Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and details of any Councillor (or co-optee substitute) nominated to attend this meeting in place of a member of the Committee.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Anita Clayton. Councillor Brenda Quinney was named as her substitute.

Apologies for absence were also received from Ken Hazeldine (Redditch Anti-Harassment Partnership).

To invite Councillors to declare any interest they may have in items on the Agenda and any Party Whip.

There were no declarations of interest or any party whip.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel that took place on the 21st October as a correct record.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 21st October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive a presentation on the subject of Alcohol related admissions to hospital.

(Verbal presentation to follow)

The Panel welcomed Kate Ray, Programme Lead for Alcohol, Worcestershire Drug & Alcohol Action Team, to deliver a presentation on alcohol related hospital admissions.

The Panel was informed that the Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) was a partnership of agencies that worked closely with Worcestershire PCT to have a positive impact on drug and alcohol related harm by implementing actions from local and national strategies.  The DAAT also formed part of the Community Safety Team.

The Panel was initially referred to the key national issues regarding alcohol consumption. In particular, the Panel heard that the UK has some of the highest drinking levels in Europe and that average consumption had almost doubled in the UK over the last fifty years.

In terms of alcohol consumption in relation to crime and disorder on a national level, the Panel was informed that around one third of all domestic violence incidents in the UK are linked to alcohol misuse (according to Department of Health figures, 2004); over 415,000 recorded crimes were linked to alcohol in 2009/10; the number of people admitted to hospital over the five years up to 2008/09 due to alcohol abuse had increase by around 65%; and that chronic liver disease was now affecting men at a much younger age.

The Panel were also informed of the key issues within Redditch and Worcestershire. Alcohol consumption in Redditch exceeded the average across the county and also nationally. However, whereas alcohol consumption had increased both across the county and, sharply, nationally since 2008/09, it had decreased within Redditch.

Alcohol related hospital admissions had more than doubled in Redditch between 2002/03 and 2009/10. In particular, the Panel heard that Redditch experiences significantly higher rates of alcohol related admissions for under-18 year olds and also females compared to that nationally. Furthermore, Redditch and Worcestershire was found to have some of the highest rates of alcohol related hospital admissions for under-18s in the West Midlands region. It was added, however, that the numbers involved were small (326 admissions between 2005/06 and 2007/08).

DAAT suggested that there were a number of factors that explained Redditch’s high rate of under-18 alcohol related hospital admissions. These included: the close proximity of the Alexandra Hospital to areas where young people congregated; Redditch’s strict admissions policy for young people that are intoxicated; the tendency of young people to call an ambulance rather than a parent when a friend/s are intoxicated; and also that the town is regarded by many residing parents as a sufficiently safe place for their teenage children to congregate without supervision.

DAAT had introduced a range of interventions in the hospital setting as a consequence to tackle the alcohol abuse. These interventions included: introducing a service whereby skilled professionals offered tactful advice to clients about alcohol consumption; communicating appropriate messages to young people and parents regarding alcohol; and improving specialist treatment for high risk and dependent drinkers. DAAT was also committed to supporting the victims of alcohol related abuse.

The work of the DAAT in tackling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

To consider the contents of the minutes from the Redditch Community Safety Partnership Board’s meeting on 8th September 2010.

(Minutes attached)

The Panel received the notes from the Redditch Community Safety Partnership meeting on 8th September 2010 and considered whether there were any issues suitable for further scrutiny. 

The discussion formed the basis of the questions to be submitted to the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership as detailed in the next item.

To propose questions for the consideration of the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership prior to her attendance at the next meeting to deliver the Partnership’s Annual Report.

The Panel considered appropriate questions to be submitted to the Chair of the Redditch Community Safety Partnership in advance of her attendance at the next meeting.  The questions were part influenced by the notes of the Partnership meeting of 18th September 2010 that were considered for the previous item.

 Members agreed the following questions:

1)                 Following confirmation of Government’s Grant Settlement, how are the budget cuts expected to impact upon the Redditch Community Safety Partnership?

2)                 How is the Partnership performing in relation to its agreed targets?

3)                 What are your aspirations, as Chair, for the Partnership for 2011?

4)                 What is the latest situation regarding the possible establishment of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in the West Mercia Police Area?

1)                 Is there anything you would like to raise in relation to the Partnership’s relationship with the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel, and how you see this progressing?

RESOLVED that

the questions as noted above be sent to the Chair of the Redditch Community Safety Partnership prior to her attendance at the following meeting of the Panel.

To consider the contents of the Panel’s Work Programme.

(Report attached)

It was confirmed that the next Panel meeting on 14th April 2011 would commence at 6.30pm.

RESOLVED that

the contents of the Panel’s Work Programme be noted