To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7^th July 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7^th July, 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

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

Sergeant Brian O’Connor was present at the meeting to give details of crime statistics for the area.  Members noted that the statistics were as follows :-

Members noted that a number of issues relating to anti-social behaviour, the mis-use of motorcycles and sale of alcohol to minors were being monitored by the local Beat Officers.  The Beat Officers had also been working with Officers from Sedgefield Borough Council in respect of the deployment of the mobile CCTV unit.

It was noted that since the previous meeting plastic cups had been introduced at the public houses within Sedgefield.

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

A copy of the executive summary of the NHS Improvement Plan ‘Putting People at the Heart of Public Services’ is attached for information.

P. Irving was present at the meeting to update the Forum on local health matters.  A copy of the Annual Report 2003/2004 and “Your Health Matters” were distributed to Members of the Forum. 

P. Irving reported that Gloria Wills had been appointed as Chairman of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust and David Halladay and Mrs. Agnes Armstrong as non-Executive Directors to the Board. There was one vacancy left to fill which would be advertised later in the year. 

Members were informed that five salaried GPs had been appointed who would commence work prior to the opening of the out-of-hours service in December. It was explained that as the opening was drawing closer, a Communications plan was being developed to ensure that everyone understood how the service would operate. A letter would also be distributed to every household detailing when the service would open.

Specific reference was made to the appointment of a ‘Mystery Shopper’ who had been sent to various local surgeries the week commencing 27^th July, 2004. The exercise was to record the performance in relation to access to GPs. It was noted that all surgeries had been able to offer an appointment with a GP within 24 hours.

With regard to the Tees Valley Health Review, it was explained that over the past few months an external panel had been appointed to review the service.  The panel had proposed a number of changes, which had resulted in to the public consultation period being postponed. 

Members were also informed that the next ‘Listening Event’ would take place on Monday 18^th October 2004 at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. and lunch would be provided. The event would give people an opportunity to have their say about NHS services, including primary care and help plan NHS services for the future.                         

Arrangements have been made for the Head of Neighbourhood Services to attend the meeting to give a presentation on the above.

D. Scarr, Head of Neighbourhood Services attended the meeting to give a presentation regarding the above.

It was explained that Sedgefield Borough Council had invested significantly in the Community Safety Service over the past decade.  The Service’s achievements included the development of the Community Force, the establishment of Sedgefield Borough Community Safety Partnership and the creation of the Community Care Force Centre, which included a combined CCTV and Community Alarm function. 

It was reported that in early 2003, Holden McAllister Partnership had been commissioned by the Borough Council to undertake an independent review of the Council’s Community Safety Service.  The report confirmed that Community Safety continued to be seen as a priority for residents of the Borough and concluded that whilst the development of the Sedgefield Borough Crime and Disorder Partnership had provided a framework for strategic intervention by partner organisations, the development of a Community Safety Strategy specifically for the Borough Council was a logical next step. 

With regard to the operational elements of the service, the report acknowledged that the development of the Community Force during the 1990s had been a bold and innovative step.  The Community Force had been one of the first schemes used to inform the national development of Neighbourhood and Street Warden initiatives and latterly, the Police Community Support Officers initiative.   The report concluded, however, that although the Community Force as a concept was pioneering, it now needed to refocus and together with the CCTV function, be set within the Corporate Strategy. 

It was explained that the service re-engineering would begin with Community Force Officers being re-designated Neighbourhood Wardens, with an increased emphasis on community engagement/public re-assurance, creating stronger links with Neighbourhood Management by targeting areas of greatest need, having powers to issue fixed penalty notices and operating flexible working patterns in response to need.

It was pointed out that the transition was supported by the recent Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Neighbourhood Renewal Unit national evaluation of the Neighbourhood Wardens Programme the evaluation recognised the unique role Neighbourhood Wardens played in neighbourhood renewal and recorded the overriding message from the evaluation that in successful schemes Neighbourhood Wardens can and were having an impact in areas of increased resident satisfaction, reduced fear of crime particularly for older people, decline in overall rates of crime, perceived improvements in environmental problems and contributing to tackling anti-social behaviour.  In fact, the ODPM evaluation did commend Sedgefield Borough Council’s existing Neighbourhood Warden Scheme that operated at Dean Bank, Ferryhill and West Ward, Newton Aycliffe in their efforts to reduce youth disorder and anti-social behaviour by engaging young people in a number of innovative initiatives.

The re-engineered Sedgefield Borough Council Neighbourhood Warden Service included features identified by the ODPM evaluation as common in schemes that were working well such as having a tailored and flexible approach, involving a wide variety of stakeholders including resident participation, active and represented steering groups, good management, partnership based, highly visible, targeted deployment based on need and having good quality and well trained staff.  Neighbourhood Wardens would be community based although provision would be made for a central mobile response, including the out-of-hours service up to 10 p.m. and targeted joint working between the Wardens as a team and with others such as Police, Environmental Protection Officers, Neighbourhood Management, Housing Management and Tenancy Enforcement. The Wardens would work with Resident groups and Schools and provide re-assurance to vulnerable groups.

Deployment of the thirteen Neighbourhood Wardens within the local communities had been determined by development of a matrix of needs taking account of population, levels of depravation, recorded crime and anti-social behaviour, Council housing stock numbers, priority areas amongst older private sector housing, NRF and other partnership funding and other services operating within the area. Based upon the above assessment Neighbourhood Wardens would be deployed within the five management areas across the Borough targeting communities of greatest need.  Deployment according to the needs based assessment matrix would be kept under regular view and any adjustments would be made accordingly.

It was noted that the Council would have access to the Airwaves digital radio communications system used by Durham Constabulary to promote joint working and information flow between Police Headquarters/Officers and the CCTV Control Rooms and Neighbourhood Wardens.

The Forum was also informed that a Council’s CCTV service was programmed to be reviewed in the final quarter of 2004, and a Community Safety Strategy for Sedgefield Borough was being developed, which would take account of the changing external environment and link Council services to the strategic directions set by Government Office Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and the Local Strategic Partnership.

Specific reference was made to the establishment of the Neighbourhood Warden Steering Group. The Group would include representatives from the five Area Forums. It would meet on a quarterly basis, monitor and review performance and be involved in service planning. The Forum agreed that consideration would be given to the nomination of a representative from Area 3 Forum at the next meeting of the Forum.

Erection of 10 dwellings on land east of Alnwick Avenue, Trimdon Grange.

Report of Director Neighbourhood Services.

Erection of 10 dwellings on land east of Alnwick Avenue, Trimdon Grange.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services regarding a request received from Alexander Developments (North East) to name the above development.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members of the Forum suggested William Way, William Walk and Amble Park as names for the new development.  

To consider the attached letter.

Consideration was given to a letter regarding the appointment of an Alternate for Area 3 Forum to the Local Strategic Partnership Board for the Borough.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

It was agreed that Councillor T. Ward be appointed as the Alternate to represent Area 3 Forum at the Local Strategic Partnership Board.

A copy of a letter received from Transco regarding vandalism to Gas Boxes is attached for information.

It was noted that since concerns were raised at the previous meeting regarding vandalism to gas boxes contact had been made with Transco and the relevant departments at Sedgefield Borough Council. The issue was being reviewed.

The Chairman will take questions from the floor.

Proposed Windfarm Site

David Smith, a representative of Trimdon Area Group Against the Windfarm, raised concerns regarding the proposed site.  It was agreed that concerns would be forwarded to the relevant department.  

Scheduled to be held on 10^th November 2004 at 7.00p.m.

Scheduled to be held on 10^th November, 2004 at 7.00 p.m. 

To consider any other business which, with the consent of the Chairman, may be submitted.  Representatives are respectfully requested to give the Chief Executive Officer notice of items to be raised under this heading no later than 12 noon on the day preceding the meeting in order that consultation may take place with the Chairman who will determine whether the item will be accepted.