To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 13^th February, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

Acting Inspector I. Rodgers was present at the meeting to give details of crime figures for the area. 

The reported crime figures for February 2006 were as follows:

The overall detection rate as a percentage was 26.8%.

With regard to dwellinghouse burglaries, the Forum was again advised not to leave any keys in the vicinity of the front door as implements were being pushed through letterboxes to retrieve the keys.

In the past three weeks, three churches had been burgled and a charity box had been stolen from a hairdressers.  An arrest had been made in connection with the crimes. Reference was also made to the recent spate of shed burglaries. 

It was anticipated that the number of incidents of vehicle crime would increase for March.  Members of the Forum were again instructed not to leave mobile phones and satellite navigation systems where they could be seen in unattended vehicles.

Specific reference was made to a Streetsafe Initiative, which was to be held in the St. Pauls area in connection with Sedgefield Borough Council and to a beat surgery to be held in connection with the Fire and Rescue Service in the foyer of Asda on 12^th April 2006.  The surgery would focus on vehicle crime and members of the Crime Prevention Team would be present to advise on the measures could be taken to keep vehicles safe.  Officers from the Fire and Rescue Service would also be present to show what could happen to vehicles if stolen. 

With regard to road safety, it was noted there had been eleven damage only and four minor injury accidents.

Concern was expressed regarding the number of large commercial vehicles parked on footpaths on Greenways Estate.  It was reported that any specific complaints would be investigated.

Specific reference was made to the problem of vehicles speeding along Carr Lane.  It was noted that a survey had been undertaken and it had been found that a substantial number of vehicles were exceeding the speed limit on Carr Lane.  The information had been forwarded to Durham Constabulary’s Traffic Management Department.

A question was raised on whether any complaints had been received regarding vehicles crossing the by-pass when turning right on leaving Jewitts. Reference was also made to the number of horse riders using the road to Kirk Merrington and the need for warning signs for motorists.   

The Forum’s attention was also drawn to the number of lorries exceeding the 7.5 ton limit travelling through Kirk Merrington and the proposal for more signage to be erected.  It was reported that Durham County Council, as Highway Authority, was responsible for the erection of road signs.

With regard to Special Constables, it was noted that since a Recruiting Officer had been employed there were now five Special Constables deployed in the Spennymoor area.  It was also noted that Durham Constabulary was looking to recruit a further thirty two PCSOs for the southern area.

Rosemary Hasoon and Margaret Chappell attended the meeting to give a presentation regarding public involvement in health services in Sedgefield Borough.

It was explained that the Patient and Public Involvement Forum had been set up to enable the general public to have a much greater input into decisions that affected their health and the health of their local communities.  There were 572 Patient and Public Forums nationally representing each Primary Care Trust and NHS Trusts in England.  The Forums had powers and duties enshrined in law and consisted of local people who worked on a voluntary basis.

It was reported that PPI Forums had a number of roles, including obtaining the views of their local communities about health service and making recommendations and reports to the PCT to help improve services.

The Forums had the right to visit or inspect any service managed or commissioned by the PCT providing a patient had raised a concern.  The PCT was required to respond to recommendations by the Forum or requests for information within twenty working days.

The PPI Sedgefield had a good working relationship with Sedgefield PCT.  The Forum met on a regular basis at the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe and held bi-monthly public meetings at various locations within Sedgefield Borough.  Public meetings were advertised through the display of posters and the local press.

Details were outlined of some of the work that had been undertaken by the PPI Forum in Sedgefield.

Shawna Gibson and Wayne Dobson attended the meeting to give a presentation on the above. 

DISC Drug Services were a specialist agency providing structured interventions for people with substance misuse problems.  Programmes were delivered in Drug Treatment Centres and various settings within the community.  All participants using the service would be eighteen years of age and over and have a substance misuse issue and a residency within the respective PCT area.  There was an open referral policy. Referrals could be made directly to the treatment centres by telephone, fax and drop-in.

Clients were given the opportunity to move away from problem drug use and into healthier lifestyles through one to one key working, group work and workshops.

Specific reference was made to a client’s journey and the stages involved, which were

Ø                     Refer into the service

Ø                     Assessment of need

Ø                     Formation of Care Plan

Ø                     Intervention / Programme

Ø                     Review and monitor

Ø                     Improved social functioning

Ø                     Improved life and basic skills

Ø                     Increased personal independence

Ø                     Increased personal responsibility

Ø                     Exit Strategy

With regard to the formation of Care Plans, it was noted that they were designed to achieve a number of “quick wins” to encourage the clients to continue through the Programme. 

From April 2005 to March 2006 there had been 131 referrals across Sedgefield Borough.

It was reported that the success of DISC Drug Services’ work was in measured by the service users themselves reflecting on their progress and by the workers evaluating the progress of their clients. 

Members of the Forum asked if they could be provided with statistics on the number of positive outcomes and the various organisations DISC worked with including those specifically dealing with young people under the age of eighteen.

Specific reference was made to the various databases that DISC fed into. It was noted that information was shared with the Police, particularly in relation to what drugs were available in specific areas.

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

Dr. Alison Learmonth and Gloria Wills attended the meeting to give an update on local health matters.

It was reported that the Health Care Commission had undertaken a Health Improvement Review on Substance Misuse and its findings should be published shortly. 

Members of the Forum proposed that when the report was available, a further discussion could be held regarding the drug misuse and services within in the Borough.

With regard to the future PCT configuration in County Durham, it was reported that the consultation exercise had finished on 22^nd March and the outcome would be known in April.  It was noted that Sedgefield PCT was currently working with other PCTs in the County to prepare a Local Delivery Plan.

With regard to dental services, it was reported that all the dental practices within Sedgefield Borough had signed up to provide personal dental services under the NHS.  It was also noted that the North East Ambulance Service had agreed to provide additional emergency cover from Fishburn, Bishop Auckland and Darlington Ambulance Stations.  The Trust was, however, still lobbying, for a rapid response vehicle to be located within the Borough. 

With regard to the development of a new health centre for Spennymoor, it was noted that a surveyor had been appointed and discussions were taking place with the Council regarding suitable sites.

Members of the Forum expressed concern regarding recent press reports on the number of staff, including nurses to be made redundant by County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospital Trust and they requested that a representative from the Trust be invited to a future meeting to discuss the issue.  It was agreed that a letter would be sent to the Trust.

With regard to Bird Flu and its potential to ignite a flu pandemic, it was explained that work was being undertaken by the PCT to ensure that all GP practices had contingency plans in place and there were plans to ensure that information was disseminated to the public.

To be agreed at the Council Annual General Meeting on 19^th May 2006.

Noted that the date of the next meeting was to be agreed at the Annual Meeting of Council on the 19^th May, 2006.