To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th June 2003

The Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th June 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

A report will be given at the meeting by Ferryhill Police

PC C. Metcalfe was present at the meeting to give details of crime figures for the Chilton, Ferryhill, West Cornforth and Bishop Middleham areas.

Members noted that the crime statistics were as follows:

It was noted that the crime statistics for dwelling house burglaries had remained quite stagnant over the previous months.  It was pointed out to Members that five arrests had been made regarding some of those burglaries. 

Specific reference was made to the establishment of an Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, which was available to the whole of the division.  It was reported that although the figures had increased for anti-social behaviour and public disorder, there had been little damage caused to the local schools over the six week school holiday period. 

Members were informed that the problem of speeding along Prospect Terrace had been reported to the Police Traffic Management to be re-assessed.  

Specific reference was made to funding that had been obtained to purchase pedal cycle lights for cyclists under the age of 16yrs. The lights would be issued at the Community Safety and Crime Prevention events to be held on Wednesday, 17th September 2003, in the Ladder Community House at Ferryhill, between the hours of 5.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m., and on Saturday, 20th September 2003, at Ferryhill Police Station, between the hours of 9.00 a.m. and 12 noon. 

Update on local health matters

Annie Wallace and Sylvia Slaughter were present to give an update on local health matters.

Members were informed that Sedgefield PCT had produced its annual report and summary financial statements for 2002/03. Copies of the report and ‘Your Health Matters-issue 3’ were available at the meeting. 

It was reported that although a one star rating had been achieved, the PCT was in the top band for health improvements.  A Group had been established to consider what actions the PCT should take to improve services in 2003/04. 

It was noted that an open board meeting would be held in the Bar area of Spennymoor Leisure Centre on 11th September 2003 and an Annual Listening Event would also be held on 24th September 2003 in Ferryhill Leisure Centre. 

Specific reference was made to ‘Ferry Health,’ a project that gave young people access to health care professionals at Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College. 

Questions were raised as to whether there were any plans for GP’s to offer evening appointments.  Members were informed that a Group had been established to consider access to health services, including out-of-hour services.  It was pointed out that the PCT could work alongside GP’s but could not instruct them on what to do.

With regard to the proposed new Health Centre at Chilton it was reported that the land had not yet been obtained, however negotiations were taking place and it was hoped the issue would soon be resolved.

An officer from the Council’s Regeneration Section will give a presentation regarding the above

R. Prisk and A. Charlton, from Sedgefield Borough Council, were present at the meeting to give a presentation on a draft Community Strategy that had just been launched.

The vision of the Strategy was to make the Borough a better place to live and to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the area.  The Strategy was important to ensure the delivery of more effective and co-ordinated services and to identify the needs of the service users.  It would also identify and prioritise the activities that would be needed to implement the Strategy.  The Strategy had been developed through the Borough’s Local Strategic Partnership and agreed by the LSP Board in April 2003.  The Strategy was a ten-year vision with clear priorities aimed at addressing the real issue facing the Borough and would provide a framework for prioritising actions, deploying resources and monitoring activities.

Specific reference was made to the four key priorities of the Strategy which were the promotion of:

¨      A healthy borough

¨      A prosperous borough

¨      An attractive borough and a

¨      Borough with strong communities

It was reported that the next step would involve consultation between local groups, organisations, agencies and the Area Forums.  The Strategy would be considered at the LSP Annual Conference on 21st November 2003.  An action plan area framework and a series of plans would be developed and the final strategy would be submitted to the LSP Board in January 2004 for approval.

Members were asked to submit any comments they had on the strategy to the Council’s Regeneration Section.

Report of the Building Control Manager

Consideration was made to the report of the Building Control Manager regarding a request received from Windlestone Homes to name the above development, comprising 21 dwellings  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members of the Forum agreed to forward both ‘Church View’ and ‘Church Close’ as names for the new development.

It was again requested by the Forum that Sedgefield Borough Council should reconsider the possibility of allocating funds to the Area Forums for environmental improvements.

Tuesday 4^th November 2003 at 6.30p.m at Ferryhill Town Hall

Tuesday, 4^th November 2003 at  6.30 p.m at Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College