Julie Webster, Director of Public Health, introduced the report which provided an overview of the Government’s national grant funding programme for drug treatment and recovery, and outlined the proposals on how best to utilise the funding to reduce drug related deaths, offending and reduce the prevalence of drug use.

It was reported that there were significant issues with illegal drug misuse and associated health problems in Wirral and that in January the government had announced £148m funding package to help tackle this issue nationally. Committee was informed that Wirral Council had been awarded £1.4m as part of the programme, which needed to be spent within the 2021/22 financial year. The report further outlined the partnership approach that would be undertaken as part of the proposals alongside colleagues from a range of sectors such as police, justice service and housing.

Members welcomed the approach and urged the Director of Public Health to ensure that schools were involved in the partnership approach as one of the key partners for prevention.

Resolved – That

1)  the acceptance of the £1.4m national Drug Treatment and Recovery Grant funding be agreed.

2)  the proposals for spending the £1.4m Drug Treatment and Recovery Grant funding as set out in Appendix 2 be agreed.