Meeting documents

Area 4 Forum (SBC)
Tuesday 14 November 2006 6.30 pm

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Agenda and Minutes

Area 4 Forum
Tuesday, 14th November, 2006 6.30 p.m.

Venue: Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre

Contact: Miss S. Billingham, Tel 01388 816166 Ext 4240, sbillingham@sedgefield.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

17.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

It was noted that Councillors D.M.Hancock and Mrs. I Jackson-Smith and Councillor M. Stott, Shildon Town Council would each be declaring a personal interest in respect of Item 7 - Local Improvement Programme - as they were Shildon Town Councillors.

 

18.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 84 K

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 19th September.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19th September, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

19.

POLICE REPORT

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

Minutes:

Acting Inspector S. Ball was present at the meeting to give details of the crime statistics for the area.

 

The reported crime figures for September and October were as follows :-

 

 

 

September

October

 

Total Crime

119

86

Violent Crime

21

12

Dwelling Burglary

4

6

Burglary Other

7

11

Criminal Damage

44

34

Vehicle Theft

5

3

Theft from Vehicle

9

5

Damage to Vehicle

19

11

Shoplifting

4

5

Total theft

36

18

Nuisance/Rowdy Behaviour

103

119

 

Acting Inspector Ball informed Members that Shildon now had 4 PCSOs.  One vacant position had been filled and another officer would be joining the area upon completion of their training in two weeks time.

 

With regard to St. Johns Churchyard it was explained that a number of trees had been cut back and the area had generally been tidied up, including necessary repair work. Acting Inspector Ball pointed out that he had not been informed of any further problems.

 

20.

NORTH EAST COUNCIL ON ADDICTIONS

Minutes:

Barbara Turnbull, Project Manager for North East Council on Addictions (NECA) was present to inform Members of the work carried out by the organisation.

 

It was pointed out that it was established in 1975 as North East Council on Alcoholism, however, as trends changed and drugs and solvent use became prevalent the name was changed to North East Council on Addictions.  Since that time the organisations size had increased and now employed 230 staff and was funded by the Government.

 

The organisation works in partnership with various other bodies and has officers based at Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland with outreach services throughout the Borough. It targets those who are hard to reach with a priority to aid drug use.

 

Questions were raised as to whether help was sought voluntarily or whether clients were sent under another scheme. It was explained that people came via various routes, however, in order to tackle the problems they need to attend voluntarily.

    

21.

REVIEW OF AREA FORUMS pdf icon PDF 128 K

To seek views regarding the proposals set out in the attached report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

D. Anderson, Principal Democratic Services Officer, was present at the meeting to seek views regarding the proposals set out in the attached report. (For copy see file of Minutes).

 

The Forum was reminded that a Scrutiny Review Group had been established to examine the operation of Area Forums to determine their effectiveness to identify changes that could be made to strengthen community involvement. The Forum’s attention was drawn to the following recommendations of the Review Group :-

 

1.                  Area Forums and renamed and relaunched as Community Forums to reflect a greater emphasis on community involvement and the number replaced with a name that reflected the area.

 

2.            Agenda items be based on local issues identified through the development of the Local Area Framework and Local Improvement Plan.

 

3.            Membership of Area Forums be formalised to be representative of the community groups to which it aimed to serve.

 

4.            Implement a public question time at the beginning of each Forum.

 

A questionnaire seeking views on the above recommendations was circulated at the meeting for completion.

22.

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT pdf icon PDF 68 K

To consider the attached report outlining the proposed project: -

 

Hackworth Park Tennis Courts

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report detailing applications submitted to be approved by the Strategy and Regeneration Section for funding from the Local Improvement Project. (For copy see file of Minutes).

 

Members of the Forum were reminded of the procedure to be followed throughout the Local Improvement Project.

 

The following project was then outlined :-

 

Hackworth Park Tennis Courts

S. Palombella, Groundwork East Durham, was present to outline the application on behalf of Shildon Town Council, which was to redevelop the existing dilapidated tennis courts, improve access and carry out any additional essential works.

 

It was explained that the amount of requested from the Local Improvement Project was £34,999.  The remaining funding of £50,000 had been secured from Barclays Spaces for Sport, which brought the total project cost to £84,999.

 

It was explained that if the project was successful in obtaining the LIP funding and the work was carried out that Groundwork East Durham would be eligible to apply for development funding totalling £20,000. It would then be hoped that the development funding would enable Groundwork East Durham to work with youngsters to encourage them to take ownership of the project, which it was hoped would prevent vandalism.

 

Questioned were raised as to whether the current clubhouse would stay. It was explained that various options were being looked at.

 

AGREED :      That Cabinet be recommended to support the Hackworth Park Tennis Courts Project.

  

23.

QUESTIONS

The Chairman will take questions from the floor.

Minutes:

General Communication

Discussion was held regarding communication between the Borough Council, Town and Parish Councils and the public. It was felt that consultation and communication needed to be improved. Specific reference was made to planning issues. It was felt that the current consultation process when dealing with planning issues was not sufficient. Specific concerns were raised to consulting only those residents living in the close vicinity of a development when all residents in the area should be given the opportunity to comment.

 

Play Areas

Discussion was held regarding the feasibility study, which had taken place across the Borough to consider areas for play facilities.

24.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

16th January 2007 at Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre at 6.30 p.m.

Minutes:

16th January, 2007 at Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre at 6.30 p.m.