Crossgate Community Partnership: Minutes

Minutes of the meeting, 4th July 2024

1. Attendance

Roger Cornwell (in the Chair) Lesley Aers, Gillian Banks, Robert Banks, Goshka Bialek, Ann Evans, Martin Hiles, Chris Hugill, Margaret Jefferson, Brendan McKeown, David Ramsden, Malcolm Reed, Jean Rogers, Ann Stokes,6t Sarah Wilkinson,
Cllr Liz Brown,
Cllr Esther Ashby, Cllr Carole Lattin.

2. Apologies for absence

were received from: Joan Adams, Emma Backhouse, Morag Crichton, Vicky Mattless, Simon Priestley, Judi Webb, Joe Witherspoon,
Cllr Victoria Ashfield, Cllr Alan Doig.

3. Minutes

Martin Hiles gave an oral clarification of the final line of item 5 of the minutes of the June meeting, but did not require that the minutes be amended. On this basis, the minutes of the June meeting were approved as a correct record.

4. Hild / Bede "Snow Angels" volunteering project

A letter had been received from Jamie Rawsthorn (Hild / Bede Liaison Officer) describing the "Snow Angels" volunteering project conducted by the college during the winter. Its primary objective is to shovel snow and remove ice from areas around Durham where the vulnerable would otherwise be at risk. Due to the relocation to Rushford Court, they were asking the CCP to suggest areas where this help would be particularly useful. On discussion, the meeting suggested, ordered by increasing distance from Rushford Court:

• The bottom of Western Hill. This adjoins Rushford Court so would be very easy to reach. (We understand the Council clears it on school days but not at weekends or on school holidays.)
• Sheltered accommodation at St Margaret's and Grape Lane.
• The Avenue, especially the steeply sloping parts at the bottom and again from about 250 metres up the street.
• If it's not too far out, Summerville.

Roger was asked to reply with this information, and passing on our gratitude for the offer.

5. Emergency Plan - update

Martin reported continuing progress with the Plan: the Working Group had now visited all reasonable potential locations. Cllr Carole Lattin had called a major co-ordinating meeting of all communities with emergency plans. Carole confirmed this, and thanked Martin for all his work.

6. Lettings board consultation

The County Council was consulting about whether to renew the Regulation 7 Direction which controls the display of lettings boards. The meeting was unanimous that this had effected a major improvement in the appearance of the city streets, and Roger was urged to respond to the consultation with the strongest possible affirmative.

7. Lack of information at suspended bus stops in Gilesgate and North Road

Gillian Banks described a recent visit to the medical practice in Claypath. On the outward journey she was unable to find out where to take the bus from the North Road, and eventually obtained the information from a fellow traveller; on her return she waited for some time at a bus stop where there was no sign to say that the service was suspended. Ann Evans had had similar experiences, and now found herself acting as an information service. Brendan McKeown was likewise able to explain where the 64 bus currently stops, but confirmed that there was no way for the traveller to find this out.
Cllr Liz Brown agreed that this was not good enough: there should at the very least be a sign marking the stops which are not in service. She would take this up with Simon Day (Sustainable Transport Network planning at Durham County Council).

8. Rubbish and recycling

a) Green Move Out: Roger had been in touch with Dasha Murphy, the University's Community Liaison Manager, who confirmed that the Move Out had happened: she had been told by DCC that they had delivered to The Avenue, but "they had not covered the top of the street - primarily DH1 4EB - as they know that there are no student properties past a certain point." A straw poll established that no purple bags had been seen in Nevilledale or May Street either. Members had seen filled bags awaiting collection in Neville's Cross and Allergate, although it was suspected that student residents had collected these from distribution centres, rather than their having been distributed. In addition, Ann had met someone who was volunteering to bring filled bags down from the top of Crossgate Peth to the bottom, which was the only collection point.
Carole, who is a member of the Waste Management Working Group, explained that in the past the purple bags have been distributed by volunteers; for the first time this year DCC had undertaken this task. The Group monitors the success of the scheme, and the amount collected, so they will be able to determine the impact of this change. She was asked to feed back to the Group that we were sorry that our area, with its large student population, had been left out of this year's Green Move Out.

b) Communal Bins and side waste: complaints on these subjects had been received from Vicky Mattless, who had been prevented from attending the meeting at the last minute, and from Goshka Bialek, who spoke to the meeting. It was evident that residents provided only with communal bins were in a minority at the meeting, but not a small one; others had no bins at all, and were instructed to put their rubbish out in bags. Communal bins were felt to save the refuse collectors the trouble of returning bins; instead they left them in clusters in a single place. This intensified the problem of smell, but could also be a security risk, if bins were left where people could use them to climb over walls. Goshka attempted to keep the bins clean, but the meeting agreed that the industrial scale of this task meant it should not be undertaken by residents. Lesley Aers had also been told that the majority of the communal recycling containers are contaminated and go to landfill; other members confirmed that contamination is a constant problem.
Roger and Liz would discuss the working of the system, and whether it could be improved; Liz would also talk to Cllr Mark Wilkes, the relevant Cabinet Member, about the Council taking responsibility for cleaning the bins.
Carole commended Kieran O'Leary for his work with the Waste Management Working Group. Members asked whether he would be prepared to come and talk to a future meeting?

9. Contacting Durham County Council

a. Proposed changes to DCC Customer Access Points: The Council plans to reduce the opening hours of its Customer Access Points. The Parish Clerk opposes this, and the experience of members backs him up, particularly with regard to the desk just inside the Clayport Library building. Chris Hugill is a regular user of the reference library, and frequently sees people at the desk; Martin corroborated this. Brendan pointed out that this desk also acts as a crisis contact, fielding issues not technically within its remit. The meeting agreed that the CCP should oppose the reduction of this service, and Chris was asked to draft a letter for the Chair to send.

b. Complaints and lack of reaction from DCC: Goshka related her experience of antisocial behaviour in the City, but was not satisfied with the police response and absence of follow-up. Liz offered to approach Inspector Dave Clarke about coming to talk to the CCP about ASB in Durham, at a date when Goshka would be able to be present; the formal invitation would have to be issued by the Secretary.

10. Council tax for students once studies have ended

Some members had read an article in The Guardian (which Roger had circulated, with the caveat that liability for Council Tax falls not, as suggested, on the newly graduate tenants, but on the landlord). Liz was not convinced that the sums raised could cover the cost of the exercise, but would raise the question with Paul Darby, DCC's Corporate Director of Resources.

11. Neighbourhood Wardens' report

The Wardens' written report had previously been circulated. Members noted three points in particular:

1. The report headed "Youth ASB" could be seen on enlarging on Goshka's story of an increase in ASB.
2. The complaint of "Adult ASB" on the Town Hall steps suggested an additional advantage that could arise from the Town Hall being used more.
3. Given the report that "We are aware that the Parish Council has been working very closely with Durham University and the waste management team on the Green Move Out operation,", the CCP should ensure that the Parish Clerk is aware of the problems with this year's operation.

12. Report from County Councillor

Liz opened her report with a clarification of the report from the Neighbourhood Wardens: the problem of waste in Reform Place (the area adjacent to the entrance of the Head of Steam and Coarse restaurant) was not business waste but domestic, from the cluster of student lets in the vicinity.
Planning Enforcement were looking into the use of the John Street site as temporary car parking, which is outwith the planning consent on that site.
Durham Constabulary's Operation Snap allows members of the public to report driving offences they have observed on the roads, and support the report by uploading dashcam footage direct to the police website.
The PCC was separately collecting video evidence of dangerous parking around schools.
She had been somewhat distracted from her council duties because a limousine keeps carrying her off, as Mayor, to open things.

13. Reports from Parish Councillors

a) Cllr Esther Ashby reported that the planning application for the Prince Bishops' development had been approved by the previous day's meeting of DCC's Planning Committee.

b) A written report from Carole had previously been circulated.

c) Liz added that the information boards about the Battle of Neville's Cross had been renewed (either by the Parish or by local councillors' funding) and that the walk leaflet was available.

14. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 6th August 2024.