Agenda item

The Panel received a report that provided information to Members on Slough’s substance misuse services and sought comment on the draft Slough Alcohol Strategy.

Current provision of Slough treatment services were explained with three agencies delivering four broad components – early intervention and harm minimisation, psychosocial recovery, clinical provision and community re-integration.  The services were currently co-located and delivered from Maple House, although the Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) were currently sourcing alternative accommodation as the lease on the current premises expired next year.  Approximately seven hundred individuals were supported in treatment services within a year.  Performance indicators were monitored nationally by Public Health England’s Alcohol and Drugs Team and the Panel was provided with an overview of key indicators.  The key challenges identified by the service included meeting the level of demand given the pressures on local authority budgets and the likelihood of further savings; and finding appropriate accommodation for such services.  A strategic review of substance misuse services was underway to determine the scope and configuration of future services and the Panel would be kept updated of the outcomes of the review.

The new Slough Alcohol Strategy, which had been circulated as Appendix A to the report, was considered by the Panel following consultation with stakeholders and importantly with users.  It was an overarching strategy to address the negative effects of alcohol use and included four key themes:

·  Working in partnership

·  Responsible sale and consumption

·  Reducing harm

·  Protecting families

The strategy had been fully aligned with the Five Year Plan, and had a significant focus on prevention to enable individuals to take control of their alcohol consumption.  The cost of alcohol misuse in Slough was high in terms of hospital admissions, crime and the emergency response and the strategy had taken an innovative approach in seeking to address these issues.

Members highlighted the importance of working with the licensed trade, particularly off-licences, to seek to restrict certain practices that were considered to encourage problem drinking such as the sale of single units, price promotions and continued supply to known problem drinkers.  Officers were also encouraged to look at innovative work being done elsewhere to increase engagement and promote self-referral with the example of Pendle being cited.  The availability of cheap and counterfeit alcohol was a significant concern and the Panel was informed that public health, licensing, trading standards and environmental health were working together.  In view of the particularly damaging effects of illegal alcohol sales, the Panel felt that there should be strong sanctions for premises supplying illegal alcohol, either counterfeit or under-age, and that the Licensing Committee had an important role to play in this regard.

Clarification was sought on how trends on service use were analysed to plan future provision.  Public health data was being used to inform the strategic review and it would be vital to use this evidence to shape services for the future to provide the most effective services possible at a time of significant funding reductions.  The review was designed to ensure value for money and properly targeted interventions.  Members commented that there was a high prevalence of alcohol misuse in certain groups and the data needed to be sufficiently detailed to properly target such groups.  It was noted that information from outreach work and audits of service users could be utilised for this purpose.  Some Members had volunteering experience with organisations that brought them into contact with at risk people and it was agreed to have further discussions with officers to ensure appropriate engagement was in place and consider whether further targeting of support for specific communities could be improved.

The Panel discussed a range of other issues including the Community Alcohol Partnership and the links between alcohol misuse and violent crime, particularly domestic violence.  It was noted that Safer Slough Partnership was involved in a significant amount of work to address this issue including work with the Police Federation in Britwell and Chalvey.  The service budget which totalled £1.9m, was also discussed and it was requested that a breakdown of spend be provided to the Panel.

The Panel commended officers on the good progress that was being made in addressing alcohol and substance misuse issues, particularly given the high demand and reduced resources.  The service update and draft of the Alcohol Strategy were then noted.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Alcohol Strategy be noted.

(b)  That the progress of Slough’s Substance Misuse Services, the Strategic Review and the ongoing challenges faced in respect of substance misuse be noted.