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 9^th November 2005

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November, 2005 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 on crime statistics and initiatives in the area.

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

Reference was made to underage persons consuming alcohol in public houses. It was explained that the police together with the principal licensing officer from the Borough Council had visited a number of public houses with regard to this issue.

Members were informed that the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for the Trimdon area had recently left their post. A replacement PCSO would be appointed as soon as possible.

It was also reported that Special Constables had been deployed in Sedgefield Village.

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

P. Irving and D. Halladay were present at the meeting to update the Forum on local health matters.

Reference was made to achieving access targets, which were submitted to the Board Meeting each month.

It was explained that patients who wished to do so should have access to a Primary Healthcare professional within 24 hours and a GP within 48 hours.  Patients should also be able to make an appointment to visit a GP a week in advance.

Discussion took place in relation to the problems that Trimdon residents encountered in trying to access a GP.  It was explained that it was often difficult to contact the surgery via telephone and appointments could not always be made in advance.  It was agreed that this issue would be raised with leaders on access to GP’s at the PCT.

It was pointed out that the practice manager at the Trimdon surgery held patient expression groups to enable patients to express their concerns.

Members were updated on the financial position of the PCT.

Reference was made to the availability of the Choose and Book Service, which offered patients the choice of time, date and 4 providers for their first outpatient appointment. It was noted that Sedgefield PCT compared well with other PCTs in relation to the Choose and Book Service.

With regard to the implementation of the dentist contract it was noted that 6 out of 11 dentists had accepted that contract.

Specific reference was made to the proposed re-organisation of the NHS.  Members were informed that a public meeting regarding the future PCT configuration would be held on 24^th February, 2006 at Spennymoor Town Hall.  Documentation regarding the proposal would also be available from the PCT and Strategic Health Authority.

Arrangements have been made for an officer from the Council’s regeneration section to attend to give a presentation regarding the above

A. Palmer, Head of Strategy and Regeneration, was present at the meeting to give details of the above Programme.

It was explained that the Borough Council had received a substantial receipt from the sale of land and had agreed to use the money to support activities that fell within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s eligible expenditure definition of ‘Regeneration’ and ‘Affordable Housing’.

It was pointed out that schemes to be advanced through the Local Improvement Programme would need to demonstrate the following:

·        Conformity to the specified ODPM Regeneration and Affordable Housing Criteria.

Affordable Housing - ‘the provision of dwellings to meet the housing needs, as identified by the local authority, of persons on low incomes, whether provided by the local authority or a registered local landlord…..’

          Regeneration - ‘any project for the carrying out of works or activities on any land where the land, or a building on the land, is vacant, unused, under-used, ineffectively used, contaminated or derelict; and

The works or activities are carried out in order to secure that the

         land or the building will be brought into effective use.’

·        Clear linkages to the delivery of the Council’s Community Strategy and its key aims and planned outcomes.

·        Appropriate levels of community consultation and reference to any Local Community Appraisal.

·        Provision of sufficient level of detail in the project submissions to show a specific quantification of the benefits to be achieved by the investment and to explain the process by which the scheme would be delivered and over what time period.

·        How any recurrent or revenue funding implications would be managed.

·        Value for money should be clearly demonstrated to include any match funding from other grant sources.

Allocations were based on the local area’s percentage share of households within the Borough.  Area 3 locality would receive between

 £160 and £170 thousand per year for a period of five years.

It was emphasised that there was no pressure to spend allocated budgets within any one financial year as unspent money would be rolled forward into the next financial year and protected for that Area Forum. 

It was reported that Area Forums along with Town and Parish Councils community and voluntary sector stakeholders would be invited to consider schemes that would be eligible for support under the Programme.  The final decision on which schemes would proceed, would be made by Sedgefield Borough Cabinet.

A team of staff at Sedgefield Borough Council would be available to support the development of schemes and would score applications received against the criteria

Arrangements have been made for a representative from the Community Empowerment Network, to attend the meeting to give details of the work of the Community Empowerment Network.

Councillor Mrs. L. Hovvels was present at the meeting to give details of the work of the Community Empowerment Network (CEN).

It was explained that the Forums held by CEN had been developed to allow communities to discuss their views, the results of which would then be passed to the LSP Board.

CEN aimed to engage with the wider community in order to improve the area and local services

Reference was made to ‘sharing of ideas’ days that had been held throughout the Borough. It was reported that these events had been very successful.

The Chairman will take questions from the floor.

Wednesday 1^st March 2006 at Trimdon Colliery Community Centre

Wednesday 1^st March 2006 at Trimdon Colliery Community Centre.