To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th July 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th July, 2004 were confirmed as a correct and signed by the Chairman.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

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

PC A. Lawton was present at the meeting to give details of crime statistics for the month of August, 2004.

The Forum was given details of a joint Police/SBC operation in Shildon to target problem tenants, littering and dog fouling.

It was explained that the CCTV camera was up and running in the vicinity of the skate park. Its deployment had been a great success and discussions would be held with representatives of Sedgefield Borough Council and Shildon Town Council regarding the possibility of providing funding for extra masts.  The mobile CCTV unit had also been deployed in the area, and a number of officers had been trained to use it. 

Members were reminded that tamper-proof tax disc holders were available from the Community Safety Group, based at Shildon Police Station.     

A representative of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust will attend the meeting to give an update on local health matters, performance figures and give a presentation on the Public Health Annual Report 2003/04, ‘The Health and Wellbeing of People in Sedgefield’.

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

Mrs. K.  Vasey was present at the meeting to give a presentation in respect of the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2003/2004 - ‘Health and Wellbeing of People in Sedgefield Borough.’ A copy of the summary leaflet and ‘Your Health Matters’ had been distributed to all members of the Forum. (For copies see file of Minutes).

It was explained that the purpose of the report was to provide an overall picture of health for the population, give a snapshot of health related issues in the five localities and act as ‘a stimulus for local action.

It was questioned whether the information contained in the report could be broken down to be more specific for the Shildon area.  It was agreed that this information would be provided for a future meeting.

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

The Forum was also informed that a Councils 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 John Smith be appointed as the representative for the Area 4 Forum at the Steering Group.

The Minutes of the Meeting held 21^st July 2004 are attached for information.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21^st July, 2004 were noted.

The Chairman will take questions from the floor.

Speed Humps

Objections were raised regarding the number of speed humps around Jubilee Estate.  It was pointed out that the issue had been raised directly with Durham County Council Highways Department and a letter would be sent from Shildon Town Council explaining concerns.

Scheduled to be held on 16^th November 2004 at 6.30p.m.

Scheduled to be held on 16^th November, 2004 at 6.30 p.m. in Hackworth Suite Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre, Middridge Lane, Shildon.

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.