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 29^th April 2008

The Minutes of the meeting held on 29^th April 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 G. Milne outlined the crime figures for the area for April, May and June 2008, which were as follows:

It was noted that crime incidents for the year to date were down by 23.6% and anti-social behaviour incidents had also decreased by 6.7%.

Members were then given an update of actions taken in respect of the neighbourhood priority areas, identified at the last meeting of the Forum.

Town Centre

The areas around Greenwell Road and Dalton Way have had extensive patrols, both plain clothes and uniform, and groups of youths had been challenged, with any alcohol seized and anti-social behaviour forms submitted.  Off licences had also been visited and staff had been made aware of local issues and had agreed to challenge purchases of alcohol. 

It was noted that a substantial amount of alcohol had been seized from a large group of youths on school leaver’s night.

With regard to graffiti in the town centre, it was noted that a number of youths had been arrested. 

It was suggested that the Town Centre should continue to be a priority area and further actions be concentrated around the Town Park/Tesco and Dalton Way.

Baliol Green/Oak Tree

It was reported that the police had been of the view that the anti-social behaviour problems in the above area were associated with a problem tenant in Baliol Green, who was attracting groups of youths.  The tenant had been visited by the Police and Tenancy Enforcement and since that visit, the number of problems had reduced.  It was also noted that the Council’s Streetscene department had been contacted to clear up the debris left in the area. 

It was suggested that a future priority for action should be the old railway line from Blue Bridge to Travellers Green where there were problems with youths drinking alcohol.

Skipton Close/Hawes Place

There had been no rowdy nuisance calls in July from the above area.  The current problem areas appeared to be Garburn Place and Honister Place where there had been incidents of criminal damage and the riding of mini motors was also causing a nuisance. 

It was noted that the area would be included in a Street Safe initiative, which would commence at the end of August.

Avon Court

The above area had been extensively patrolled, by both the Police and Community Support officers and there had been a reduction in the number of incidents from 22 in February /March to 6. 

It was suggested that a future area for action should be the school premises in Byerley, St.Francis, Greenfields and Horndale, the evangelical church Blackton Close and the area around Greenfield Nursing Home.

It was also noted that a number of drugs warrants had been executed in Newton Aycliffe and quantities of drugs had been seized and persons prosecuted. 

Reference was made to Operation Summer Nights, which would be targeting anti-social behaviour and youths drinking alcohol. There would also be increased patrols of schools as educational premises were often victims of criminal damage during school holidays.

AGREED:      1.         That the areas identified for future action be supported.

2.                  That the Police arrange to publicise their successful

initiatives/actions in local newspapers.

Helen Dent Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction Manager attended the meeting to give an update on the forthcoming Streetsafe operation.

Streetsafe operations were aimed at tackling issues that impacted on a community’s quality of life, such as criminality, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental issues.

It was reported that four joint operations were undertaken within the Borough each year.  The operations involved the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, DVLA, Sedgefield Borough Council Neighbourhood Wardens, Environmental Health, Streetscene, Licensing, Leisure Services, Youth Engagement Services and Durham County Council Education in the Community. 

It was explained that the Crime Reduction Partnership did not use a matrix to select an area as the focus would always be on the same 2 areas in the Borough. Instead a index of vulnerable localities was used.  Members noted that the area selected was around Malham Crescent and included the following:

Airton Place

Arncliffe Place

Askrigg Close

Aysgarth Close

Bakewell Place

Bates Close

Booth Walk

Brockett Close

Fox Place

Hedley Close

Hawes Place

Kestral Court

Loraine Walk

Marrick Close

Pateley Close

Reeth Place

Sampson Place

Scott Place

Skipton Close

Stainforth Close

Rylstone Close

Thornton Close

Burnhill Way Methodist Centre - Side Chaplin

Turbinia  (Public House) - Side Chaplin

Bells Store - Side Chaplin

Aycliffe Chop Suey House - Side Chaplin

Newton Aycliffe Cemetery - Stephenson Way

Funeral Parlour - Stephenson Way 

Town Cemetery - Stephenson Way

The operation would commence on Tuesday 26^th August and last for 4 weeks.  The operation would involve a ‘Have Your Say’ day, clean up the area days and various youth activities, including a football tournament.

The clean up your area days were scheduled for Friday 12^th and Saturday 13^th September when all unwanted items such as white goods and furniture would be taken away free of charge. 

It was intended that the ‘Have Your Say’ day would be held in Burnhill Methodist Church Hall, however, the date was still to be confirmed.

The Forum welcomed the initiative, however, a number of Members expressed concern that whilst the operation was ongoing, some youths who caused anti-social behaviour problems, would probably move to other areas of the town. 

It was noted that the results of the Streetsafe operation would be reported to a future meeting of the Forum.

AGREED :     That the information be noted.

To consider the attached report.

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive which provided an update of project activity as part of Sedgefield Borough’s Local Improvement Programme.  (For copy see file of Minutes). 

It was reported that 10 further applications had been received prior to the closing date for new applications of 31^st July 2008.

AGREED :     That the content of the report be noted and that further reports be brought to

 the Area Forum as progress on particular projects develops.

Members expressed concern that regarding the lack of information regarding the provision of health services within Sedgefield Borough, in particular in Area 5.  They requested that representatives of County Durham Primary Care Trust should attend the Area 5 Forum meetings on a regular basis. 

Specific reference was made to the Health Commission, which had been established by the Local Government Association and its request for a major strengthening of arrangements to hold health services to account at al local level. 

It was reported that in an opinion poll for the Commission, more than half of the respondents did not know what a Primary Care Trust was or did, in spite of the fact that PCTs were responsible for commissioning local health services and controlled more than 75% of the NHS budget.

AGREED :                             That a representative of County Durham PCT be asked to                  attend meetings of Area 5 Forum on a regular basis.

Next meeting is scheduled to be held on 30^th September 2008.

Tuesday 30^th September 2008 at 7.00 p.m.