The report was introduced by Vincent Fajilagmago, Licensing Officer who provided the Committee with an update relating to the Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) initiative in Mile End and the Best Bar None (BBN) Scheme within the Borough. He informed the Committee of the following: -

·       The aim of the CAP and BBN was to seek to lower alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) with the Borough.

·       The first CAP area focussed on Bethnal Green and St Peter’s Ward where the main issue of concern identified the underage sales by off-licences in the area. CAP referred these premises to a responsible retail training scheme that was being run by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service to address the concerns.

·       A CAP survey was undertaken between November 2015 and December 2015 across Tower Hamlets to gauge residents’ views on alcohol related crime and ASB. The results of the survey indicated Mile End as an area that suffered from public alcohol consumption and also highlighted that adults were the main cause of discomfort but with young people becoming involved with drinking and ASB.

·       As a result of the survey and information relating to crime a CAP scheme was set up in Mile End.

·       The CAP in Mile End concentrated on three main areas; Engagement, Education and Enforcement –

o   Engagement – a youth cohort was identified and the CAP strategy involved taking these youth off the streets through supporting and introducing structured sessions and employment opportunities. The Youth Employment Project (YEP) and the aesthetic improvements to the Mile End Park have assisted the cohort to become involved in other activities of seeking employment and improving local perceptions of the area and as a result over 40 young people have been in engaged.

o   Education – The CAP created a “Drop Down Day” product modelled on guidance from the Alcohol Education Trust and offered it free to schools and young groups within the area. This consisted of assembly talks on alcohol awareness being arranged with 4 schools to date and St Paul’s Way Academy now requesting alcohol related first aid sessions for their 243 young people. This has now been arranged with the Red Cross free of charge to be delivered to St Paul’s Way Academy.

o   Enforcement – The CAP introduced “Challenge 25” and issued free posters to the off-licenses in the Mile End area and its surrounding wards. Then compliance testing was carried out in August 2016 and test purchase operations with Trading Standards for underage sales in September 2016. 22 were tested with 5 failures who were issued with warning letters and offered training.

·       The CAP also went into the Urban Adventure Base (UAB), which a youth club based in Mile End and assisted them to effectively use their CCTV system to record evidence of ASB activity and to provide this evidence to the Safer Communities Tasking Group who then requested THEO patrols over 4 weeks. As a result there were 17 patrols conducted between 26 September to 24 October with 8 CSAS name and addresses request, 3 CSAS alcohol seizures and 1 cannabis warning.

·       BBN attracted 10 venues last year for the award and to date 27 venues have already applied.

·       This year the BBN have been successful in gaining the support of the Canary Wharf and the Truman Brewery who have agreed to be partners.

·       BBN has also been added to the proposed Town Centre Strategy to enhance its visibility and for the first time has invited restaurants who are licensed to sell alcohol to apply for this award.

·       13 restaurants have applied and this should raise the standards of compliance within these premises and assist in reducing touting within Brick Lane.

The CAP has successfully engaged with both organisation and youths within the Mile End area resulting in diversionary and employment activities and opportunities. Initial reports are that all measures have worked to reduce alcohol related ASB within the Mile End area and the CAP intends to re-survey in January 2017 and it is estimated that this will demonstrate the CAPs successes and show a marked difference on the target area. Both these initiatives the CAP and BBN are funded on an annual basis from the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) core budget that is not supported from the public health allocation. The resources support the fixed term post of a Licensing Project Officer within the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service.

The Committee raised the following: -

·       The work being done relating to the CAP and the BBN was quite good even though it proved to be tough at times;

·       There is an opportunity to link in with the Council’s employment section and use Council resources for some of the projects, rather than trying to create links that may already exist; and

·       Is the funding for the post taken from the core budget.

Vincent Fajilagmago informed the Committee that he had already made contact with the Council and had re-newed links with the Princes Trust and that they were excited about 2017 and having a dynamic start to the year with training and employment to improve confidence and in keep the young people off the streets.

David Tolley, Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards informed the Committee that the DAAT is a Council department and does not benefit from Public Health funding. However, services had to be commissioned and as such a bid was submitted last year and this year for the project which was successful and would again be submitted for next year.

The Committee: -

1.     Thanked the officers for the report and the detailed information; and

2.     Agreed the recommendations.