To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th February 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th February, 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

A representative of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust will attend the meeting to give an update on local health matters and performance figures.

Mrs. G. Wills and Mrs. M. Fordham, Sedgefield PCT, attended the meeting to give an update on local health matters and performance figures.

Specific reference was made to the report “Achieving Patient Access Targets and Baseline Performance Requirements” which had been considered by the Trust Board at its meeting on 10^th March 2005.

It was pointed out that the target with regard to Access to a GP within 2 working days and a Healthcare professional within one day continued to be met.

Reference was made to a Listening Event, recently held at Sedgefield Community College that had been attended by 80 young people.  It was noted that the young people were happy that health services were provided at the college and had requested that consideration be given to extending the range of services available.  An Action Plan was to be developed by the PCT.

It was pointed out that a further Listening Event was to be held later in the year at 3M, Newton Aycliffe.

The Forum was given details of the development of a specialist unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital for people suffering from strokes in the South Durham area and the trial of a new drug for the treatment of strokes.

With regard to the North East Ambulance Service, the target of response to 75% of calls to life threatening emergencies within 8 minutes had not been achieved.  The actual performance was 51.9%.  Officers from the PCT continued to have regular meetings with representatives of the ambulance service to try and improve performance.

Concern was expressed regard the difficulty and cost of trying to contact the Appointments Section of Bishop Auckland Hospital by telephone.  Officers of the PCT agreed to look into the matter.

Members of the Forum requested more details regarding the timescale for the development of the new Health Centre for Spennymoor under the LIFT Programme.  It was agreed that further information would be provided to the next meeting.

With regard to the number of patients through A & E Department within 4 hours, it was noted that the target of 98% had not been met on a number of occasions, particularly in relation to the University Hospital of Durham.  It was, however, pointed out that many hospitals throughout the country were also struggling to meet that target.

In response to the request for information in respect of MRSA, it was reported that there had been 24 reports of MRSA at Bishop Auckland, Darlington, University of Durham and Shotley Bridge Hospitals for the period April 2004 to September 2004 and 22 for the period October 2003 to March 2004. 

It was noted that Sedgefield PCT had recently appointed Kath Vasey as Director of Children’s Services.

Specific reference was also made to the establishment of the Integrated Teams for Vulnerable Adults within the Borough.

A representative of Spennymoor Police will attend the meeting to give a report on crime statistics and initiatives in the area.

Inspector S. Winship was present at the meeting to give details of crime figures for the area. 

It was reported that total crime had decreased by 10% compared with the previous year and detection rates were in excess of 30%.

With regard to public disorder, it was noted that the number of incidents in Sedgefield Borough for 2004/05 was 8837, compared to 9474 for 2003/04.  Sedgefield Borough was the only district in the county where the number of incidents had decreased.

Concern was expressed regarding the difficulties encountered by residents in St. Paul’s Gardens in contacting the Police call centre regarding incidents of anti-social behaviour and the slow response of the police to the incidents.  It was reported that it was impossible, given police resources to respond to all anti-social behaviour incidents within 20 minutes and a judgement had to be made on the type of response required. 

Members attention was drawn to a leaflet that had been produced entitled, “Communications and Call Handling in Durham County” which gave details of the two new control rooms that had been established and the non-emergency number.  Copies of the leaflet were available at the meeting.

Reference was also made to the new Command and Control system which was scheduled to go live in June which would locate the nearest officer to provide a response to an incident and would be able to provide that officer with any relevant background information.

The Forum was also given details of the recruitment drive to appoint more Special Constables.       

Arrangements have been made for Gillian Fortune, Chief Executive, CAVOS to attend the meeting to give details of the work of CAVOS and its strategic direction.

Gillian Fortune, Chief Officer C.A.V.O.S. (Community and Voluntary Organisation Sedgefield) was present at the meeting to inform Members of the role of C.A.V.O.S. within the community.

It was explained that C.A.V.O.S. had been established in 2000 as a representative body for organised voluntary community groups.

It was pointed out that C.A.V.O.S. was free to join and would represent any organised voluntary community group.

Gillian Fortune explained that she had taken up post as Chief Officer in August and was responsible for a team including a Support Officer, Development Officer, Volunteer Bureau Co-ordinator and a Training Officer.  She reported that she hoped to move C.A.V.O.S. in a more strategic direction and was looking at ways of increasing its funding and staffing and improving its sustainability.  It was hoped that once an organisational health check had been competed, a training programme could be introduced to improve service provision.

It was explained that C.A.V.O.S. provided support to new and existing groups such as information on funding and other areas that would be of interest to groups.  It also supported partnership working which allowed groups to benefit from working together and to form new relationship and it promoted volunteer working and the benefits of joining a community group.

Members were given details of the differences between C.A.V.O.S. and the Community Empowerment Network.  It was explained that the Community Empowerment Network represented residents in the community on a more individual basis, working with the Local Strategic Partnership, whereas C.A.V.O.S. represented organised voluntary community groups not individual residents.

Reference was made to a C.A.V.O.S. community event that had been recently held at Greenfield School Community Art College.

It was noted that C.A.V.O.S. was currently based on Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate, however, it was looking to relocate into the Spennymoor Learning Shop on Festival Walk.

The results of the Crime and Disorder Audit held at the Forum meeting on 25^th October 2004 are attached for information.

The result of the Crime and Disorder Audit held at the Forum meeting on the 25^th October 2004 were noted.

A copy of the minutes of the meeting of Spennymoor Road Safety Local Working Party held on 10^th March 2005 is attached for information.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of Spennymoor Road Safety Local Working Party held on 10^th March, 2005.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

It was reported that a letter had been sent on behalf of Spennymoor Road Safety Working Party to the Chief Executive, Sedgefield Borough Council regarding the possibility of incorporating the work of the Road Safety Working Party into Area 1 Forum.

To be agreed at the Council Annual General Meeting on 20^th May 2005.

It was noted that the date of the next meeting of Area 1 Forum would be agreed by Sedgefield Borough Council at its Annual Meeting on 20^th May, 2005.