At its meeting held on 5 January 2011 (minute 44 refers), the Scrutiny Programme Board gave consideration to the Alcohol Scrutiny Review – Final Report.

The Board supported the content and recommendations of the Review and referred it to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported that at its meeting held on 5 January 2011 (minute 44 refers), the Scrutiny Programme Board gave consideration to the Alcohol Scrutiny Review – Final Report, which had been prepared by a Panel of Members, comprised of Councillors Mitchell (Chair), Meaden, Taylor and Bridson. Significant work had been undertaken by Panel Members and the central focus for the Review was “access to alcohol by young people in Wirral”.

The Scrutiny Programme Board supported the content and recommendations of the Review and had referred it to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. It had also been referred to Wirral Health, the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and other partners.

Resolved –

(1)  That the Cabinet welcomes the report and notes the hard work put in by the Alcohol Scrutiny Panel and the Scrutiny Programme Board in carrying out the review.

(2)  That the Cabinet expresses its concern about the serious issues for the health, safety and wellbeing of young people that the report raises and all of the recommendations of the Panel be accepted.

(3)  That it be noted that recommendation A is picked up in the Corporate Plan (see minute 349 ante) and that recommendation H has already been acted on in the Budget.

(4)  That the Scrutiny Review be referred to the Licensing. Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee, with a request that it gives specific attention to recommendations E, F, G and J.

(5)  That the report be referred to the LSP Executive with a request that it gives specific attention to recommendations B, C, D, I and K.

(6)  That the Director of Public Health be requested to be the lead officer for co-ordinating the response of the Council and other agencies to the report.

(Having declared his personal interest, Councillor I Lewis abstained from voting on this item)

The Vice-Chair introduced the Final Report of the Alcohol Scrutiny Review that had been undertaken by a Panel of which she was a Member, together with Councillors Dave Mitchell (Chair), Sue Taylor and Ann Bridson, supported by Alan Veitch, Scrutiny Support Officer. She outlined the focus for the Review, central of which was the “access to alcohol by young people in Wirral”. She commented upon the significant work undertaken by Panel Members and highlighted the main issues that had been identified in the scope document. The Panel had used a number of methods to gather evidence for the review, including meetings with key officers, visits to local communities accompanied by Youth Outreach Workers and written evidence. The final report was presented for consideration and contained eleven recommendations, which the Panel hoped would be accepted in full by the Cabinet.

Members thanked the Panel and the Scrutiny Support Officer for such a full and informative report and commented that some of the findings of the review were disturbing, particularly having regard to Wirral being ranked as 323 out of 326 local authorities for alcohol-specific hospitable admissions for under 18’s, in a study published by the North West Public Health Observatory.

Members referred to the need for resources to be allocated to address the issues highlighted in the review and commented upon the cumulative impact of the extension of openings hours and an increase in the number of licensed establishments selling alcohol, particularly in the Hoylake area, the vicinity of Victoria Park, Tranmere and low cost alcohol being sold by supermarkets across Wirral.

The Chair of the Panel, Councillor Dave Mitchell addressed the Board and thanked the officers involved for their support. He agreed that it was essential for the Council to address the problem of alcohol consumption by young people.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that the Health and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Committee had requested a report on alcohol related hospital admissions to its March 2011 meeting.

Resolved –

(1)  That the contents and recommendations of the Alcohol Scrutiny Review be supported and it be put forward for nomination for a Good Scrutiny Award.

(2)  That the Alcohol Scrutiny Report be forwarded to the Health & Wellbeing, Children & Young People and Sustainable Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committees.

(3)  That the Alcohol Scrutiny Report be presented to the next appropriate Cabinet meeting.

(4)  That the Report be presented to the Chair of Wirral Magistrates, to the Merseyside Police Chief Constable.

(5)  That the report be referred for consideration by the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and to each of the Area Forums.

(6)  That further reports be presented to the Scrutiny Programme Board to update members regarding the outcomes of the recommendations.