Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

Jonathan Bowden, Advanced Public Health Practitioner (South Tees Public Health) and Chief Inspector Jonathan Tapper (Cleveland Police) will be in attendance to provide a briefing on Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery).   

The Council’s Advanced Public Health Practitioner and Chief Inspector Tapper from Cleveland Police were in attendance at the meeting to provide an update in respect of Project ADDER and the impact that this national announcement would have in relation to the Panel’s current review on the topic of Opioid Dependency. The Panel was advised that on 20 January 2021 the Government had announced a £148m investment in an intensive, whole system approach to tackling the problem of illegal drugs. In addition a further £28m of funding had been made available for ‘Project ADDER’ (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery), which combined targeted and tougher policing with enhanced treatment and recovery services.

The aim of Project ADDER was to bring together partners including the police, local councils and health services. The project would be funded for 3 years in 5 areas with some of the highest rates of drug misuse: Blackpool, Hastings, Middlesbrough, Norwich and Swansea Bay. It was noted that Middlesbrough had the potential to access £4.8m of funding between 2020/21 and the end of March 2022. Over a period of just over two years, the project aimed to deliver reductions in the:

• rate of drug-related deaths

• drug-related offending

• prevalence of drug use

The interventions due to be funded through project ADDER were outlined in the interventions table provided at Appendix 1 of the submitted report. It was emphasised that it was reinvigorating to have the opportunity to look at what additional provision could be invested in. It was advised that Cleveland Police had operated the Heroin and Crack Cocaine Action Area (HACAA) and it was very much a case of delivering as much as possible in partnership. In terms of the other areas selected for Project ADDER Middlesbrough had developed excellent synergy with the leaders in other areas and communication was taking place outside of national meetings in order to make the most of this opportunity. In addition excellent relationships had been developed with Home Office (HO) and Public Health England (PHE) colleagues and the interventions reflected national strategy. It was advised that Project ADDER would effectively run from 1 April 2021 until the end of March 2023. Capacity had been lost over recent years, particularly in relation to prevention and early intervention services, and Project ADDER would provide the opportunity to move a really good, strong and focussed approach upstream. Previously the focus had been intervening at the crisis end but this level of investment would allow lower level interventions to take place.

Chief Inspector Tapper advised that Chief Inspector Scott Cowie was currently taking a report for approval that would hopefully enable frontline Police Officers to carry Nasal Naloxone kits, which was very much welcomed by the Panel. There was also plans to locate Naloxone kits in key areas with guidance provided, as well as Nasal Naloxone kits. Another key piece of work was focussed on addressing the increasing prevalence of cocaine use in the area. Evidence from around the world had shown  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/48

The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 27 January and 29 January 2020.

A verbal update was provided in relation to the business conducted at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meetings held on 27 and 29 January 2021, namely:-

27 January 2021

Budget Consultation

29 January 2021

Call-In – Nunthorpe Grange Farm Disposal

AGREED that the information provided be noted.