To notify the Chairman of any items that appear later in the agenda in which you may have an interest.

Members had no interests to declare.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th June 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th June, 2006 were confirmed as a correct and signed by the Chairman.

A representative of Ferryhill Police will attend the meeting to give a report of crime statistics and initiatives in the area.

Sergeant Howard and PCSO Beacon attended the meeting to give details of the crime figures and local initiatives for the area.

It was reported that the crime figures for the area were as follows:-

Sergeant Howard informed Members that Sergeant Vincent was now based at the Spennymoor Office working in Crime Reporting and until a replacement was appointed she would be responsible for the area. It was also pointed out that there were a number of PCSOs currently being trained, two of which would be based in Ferryhill and would complete their training in a matter of weeks.

Specific reference was made to Operation Maximo, which targeted volume crime, Operation Cavello, which targeted racial problems, Operation Romano, which was a joint action day with the DVLA Customs and Excise and the Road Policing Unit in Ferryhill. Details were also given relating to a number of drug operations within the Chilton and Ferryhill areas.

Detailed discussion was held regarding partnership working between the Police, Durham County Council, private landlords and the local authority to identify tenants with any problems or previous convictions moving into the area in order for their behaviour to be monitored. 

Questions were finally raised regarding the non-emergency number and whether any improvements had been identified. Sergeant Howard believed there had been fewer complaints but had no exact information.

A representative of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust will attend the meeting to give an update on local health matters and performance figures.

A. Learmonth was present at the meeting to update Members on local health matters.

It was reported that the County Durham PCT would come into existence on 1^st October 2006. Lady Anne Calman had been appointed as the Chairman of the new Trust, however the appointment of the new Chief Executive had not yet been finalised. Members were informed that the current Chief Executive, Nigel Porter, would be taking early retirement/voluntary redundancy on the 5^th November 2006. The Forum suggested that a letter of appreciation be sent to N. Porter on behalf of Area 2.

Copies of the Performance Monitoring report were circulated for Member’s information.

Members of the Forum were updated on the development of the Chilton Health Centre.  A. Learmonth reported that an exhibition of the four proposed sites was scheduled to be held on 26^th September 2006 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall.  Discussion was held regarding the effect the reconfiguration would have on LIFT and the project. It was pointed out that the management of LIFT and the project would not be effected.    

A. Learmonth also gave details of the recently published Director of Public Health Annual Report. 

The report had been prepared as a stimulus to action and service development that would improve health and wellbeing for the people of Sedgefield. It provided an overview of the health of the population, tracking changes since last year’s report, identified inequalities which must be addressed if the gap in the health experience was not allowed to widen and made recommendations for Sedgefield, in the context of the combined County Durham and Darlington Public Health Annual Report.

The presentation covered those areas where good, steady and little progress had been made in the past year

To receive a presentation from Sedgefield Borough’s Waste Management Officer.

R. Clayton, Sedgefield Borough’s Waste Management Officer, attended the meeting to consult with the Forum on the Waste Management Strategy.  Copies of a questionnaire were circulated.

It was explained that the Council was in the process of developing a new Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan to take the Authority forward to 2012.

Details were given as to what constituted household and municipal waste and what efforts could be made to minimise and recycle waste. The current Collection Service provided by the Council was explained and it was pointed out that the Borough Council still provided a special collection of white goods and bulky waste free of charge. The presentation also covered the percentage of types of waste and the amount of recycling that was carried out within the Borough. Waste minimisation methods that could be used in the home were also outlined. 

It was also reported that the current kerbside recycling scheme ‘Kerb it’ was scheduled to expire in March 2008. Discussion was held regarding a replacement or alternative service.

With regard to the ‘Kerb it’ scheme discussions were held regarding the design of the bins and specifically the collection times. It was pointed out that for large households fortnightly collections were not sufficient as the bins were not large enough to accommodate the recyclable waste, therefore it would be put in a general refuse of the wheelie bin. R. Clayton pointed out that for large households a second bin would be provided free of charge on request from the resident.

Questions were raised regarding special collections, the type of items and the number of items that could be taken away.

Ladder Centre

Detailed discussion was held regarding the Ladder Project and the request to extend the building.

Chilton Local Improvement Programme

It was pointed out that the project had been approved at Cabinet and a total of £93,454 would be awarded for the Chilton Environmental Improvement project.

Ferryhill Local Improvement Programme

Members were informed that further work was to be carried out on the Duncombe Cemetery Project for an anticipated consideration by Cabinet in October.

31^st October 2006 at 6.30 p.m. at Chilton and Windlestone Community College.

31^st August, 2006 at 6.30 p.m. at Chilton and Windlestone Community College.