and construction techniques, so Shaun is working on aesthetic issues.
(See also the comments relating to the Durham Plan, item 7(i) above.)
Next meeting: Bowburn Community Centre 19 February Bowburn Community Centre from 6.30pm.
Litter pick: Saturday 1 February – meet at 9.30am in the car park of the Community Centre
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: Dust suppression on the access road at the entrance to the quarry has improved
but Richard mentioned he had personally stated that he considered this should be a condition in the current
applications for new, varied permission.
The Council has proposed an alternative bridleway through the nature reserve which satisfactorily solves
the safety issues that had been identified, particularly for horse riders using the bridlepath below Cold
Knuckles Quarry.
10. GROUP NOTICEBOARD:
i) Banner: Nothing to report this month
ii) BVC: Deliverers found Issue 93 light and easier to deliver. Issue 94 is being prepared and articles plus
photos should be sent to interchangebowburn@gmail.com
Quiz night: The next quiz night is 7 February from 7.30pm in Crowtrees WM Club.
iii) History: 2nd Tuesday talks in Bowburn Community Centre at 7.00pm, for £3.00 begin 10 March. An
interesting selection of speakers will be on offer throughout 2020.
The History Room is open on Wednesday’s between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
11. AOB: Discussion took place about the new Arriva service 57 which has replaced the Scarlet Band
service 58.
Complaints from the Walkers Group concerning deep mud on BW36 were passed on to Councillors.
12. NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 18 February 2020 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre