The Burradon & Camperdown Forum

Minutes of the Meeting Held on 2nd October 2007

Agenda: School and Recreation Centre

Present:

Per Attached Schedule

Formal Business:

The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.10pm

Apologies:

Cllr Allan & Cllr Glindon
Mrs Haskins
Mrs Gilbert

Mr Isbister: Summarised the situation regarding the school and recreation ground, people were reminded of the condition of the facilities prior to the construction of the site.

Mr Willis: The school and recreation ground is unique and is utilised by a wide variety of groups, although there has been an issue regarding access to the facilities.

Mr Gilfillan: The site access issue has been resolved. There is no comparable facility in the region with the quality and variety of services.

Mr Willis: The user group meetings are to be revived to discuss access to the site and facilities and to avoid any future problems.

Mr Sharpe: Burradon FC are the envy of all visiting teams due to the quality of the facilities.

Mrs James: All enquiries regarding the site are to be referred to Mr Gilfillan.

Mr Willis: A Capital Bid has been submitted to the Cabinet to install CCTV and erect a perimeter fence which has the support of the ward councillors.

Northumbria Police have commenced a robust policy of enforcing the law in the area to target and reduce anti-social and criminal behaviour.
Remedial work was undertaken during the summer to repair pitch 2 and improve drainage.
A report from the Sports Turf Institute regarding the quality of the grass on the pitches will be due in the near future.

Mrs James: Sport England invested the funds to improve the pitches and the specification is to be reviewed to ensure the contractor complied with the agreement.
Mr Sharpe: The problems were not created by the weather rather the quality of the workmanship and is there any truth in the rumour that the pitches are to be dug up.

Mrs James: Remedial work will not be undertaken without reference to the teams.

Mr Wray: Is there any possibility that the position of the pitches may be changed to create a 3rd playing area?

Mrs James: Will investigate.

Mr Willis: What are the issues regarding affecting the bowling green?

Mr Holmes: Mainly access to the community room.

Mr Willis: A meeting is to be held to investigate funding for the sports development post.

Mr Gilfillan: The Sports Development Officers post is vital to the success and viability of the facility and we are looking at various grants to secure the finance to fund the post.

Mr Wray: Killingworth and Dudley will have high numbers of staff and we only require the funding of 1 post which will have significant benefits for the entire community and the long-term viability of the entire site.

The issues relating to the incomplete nature of the site, the area to the side of the bowling green, the land next to the entrance to the school adjacent to the wagon way and the grasses area next to the church.

Mr Willis: Iain Bethan to inspect site to identify areas of concern and will liaise with the relevant departments.

There are no enforceable by-laws regarding banning dogs,however, it is possible with the support of NTC to introduce a by-law to introduce a ban.

Mrs Regan: Neighbourhood Manager in Riverside and Chirton and is responsible for developing a neighbourhood agreement in the areas. The success of the Burradon Agreement is highlighted to other groups in the area and are you able to explain the reasons for its success.

The residents all contributed a variety of reasons for its success.

A.O.B.

Donate £25.00 for a gift for John Meldrum

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.15pm