To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on  26^th July 2005

The minutes of the meeting held on the 26^th July 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

A representative from the Police Force will be present at the meeting to give an update in relation to crime figures etc.

Acting Inspector Stephen Ball was present at the meeting to give details of crime statistics in the Newton Aycliffe area and answer Members questions.

The crime figures for the month of August were as follows:

Total crime                              197

Violent Crime                            51

Burglary                                          4

Burglary Other                  0

Vehicle Crime                            7

Vehicle Theft                             5

Theft from vehicle                           2

Total theft                               54

It was pointed out that the average detection rate for the month of August was 31%.  Violent crime had increased by 65% however this did not mean that violent crime on the street had increased by 65%, rather more incidents of domestic violence in the home were being reported.

With regard to rowdy nuisance behaviour, the following number of incidents had been reported:

Members of the Forum expressed concern regarding the number of incidents in the Shafto St Marys ward in the month of August.  Councillor. M . Iveson Lead Member for Community Safety for the Borough Council reported that he was not aware that anti-social behaviour was a problem in that ward and the Council had recently undertaken a clean up operation in the field adjacent to Woodham Comprehensive School.  Acting Inspector Ball reported that he would analyse the incidents and report back.

Members of the Forum again expressed concern regarding the difficulties being encountered in contacting the Police by using the non-urgent telephone number.  Acting Inspector Ball asked all those experiencing difficulties to make a note of the date and time of their calls so those details could be checked against the staffing of the Communication Centre at that particular time and the number of calls processed. 

Members of the Forum were advised to dial 999 if they got no reply to the non-urgent number and they felt a quick response from the Police was required.

The Forum again requested that the Head of Communications, Durham Constabulary be invited to attend the next meeting of the Forum to discuss the communication problems.

A representative from the Primary Care Trust will be present at the meeting to report on progress

Charles McCaughey, Director of Primary Care Sedgefield PCT was present at the meeting to give a progress update.

It was reported that Primary Care Trusts across the country would be re-configurated by October 2006 following the publication of the document ‘Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS’.  The Strategic Health Authority would make a recommendation to the Department of Health by 15^th October 2005 on the future PCT configuration in County Durham.  It was anticipated that a single Trust would be established for County Durham and Darlington.  The decision on the probable structure would be made in December 2005, however there would be a process of consultation between December 2005 and February 2006.

It was reported that the Leaders and Chief Executive Officers of the District Councils within County Durham had met with David Flory, Chief Executive Officer of the new Strategic Health Authority to express their concerns regarding the proposal to have one PCT to cover such a large area.  It was felt that health services were best provided on a locality basis, and there should be at least two PCTs established, at the very minimum. If that arrangement was not achieved, strong locality arrangements should be maintained.

Members of the Forum reported that they felt that the existing structure of PCTs in County Durham was working well and there was no need for change.  Sedgefield PCT had obtained a 3 star rating and had made great improvements in the standards of care and clinical governance within the Borough. 

Copies of Sedgefield PCT’s Annual Report and Summary Financial Statements 2004/05 were available at the meeting for information.  The Annual Report gave details of how local health services had improved in the past 12 months. It made particular reference to the development of Integrated Teams to promote improved information sharing amongst professionals, which resulted in a faster, safer service for patients.

Specific reference was also made to the Darzi Report on the future of Acute Hospital Services in Tees Valley.  It was explained that the communities in Sedgefield Village, Trimdons and Fishburn tended to see Hartlepool Hospital or Stockton Hospital as their local hospital rather than Darlington Memorial or Bishop Auckland.   Also South Tees Hospital Trust especially James Cooke acted as a specialist centre for all patients needing more specialist services in Sedgefield PCT.

The Forum noted that Sedgefield PCT was part of a joint committee of 6 PCTs that was responsible for the consultation process and the recommendations that would come from the Darzi Report.  The Committee was preparing a consultation document that would allow local communities to comment on the Darzi proposals and influence the shape of future services.

AGREED        1       That the Forum is opposed to the proposed reduction of the number of PCTs in County Durham and wished to see at least two PCTs remaining and if that was not possible then locality arrangements based on current configuration be established.

2. That the Chairman of the Forum sends a letter to the Chief Executive of Sedgefield PCT congratulating him and his staff on achieving the 3 star rating, and the great improvements they have made in the standards of care and clinical governance within the Borough.

The Chairman reported that she had recently attended a meeting of the Chairmen of the Area Forums with Andy Palmer Head of Strategy and Regeneration to discuss the implementation of a Local Improvement Programme through which a number of schemes would be advanced to support the provision of affordable housing or bring unused/under used land and buildings into more beneficial use.

 It was explained that the Borough Council had received substantial receipts from the sale of land and had agreed to use resources to support activities that fell within the office of the Deputy Prime Ministers eligible expenditure definition of regeneration and affordable housing.  It was noted that the money allocated to each Area Forum locality was based on the number of households within that locality,

Area 5 locality would receive:

£105,000 in 2005/06

£345,000 in 2006/07         

£345,000 in 2007/08         

£345,000 in 2008/09

It was reported that Area Forums along with Town and Parish Councils, community and voluntary sectors 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 Sedgefield Borough Cabinet.

 It was pointed out that a team of staff at Sedgefield Borough Council would be available to support the development of schemes and it was agreed to invite Andy Palmer to attend a future meeting of the Forum to provide more details of the initiative.

Specific reference was also made to the substantial amount of money which would be available in 2005/06 and 2006/07 to support works to play areas within the Borough.

Next meeting is scheduled to be held on 29^th November 2005

Tuesday 29^th November 2005 at 7.00pm at Great Aycliffe Town Council Offices.