To notify the Chairman if you have an interest in the following items.

The following Councillors indicated they would be declaring an interest in the following items:

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th November 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th November 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, initiatives in the area and road safety.

Inspector Adrian Green was present at the meeting to give details of crime figures for the area.

The reported crime figures for September, October and November were as follows :

Theft from vehicles was down by 32% and theft of vehicles by 21%.

Specific reference was made to the 39% increase in dwelling burglaries.  It was pointed out that the Fire and Rescue Service personnel at Spennymoor Fire Station had been trained to undertake crime prevention surveys at the same time as fire prevention surveys the vast majority of the burglaries could have been prevented by simple security measures. 

Concern was expressed regarding the problem of gangs in the Clyde Terrace area.  It was reported that the Police were aware of the problem and had undertaken an operation in that area.  An additional PCSO was now in post and it was anticipated that more would be done to tackle the anti-social behaviour problems.

Specific reference was made to burglaries committed by people posing as officials from the Gas Board/Water Board etc.  The Forum was advised to seek identification from callers and if they had any doubts to telephone the Police or the company that they claimed to be representing. 

With regard to road safety, it was noted that up to 1^st November 2006, there had been 19 damage only accidents and 4 minor injury accidents.

It was pointed out that Durham Constabulary Traffic Management Section and Durham County Council Highways Section worked very closely.  Every traffic accident was plotted and officers constantly assessed the need for highway improvements or enforcement action.

It was noted that with regard to Spennymoor High Street, sixteen Fixed Penalty Notices had been issued to motorists for breaching the access only traffic regulation order.

Presentation to be given regarding the Sedgefield necA, High Street Project.

Ann Dunning attended the meeting to give a presentation regarding Sedgefield NECA, High Street project.

It was explained that NECA (North East Council on Addictions) was the largest regional charity working in the area of substance use/misuse.  Its remit included all forms of substance dependency including illicit drugs, alcohol, prescribed medication, over the counter preparations, nicotine, solvents and gases and gambling.  Its counsellors worked as part of multi-disciplinary teams with other agencies such as DISC, Probation Service, Health and Social Care, GPs, prisons, independent service providers, schools, colleges and voluntary organisations. 

Services provided by NECA included complementary therapies such as auricular acupuncture, aromatherapy and reflexology, which were proven to be effective in enhancing treatment programme for drug users and supported housing to clients experiencing misuse problems. 

It was noted that the biggest addiction problem related to alcohol.

The High Street Project offered free confidential one to one appointments with professional qualified counsellors and referral to other agencies, if required.

Application - Family/Community Support Area, Tudhoe Grange School

NB :          In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Members Code of Conduct, Councillors J. M. Khan,  Mrs. E. Maddison and N. Foster declared a personal interest in the above item and remained in the meeting but took no part in the discussion on the item.

NB :          In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Members Code of Conduct, Councillors Mrs. A.M. Armstrong and Mrs. B. Graham declared a prejudicial interest in the applications and left the meeting.

Councillor A. Smith in the chair.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Strategy and Regeneration regarding the above.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members of the Forum were reminded that Area 1 Forum had been allocated £836,000 of LIP capital resources between 2006 and 2009 to tackle the issues as outlined in the Council’s Community Strategy.  The allocation for 2006/07 was £278,700.

The role of the Area Forum was to provide a view of the project within the area.  The project would then be considered by the Council’s Management Team then Cabinet.  The latter would decide whether or not to allocate funding to the project.

Mrs. C. Warren, Headteacher at Tudhoe Grange School, was in attendance to present the application.

The project involved the complete refurbishment of an area at the lower school site on Durham Road to provide a venue specifically designed for community and family use to access appropriate services confidentially within the community.  A range of services had been identified to offer support to young people and their families.  The following agencies had been identified to use the facility:

§                   Youth Engagement Service

§                   Nursing services

§                   Survivors of Domestic Abuse,

§                   Education Welfare Officer

§                   Additional community based groups

The Area Forum noted that the amount of funding requested from the Programme was £15,226.62, which equated to 53% of the total project costs.  The remaining costs would be funded by the schools own funds.

The Forum agreed to support the project.

Councillor J.M. Khan in the Chair

Application - Middlestone Moor Play Area Phase 3

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Strategy and Regeneration regarding the above.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

R. Stewart and A. Wilson, Middlestone Moor Action Group were in attendance to present the application. 

The project would provide Phase 3 of the playground development providing dedicated equipment to cater for the 8 - 15 age range.   Phase 1 provided fixed play equipment for 2 - 8 year olds whilst Phase 2 provided a multi-use games area.  The project would also include barriers and bollards, adjustments to the footpath and signage to ensure that the playground meets the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents guidelines.

The Forum noted that £41,518 of LIP funding had been requested which equated to 64% of the project costs.  Of the remaining costs (£23,216), £6,216 had been confirmed as match funding and the remaining £17,000 had been applied for from County Durham Foundation and Spennymoor Town Council.  An application had also been made to the Big Lottery Fund for £50,000 for the project.  

It was pointed out that the amount of the LIP funding required would probably need to be adjusted to take account of whether the project was successful in obtaining Big Lottery funding and the increased cost of play equipment from January 2007.  Notification from the Big Lottery Fund was expected by the end of January 2007.

The Forum agreed to support the project.

Monday 12^th February 2007 at 6.30 p.m. in the Memorial Room, Spennymoor Town Hall

Monday 12^th February 2007 at 6.30 p.m. in the Memorial Room, Spennymoor Town Hall.