Crossgate Community Partnership: Minutes

Minutes of the meeting, 9th April 2026

1. Attendance
Roger Cornwell (in the Chair), Joan Adams, Max Arnold, Robert Banks, Alastair Edge, Margaret Jefferson, Simon Priestley, David Ramsden, Jean Rogers, Sarah Wilkinson, Joe Witherspoon.
2. Apologies for absence
were received from: Lesley Aers, Gillian Banks, Morag Crichton, Ann Evans, Chris Hugill, Pat Mussett, Malcolm Reed, Ann Stokes, Ann Watkins,
Cllr Carole Lattin,
Cllr Liz Brown.
The Chair explained that Pat Mussett was absent through injury, but was making a good recovery.
3. Minutes
Robert Banks pointed out a typing error in the minutes of the March meeting; with that correction they were approved as a correct record.
4. Traffic Lights at the North Road Roundabout
The CCP had replied to DCC's proposal to install traffic lights at the end of the North Road, and their response had been circulated ahead of the meeting: this included the information that "The signalisation of the roundabout is part of a larger scheme to improve bus flows into the city along the A690 from Nevilles Cross. The signals will utilise a system which will give dedicated green time to approaching buses, with a view to improving the reliability of the service. In addition to improving bus flows and reliability, there will be a general betterment to all road users, including dedicated green time for pedestrians crossing the road."
Margaret Jefferson asked how we would know if the change had been successful in achieving these aims? In general, how does DCC determine the success of its projects, and does it publish those findings? Roger was asked to reply to the Council asking how the success of the current scheme will be measured.
5. Food waste collection
A reply to our letter had been received from Kieran O'Leary, Waste Strategy & Policy Officer, and had been circulated ahead of the meeting. He acknowledged that Durham City presents unique operational challenges compared with the rest of the county, particularly due to the number of properties using communal recycling bins or the kerbside bag-and-box scheme. He emphasised that there is no intention to exclude these properties from the food waste collection service, and he apologised if his comments at the Merryoaks meeting on Tuesday 24 February gave that impression. DCC is currently carrying out the necessary planning "ahead of the legislation coming into force."
The meeting noted that the legislation had in fact come into force the previous week. However, it was clear that there was no prospect of residents contributing to the planning process ahead of implementation. Roger had noticed that separate bins for glass recycling had already been removed.
Kieran O'Leary had been invited to the next meeting of DURF.
6. Evaluation of Council Projects
Margaret argued that the traffic strategy discussed as item 4) above was not an isolated case: there was a general absence of feedback on DCC's schemes to determine how successful they were. Roger wondered whether this might be a function of the Council's Scrutiny Committee, and would investigate further. He would also seek information from the Parish Council about how it measures the outcomes of its activities.
7. Reports from Parish Councillors
Roger reported:
  1. The Small Grants scheme was now open to application.
  2. He and Cllr Liz Brown had argued at the appeal hearing against the conversion of Hallgarth Care Home to student accommodation. A decision was die within "several weeks."
  3. The new, county-wide, policy on HMOs will apply within the Parish at Aykley Woods: it applies a higher standard than the older policy already in force within the City. The Parish wants the new policy to be applied within the City; where there are some properties of a very poor standard. For example, 23 Mistletoe Street has three bedrooms, plus one which is too small to be legally let, but has currently five student residents. Enforcement is the responsibility of the Envirronmental Health Department, who are not very active.
  4. The Planning Application for Hopper House has been approved, This will result in section 106 money being paid. The Parish is mindful of concerns about the "underpass", and will keep an eye on it: ot will be closed during construction works,, but the developer has promised that it will be reinstated, though reduced in size.
  5. The fence at the back of 9 Crossgate Peth (i.e. on the Avenue) will be taken down, and the retaining wall reinstated when it has been stabilised
  6. The new gates had been installed on Observatory Hill; Joan Adams commented that she had seen and admired them.
  7. Information from the most recent meeting of DURF was that student numbers were up this year, but only slightly.
Simon Priestley enquired about the casual vacancy on the Council; there had been no call for an election, so the process of filling the vacancy by co-option was under way, and would be discussed at the Parish Council meeting on April 22nd.
8. Other business
Joe Witherspoon has tickets for the Friends of Flass Vale raffle.
9 Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Thursday 7th May 2026.