In accordance with Chapter 2, Part 2 (Rule 15) of the Council’s Constitution.

The Motion, as printed in the Agenda, was proposed by Councillor Halden and seconded by Councillor Hebb. The Motion read as follows:

“Legal highs are quickly becoming a social disaster, from both the point of view of being harmful as substances, but also giving a very incorrect impression of the dangers of substance abuse, especially amongst younger people.

We instruct Council to expedite the process and public consultation for Public Space Protection Orders to be implemented on a Borough wide basis to tackle the issue of legal highs with the relevant O&S committee monitoring its effectiveness.

In addition we instruct the constitution working group to consider how to best exercise and delegate all of our streamlined public protection powers that come from the 2014 Crime and Disorder act to be accessible to all members.”

Councillor Halden introduced the motion, and in doing so explained that the reasoning behind his Motion followed a clean-up day with Councillor Hebb and having spoken to Members, discovered it was a problem in many Wards; particular by schools. He continued to explain that he didn’t like the idea of ‘banding’ and a Public Protection Order was not a band, as it did not affect consenting adults within their own homes; this was to keep it away from impressionable young people.

Members were advised that that Crime and Disorder Act 2014 had streamlined Public Protection powers for the use of Local Authorities, meaning that there were tools which could be used in conjunction with the Police.

Councillor Halden informed the Chamber that Councillor Hebb had written to the Police District Commander who explained that Thurrock did not have a crime wave which meant that this would impact on current resources; they did however confirm that they would work the Council to tackle the problem.

Councillor Pothecary proposed an amendment to the Motion and this was seconded by Councillor Kent. The amendment read as follows:

To replace the second paragraphwith the following;

“We instruct Council to consult with Essex Police on the most effective way of tackling the use of legal highs in public spaces, including Public Space Protection Orders, with the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee monitoring the outcome.”

Councillor Pothecary introduced her amendment, and in doing so welcomed Councillor Halden’s Motion, she notified Members that she understood the drugs were sold online and not within Thurrock. She continued that the Constitution Working Group should look at the issue and that Public Space Protection Orders will only work if the Police support it and currently they didn’t have the resources.

Councillor Cherry commented that Public Space Protection Orders had to be dealt with by the Police; he continued to state that 300 police officers had been lost from Essex Police.

Councillor Gledhill welcomed the substantive Motion, advising that Police had collected 100 canisters from Lodge Lane in Grays, he suggested that the Council could look into seek residents to involved with the clean-up.

Councillor J. Kent, Leader of the Council remarked that the canisters of Nitreous Oxide were a problem within all Wards of the Borough.  He stated that although it was a tool that could be used by the Police; they hadn’t asked for it furthermore it would result in resources and expenditure that wasn’t available.

Councillor Key welcomed the substantive Motion, expressing that something needed to be done and suggested that perhaps people needed to be going into schools speak with young people.

Councillor Hebb addressed the Chamber and in doing so, stated that Civic Leadership should be taken in this case to engage with the Police. He agreed that the issue was Borough wide; however just because someone was legal didn’t make it right.

At 9.15 pm the Mayor Suspended Standing Orders until 10.00 pm.

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the amendment, whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment to the motion to be carried.

Councillor Halden explained that he was disappointed that the amendment had been agreed and that during his discussions with Essex Police they had agreed to work with the Council in a similar way as they dealt with test purchases.

RESOLVED:

Legal highs are quickly becoming a social disaster, from both the point of view of being harmful as substances, but also giving a very incorrect impression of the dangers of substance abuse, especially amongst younger people.

We instruct Council to consult with Essex Police on the most effective way of tackling the use of legal highs in public spaces, including Public Space Protection Orders, with the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee monitoring the outcome.

In addition we instruct the constitution working group to consider how to best exercise and delegate all of our streamlined public protection powers that come from the 2014 Crime and Disorder act to be accessible to all members.