Issue - meetings

The Khat Task Group’s final report has been considered and agreed by the Health Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This report presents the task group’s work to the Executive for approval.

(i)         that the recommendations set out in the report be agreed;

(ii)        that the members of the task group be thanked for their work.

The Executive had before them the final report from the Overview and Scrutiny Khat Task Group. Councillor Hunter, Task Group Chair, in introducing the report, set out the three main issues investigated by the task group namely, the perceived impact on Khat use on the community in Brent, associated anti-social behaviour and the lack of treatment services and diversionary activities in the borough specifically aimed at Khat users. Users were frequently unemployed, had language difficulties or suffered from the trauma of war. Efforts needed to be made to increase employment chances and decrease addiction and partnership work was recommended with the employment agencies and health services. Discussions were also recommended to take place with the owners of mafrish (Khat cafes) to get agreements on the sale of Khat. Councillor Hunter referred to the need to raise awareness of Khat, paan and shisha and was pleased to report on the health event held on 15 March 2012 attended by both men and women which also helped to raise the profile of the Somali community.

Councillor Jones (Lead Member, Customers and Citizens) contributed that she was due to meet with the Director of Customer and Community Engagement to discuss ways of publicising positive achievements in the Somali community as recommended by the task group. Councillor Beswick (Lead Member, Crime and Public Safety) welcomed the report referring to particular areas in borough where addiction was a problem and pointed to the role of both self-help and also partnership working to encourage people to desist from usage. Councillor Hunter agreed with Councillor Arnold (Lead Member, Children and Families) on the need to ensure that support was extended to all Somali groups and she reiterated the need for health advice and education.

Councillor John (Chair, Leader of the Council) commended the task group’s work adding that the Somali organisations she had spoken to were grateful for the attention that had been given to this issue. She concurred that employment was key and, on behalf of the Executive, thanked the task group members for their work.

RESOLVED:-

(i)         that the recommendations set out in the report be agreed;

(ii)        that the members of the task group be thanked for their work.