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

Councillor Mrs. S.J. Iveson indicated that she would be declaring a personal and prejudicial interest in Item No : 6 - Local Improvement Programme - Aycliffe Village Hall - User of the Hall.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on22nd January 2008

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd January 2008 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.

Sergeant Rogers was present at the meeting to give details of the crime figures for the area.

The figures for December 2007 and January 2008 were as follows :-

Reference was made to the request for information to be given on a Ward-by-Ward basis.  The following information was given :-

Reference was made to the increase which had taken place during February in relation to theft from cars of satellite navigation systems, radios, laptops, etc., and also cars being stolen and where keys had been left in the ignition.  Members of the public needed to be aware of these dangers.

Concerns were raised regarding the problems of intimidation by youths in the Town Centre area in relation to the purchase of alcohol.  Better use of CCTV was needed in this regard.

The Forum was asked to set three neighbourhood priorities for Area 5 for the next six months.  The following suggestions were put forward and agreed as neighbourhood priorities for Area 5 for the next six months :-

Ø               Anti-social Behaviour

Ø               Domestic Violence

Ø               Substance Misuse.

A representative from County Durham PCT will be present at the meeting to seek the views of the Forum on future health service provision in Newton Aycliffe Town Centre.

David Gallagher from Durham County PCT was present at the meeting to seek the views of the Forum on future health service provision in Newton Aycliffe Town Centre.

It was explained that clinical services had been relocated from the existing health centre to the Pioneering Care Partnership Centre at Cobblers Hall.  This allowed an opportunity for new health care provision to be developed in the Town Centre.

It was intended to provide some kind of health facility in the vicinity of the Leisure Centre which would be easily accessible.

Mr. Gallagher explained that he was at the meeting to gauge the views of the Forum on the types of service which could be provided in the new premises.  It was important that the right services be incorporated.  The ethos of the Centre was the provision of shared services and use as a “one-stop shop”.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Executive regarding the above.   (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members were reminded that the Area 5 Forum had been allocated £1,140,000 of Local Improvement Programme Capital Resources between 2006 and 2009.  A total of £380,000 had been allocated for the Year 2007/8. 

Graham Morgan and Pauline Clayton from the Neville Parade Methodist Church were in attendance to present the application and answer questions.

The project involved bringing  the small hall into a usable condition to encourage more community activities in the hall.  Works included a new entrance porch, double glazing, suspended ceiling, accessible toilets, decoration and carpeting.

The total amount requested was £18,471 representing 88% of the total estimated project cost.

AGREED :   That the Forum supports the project.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) outlining an application from Great Aycliffe Village Hall Association.

Tony Etheridge from the Association was present at the meeting to outline the application and answer questions.

The project would provide stage lighting and curtains which would enable amateur theatre productions.  A blazed entrance feature creating additional use of space of 30 sq.mts. would also be provided as well as improved access to the village hall.

The total requested from the Local Improvement Programme was £44,815 representing 92% of the total project cost.

AGREED :         That the project be supported.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Executive regarding the above.   (For copy see file of Minutes).

Andrew Bailey, Clerk to Great Aycliffe Town Council, was in attendance to present the application and answer questions.

The project involved the refurbishment of the present run-down tennis courts to provide a double multi use games area and two tennis courts for unrestricted community use.  In addition a small disused kiddy car track area would be refurbished to provide a toddlers play areas which was presently not provided in the adjacent junior play area.

The total amount requested from Local Improvement Programme was £89,245 representing 70% of the total estimated project cost.  The remaining 30% would be met from Great Aycliffe Town Council.

AGREED :   That the Forum support the project.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Executive regarding an application for Local Improvement Programme funding from Great Aycliffe Town Council.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The project aimed to bring into use the pavilion at Moor Lane Park.  Its future use would be to provide a working office and study centre for an Environment Officer and provide an educational resource for schools and community groups to access to provide a room that could be used by the Aycliffe Nature Park Association and to provide a room for community groups to use to provide a room for other activities such as cycle proficiency course and a start/finish walk to health walks.

The amount requested from LIP funding was £25,089.  This represented 67% of the total estimated project cost.  The remainder would be met from a contribution from Great Aycliffe Town Council.

AGREED :      That the application be supported.

Next meeting is scheduled to be held on 29^th April 2008

Next meeting to be held on 29^th April, 2008.