Decision details

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health, the purpose of which was to note the allocation of grant funding for 2025/26 to improve Drug and Alcohol treatment and recovery provision and outcomes in the borough.

Approval was also sought to delegate authority to agree all decisions related to the utilisation of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Grant (DATRIG) to the Director of Public Health, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health, and Wellbeing. This will include the authority to vary existing contracts (and any associated collaborative commissioning agreements) or award grant agreements or contracts stemming from a compliant procurement process. It is also requested that authority is delegated to the Interim Borough Solicitor or nominee to carry out all necessary legal formalities, including the execution of any contracts.

Options/alternatives considered:

Option 1: to accept the recommendations in the submitted report, because it will ensure that the Council can continue to improve prevention and early intervention around drugs and alcohol, improve access to treatment and recovery services and improve quality of provision to ensure that Oldham residents receive the best possible support to tackle drug and alcohol related harm, which will in turn improve health outcomes and reduce the number of drug and alcohol related deaths. 

Option 2: To reject the recommendations in the submitted report and not to accept the DATRIG grant. This Option was not recommended, as investment of grant funding in the Council’s current drug and alcohol treatment and recovery offer to date has made a difference in terms of increasing numbers in treatment but more needs to be done to improve quality of provision, as per the intentions of the DATRIG, and to improve the recovery offer locally. 

The preferred Option was Option 1.

Resolved:

The Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Note and accept the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Grant (DATRIG) settlement for 2025/26, including the conditions of funding outlined in this report and that the DATRIG is limited to 12 months of funding, and agree that the grant funding is allocated to Public Health to enact, in line with the grant conditions.

2.    Delegate authority for the execution of all decisions regarding utilisation of the funding from the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Improvement Grant 2025/26 to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing.

3.    Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in conjunction with the Borough Solicitor and Director of Finance (or their nominees), to vary existing contracts (and any associated collaborative commissioning agreements), issue grant agreements or award contracts stemming from a compliant procurement process.

4.    Delegate authority be delegated to the Borough Solicitor or their nominee to carry out all necessary legal formalities linked to the actions delegated to the Director of Public Health, including the execution of contracts.