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

No declarations of interest were received.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th May 2008.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th March, 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.

Inspector Neill reminded the Members of the Forum that at the previous meeting they had considered a set of three Neighbourhood Priorities for Area 5 for the next six months.  These were :-

Ø               Anti-social Behaviour

Ø               Domestic Violence

Ø               Substance Misuse.

It was explained that in relation to Anti-social Behaviour five specific areas would be covered over the next six weeks.  Five priority areas were to be determined by the Forum for specific attention during the next six weeks and an update would be given at the next meeting of the Forum.  The Forum identified the following areas :-

Baliol Green/Oak Tree area

Tesco and the surrounding streets

Entrance to Greenwells town centre from Greenwell Road

Garburn Place/Skipton Close

The underpass in the vicinity of Avon Court

Sergeant Milne then outlined the current crime figures for the Area for March 2008 which were as follows :-

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.

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 2007/08.

The aim of the project was to refurbish St. Oswalds Park.  There were four areas that had been identified as particularly requiring capital investment for improvement and consisted of a disused roller skating rink a disused bowling green a junior play area and an infants play area.  Those areas would be refurbished on a two stage phased basis.  Great Aycliffe Town Council intended to fund a second stage with monies from their 2009/2010 budget.

Phase 1 would consist of refurbishment of the disused roller skating rink to a junior play area, the refurbishing of the infant play area and the disused bowling green to a formal garden.

Phase 2 would involve the junior play being refurbished and a picnic area created.

The total amount requested was £134,740 representing 84% of the total estimated project cost.

AGREED :            That the Forum support the project.

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

Gary Farley, Alan Oliver and Brian Atkinson from Newton Aycliffe Sports Club were in attendance to answer questions on the application which had been considered by the Area Forum in October, 2007 and was being reconsidered by the Forum as a result of increased costs.

The project involved the provision of a senior football pitch to a standard specified by the Northern League (Division 2) with floodlights, spectator fencing, perimeter fencing and new self-contained changing rooms for two teams plus officials.  The field would be reached by a new footpath with lights.  The intention was also to create a new junior football pitch on the club site.  The cricket club would have a practice net area with two lanes and the rugby club a new floodlight training area.  The cricket score board would also be repositioned and the current changing rooms relocated.  The patio area to the front of the main sports hall would also be refurbished.

The total amount requested from the Local Improvement Programme was £304,980.

AGREED:            That the project be supported.

To be agreed at Annual Meeting of Council on 16^th May 2008.

Next meeting to be arranged at the Annual Meeting of Council on 16^th May, 2008.