Agenda and minutes

None.

None.

It was confirmed that all items on the agenda were marked Part I and were considered in public.

The minutes were agreed as an accurate record.

The Committee considered their final report regarding Khat and the issues faced by Hillingdon and beyond.

The Chairman thanked the Committee and Officers for their enthusiasm and commitment during the year long review. The Committee agreed that the review had been very interesting and had bought to light a number of issues which they were unaware of prior to the undertaking the review. Members said the biggest surprises were the amount of money involved in the Khat industry along with the health effects that were associated with Khat chewing.

Members were content that their recommendation to regulate Khat would solve more problems than banning it would. The Committee noted that although the effects of Khat chewing were vast it only affected a small minority and the problem must not be blown out of proportion.

The Committee agreed that further work needed to be performed by health services to tackle problems caused by Khat. Members agreed that the Local Strategic Partnership Group meetings would help bring services together to share best practice, so long as one group took responsibility for Khat, for example the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Agreed:

The Committee agreed that delegated authority be given to the Chairman and Lead Officer to continue to finalise the report and send the report to April or May Cabinet.

Agreed:

The Committee agreed to wait until May to decide further review topics.

Noted:

The Committee noted the Forward Plan

Noted:

The Committee noted the Work Programme.