To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th January 2004

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th January, 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

A report will be given by Ferryhill Police

Sergeant K. Vincent was present at the meeting to give details of crime figures for the Chilton, Ferryhill, West Cornforth and Bishop Middleham areas.

Members noted that crime statistics were as follows :-

Details of recent operations were provided.  It was noted that in relation to Operation Ballade, which targeted racial problems in the Chilton area, a number of persons had been arrested and charged with spraying graffiti around the village.  Two persons were on police bail in relation to the deliberate act of smashing a vehicle in front of an innocent person’s home.  

With regard to Operation Jerid, which targeted youths causing annoyance, the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and Police Community Support Officers continued to be used throughout the area.  The Rural Beat Team had been used in the Chilton area to support the work of the Beat Officers and to look at some of the recurring problems.

Reference was made to a Crime Stoppers initiative, which was to be undertaken in the West Cornforth area.  It was hoped that this initiative would encourage the public to report incidents.

Update on local health matters

Dr. A. Learmonth, B. Parker and Mrs. S. Slaughter were present at the meeting to provide an update on local health matters.

It was noted that targets had been met for patients waiting to see a GP within 48 hours and the maximum wait of four months for an outpatient appointment.  Performance had improved in relation to waiting times in the Accident and Emergency Department and the amount of flu vaccinations carried out. 

Targets had not been met in relation to the ambulance service responding to incidents within 8 minutes and the amount of transfers from hospitals with support at home. 

Reference was made to the implementation of a new GP contract, which would take effect from September 2004.  The new contract would enable GPs to opt out of providing out-of-hour services, responsibility would then be with the PCT to provide this service.

It was noted that the Urgent Care Centre at Bishop Auckland Hospital would offer advice over the phone and where necessary would provide patients with transport to the centre.  It was anticipated that the Urgent Care Centre would develop close links with Accident and Emergency to provide an improved service with specialised care.

Members of the Forum queried if additional GPs were to be employed in the Chilton area.  It was agreed that A. Learmonth would investigate recruitment and retention within the PCT and provide details at the next meeting of the Area 2 Forum.

Specific reference was made to the award of the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT), which would renew surgeries throughout the Borough.  The PCT had partnered with an organisation called Bradford Northern to complete the project.  It was noted that local project groups had been established in the five sub areas of the Borough to involve the community throughout the development of the project.

Members of the Forum were informed of two vacancies for non-executive members of the PCT.

Arrangements have been made for an Officer from the Council’s Environmental Health Department to attend the meeting to give a presentation on the above

E. Beevers, Environmental Health Service Manager was present at the meeting to give a presentation regarding the above.

It was reported that regulations appertaining to the Dogs (Fouling of Land Act) 1996 came into force in December, 1996 and Sedgefield Borough Council had agreed in April, 1999 to designate land in the Borough to which the Act applied.  Under the legislation a person in charge of a dog was required to clean up immediately if the dog had defecated on a land that had been designated.  Failure to do so was an offence unless the person placed the faeces in a bin on the land provided for that reason, the owner/occupier or person in control of the land had consented to the faeces being left or the person in charge of the dog was registered blind.

The Act applied to all Borough Council, County Council and Town Council land with the exception of:

Carriageways with a speed limit in excess of 40 m.p.h. and land running alongside them.

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Land used for agricultural or moorlands.

Land, which was mostly marshland, moor or heath.

 Rural common land

Any person who allowed their dog to foul in a designated area was guilty of an offence and they could be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice or legal proceedings may be implemented in the Magistrates Court where, if found guilty, a fine of up to £1,000 may be imposed.

It was noted that the Council was not required to provide suitable bins for faeces, however, over 350 poop scoop bins were located throughout the Borough.

It was noted that the Borough Council employed an Environmental Enforcement Officer to enforce the Fixed Penalty Notice provisions under the Dogs Fouling of Land Act 1996 and the Environment Protection 1990 for offences of Dog Fouling and Public Littering. During the period April to December, 2003 the officer had served 104 Notices, 33 of which related to Area 2. 

It was pointed out that as the Council had only one Environmental Enforcement Officer to cover the whole of the Borough.  Public assistance was needed to identify offenders and any information provided would be treated in confidence and arrangements would be made for the officer to visit the area concerned at appropriate times.

It was also pointed out that the Police Community Support Officers and Beat Officers were empowered to serve Fixed Penalty Notices.  The role of Community Force was currently under review. 

The Forum was informed that fly tipping was not as big a problem in Sedgefield as it was in other districts in the County.  There had been 160 reported fly tips from April, 2003.

It was reported that in an attempt to forge stronger links between District Councils in County Durham and the Environmental Agency, the Agency proposed to appoint an officer who would work with the Environment Agency to deal with enforcement issues on behalf of the County and District Councils and be based with the County.

Members queried what action was being taken in relation to educating the public.  It was explained that the Litter Bug Campaign had visited local schools in the area and there had been a campaign on the Internet in 2003.

Land of former Stobb Cross Farm, Garmondsway Road, West Cornforth, Baker Buildings

Report of Building Control Manager

Consideration was given to a report of the Building Control Manager regarding a request received from Baker Builders to name the above development comprising of eleven detached dwellings.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

It was noted that Members of the Forum agreed to put forward Garmondsway Court as a name for the new development.

Tuesday 20^th April at Ferryhill Leisure Centre

Tuesday 20^th April, 2004 at 6.30 p.m. at Ferryhill Leisure Centre.