Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report that presented the Council’s Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2008-11.

It was noted that this built upon the previous Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy that had ended in March 2008 and took into account new statutory duties and guidance.

A strategic framework was proposed that set out how the relevant Thematic Boards would manage delivery of the activities within their responsibility. An  Alcohol Strategy Group would also be formed, which would report to the Safer Communities Executive Board, Well-Being Strategic Partnership Board and Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board to ensure that each of the strands were properly coordinated and delivered effectively.

The Board was advised that the Local Authority had a statutory duty to produce a Strategy and that Government guidance stated that this should address all alcohol related harm.  The Strategy also reflected local priorities reflected in the Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement and the importance of providing an effective and coordinated response from a wide variety of organisations was noted.

In response to a query as to whether additional posts referred to in the report had now been approved, the Board was advised that at present this issue was not resolved. There was agreement that documents being considered by the Board should be updated, as far as possible, before being submitted for consideration.

It was noted that further guidance was likely to be received from the Government during the life of the Strategy and therefore it was suggested that the foreword should make clear that it was a ‘living document’ that would be updated on a continual basis to reflect these changes.    

RESOLVED:

1. That the strategic priorities contained within the Strategy be endorsed.

2. That the proposed strategic monitoring  and evaluation framework be endorsed.

3. That the proposed approach and delivery programmes be supported by the Board.