General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 17 May 2022 from 6.00pm
PRESENT: M Bell, J Blackburn, R Cowen, A Dolan, M McKeon, G Parker, J Richardson, N Ridley, C Styles
1 APOLOGIES: J Blakey, G Hutchinson, B Ismael, D Ismael, S Raine
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: The minutes of 19 April were agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: 7ib) Richard has written a letter to planning: 7ii) The ‘memorial’ bench at Parkhill has not been cleared: 7viii) Fun Day is on the Agenda.
4. POLICE: Crime statistics for March 2022: Violence and Sexual Assault 20, Criminal Damage 9, Anti-social Behaviour 12; Other Theft 8; Vehicle Crime 4; public order 3; burglary, drugs, shoplifting 1 each.
Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC):
Nigel Bryson was kind enough to make a personal visit to the Partnership meeting.
He was asked if the Crime Figures from the Website were rolling over if there was no detection, or did the figures represent new crimes each month.
Nigel said that post Covid, with the opening of events, some figures had increased and others had decreased. Covid made domestic violence worse but overall, violence has lessened.
Durham has the highest conviction rate for rape at 16% so it has volunteered to be one of 4 forces to pilot Operation Soteria to switch the emphasis from the woman to the perpetrator and improve charging and prosecution rates. It is hoped to increase reporting, particularly women in an abusive relationship.
The Victims Service used to be commissioned but is now part of Durham Police which should give a better outcome to dealing with crime. Nigel did feel that the crime figures do reflect the number of reports.
Members asked if the Partnership could do anything as the figures are used as a benchmark against other communities; would the figures bring in more resources; there is a lack of confidence in the 101 number.
Funding has been awarded towards a Community Safety Initiative scheme to encourage drivers to acquire dashcams (Operation Snap) and residents to use doorbells with videos which, along with CCTV cameras, can piece together evidence.
Joy Allen, PCC, will be taking questions at a 101 Forum on 26 May. Those findings will be published.
The Partnership were concerned about a smallish car driving through the MW bridge railings when a survey has already been carried out for Integra61. Next to this railing is a footpath taking pedestrians across the MW roundabout; it is not protected from the traffic and if anyone had been on the path when the car had careered over it, they would have been seriously injured. Also, the Bradbury to Bowburn section of the MW is becoming an accident blackspot.
Nigel is concerned about railing safety and will enquire into the reasons why the barrier is not fit for purpose; the design of the roundabout footpath, and the volume of traffic in the area.
Before Nigel left Parkhill were concerned that the speed limit should be decreased to 30mph now that both sides of the road is built up.
Cllr Maura McKeon would like the support of Joy Allen, and informed that Michelle McIntosh knows about the ongoing situation to alter the speed limit and, if possible, acquire a Pelican Crossing in Parkhill.
It was stated we would like a further meeting together with the Parish Councils of Cassop cum Quarrington and Coxhoe where more detail on these issues could be discussed.
Nigel left the meeting at 7.00pm and was thanked for his attendance.
5. FINANCES:
i) TREASURER’S REPORT: Unrestricted income: £7.50 tea & raffle; £126.80 Fun Day stall. Unrestricted expenditure: £48 Room Hire.
Restricted income: £75 Table Hire; £200 Community Kitchen; £400 Ticket Sales. Restricted expenditure: £20 Poster Prize; Nobles Funfair Balance £1332; First Aid £200; Creepy Creatures £150.
Unrestricted Incomes total £924.06; Fun Day Fund carried forward £3 199.33; Total Balance £5 462.48.
ii) COOP LOCAL COMMUNITY FUND: End date for application 29 May. You can deliver a project that;
Brings people together to access food; * Helps improve people's mental wellbeing
Creates opportunities for young people to be heard and make a difference
Helps people protect local biodiversity or tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions
To find out more check the ‘How to discover more about the Local Community Fund’ page.
iii) QUIZ FOR FUNDRAISING: ‘Elements’ Quiz winners were C Garwes and C Chantler. New quiz is ‘Play the game’ for £1, to return by Saturday 13 August 2022
iv) TEA/RAFFLE PRIZE: M McKeon won the prize kindly donated by Richard Cowen.
19 June 2022 Maura McKeon to donate a prize for the raffle.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The AGM is to be held on 19 July followed by General Meeting – The committee is to stand down but is up for re-election.
8. LOCAL REPORTS:
i)PLANNING ISSUES AND UPDATES:
a) A letter of support for the solar array at Bowburn Services has been sent, but options are reserved for the illuminated sign shown in the drawings but not yet applied for.
b) A Highways consultation on widening roads from 4.8m to 5.5m has Partnership support. RICHARD
ii) PARKHILL: Possible locations in Parkhill were discussed for a defibrillator and Cllr Maura McKeon is investigating a possible piece of land. An application will be made to the Coop for funding.
iii) YOUTH CENTRE Joanne Eden: All clubs are well attended with the focus this term being health and wellbeing, alongside loneliness and mental health. A new Year 6 club is held on Tuesday and after 2 weeks is already very popular being described as ‘fantastic’.
The AAP has changed the criteria for the Holiday Clubs after the pandemic and they no longer fund packed lunches for all. The funding must go to Targeted Children (on free school meals). However the Youth club will provide funds for packed lunches for all over the May half term. An application will be made to the AAP to fund the Summer Holiday food and fun, again for Targeted Children, and the Youth Club will try to find alternative funding to provide packed lunches for all.
The gym remains busy in the evenings. Joanne’s knee surgery means that fitness classes are limited to
Pilates classes which are popular with both adults and young girls.
iv) SCHOOLS: a) Bowburn Primary School’s official open date is next week.
b) Former Junior School: Work has begun to make the grounds ready for a sports area and playground.
c) Former Infant Schools: Cllr Maura McKeon is keeping on contact with Assets so that Bowburn does not lose a much-needed asset.
v) ENVIRONMENT: a) Coxhoe Ponds Wildlife Area: No further information this month.
b) Leamside Line: The line has never been allocated to any other use and it would be hoped that at some future date it could be reinstated as a railway line.
vi) HIGHWAYS: a) Relief Road - the Levelling Up money will be known in July.
vii) FUN DAY: Youth Club report: The young people have been positive; they enjoyed the day with the climbing wall and creepy creatures being the most popular. The 10yrs to 15yrs said that the day and time was good as they were off school but they didn’t have a preference for the time of year.
Richard said that it was a very successful day, and James Taylor who opened the event was glad it was a success, and his family thoroughly enjoyed it.
9. CORRESPONDENCE: All sent by email.
10. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA:
i)EAST DURHAM RURAL CORRIDOR AAP: AGM and Board meeting is on 19 May at 5,00pm in Bowburn.
ii) BOUNDARY CHANGES: No further update.
iii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP by Cllr McKeon
The ‘Cape’ housing estate is not adopted by DCC is because Persimmon have not finished their works.
She has reported the tub in Durham Rd needs weeding; grass cutting in strips is not acceptable; trees need replacing in Tweddle Terrace. She has made enquiries about the Coxhoe ponds walkway. The outdoor rooms could be removed from the old school. She has made enquiries about the replacement Xmas Lights
iii) PARISH COUNCIL: 20th April 2022.
Gillian Kelly (Parish Clerk) had tested positive for Covid on the day of the meeting, so it was agreed to hold the meeting in her absence, with Sylvia Raine and Janet Blackburn making notes for the minutes.
Members were disappointed to hear that the Miner’s Lamp artwork might not be ready for “reveal” day, which had been hoped to happen on Big Meeting Day (July 9). n.b. this had now been put back following reservations by the Banner Group about the time pressure if the two events were held concurrently.
Members agreed to fund the Climbing Wall for Fun Day, as requested by BVC. This would be £675 + VAT. An invoice to the Parish Council would be necessary, so that we could re-claim the VAT.
Following an email from a resident of the Grange Estate, members were made aware that the roads on the estate were not all adopted by DCC as some of them are not yet up to DCC standards. Members agreed a) to contact DCC asking if the decision could be made asap, and b) to encourage residents to contact the builders of their own houses (at least 3 separate contractors) asking them to fulfil their obligations to provide highways to acceptable standards.
Allotment fencing repairs: one quotation received, and another one imminent. A Councillor mentioned a local contractor who was keen to offer a quotation and it was agreed to ask him to do so.
County Councillors reported that at a DCC meeting that day, about the Government’s levelling-up fund, the Bowburn Relief Road was mentioned as a part of one of four schemes in the County for which they would apply for funding.
Next Meeting 18 May 2022; then 15 June at Cassop from 6.30pm. Next Litter-pick T.B.A.
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: N. Beard may arrange a meeting in June to include a walkabout on the footpaths.
v) BVC: Articles and photos for Issue 98 should be submitted by 10 June to cover Jubilee celebrations.
vi) BANNER GROUP: The Gala Day route through Bowburn has been arranged from the memorial tub to the area of the mining artwork at the top of Mary Terrace.
vii) HISTORY GROUP: The AGM and members’ meeting saw an increased membership who discussed a series of talks on the history of the village. Next meeting 13 June from 7pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
11. AOB: None
12. NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 20 June 2022 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre