To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20th April 2004

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th April, 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  (For copy see file of Minutes). 

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 :

Discussion took place in relation to anti-social behaviour.  It was noted that two interim Anti-social Behaviour Orders had been obtained in relation to two members of the same family who had been causing problems in the West Cornforth area. 

Five Acceptable Behaviour Contracts had been drawn up and signed by young people causing problems in the area. 

Reference was made to events on public highways.  It was noted that a new organisation or individual who was intending to organise an event to take place on a public highway needed to make suitable arrangements for the safe passage of the event on the highway.  It was explained that in the past the police had accommodated such events without any specific powers. Legislation did have to be complied with however and the advice of the Local Safety Advisory Group was that such events needed to be carried out correctly.  It was Durham Constabulary’s policy that no event should take place on the highway. Organisers should appoint Traffic Management companies to facilitate any disruption to the flow of traffic and provide suitably trained and equipped stewards.  It was explained that if a Road Closure Order was required this should be applied for via Sedgefield Borough Council under the Town Police Clauses Act.  The organisers should also have adequate public liability insurance to cover the event.

It was reported that police would no longer hold a database of key holders for premises.  If premises were alarmed and monitored by an alarm company, then the appropriate company would hold the key holders details.  The owners of any other premises fitted with an alarm should make some alternative arrangements for the contacting of a key

holder.  

Update on local health matters

Dr. A. Learmonth attended the meeting to give an update on recent performance figures and local health matters. 

Reference was made to a report, “Achieving Patient Access Targets and Baseline Performance Requirements” a copy of which was distributed to members of the Forum. 

A target of 91.2% had been achieved in respect of patients waiting less than four hours in the Accident and Emergency Departments of the County Durham and Darlington Hospitals.

It was noted that no one had waited more than 17 weeks for an out Patient appointment and delayed transfer of care had affected three patients. 

Discussion took place in relation to the North East Ambulance Service.  It was pointed out that the target of responding to 75% to life-threatening emergencies within eight minutes had not been achieved.  The actual performance was 65.6%.  Members of the Forum questioned why the target had not been met and it was explained that this was largely as a result of the location of ambulance stations. 

Members expressed concern in relation to ambulances being unavailable for outpatient appointments. It was explained that any complaints should be made to the Ambulance Service Complaints Department.

A presentation was given in relation to the health and well being of people living in Sedgefield Borough.

Specific reference was made to the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2003/04 which provided an overall picture of health for the population including vulnerable groups, it gave a snapshot of health related issues in each of the five localities and acted as a stimulus to local action. 

It was reported that for every 100 people needing hospital treatment for heart disease in England, Sedgefield had 273.  This indicated that the NHS needed to find why this figure was so high and encourage the public to start making simple changes to their lifestyles.

Discussion took place in relation to the following topics:-

Factors influencing health

Members of the forum were made aware that Education, Employment and Housing all had an effect on health.

It was noted that 38.4% of pupils in Sedgefield Borough gained 5 or more A-C’s at GCSE compared with 5.1% for England and 2.8% of the working population claimed unemployment benefit in Sedgefield compared with 2.5% in England.

In relation to housing, it was noted that 39% of social sector housing required improvements to meet the Governments decency standard by 2010.

Lifestyle Issues

It was reported that: -

·        9% of the public take no exercise

·        20% of the population smoked with 34% of these thinking about trying to give up

·        16% eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables

·        28% of men drank excessively.

Health Protection

It was noted that immunisation and vaccination rates were above the national rate. Sexual transmitted infections and HIV infections were however rising as they were elsewhere in England. 

The Big Killers

Members of the Forum were informed that Sedgefield Borough was above the national average for deaths caused by heart disease and cancer.

It was noted that 7.9% of the population reported pain or disability from heart disease and the standardised hospitalisation for heart attacks was over twice the national rate.

In relation to cancer it was noted that the overall standardised mortality rate was 114 although for lung cancer was 146. The national average was 100.

It was pointed out that the levels of Heart Disease and Cancer may decrease over time as a result of changes in lifestyle.

Chronic Disease

Noted that the percentage of the population reporting pain and disability were as follows:-

• Arthritis 25.9%
• Asthma 11.2%
• Depression and Anxiety 9.2%
• Stroke 2.4%
• Heart Disease 7.9%

Details of the years of life lost as a result of accidents and suicide were also provided.

To discuss

D. Snowball, Manager of Ferryhill Leisure Centre, attended the meeting to give details of activities and events that were scheduled to take place throughout the summer holidays.

It was explained that the Play Scheme at Ferryhill Leisure Centre ran over the six week summer holidays and had activities for separate age categories as follows: -

0 - 3 years

It was noted that the Leisure Centre ran Jolly Toddler Sessions, which included the use of soft play and bikes etc.

4 - 7 years

Noted that activities would include art zones, face painting and t-shirt printing etc.

8 years onwards

It was explained that in the past the Leisure Centre had decided what activities were to be held on certain days. This had been changed however and the Leisure Centre now set up a draft programme, which allowed children to choose what activities they wanted to be held.

It was reported that the play initiatives would be promoted through the use of the Internet, visits to schools, leaflets and posters.

Members were informed that transport from Chilton to Ferryhill was provided.

Report of Chief Executive Officer

Consideration was given to letter, which had been received, from the Local Strategic Partnership Board requesting the nomination of an Alternate who would attend the Partnership’s Board Meetings as a substitute for the Board Member.

It was agreed that Councillor G. Morgan be appointed as the alternate representative for Area 2 Forum on the LSP Board.

Tuesday 7^th September 2004 at 6.30 p.m. at West Cornforth Community Centre

Tuesday 7^th September, 2004 at 6.30 p.m. at West Cornforth Community Centre.