Agenda and minutes

It was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to appoint Councillor A.P. Cooper as Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors W.G. Thomas, J. Williams, J. Tremlett [EBM Social Care and Health], and T.J. Jones [EBM Environmental and Public Protection].

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of party whips.

No public questions had been received.

The Chair welcomed Caroline Phipps [Drugaid Cymru] and Supt. Claire Parmenter (Dyfed-Powys Police) to the meeting. [Members had earlier availed themselves of the opportunity to visit the Drug-aid bus.]

The Committee considered the Area Planning Board report on Drug and Alcohol Misuse Strategy and Development 2015/16 which covered a range of areas, serving to inform members and update them on current commissioning arrangements and the provision of substance misuse services. Information was included on

·       the strategic objectives regarding the provision of such services, the funding arrangements and services/projects commissioned;

·       local developments and confirmation of the governance and planning arrangements in place on a regional basis.

The Community Safety Manager, in response to a question, confirmed that there were dedicated officers responsible for monitoring contracts with all service agencies. The use of the Drug-aid Bus was welcomed, particularly as a means of extending the service it offered to the more rural parts of the county.

It was commented that people with alcohol-related problems needed support to help them find work if that was a contributory issue and that there needed to be an anti-drink and drug campaign in licenced establishments.

The representative from Drug-Aid advised that people with drink or drug related issues were able to access counselling services and that European funding had recently been secured to look at ways of getting such individuals back to work. She added that she would be happy to involve the service in any pub or club drink/drugs campaign.

The Dyfed Powys Police representative emphasised the importance of local intelligence in tackling drug and drink related problems in communities particularly as the general decline in the night time economy meant that the Police were seeing an increase in alcohol related violence in domestic settings. 

In response to a question relating to drug issues in schools the Committee was informed that the Police Force had 5 full time officers based across the schools in Carmarthenshire and that in 2015/16 officers had attended approximately 1900 on drugs, alcohol and cyberbullying etc. In addition the Drug-Aid bus visited schools.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

Consideration was given to a report detailing the progress made in relation to the recommendations made by the Committee’s Task & Finish Group following the review of substance misuse treatment services in 2013/14. It was noted that some of the actions were still on-going and were being taken forward with the appropriate agencies. In response to a question the representative from Drug-aid stated that the increase in referrals to the substance misuse team indicated that more individuals were accessing the service. She also assured members, following expressed concerns, that the importance of ensuring that there was proper governance of sub contracted services was recognised. The Police representative added that her officers would visit any premises there were concerns about and any criminality would be dealt with accordingly. It was suggested that all Councillors could benefit from receiving training on awareness around substance misuse andways to assist the Police with local intelligence on drug and alcohol abuse.

RESOLVED

7.1 To note the progress made and sign-off the action plan in relation to the recommendations made by the Committee’s Task & Finish Group following the review of substance misuse treatment services in 2013/14;

7.2 the Community Safety Manager be requested to arrange a seminar for members on drug and alcohol abuse.