Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Cllr Duncan and Cllr Allen substituted.

None.

It was confirmed that all items on the agenda would be considered in public.

The minutes of 27 July 2010 were agreed as an accurate record.

Verbal update by Officers, followed by Witness Session 1.

The Chairman invited Officers to update Members on progress made since the last meeting. Officers informed the Committee that letters had been sent to Local Authorities across the country asking for their views on Khat; whether Khat was a problem in their boroughs. The London Boroughs of Islington, Richmond, Hounslow and Brent had replied saying Khat was not a major issue in their areas. Wider ranging areas such as Cardiff, Kent, Sheffield and Bolton had replied saying Khat was a problem in their areas. This had led to the formation of Khat Task Groups, Khat awareness training and Khat Working Groups for Somalis.

Having contacted the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Officers had been informed that Khat was not classified as a food as it was not swallowed and has no nutritional value. It had been likened to chewing tobacco. However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) informed Officers that Khat was not classified as a plant. Therefore, without being classified Khat had no legislation enforced on it.

Officers informed Members that Khat was grown in Yemen, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda and maybe Israel. Khat was harvested for 5 to 7 years in forests and then imported to countries such as Spain, Holland and the UK. 8 tonnes of Khat were imported to Heathrow Airport 5 times a week, from Kenya and Somalia predominately.

Khat arrived at Heathrow Airport in large boxes with the initials of those who had ordered it. It is unloaded from the plane and transported into the Transit Shed where it is kept as an unopened box until someone collected it. An “Arranger” collected the consignment after paying VAT on each box. On average each box had a street value of £35 (17.5% of which amounted to £6.13 which is the VAT paid on each box). VAT collected from Khat amounted to £2 million per annum. Arrangers paid in cash and had temporary VAT numbers which were easy to organise and difficult to trace. This was paid to the Agent at Heathrow who was responsible for freight that day. Agents changed on a daily basis. After the VAT was paid the consignment was released to the Arranger. The Arranger would then take the boxes and distribute the Khat amongst those who had ordered it. This transaction would take place in areas around Heathrow such as old warehouses. The Khat would then be further distributed and sold to Khat users in cafes, Khat houses and Convenience Stores.

Witnesses informed the Committee that Khat was imported as a plant. Therefore no food legislations were attached to it. In 2009 6 Khat consignments were checked by the UK Border Agency for pesticides, bacteriological evidence and salmonella. 3 consignments were infected. Nevertheless all consignments had to be released to the Arranger, as Khat was not classified as an illegal substance and therefore no legislation could be enforced. Consignments were not opened, and only scanned for radioactive material.

Witnesses  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Consideration of scoping report.

Members considered the scoping report for the second review to be undertaken by the Committee. The Committee agreed that Town Twinning should be investigated to see whether the current arrangements could be improved to ensure Hillingdon were benefiting from the service.

Resolved:

The Committee agreed the scoping report. Officers were instructed to begin the review via email.

The Committee noted the Forward Plan.

At the request of the Chairman the following Committee meeting on 7^th October 2010 would begin at 5.45 p.m. with the witness session beginning at 6.00 p.m.

The Committee noted the Work Programme.