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

No declarations of interest were submitted.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6^th July 2005

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 6^th July 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to reference being made to the Street Safe Initiative. (For copy see file of Minutes)

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

Sergeant B. O’Connor was present at the meeting to give details of the crime statistics in the area.  It was reported that crime statistics were as follows:

Sergeant O’Connor explained that the total number of incidents had decreased.

With regard to assault it was explained that reporting procedures had been amended. This had resulted in very minor assaults being reported.

Reference was made to the Licensing Act 2003, which had come into force on 7^th February 2005.  It was reported that consultation took place with the police on all applications that were received.

Members were informed that a pub watch scheme had been set up in the Trimdon and Fishburn area. In response to a question raised by a member of the forum it was explained that communication could take place between Trimdon/Fishburn pub watch and Sedgefield pub watch.

The Forums attention was drawn to the fact that a beat officer had recently been appointed for the Trimdon area.

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

P Irving was present at the meeting to update the Forum on all local health matters. 

It was explained that since the last meeting the star rating for the PCT had been received. Sedgefield PCT had achieved 3 star status.  It was pointed out that the PCT would now be working towards ‘Better Standards for Health’, a new assessment process that was based on 24 core standards.

The Director of Public Health’s Annual Report ‘The Health and Wellbeing of People in Sedgefield’ had also been published.

Reference was made to the document ‘Commissioning and Patient Lead NHS’ which dealt with the proposed re-organisation of the NHS.  The proposed re-organisation could include the merger of six PCT’s - Durham and

Chester-le-Street, Sedgefield, Easington, Durham Dales, Derwentside and Darlington - to form a County Durham and Darlington Trust. 

It was hoped that the features of the smaller PCT’s together with strong community leadership could be maintained throughout the restructure. 

The Forum was given an update in relation to the Tees Review. It was explained that a joint committee had been established in relation to the DARZI review.  A consultation document was also being prepared.

Members were informed that an open meeting to discuss future development plans for the Community Empowerment Network would be held on the 23^rd September 2005 at Mainsford Community Association.   

Reference was also made to an event which had recently been held for the younger generation.

Wednesday 9^th November 2005 at Ceddesfeld Hall, Sedgefield

Wednesday 9^th November 2005 at Ceddesfeld Hall, Sedgefield