Crossgate Community Partnership: Minutes

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 9th January 2025

1. Attendance

Roger Cornwell (in the Chair), Joan Adams, Lesley Aers, Emma Backhouse, Robert Banks, Alastair Edge, Pat Mussett, Simon Priestley, Jean Rogers, Ann Stokes, Sarah Wilkinson, Joe Witherspoon,
Cllr Carole Lattin.

2. Apologies for absence

were received from: Gillian Banks, Morag Crichton, Ann Evans, Martin Hiles, Chris Hugill, Margaret Jefferson, Vicky Mattless, Brendan McKeon, David Ramsden, Malcolm Reed,
Cllr Esther Ashby, Cllr Victoria Ashfield, Cllr Alan Doig, Cllr Grenville Holland, Cllr Susan Walker.

3. Minutes

The minutes of the December meeting were approved as a correct record.

Annual General Meeting

4. The Chair presented the Annual Report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting.

a) Residents of The Bowers thanked the CCP for its support throughout the year, but clarified that the trees whose condition rendered them unsafe were not only those in Flass Vale but also within their own gardens

b) Roger Cornwell confirmed that despite administrative problems in the past, the National Organisation of Residents' Associations was doing valuable work (he particularly commended NORA's comments on the Government's proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). We look forward to more efficient collaboration in future.

c) Lesley Aers asked for an update on the Bus Station: Roger confirmed that there is currently no sign of any work in progress.

5. The Financial Statement

Treasurer Sarah Wilkinson presented the accounts, which had been circulated as part of the Annual Report: Simon Priestley proposed the adoption of the accounts: the accounts, and the Report as a whole, were approved unanimously.

6. Election of Trustees

Nominations had been received for Emma Backhouse, Roger Cornwell, Ann Evans, Chris Hugill, Simon Priestley and Sarah Wilkinson. Joe Witherspoon moved the reappointment of all nominees for the coming year, and this was approved.

Ordinary Meeting

7 Virtual Parking Permits

As previously agreed, Simon had sent Durham County Council the CCP's questions about this scheme. He summarised their replies, which had also been circulated in writing. Among other things, it was confirmed that scratchcards remain available, but their validity is now restricted to the zone of residence. The scheme was not yet live (despite reports in the local press) and no starting date was available.

8.Neighbourhood Wardens' Report

This had been circulated in advance of the meeting

9. Report from County Councillors

No reports had been received.

10. Reports from Parish Councillors

Cllr Carole Lattin had little to report. She had been discussing with Cllr Victoria Ashfield the form their reports should take: it has been suggested that all Parish Councillors should pool their reports into something more formal which could be published on the Parish Council website. The meeting unanimously responded that this should not be seen as a substitute for the present system of individual personal reports. In addition, it emphasised that the present system had the advantage of opening a two-way communication between councillors and residents.

Carole expressed her appreciation of the hard work of all those concerned in drawing up the Emergency Plan. She described the procedure by with local emergency plans will now be brought together into an overarching plan, and, she hoped, approved by the full Parish Council. Simon thanked Carole for pushing to set this process in motion.

11 Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 4th February 2025,
Roger will clarify with Hild/Bede the preferred access route into the building.