To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May, 2006 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.

The following details of crime statistics for the area were given :

It was noted that incidents of rowdy nuisance had increased from the previous month.  However, the number of total recorded crime had reduced.

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

P. Irving and D. Rutherford attended the meeting to give an update on local health matters.

The Forum was informed that in relation to the re-organisation of PCTs the cluster for the North East had been agreed.  There was a reduction in County Durham and Darlington from six to two Primary Care Trusts with Darlington remaining as a single Trust.  The re-organisation would take effect from 1^st October.

It was also explained that the Strategic Health Authority had been merged and now was known as NHS North East.  The joint new Chief Executive had been appointed and was David Flory.

The detailed Human Resources framework was being drawn up and staff informed.  It was anticipated that a new Chief Executive would be appointed in August.  The re-organised PCT would still have a strong locality base and local arrangements were being encouraged at all levels.  Reference was made to the financial position of the PCT and it was noted that the 2005/06 financial year had been better than expected.  However, a turnaround plan still needed to be introduced for 2006/07 to ensure that the PCT went into re-organisation in a healthy position.  A turnaround team had been set up to formally manage the process.

In relation to pandemic flu, the risk remained low but real.  Patients still needed to be encouraged to have the normal flu vaccine as a deterrent.  Sufficient vaccine should be available. Vaccine to combat the pandemic flu, however, could not be manufactured until the strain was identified. 

Reference was made to patient-led NHS.  A number of staff changes had taken place in the PCT and interim arrangements in terms of management structures were in place.  Darlington, like other PCTs,  were going through a Fitness for Purpose process to ensure the strategic direction fitted with the overall national plan.

The Strategic Health Authority had appointed Director of Finance, Director of Nursing and the Director of Public Health and the senior management team was now in place. 

Workshops had been organised relating to the White Paper, “Our Health, Our Care, Our Say” with a greater emphasis on partnership and links with the development of services across County Durham.

Members of the Forum were also informed that PCT Life Awards would be awarded at the end of September to mark the end of the PCT within four categories.  Details of how people could vote, within those categories, were advertised in GPs surgeries.

During discussion reference was made to car parking charges at hospitals which were a tremendous burden on visitors to patients.  It was explained that the PCT did not have a charging policy.  The hospitals imposed those charges and there was very little that the PCT could actually do to address the situation.

The Forum welcomed Emergency Care Practitioners which enabled older people to receive treatment in nursing homes and care homes without them having to go into hospital.  Emergency Care Practitioners visited those premises to deal with some patients.

A query was also raised in relation to the development of the new Health Centre in Newton Aycliffe and progress.  It was explained that there had been delays as a result of discussions between the developer and the County on contractual issues and the way the building was commissioned.  It was, however, hopeful that the situation would be able to be concluded before Sedgefield PCT was disbanded.

To consider the attached reports outlining the proposed projects:-

• Greenfield School and Community College - Changing

Accommodation and Admin area

• Great Aycliffe Town Council  - extension to Great Aycliffe Way and

Nature Park   

It was explained that consideration would be given to the following projects :-

·             Greenfield School and Community College - changing accommodation and admin. area.

·             Great Aycliffe Town Council - extension to Great Aycliffe Way and Nature Park.

         NB :            In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Members Code of Conduct the following Councillors declared interest :

                     Councillor M. Iveson - prejudicial and personal interests in both applications - Cabinet Member

                     Councillor Mrs. A.M. Fleming - prejudicial and personal interests in both applications - husband a Cabinet Member

                     Councillor V. Crosby - prejudicial and personal interests - both applications - Application 1 : Member of Greenfield Management Committee, Application 2 : Member of Great Aycliffe Town Council

                     Councillor Mrs. B.A. Clare - Application No : 1 - husband, Deputy Head of Greenfield School and Community College

                     Those Members left the meeting for the duration of the discussion and voting on the items on which they had declared an interest.

Andrew Megginson and Nicola Woodgate from Sedgefield Borough Regeneration Section together with Andrew Bailey, Great Aycliffe Town Council were present at the meeting to discuss the applications.

Andrew Megginson outlined the role of the Area Forum in the process and explained that the intention was to give local people the opportunity to have a say in local improvements.  The Area Forums would formulate an opinion on recommendations and their recommendation would be submitted to Cabinet for consideration as part of the decision-making process.

Greenfield School and Community College - changing accommodation and admin. area.

Mike Thornton, Head Teacher from Greenfield School and Community College was present at the meeting to outline the application.  It was explained that the project consisted of a new sports hall which was currently being built on the site funded through the New Opportunities Fund - PE and Sport in School Programmes.  However, due to cost over-running elsewhere in the Programme, there were insufficient funds to provide the necessary community changing accommodation and admin/reception area that was needed to provide the infrastructure to enable the community to become actively engaged in sports and leisure activities on the Greenfield site.  There was approximately a £600,000 shortfall on the project.

The total cost of the changing facilities etc., was £126,781 of which  £60,000 was being requested from the Local Improvement Programme.

The project contributed towards the Healthy Borough objective and had links to Strong Communities by providing safe neighbourhoods.  A programme of activities would be planned with partner clubs and organisations to increase the opportunities for those most at risk of offending.  There was also a link to an Attractive Borough by developing and maximising the leisure and cultural facilities in the Borough.

A full Needs Assessment had been undertaken as part of the New Opportunities Fund process.  Extensive consultation had been entered into with arranged Sports Clubs within the Newton Aycliffe area to determine their needs.  The construction of the building without changing facilities would cause a short term problem for clubs expressing an interest in using the facility.

It was noted that the application met the Local Improvement Programme criteria and was taking place on previously unused land with the aim of providing additional community resources on the site.

The Forum recommended that the project be supported and that Cabinet be informed of that recommendation.

Great Aycliffe Town Council - extension to Great Aycliffe Way and Nature Park

Andrew Bailey, Great Aycliffe Town Council was present at the meeting to give a presentation on the project.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

He explained that the project intended to extend the existing Great Aycliffe Way to the east of the town through woodland and open spaces via the Nature Park along disused Simpasture Railway via Wild Flower Meadow and link to existing path.  The  objective was also to improve the current Nature Park and make it more accessible.

The Forum was informed that the current Great Aycliffe Way was already very popular and well used by groups and individuals and there had been many requests from the public to improve/extend the Way during the Parish Plan process.

The Nature Park needed improvement to protect the Wild Flower Meadow which was a rare habitat and without management would revert to grassland.

The area was also designated a County Wildlife site and was regionally important.

The project would have a number of health, environmental and educational benefits.

The project had links to Sedgefield Borough’s Community Strategy through a Healthy Borough an Attractive Borough and a Prosperous Borough.  The project would promote Equality and Diversity, Youth Development and e-Government.  The Town Council would be working in partnership with Sedgefield Borough, Aycliffe Nature Park Association, Durham Wildlife Trust and English Nature.

The total cost of the project was £204,505.

During discussion a query was raised regarding continuing maintenance of the area and whether the money had been allocated in relation to maintenance.  In response it was explained that the Town Council would be contributing to the ongoing maintenance.

Reference was also made to the issues associated with use by cycles and motorcycles and the need to maintain the area as a walkway.

The project met all the Local Improvement Programme criteria.

The Forum recommended that the project be supported and Cabinet advised accordingly.

Next meeting is scheduled to be held on 26^th September 2006.

Next meeting to be held on 26^th September, 2006.