Decision details

1.

Title of Item/Report

Drug Strategy Grants 2025/26

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that provided a summary of the planned expenditure of the ring-fenced drug strategy grants provided by the Department of Health and Social Care via the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) for 2025/26. 

This was the fourth year of funding, which complemented the core contract for substance misuse services, and provided an additional £2.5million for 2025/26.  The terms and conditions for these grants included an obligation to maintain levels of investment in drug and alcohol services and to use this additional funding to implement activities from a ‘menu of interventions’.

The core contract for community-based substance misuse services was funded from the Public Health Grant.  The paper referred to additional year-on-year grants provided via a memorandum of understanding with OHID and this was detailed within the report.

Drug and alcohol treatment and recovery improvement grant (DATRIG) was a single payment to SBC which covered both the SSMTRG and the IPD.  Funding for these streams was at the same allocation as 2024/25.  IPS was a stand-alone grant and had increased by £22k for North of Tees (SBC and HBC).  £1.8m of the above funding was captured in the annual procurement plan (Cabinet, 13/03/25). This briefing set out broader context to Cabinet, on the package of proposals against the drugs strategy grant, submitted to OHID on 28/02/25.

The planned expenditure would build on activity that had led to improved outcomes and delivery of national targets in 2024/25.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

Report for noting only.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

N/A