Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Emily Goodwin 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies and Changes in Panel Membership (If Any)

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

Minutes:

The apologies of Councillor Whitbread were noted. 

2.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

To elect the Chair and Vice Chair for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that:

 

(i)  Councillor McEwing be elected as Chair for the Municipal Year 2017/18; and

(ii)  Councillor Fuller be elected as Vice-Chair for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

 

3.

Inquiry Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Report of the Service Director - Legal and Governance, recommending that the Panel note the inquiry terms of reference and discuss, amend and approve a final version of the outline inquiry project plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance setting out the terms of reference and the project plan for the Inquiry. 

 

RESOLVED:-

 

(i)  that the terms of reference as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted; and

(ii)  that the outline inquiry project plan as set out in the terms of reference be approved. 

 

4.

Drug Related Litter in Southampton - Introduction, Context and Background pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Report of the Service Director - Legal and Governance, recommending that the Panel consider the comments made by the Cabinet Member, residents and invited guests and use the information provided as evidence in the review.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance setting out the introduction, context and background to the issue of drug related litter in Southampton. 

 

Following discussions with invited representatives the Panel concluded that:

 

·  Southampton has a proactive and largely effective approach to removing drug related litter in public places.  Litter is usually removed before it is found by the general public.  It is hoped that the new City Welfare Wardens will further improve the position.

·  The approach to recording and sharing data on drug related litter is positive and not followed by all local authorities. 

·  There is an opportunity to include Housing Association data within the drug related litter statistics.

·  The impact of the night time closure of SCC car parks on drug related litter, and the potential to displace the problem is not known.

·  The process by which drug related litter is reported to the Council by members of the public and agencies needs to be reviewed to ensure that it is simple and understood.

·  The main health risk from injury due to drug related litter is likely to be from stress and psychological trauma.

·  The majority of drug related litter disposed of irresponsibly in public places is by rough sleepers and those not resident in the city.  The number of people thought to responsible for this drug related litter is between 20 and 50.

·  The Needle Exchange service is a cost effective harm reduction service that provides an entry point to treatment and support.

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)  that the comments from the Cabinet Member for Health and Community Safety, outlining the Executive’s position on reducing drug litter in the city and residents of Southampton who had been invited to provide the Panel with an insight into the impact that drug related litter had had on them and their communities be noted and used as evidence in the review;

(ii)  that the presentations received from the Service Director – Transactions and Universal Services and the Street Cleansing Manager, providing the Panel with an overview of drug litter finds in Southampton as well as a presentation detailing an understanding of the approaches employed in Southampton to reduce drug related litter, what appeared to be effective and where improvements could be made were also used as evidence in the review.