Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership – Charity Number 1112151
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday 19 July 2022 from 6.00pm
Present: J Blackburn, R Cowen, A Dolan G Parker, S Raine
1.Apologies: M Bell, M McKeon, J Richardson
2. Chair’s Annual Report from April 2021 to March 2022:
Welcome to the 16th AGM of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership.
Along with the whole of the country, 2020 turned out to be a very different year for the Partnership. Conventional meetings were held in January and February, there was then a break until December 2020 when members held virtual meetings via Zoom every second month until July 2021, which saw the return to monthly meetings in Bowburn Community Centre. In August 2021 the Partnership was pleased to see the return of members from Parkhill; new faces, and a welcome boost to the membership.
The Partnership has forged links with the Parish Council to increase support for areas of concern to the village. One such meeting met with Bellway Homes to discuss their housing development. We hope to have future joint meetings with Durham County Council about the spending of Section106 monies, and the Police Crime Commissioner about crime in general and the motorway roundabout.
The Partnership have made critical comments on planning applications which include adding cycling and walking provision to the Integra 61 complex; a concern when developers increase the number of houses after planning permission has been granted; a time limit on the illuminated sign at Cochrane’s Funeral parlour of 8am to 10pm. A request to move the bus stand at the Coop on Crowtrees Lane was not taken forward by the County Council as only the Partnership had objected. Members have huge concerns about the state of the old Coop building but lack of funds means that nothing has been done.
The MP, Mary Foy, was contacted for her support to open the Leamside Line railway line and stress the need for a station in Bowburn. The Partnership strongly supports saving the two original buildings of the former Bowburn Infant School from demolition as mentioned in the Neighbourhood Plan. The Partnership was also represented when ITV had a feature on Local Green Spaces, also provided in the Neighbourhood Plan It is hoped that a Bowburn Industrial Relief Road, supported by the Partnership, will receive the necessary funding this year. Support was given to the Miner’s Lamp, Art Project which has been installed in Mary Terrace. A successful Co-op Community grant has been used to plant trees at Tursdale and Parkhill.
The Partnership is grateful to:
Our locally elected County Councillors who regularly attend Partnership meetings; information from the East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership and the Parish Council.
The information on the police website
The advice and support of Durham County Council officers.
Reports from local interest groups to keep the Partnership up to date on issues in our area.
Thank you to all the members who support Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership to improve the lives and surroundings of Bowburn and Parkhill.
3i. Statement of Financial Affairs:
Julie Gray examined the accounts and found them to be accurate.
Unrestricted funds: Unlike last year, we did meet in person therefore banked a total of £48 in tea and raffle income. Once again, the main source of income was generated by the quizzes which raised £338 in total.
We spent on Tea & Raffle £48, (We decided to return to paying out a second prize for the quiz at the reduced amount of £5 with first prize remaining at £10. One generous prize winner returned their £10) and we paid out a total of £45 in Quiz Prizes, Room Hire £112, Royal British Legion donation £20, ZOOM one third share £38.38, Public Liability Insurance £111.90.
Total Unrestricted Income was £386, and Total Unrestricted Expenditure was £327.28 giving a small increase of £58.72 in unrestricted income, as opposed to the deficit in 2020-2021.
Restricted funds: There was a donation from Integra 61 of £1,000 for Fun Day.
A returnable deposit was paid to Noble Brothers for the Fun Day of £168; The Primary School received the final monies for the Bird Boxes of £48.70; and Parkhill Trees costing £5,114.98 was paid to DCC.
Total Restricted Income was £1,000.00, and Total Restricted Expenditure was £5,331.68.
The finances were approved by those present.
Partnership grant-making fund
The investment fund amounts to £13,641.82 but it is hoped to build it up to £25,000. This amount would make grants available to local causes in the Bowburn area. County Durham Community Foundation (CDFC) handles many funds to make grants available to causes in County Durham. However, the Partnership fund is believed to be the first fund in CDFC that is only available for projects in the Bowburn area.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Bowburn & Parkhill Community Fund, whether from sponsorship and fundraising efforts, or from bequests in their wills, or by straight donations, can send them to CDCF, Suite 1, Victoria House, 2 Whitfield Court, St John’s Road, Meadowfield, Durham, DH7 8XL. Gift Aid can be claimed if someone, who pays income tax, makes donations. That means that the Fund receives £12 for every £10 donated.
Endowment Investment Statement
Date
Description
Debit
Credit
Balance
01/01/2022
Endowment opening balance
£14,888.82
31/03/2022
Investment loss
£678.66
£14,210.16
31/03/2022
Transfer to B&PCP Grants Fund
£568.34
31/03/2022
Endowment Closing Balance
£13,641.82
Revenue Grant Statement
Date
Description
Debit
Credit
Balance
01/01/2022
Revenue opening balance
£1,100.55
31/03/2022
Transfer from B&PCP Endowment Fund
£568.34
£1,668.89
31/03/2022
Revenue Closing Balance
£1,668.89
3ii. Independent examiner for 2022/2023:
It was agreed to approach Julie Gray to be the independent examiner for 2022 / 2023
4. 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: Jackie Richardson
6. Election of Trustees: The following members were elected as trustees:
M Bell, A Dolan, M McKeon, G Parker
General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 19 July 2022 from 6.00pm
PRESENT: J Blackburn, R Cowen, A Dolan, G Parker, S Raine
1 APOLOGIES: M Bell, J Blakey, G Hutchinson, B Ismail, D Ismail, M McKeon, J Richardson N Ridley, C Styles
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: The minutes of 21 June were agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: 7ib) Richard wrote to planning on the reserved matters for Integra re cycle provision, solar panels and bio diversity.
Richard wrote to stress the need for a station in Bowburn for the Leamside Line.
Janet reported that the saplings have been re-tied in Mary Terrace.
RICHARD will reinforce the argument to preserve the façade of the former Infant School.
JANET will discuss with the organiser of the Summer Fair if it should be linked with the Fun Day
4. POLICE: Crime stats for May 2022: 54 crimes reported; Crime locations are within a 1-mile radius of Durham Road. Violence &Sexual Behaviour 23; Criminal Damage & Arson 7; ASB 6; shoplifting 5; Other theft 4; Public; Drugs 3; Order 3; Vehicle 2; Burglary 1
Richard had asked the AAP for a response to the fires in the Bowburn area. Marie Ainscough replied that the new Fire rep on the Board, Dave Tempest, has informed that they are aware of the incidents and there is currently work going on with the community action team in the area alongside the fire crews.
Richard attended the beginning of the AAP meeting tonight and Inspector Honeyman, the Police rep on the Board, explained that in the Newton Aycliffe area a camera scheme has reduced crime.
Members felt that a camera scheme was a positive step.
Another member was surprised that known criminals were not charged or held by the police.
Richard said that a possible culprit could be cautioned or entitled to bail, however, there was a penalty if a person was cautioned - the crime is on record.
Richard felt that this was another question to put to PCC Joy Allen.
5. FINANCES:
i) TREASURER’S REPORT: Unrestricted income: £5.50 tea & raffle (21 June); £12 annual tea & raffle money from Nicola Ridley.
Unrestricted expenditure: £30 to examine accounts
ii) QUIZ FOR FUNDRAISING: New quiz is ‘Play the game’ for £1, to return by Saturday 13 August 2022
iii) TEA/RAFFLE PRIZE: A Dolan won 1st prize and J Blackburn 2nd prize kindly donated by Sylvia Raine
16 August 2022 Jackie Richardson to donate a prize for the raffle.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: i) Old Quarrington and Parkhill stink ii) Grants
7. LOCAL REPORTS:
i)PLANNING ISSUES AND UPDATES:
a) The Partnership supports the mock helipad in the Fire Training Centre, but are concerned that the footpath adjacent to the site is in fact a bridleway, and if helicopters are used that could cause problems for horse-riders on the bridleway. With safety in mind, the Partnership suggests that a notice should be placed at each end of the bridleway to inform riders of the situation. RICHARD
ii) PARKHILL: The small park is cleared and drained ready for plans to be drawn up for a play area.
Nicola is getting prices for the noticeboard.
iii) YOUTH CENTRE: All youth clubs continue to be well attended; with the nice weather we have been doing lots of sports and activities outside in the yard. Young people did a fantastic job carrying the Children's Banner through the village on big meeting day. Two Young People are currently doing work experience and there were two last week, all from Belmont School. They have been working some mornings in the Gym and evenings in the Youth clubs and Gym. We have a Young Person ending her work placement from New College Durham; she has been a great support to the Youth Club in the last few months. We have secured AAP funding to have Kids’ Clubs during the day in the Summer Holiday in the first two weeks and the last two weeks of the school summer holidays with Children from School Years 3,4 & 5, as well as the regular Youth Clubs running on an evening. In addition, we will also be giving packed lunches on the same days for all Young People. The Gym continues to run smoothly with our dedicated Volunteers and fitness classes are still running with most classes full each week.
iv) SCHOOLS: No report this month
v) ENVIRONMENT: a) It is hoped that the Coxhoe Ponds is managed in accordance with the plans for the estate RICHARD
vi) TRANSPORT LINKS: a) Relief Road - the Levelling Up money will be known later in July.
b) Leamside Line: Richard met David Taylor-Gooby, of the North East Combined Authorities who may have some influence and appeared to have an interest in the Leamside Line, and sent him the letter, dated December 2020, from the Partnership to Transport North East concerning a station in Bowburn. Mr Taylor-Gooby has now sent the letter to Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director of Transport North East.
vi) HIGHWAYS: a) Relief Road - the Levelling Up money will be known later in July.
viii) UKRAINE: Two families are coming to live in Old Quarrington. Martin Ridley, Chair of the Community Centre has offered the Centre as a reception centre.
8. CORRESPONDENCE: All sent by email.
9. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA: i)EAST DURHAM RURAL CORRIDOR AAP: 19 July
Allan Blakemore chaired the meeting.
New Board members - Cllr Dowson from Fishburn Parish Council; M Readman, Head of Highways; and D Tempest, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, and J Wood, Principal Consultant from ERS who are leading on the Community Engagement Review.
J Wood, Principal Consultant, ERS delivered a presentation on the Community Engagement Review.
Once the review is complete, the recommendations and options will be consulted on, and the final report and implementation plan will go to Cabinet in December 2022.
Neighbourhood Insp Sarah Honeyman provided an update on local policing issues.
Board members agreed funding of £17,395.84 towards The Cornforth Partnership – Youth Links project from last year’s Area Budget, however due to price increases following Covid, the costs had risen to £21,395.04. The Board agreed in principle to approve this project, subject to a further Board members agreement via email as the meeting was not quorate.
A video on the Easter 2022 Fun and Food Scheme was shared with the meeting.
The Fun and Food project call out for October Half Term 2022 was launched on 18 July 2022. The deadline for completed applications and supporting documents is 12 noon on 7 September.
S Dunn (Public representative) delivered a presentation on projects delivered within Coxhoe Village Hall
In the absence of Angela Stobbart (Believe Housing), Jane Bellis gave a brief update from the County Durham Partnership Forum meeting held on 17 June
● There is a vacancy for a public representative on the East Durham Rural Corridor AAP Board. For an application pack or for further information, please email eastdurhamruralaap@durham.gov.uk
● The following Neighbourhood Budget project; was shared with the Board -
Name of Scheme: Sedgefield Rugby Club Scoreboard; Councillor(s): Chris Lines / David Brown
Interest Declared: No; Amount: £2,000.00; The Board was happy for this project to go ahead.
● Date and time of next meeting - Tuesday 27 September 2022, 5.00 pm - venue to be confirmed.
Richard attended the start of the AAP meeting tonight and reported that there is to be a consultation on the AAPs. The Partnership may wish to respond when more details are known.
iii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP: The councillors were attending another meeting this evening.
iii) PARISH COUNCIL: The report for June was given last month.
As Sylvia retired from organising the Litter-pick she was thanked for all her efforts.
The next Parish meeting is 17 August at 6.30pm in Cassop Community Centre.
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: Richard will prompt Neil Beard about a meeting to check the steepness of the path to Quarrington Hill.
10. GROUP NOTICEBOARD:
i) BANNER GROUP: The Big Meeting was very successful. The parade in Bowburn took 3 banners to the Miners’ Tub where the Kippex Band played Gressford before marching to the newly installed Miners’ Lamp at the top of Mary Terrace. It was estimated that 200,000 people attended the Big Meeting in Durham.
ii) BVC: Interchange 98: Huge thanks were given to Nicola who delivered papers to Hampton Park and Parkhill Estate in one evening; a large number of papers could be split to make them easier to pick up from the Community Centre; The papers were heavier than normal because they were 24 rather than 16 pages. Interchange 99: Please send articles and photos by the end of July.
vii) HISTORY GROUP: At the meeting on 18 July there was a talk and discussion about Bowburn Schools.
It is hoped to get a visualiser to view photos. The next meeting and talk is 12 September on PC Henderson.
10. AOB: The Garden Open Day in Old Quarrington was very successful raining nearly £3000 for charity.
There were complaints about a disgusting smell in Old Quarrington and Parkhill which lasted for some days, and appeared to come from liquid fertilizer.
It was suggested that the Community Foundation Grant was appropriate for an application to install an outside sink to be made by the scout group which has some activities in Old Quarrington.
11. 16 AUGUST 2022 – GENERAL MEETING 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre