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

The following Members declared an interest in Item No : 5 - Local Improvement Programme.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th June 2008.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th June 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. (For copy see file of Minutes)

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

There was no representative from the Police present at the meeting.  Discussion was held regarding the priority areas within Area 2 and it was decided that the Police would be contacted to request updates on the following issues :-

·      Indecent behaviour in the lay-by between Bishop Middleham and Sedgefield

·      Fly-tipping at Bishop Middleham

·      Parking of work vans at Opal Avenue in Chilton causing obstruction to the traffic movement

·      Vandalism of allotments in Ferryhill.

·      Off-road motor cycles in Dean Bank

Any information received would be circulated to Members of the Forum.

To consider the attached report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

         NB :    In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Members Code of Conduct Councillor Mrs. K. Conroy declared a prejudicial interest in the above item and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion and voting thereon.

                     In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Members Code of Conduct Councillor D. Farry declared a personal/prejudicial interest in the Dean Bank Institute application of the above.  He remained in the meeting but took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) updating Members on project activity as part of the Sedgefield Borough Council’s Local Improvement Programme.

Members were informed that the cut-off date for new LIP applications was 31^st July 2008.  Area 2 Forum had been allocated £836,000 of LIP Capital Resources between 2006 and 2009.  Applications totalling £355,078 had been approved to date with £482,922 remaining.  With the following six applications received, Area 2 was over-subscribed by £210,182:

·      Chilton Welfare Master Plan : £169,471

·      Bishop Middleham Village Hall : £39,391

·      Ferryhill Football Project : £320,000

·      Dean Bank Institute Gala Room : £35,000

·      Chilton Catholic Club : £27,800

·      Pentlands Play Area : £101,422.

The Chilton Catholic Club and Pentlands Play Area applications had not previously been considered at Area 2 Forum meetings.  The other four projects had been considered and supported by Members of the Forum.

It was reported that the Chilton Catholic Club application was for £27,800 (100% of the total project cost).  The project aimed to develop the toilets and kitchen facilities within the Club in order to extend the range of activities provided.  A query was raised regarding the reason for requesting 100% of the funding cost from LIP.  The applicant informed Members that if the whole amount was not approved, there was a possibility of obtaining match funding.

The Pentlands Play Area application submitted by Chilton Town Council was for £101,442.  (77% of the total project cost).  The project aimed to replace the play area at the Pentlands with a dedicated toddler area, a junior area and teen area.   It was reported that the requested 77% funding could decrease as it was possible that funds could be obtained from other sources.  A query was raised regarding the possibility of receiving finance from the Aggregates Levy Fund which was paid to the County Council by Lafarge and Thompsons as compensation for disruption caused by the quarry.  It was explained that this fund was managed by the County Council and that applications must be made direct to the County Council by Town or Parish Councils.

Members of the Forum were then given the opportunity to ask questions about any of the applications.

With regard to the Ferryhill Football Project, the Leader of Ferryhill Town Council stated that a site visit had been conducted by Cabinet and a working party meeting had been scheduled for 11^th September.  The application would be submitted for Cabinet approval as soon as possible after that date.

The Chilton Welfare Master Plan project was facing legal problems with the Charity Commission over the sale of land to provide funding to start the project.  It was suggested that whilst approval of both applications submitted by Chilton Town Council would be preferred, it may be necessary to focus attention on the Pentlands Play Area as a result of the deadlines involved.

A query was raised regarding the timescale and process involved in Cabinet’s approval of applications.  It was reported that a meeting was to be held with the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council on 12^th September to discuss these issues.

AGREED :              That all applications be supported.

The Chairman will take questions from the floor

Dean Bank Park Play Equipment

Questions were raised regarding the £70,000 in lottery funding allocated to improving the play equipment.  In the light of Local Government Re-organisation, the need to ensure that the money was allocated for Ferryhill was stressed.  Members were assured that as long as an application was made before the end of the year, the money would be protected for the area.

Area Action Partnerships

A query was raised concerning the Area Action Partnerships.  It was reported that seventeen consultations had been held throughout the County.  All of those who attended from Area 2 were of the opinion that the area should not be grouped with Spennymoor or Newton Aycliffe.  Instead the desire to keep the area’s own identity was expressed, though it may be necessary to include Sedgefield and Trimdon.  The findings of the seventeen consultations would be published in November.

Chilton Health Centre

Members of the Forum questioned what progress had been made with the Chilton Health Centre.  They were informed that no progress had been made as yet.  However, a meeting was to be held on 19^th September, facilitated by Sedgefield Borough Council at which it was hoped that there would be progress made.  The Forum agreed that a representative of the PCT be invited to the next Forum meeting in order to give an update on the situation.

Tuesday 4^th November 2008 at 6.30 p.m. at Dean Bank and Ferryhill Literary Institute.

Tuesday 4^th November, 2008 at 6.30 p.m. at Dean Bank and Ferryhill Literary Institute.