Agenda item

The report provided an update on the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG) and sought approval to accept the grant funding in accordance with Contract Standing Orders (CSO) 17.1. This new grant consolidated previous funding sources, including the Substance Misuse Supplemental Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG), the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDAG), and the Inpatient Detoxification Grant (IDG).

For the 2025/26 financial year, the expected funding amounted to £3,241,594. The DATRIG placed a stronger emphasis on improving treatment and recovery systems, aiming to reduce attrition rates, enhance the number of individuals progressing in treatment, support more people in initiating and sustaining recovery, and ultimately decrease mortality rates.

Furthermore, the report sought approval for the delegation of authority to the Director of Public Health, allowing them to award contracts related to the grant where individual contract values exceeded £500,000 but remained below £2,000,000. This measure was intended to mitigate service gaps and ensure compliance with the grant’s requirements.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED:

Recommendations:

3.1. For the Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing to approve:

3.1.1. in accordance with Contract Standing Orders (CSO) 16.02, and 17.1 to approve the receipt Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG). The total indicative allocation for the 2025/26 financial year will be £3,241,594;

3.1.2. Where contracts valued at £500,000 or more that require approval by Cabinet as per Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1(d), delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with yourself or the Cabinet Member holding the relevant portfolio responsibilities (if there is a change), to award contracts to the successful providers following the procurement process. The value of an individual contract will not exceed £2,000,000.

Reasons for decision

4.1. Ensuring more residents have access to effective drug and alcohol treatment remains a priority for the council, as this significantly reduces the impact of drug and alcohol misuse on adults, young people, families and the community. This is the 4th year of drug and alcohol treatment funding which has been used to significantly increase the number of residents accessing treatment and help to prevent fatalities. The Council therefore welcomes continued grant funding for 2025/26.

4.2. The council has received very late notification of the grant funding (intention letter received on 18th December 2024) for the financial year 2025/26. The grant is already committed to contracts due to finish in March 2025. We wish to secure swift acceptance of the indicative budget for 2025/26 and then to undergo a procurement process to award contracts for 1st April 2025. To affect rapid contract awards, we wish to use the delegated authority of the Director of Public Health.

Alternative options considered

5.1. Do nothing: The Cabinet Member could refuse to receive the grant. However, as there is a clear need for these services and strong support to continue to tackle the impact of substance misuse on the community, this option has not been considered.

5.2. The Cabinet Member could not delegate authority to the Director of Public Health to award contracts. As the Council only had provisional notice of the grant allocation in December 2024, for services to be procured to commence on 1st April, the time frame would not allow a return for a cabinet member or Cabinet decision.