Agenda item

The Chair of the Scrutiny Task Group set up to review Substance Misuse services in York to present the Task Group’s final report and seek approval for the recommendations arising from the review.

[Annex C to Appendix 1 to the above report has not been included in the printed pack but is available to view online]

Resolved:  That the findings of the Scrutiny Task Group be noted and that the recommendations from the review, as set out in paragraph 63 of the Task Group’s final report at Appendix 1 and paragraph 7 of the cover report, be approved.

Reason:     To conclude the Scrutiny Review in line with the council’s Scrutiny procedures and protocols.

Cllr Pavlovic, Chair of the Scrutiny Task Group set up to review Substance Misuse services in York, presented their final report and recommendations from the review. He stated that the Task Group had prepared its report after months of interviews with experts in their fields, academics, GPs and hospital consultants, senior police officers, the CCG, commissioned services and importantly the Director of Public Health and her team. He also expressed his disappointment that the Director of Public Health had produced a report questioning the conclusions and recommendations of the Task Review members. He urged Executive Memebrs to accept the recommendations in he report, which he stated were accepted and, indeed commended, by a cross party committee.

The Director of Public Health stated that she welcomed the review and supported the recommendations. She explained that it was her job to highlight to the Executive concerns across a range of Public Health Services, rather than to prioritise one area over another.

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care & Health spoke on the review and how thorough it had been. She stated that some of the points made were very important and that some would, unfortunately, have to be carried over into the future. She said she was glad that £100K had been put back into the substance misuse budget. She also expressed her support for both the recommendations of the task group and the comments made by the Director of Public Health.

Members stated it was important to recognise that this was not a single agency issue and one which the Health and Wellbeing Board should be keeping a close eye on. They also thanked Members of the Task Group for their hard work.

Resolved:  That;

1.   the findings of the Scrutiny Task Group be noted and that the recommendations from the review, as set out in paragraph 63 of the Task Group’s final report at Appendix 1 and paragraph 7 of the cover report, be approved; and

2.   the report be sent to Health and Wellbeing Board in order for some multi agency work to be done.

Reason:     To conclude the Scrutiny Review in line with the council’s Scrutiny procedures and protocols.