DECISION

1.    To note that the Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 is part of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy in Tower Hamlets (the Community Safety Plan);

2.    To note that as the Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 is part of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy then pursuant to the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, the Mayor as the Executive has responsibility for preparing the draft strategy for submission to the full Council to adopt;

3.    To note that the Action Plan is due to go to the DAAT Board on 11^th July 2016 to be further developed;

4.    To note that the draft Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 and Action Plan will be referred to the strategic partners for approval that the Strategy be adopted by their respective organisations;

5.    Having given careful analysis to the consultation response, to approve the draft Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 as drafted and recommend it to Full Council for adoption; and

6.    To note that if any further changes are made to the draft Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 or if, for any reason, any of the strategic partners do not approve the Strategy then a further report must be submitted to Cabinet for the Mayor to consider and make a fresh recommendation to Full Council.

Action by:

CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE (W. TUCKLEY)

(Service Head, Safer Communities (A. Bamber)

(DAAT Co-ordinator (R. Sadegh)

Councillor Shiria Khatun, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, introduced the report on the Substance Misuse Strategy. She highlighted that the current strategy expired in March 2016 and so a new Strategy was required. She explained that following Cabinet, the Strategy would be presented to Council for approval.

The Strategy had undergone consultation with residents, service users and partners and had been signed off by the Community Safety Partnership.

The overall structure of the existing strategy had been retained but there had been amendments. For example, the drug and alcohol chapters had been integrated and there had been a review of the consistency and quality of information provided.

During discussion officers noted that as well as the three year strategy there was a yearly action plan that would be monitored by the DAAT Board.

The Mayor noted the concerns of service users who were seeing their services change and officers confirmed they were working to minimise the impact of those changes. The Mayor agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note that the Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 is part of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy in Tower Hamlets (the Community Safety Plan);

2.    To note that as the Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 is part of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy then pursuant to the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, the Mayor as the Executive has responsibility for preparing the draft strategy for submission to the full Council to adopt;

3.    To note that the Action Plan is due to go to the DAAT Board on 11^th July 2016 to be further developed;

4.    To note that the draft Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 and Action Plan will be referred to the strategic partners for approval that the Strategy be adopted by their respective organisations;

5.    Having given careful analysis to the consultation response, to approve the draft Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 as drafted and recommend it to Full Council for adoption; and

6.    To note that if any further changes are made to the draft Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019 or if, for any reason, any of the strategic partners do not approve the Strategy then a further report must be submitted to Cabinet for the Mayor to consider and make a fresh recommendation to Full Council.