Decision details

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Note that the three-year 2026-2029 Public Health grant funding from Department of Health & Social Care is a ring-fenced budget that is only available to Local Authorities to spend on statutory and mandated public health services.

2)    Note the Public Health Grant award conditions in relation to ringfenced spend for provision of statutory and mandated public health services and the benefits to Hillingdon Council that these services are funded by the Public Health Grant and do not draw on funds from core council budget.

3)    For continued delivery of statutory substance misuse services funded by the Public Health grant, approve delegated authority for the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health and Director of Public Health to develop delivery plans and commissioning arrangements for the ongoing utilisation of Public Health grant funded substance misuse service provision in line with grant condition requirements set out by Department of Health & Social Care and Office of Health Improvement and Disparities and to allocate contract variations up to a value of £525,000 over the period 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2029.

4)    Agree to vary the current contract with Central and North West London NHS Trust for the provision of substance misuse treatment and recovery services for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029 to uplift the core contract for the agenda for a change salary increase by £81,843 pa and for a cost up to £245,529 for the period.

5)    Approve continuation of Public Health Grant funding to the Hillingdon Youth Service offer for the continued provision of the SORTED young person’s drug and alcohol provision arrangement to a value of up to £181,500 per year (at FY2025/26 level) to a total value of up to £557,864 for the period 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2029 (this include salary uplift costs on SORTED costs).

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education introduced a report seeking approval to continue substance misuse and stop smoking services and to authorise related NHS contract variations and delivery planning for the period 2026 - 2029. The Cabinet Member explained that needs assessment data demonstrated the significant negative impact of drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction on individuals and communities, and that effective support services delivered clear benefits for residents.

Cabinet was reminded that the original core NHS contract had been approved in January 2024 and that any future contractual changes were required to be authorised by Cabinet and funded solely from the ring?fenced Public Health Grant. The report confirmed that the service would continue to be fully funded from this grant, with no call on the Council’s core budget, and that expenditure would be closely monitored through budget monitoring and the medium?term financial framework.

The Leader of the Council welcomed the continuation of the service, noting the high level of demand but also the strong quality of outcomes achieved locally compared with neighbouring boroughs. He expressed support for continued investment to assist residents requiring substance misuse and smoking cessation support.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to ultilise the Government grant funding to support the programme of work underway.