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

Councillors Mrs. A.M. Armstrong, Mrs. B. Graham and J.M. Khan indicated that they would be declaring a personal and prejudicial interest in Item No: 5 - Local Improvement Programme -  Application, Ox Close Nursery Parents Room as they were Members of Sedgefield Borough Council Cabinet.

Councillor Mrs. E. Maddison indicated that she would be declaring a personal interest in Item No. 4 - Naming of Development on Land at Whitworth Park, Spennymoor as she was a member of Spennymoor Town Council.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on

29^th October 2007.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 29^th October 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Report of Building Control Manager.

NB :   In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Member’s Code of Conduct, Councillors Mrs. E. Maddison declared a personal interest in the above item. She remained in the meeting but took no part in the discussion on the item.

Consideration was given to a report of the Building Control Manager regarding a request received from Barratt Homes to officially name and number the above development. (For copy see file of Minutes)

Members noted that Spennymoor Town Council had suggested the names of the six miners killed in Whitworth Colliery Pit.

As only four streets needed to be named, Members of the Forum agreed to select the names through a random draw.  The following names were drawn:

·             Bray

·             Morgan

·             Nelson

·             Rothery

The Forum requested that the remaining two names - Goundry and Lowe be used for other streets if required.

Report of Assistant Chief Executive.

NB :   In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act

2000 and the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillors Mrs. A.M. Armstrong, Mrs. B. Graham and J.M. Khan declared a personal and 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 Assistant Chief Executive regarding the above.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The Headteacher, Jane Smith, Oxclose Nursery, Spennymoor was in attendance to present the application.       

The nursery was requesting funding to provide a purpose-built venue for parents/community use.  It would be used for parenting classes, family learning lessons, confidential meetings, distance learning and informal drop-in sessions.  An initial community consultation had been undertaken, which showed an overwhelming positive response to the provision of the Parents room and the ideas on what could be provided as part of the project.

The total cost of the project was £63,835.  The amount of funding requested for the project was £43,835.  The nursery would contribute £20,000. The revenue costs would be absorbed into the nursery’s annual budget.

The Forum agreed to support the project.

Presentation by Community Safety Manager.

Allan Blakemore, Community Safety Manager, gave a presentation regarding the above.

It was explained that Sedgefield Community Safety Partnership was in the process of setting priorities for 2008/09 and was consulting residents on their local priorities.

It was explained that the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 as amended by the Police and Justice Act 2006 imposed a duty on the Council to share data for the purpose of reducing crime and disorder and replaced the three year audit and strategy process with an annual strategic assessment. 

The presentation outlined the intelligence driven and national priorities, which were:

·             Domestic Abuse

This was identified as a national priority.  Two women die every week in Great Britain as a result of domestic violence. 

·              Domestic Burglary 

Domestic burglary was very low in Sedgefield Borough, however residents did have a high degree of fear of being a victim of this particular crime.  Borough average is 8.3 burglaries per 1,000 households in 2006/07 compared to the national average of 13 burglaries per 1000 households.

·             Substance misuse

Substance misuse related to Class A, B and C drugs, alcohol and smoking 

·              Vehicle Crime

Vehicle crime relates to the organised stealing of vehicles for resale after changing identification, taking vehicles without owners’ consent  (better known as “joyriding”), theft from vehicles and vehicle interference.

·             Criminal Damage

Criminal damage was the highest record of crime across Sedgefield Borough, usually accounting for 40% of total recorded crime. It was linked to night time economy and anti-social behaviour.

·              Anti-Social Behaviour

The usual profile figures were follows:

·             Rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour                 -       73%

·             Nuisance neighbours                         -      10%

·             Vehicle nuisance/Inappropriate use                -       9%

·             Noise                                      -       3%

·             Street drinking                               -       2%

·             Animal related problems                   -       2%

·             Substance misuse                            -       1% 

Questionnaires were then circulated at the meeting for completion.  It was pointed out that by providing postcodes on the questionnaires, the Community Safety Partnership would be able to map localised priorities whilst preserving anonymity.   It was noted that the information would be shared with Durham Constabulary to assist in the setting of neighbourhood priorities for action.

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

Inspector Bill Benson, Community Inspector for Spennymoor and Ferryhill was present at the meeting to give a report on crime statistics, initiatives and road safety for the area.

The reported crime figures for October and November 2007 were as follows:

Concern was expressed regarding the number of youths drinking alcohol in public places.  Specific reference was made to “Bottlewatch” scheme, which was to be introduced.  The scheme, which would hopefully lead to a reduction of anti social behaviour, involved marking the labels of bottles and cans of alcohol to identify the place of purchase.  The Police would then be able to identify the place of sale in respect of any alcohol seized from juveniles. It was noted that quotations were currently being sought for marking the bottles/cans.

The Forum was also given details of Operation Hawkeye and the week of action in Tudhoe, that had commenced that day.

It was noted that thefts from shops had increased in the run up to Christmas and consequently there would be increased police patrols of the Town Centre.

It was reported that it was intended to discuss and set the three neighbourhood priorities for Area 1 at the next meeting of the Forum in February 2008.

Monday 11^th February 2008 at 6.30 p.m. at Spennymoor Town Hall

Monday 11^th February 2008 at 6.30 p.m. at Spennymoor Town Hall.