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

The following Councillors indicated that they would be declaring an interest in Item 5 - Sedgefield Borough Local Improvement Programme - Application Report - Spennymoor Settlement Regeneration Project.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 18^th June 2007.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19^th June 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Head of Strategy and Regeneration.

            NB :            In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Members Code of Conduct, Councillors Mrs. A.M. Armstrong, J. M. Khan and W. Waters declared a prejudicial interest in the above item and left the meeting for the duration of discussion on the item.

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

D. Acock, Spennymoor Settlement, was in attendance to present the application.

The Forum was reminded that at its meeting on 6^th November 2006, it had supported the Settlement Project going forward for Local Improvement Programme funding to the value of £118,106.  Following that meeting, a technical study had been undertaken by the Council’s Property Services Team on behalf of the Settlement to examine the full scheme costs and establish a more accurate project budget.  The study identified additional work in relation to disabled access, security systems /emergency lighting and building inflation, which resulted in the anticipated project cost increasing to £250,000.  Consequently the Settlement was now seeking £140,000 of Local Improvement Project funding. 

It was reported that the Settlement had been very successful with its fund raising and could contribute £110,000 in ‘matched funding’ to the project, reducing the percentage of LIP funding required to 56% of the project cost.

C. Donaghy, Regeneration Section, reported that Area 1 Forum had an LIP allocation of £278,800 for 2006/07, of which £54,882 had been allocated to two schemes - Tudhoe Grange School and Middlestone Moor Playground.  Further funding of £278,800 was available during the 2007/08 financial year for other projects within the Area 1 Forum locality.

The Forum congratulated the members of the Settlement on their fund raising efforts and agreed to support the project.

Report of Building Control Manager.

Consideration was given to a report of the Building Control Manager regarding a request from George Wimpey (North Yorkshire) Limited to officially name and number the above site, comprising of 159 dwellings.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The site was currently being marketed by the developer as “Moorcroft” and six street names were required.

After due consideration the Forum agreed to put forward the following names:

• Everson Way
• Skylark Crescent
• Snowdrop Drive
• Charhill Close
• Mulberry Drive
• Lavender Lane

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

Inspector Adrian Green was present at the meeting and gave details of the crime figures for the area.

The reported crime figures for June and July 2007 were as follows:

It was reported that the total number of crimes in July was 304 compared with 245 for August.  The detection rate was 39%.

With regard to road traffic accidents the figures were as follows:

Specific reference was made to the Anti-Social Behaviour Order, which had been granted that day in respect of Thomas John Andrew Kailofer of Spennymoor.

Concern was also expressed regarding the large number of travellers, who were illegally camped on the grounds of a former dog racing track at Merrington Lane, Spennymoor.

It was reported that the Borough Council as landowner was working with the County Council’s liaison officer regarding the travellers and papers would be served the following day, if they had not left the site. 

The Forum was informed that a meeting of the Police Community Consultative Group was to be held on Monday 10^th September 2007 at Ferryhill Town Hall at 7.00 p.m.  Members of the public could attend and ask questions about any police matter of concern or interest.

Inspector Green reported that he would not be the Police representative at future meetings of Area 1 Forum as he was taking up a post at Darlington.  Members of the Forum congratulated him on his promotion and thanked him for his help and assistance.

The Chairman will take questions from the floor.

Reference was made to the drains in the vicinity of 223, Durham Road, Spennymoor and the need to ensure that they were kept clear as they were prone to flooding.

It was reported that Sedgefield Borough Council along with the six other District Councils in County Durham had agreed to challenge the Secretary of State’s decision to impose a single unitary council across County Durham.  It was felt that the Government acted unlawfully and had refused to take account of the views of people of County Durham.  A number of other Councils were taking similar actions and the legal challenge by Shrewsbury and Atcham Councils would be the first case to be heard on 12^th and 13^th September 2007.  The outcome of that hearing would undoubtedly effect how the Durham District Councils progressed their challenge. In the meantime, the District Councils were working closely with Durham County Council.

Monday 29^th October 2007 at 6.30 p.m. at Tudhoe Community Centre

Monday 29^th October at 6.30 p.m. at Tudhoe Community Centre.