Agenda item

Helen Murray, Head of Programmes introduced the report and set out the programme of work over the next year. The Board were informed that although this was a full programme there was still room to respond to issues that arise during the year. In addition Helen explained that the LGA was now working with Rotherham Council on delivering an action plan to tackle the issues which had been raised by the Jay report into Child Sexual Exploitation. Cllr Ann Lucas OBE, Cllr David Simmonds, Chair of the Children and Young People Board and Cllr Peter Fleming, Chair of the Improvement and Innovation Board will provide oversight of this programme of work

Members welcomed the report and made a number of comments including:

•           Expanding the heading Child Sexual Exploitation to include vulnerable adults and elderly.

•           The need to include work on gangs and gang crime.

•           Clarification of the work on legal There were still issues relating to loan sharks and pay day loans. 

•           Highlighting general concern around homelessness and aggressive begging including - in some cases - links to organised crime. Members argued that the legislation around begging is out of date and needs revising. Officers explained that our current understanding is thatGovernment has delayed work on this as it is difficult to agree a legislative solution.

The Board discussed the issue of legal highs in further detail. Officers commented that the expert panel, set up by the Home Office, had looked in detail at the legislation from a number of places. The LGA had suggested that the approach taken in Ireland was adopted as this had banned the sale of  all legal highs but made for exemptions on medical grounds where needed. It had been effective in significantly reducing the number of head shops in Ireland.

Decision:

Members agreed the priorities for the next year.