General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 15 February 2022 from 6.00pm
PRESENT: M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen, M McKeon G Parker, C Styles, J Richardson
1 APOLOGIES: J Blakey, A Dolan, G Hutchinson, S Raine
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: The minutes of 18 January were agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: A joint meeting to discuss S106 monies.
It was suggested that the joint meeting be arranged to agree potential schemes for the Parish, taking account of quality ideas from other areas in the County, and forward planning in the whole of the Parish including areas where no development has taken place.
The Council Development officer may be able to assist with this and let the community know about any time limits or other restrictions attached to any Section 106 moneys. The sums could be substantial and the purpose of such a meeting would be to have a constructive method to determine how such moneys should be spent in the Parish rather than rushing into decisions on an ad hoc basis.
Cllr McKeon mentioned that a scheme had been agreed to upgrade the play area in Cassop. There was concern that neither the Partnership nor the Parish Council had had any say in this, but Cllr McKeon explained that the matter had become urgent as there was a danger that money would have to be returned to the developer.
At this meeting it was agreed to: Ask the Parish to take the lead; Request S Reed (Development officer for DCC) attends the joint meeting; Ask for suggestions in the Bowburn Interchange. JANET
Mary Foy MP may come to an extraordinary meeting in January to discuss the Leamside Line.
This meeting was informed that the MP has been on bereavement leave.
It was noted that the Government had not approved this development because of the high cost involved but that MPs, local politicians and business leaders had appeared on television to say they were trying to persuade the government to change its mind.
Cllr McKeon will attempt to arrange a meeting with the MP.
4. POLICE: Crime for December:
Parkhill 4; Crowtrees Lane 3; Clarence St 3; A177 2; Dallymore Drive 2.
5. FINANCES:
i) TREASURER’S REPORT: Finances total £4,814.68; £5,114.98 has been paid for trees at Parkhill, leaving £4065.42 in restricted funds. £111.90 Insurance and £32 Room Hire has been paid, and £10 tea money received leaving £749.26 in unrestricted funds.
ii) QUIZ FOR FUNDRAISING: Winners of the ‘Senses’ quiz were J Mitchell and J Brinkworth
New quiz is ‘In one’s element’ for £1, to return by Saturday 14 May 2022
iii) TEA / RAFFLE PRIZE: Mal Bell won the raffle prizes kindly donated by J Richardson.
15 March 2022 Mal Bell to donate a prize for the raffle.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None
7. LOCAL REPORTS:
i)PLANNING ISSUES AND UPDATES:
a) Storage area at John Hare’s Wood: The application has been approved.
Noted, this may mean that, if only one exit is provided from the Bowburn Industrial Estates Relief Road, if constructed, it may not be possible for both the North and south estates to access it.
b) Bus Stop Crowtrees Lane:
Parked cars would be displaced if the bus stop was positioned at the former bakery. If the bus stand moved down the C12a it would be unsafe as it would be too near the ‘school’ bend, although a member questioned this as the current bus stop is right on the junction with Durham Road.
c) Tursdale Lay-by:
The barriers have been erected but will not be closed until lit signage is in position.
d) Solar panels on the roof of the Amazon building:
Agreed to support this application because the roof seems to be the correct place to install the solar panels rather than taking up ground space. RICHARD
e) Bellway Homes on land at Integra 61:
The Partnership and Parish held a joint meeting with Bellway Homes on 8 February to discuss the planning application for 100 homes. It had been agreed to discuss:
A play area. Reply: Residents will have access to the play area on the Persimmon site.
Adequate driveway space/parking for vehicles. Reply: Drives are to DCC regulations of 5.5m with roller door shutters on the garages; some drives will be slightly longer at 6m.
Promote low carbon economy. Reply: Approximately 60 solar panels will be installed which will achieve 10% carbon reduction in accordance with The Durham Plan. All residents will receive a Travel Plan.
Provision for electric car charging points. Reply: Trunking will be installed so that charging points can be fitted at the discretion of the homeowners. Integra 61 will have quick charge hubs that are available.
Timeframe for the completion of the broader footpath and cycling network on the Integra 61 site. Reply: Footpath 10 is planned to detour off the ‘main road’ through the estate; this will be discussed at the Parish meeting on 16 February.
Could the SUDS swale be used as a green footpath. Reply: It is not encouraged because the area would overlook the housing estate unless a fence was constructed which would interrupt the beck corridor to form a natural watercourse.
What type of plants will be in the SuDS area. Reply: These were in the process of being updated with additional and improved planting throughout the scheme in discussion with DCC officers.
Can further information be provided on the plans for screening the development from the motorway. Reply: An acoustic fence would be installed which would step up in height closer to Integra 61. It was suggested that the sheds themselves would act as a screen to the noise and these houses will be some distance from the MW.
ii) PARKHILL: a) Once the green dries out, the bushes that have been uprooted from the children’s play area will be removed. New play park plans will be discussed with DCC.
A traffic survey has been done but there are no plans yet to reduce the speed limit in Parkhill.
iii) YOUTH CENTRE by Joanne Eden: Youth Clubs are all running and very busy. After a spate of fires deliberately lit in the community, staff have worked across all sessions to raise awareness of community cohesion focusing on the dangers of fire and the consequences of lighting fires.
AAP funding has been secured for half term to offer hot lunches to all Children and Young People from Monday to Friday. There is additional funding to buy activities to offer with the lunches.
The Gym continues to be popular particularly in the evening and is now open on Saturdays 5-7pm.
iv) SCHOOLS: a) Bowburn Primary School – no update this month
b) Former Junior School: The old building is demolished, and the ground is cleared in preparation for the sports area.
c) Former Infant Schools: Believe and Karbon Homes are in discussion about the grounds of the school.
There are talks around the school building being opened as a special needs school.
vi) ENVIRONMENT: a) Trees at Parkhill: A variety of trees will be planted at the front of the estate by the end of the month.
b) Fence in Coxhoe Ponds Wildlife Area: No update
c) Motorway underpass ‘feature mural’: Awaiting information from Cllr Hutchinson.
d) Leamside Line: See above. Cllr McKeon gave an update on the support for the railway line both in Durham and the wider region.
vii) HIGHWAYS: a) Relief Road – Cllr McKeon gave an update on the options for the Levelling Up money which are The Relief Road, Culture in Claypath, and Belmont Bridge upgrade. It was anticipated that an application would be made that would link these schemes.
b) MW railings: A member enquired about the railings on the bridges over the motorway, because of an accident where a car had gone through them and landed on the central reservation of the motorway.
As improvements had been carried out to cater for much more heavy traffic visiting Integra 61, it was asked if any consideration had been given to the standard of these railings and whether they were now suitable or in a satisfactory state of repair.
Cllr McKeon suggested a meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner where this and other traffic matters in the area could be discussed. It was suggested that such a meeting should be with both Cassop cum Quarrington and Coxhoe Parish Councils. JANET
8. CORRESPONDENCE: All sent via email
9. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA:
i)EAST DURHAM RURAL CORRIDOR AAP: Allan Blakemore, AAP Chair; Gordon Elliott, DCC gave a presentation on the 2022/23 County Council Revenue Budget Consultation; The Board approved the following AAP Area Budget projects - Bowburn Community Centre – New Chairs; Bowburn Youth Club – Bowburn Fitness Project; Trimdon Grange Community Centre – Centre Developing
The Board approved the following Holiday Activities with Healthy Food for February Half Term 2022 -
Rose Cottage Community Cafe, Bowburn Youth Project, Fishburn Youth and Community Centre, Trimdon Grange Community Centre, Investing in Children, Deaf Hill Ward Regeneration Partnership
Alice Evans – OASES delivered an update on the Plastic Fantastic 2 Project.
Lynne Watson – Fishburn Youth and Community Centre gave an overall report on the impact the AAP has had on their services.
A Neighbourhood budget project was approved for Cassop Boiler, Pipes & Radiator Replacement by Cllrs Blakey and Hutchinson of £2000 each.
Members of the public are being invited to apply to become a public representative; for an application pack via email eastdurhamruralaap@durham.gov.uk or call 03000 261128.
Neighbourhood Insp Sarah Honeyman provided an update on local policing issues.
There is a Task Group meeting on 17 March at 10.00am.
The next meeting is 30 March at 9.30am via Teams.
ii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP: See reports above
iii) Cassop cum Quarrington PARISH:
The Finance and Forward Planning Committee met on 12 January, and proposed various minor budget provisions, but decided that considering other pressures on household budgets in 2022/3 there should be no increase in the annual Parish Precept this coming year, which was agreed at the full meeting.
A Councillor had resigned from the Parish, having moved out of the village. There was no request for an election during the statutory period so the Council could co-opt a replacement. This brought the number of vacancies to four, but two people had so far expressed an interest in joining the Parish. These people would be invited to attend the next meeting, with a view to them being appointed as Parish Councillors.
Councillors reported that the steps to the Leamside Line had deteriorated and needed repair; and the path between the end of the cemetery road and the A688 was in a dangerous condition and required clearing. Cllr McKeon agreed to follow up the Leamside Line steps issue, which was already on a programme of works pending, and the Clerk agreed to make enquiries as to who was responsible for the link path between the BT substation and the A688.
Next Meeting 16 February 2022. Next Litter-pick T.B.A.
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: There is an application pending to extend the life of the quarry. A pre-application consultation is on the website from 14 February.
The next meeting is in March
Coxhoe Ponds Wildlife Site – There has been no response.
v) BVC: Interchange 97 – send articles and photos to Janet by Friday 25 February.
vi) BANNER GROUP: The refurbishment of Redhills is going well. The seating is being removed ready to install the underfloor heating. Nick Malyan is the new Chief Executive of Redhills.
vii) HISTORY GROUP:
Future events include: 14 March Mike Syer ‘Fatal accidents at Bowburn colliery’; 11 April Jack Turton ‘Winterton hospital’; 9 May AGM followed by a members’ meeting.
10. AOB: None
11. NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 15 March 2022 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre