Minutes:
The Council had before it a Notice of Motion set out in the agenda papers standing in the names of Mr P M McDonald, Ms P Agar, Mr R M Udall, Mr R C Lunn, Mr P Denham and Ms C M Stalker.
The motion was moved by Mr P M McDonald and seconded by Ms P Agar who both spoke in favour of it.
The Council agreed to deal with the motion on the day.
The following amendment replacing the last paragraph of the motion was moved by Mrs L C Hodgson and accepted by the mover and seconder of the motion which therefore became part of the substantive motion as altered:
"Therefore, this Council calls upon Trading Standards and other partners to consider ways of increasing the awareness of the dangers of this product to rid our streets of this hippy crack."
In the ensuing debate, the following principal points were raised:
· There was evidence that anti-social behaviour had been linked to the use of nitrous oxide which had become a significant concern. Cuts to the Trading Standards service had contributed to the increase in use. Trading Standards needed to liaise with partner organisations to take appropriate action now
· The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Communities acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and that this was not just a matter for Trading Standards but also partner agencies including the Police, district councils and the NHS. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 included reference to nitrous oxide but did not give any specific formal powers to the Council. Trading Standards were keen for people to contact them to provide a greater understanding of the issue
· Currently the possession of nitrous oxide was not an offence because there were legitimate reasons to possess it. However it was illegal to supply it or import it for human consumption. Although there had been no deaths in the West Mercia region last year, crimes had been reported associated with its use
· A clear message should be sent to the Government that neighbourhood policing was the most effective method of dealing with substance abuse and reductions to this service were undermining this work
· The reductions in youth service provision had had an impact on the ability to gather information about levels of abuse in local communities.
On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was unanimously agreed.
Council RESOLVED "Used gas canisters are increasingly littering our streets as the use of nitrous oxide spreads across the county.
Nitrous oxide, laughing gas or hippy crack is among the latest illicit substances to hit our streets. Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas that when inhaled can make people feel euphoric and relaxed.
The effects of the gas have seen it nicknamed "laughing gas", but it can also cause some people to have hallucinations. The effects are caused by the drug slowing down the brain. Nitrous oxide is normally bought in pressurised canisters. It is then transferred to a container such as a balloon to be inhaled.
It is extremely dangerous: It can cause dizziness and affect your judgement, creating a risk of accidents. In large quantities it can also cause the user to faint or pass out. If nitrous oxide is inhaled through the mouth from a pressurised gas canister or in a confined space it can cause sudden death through lack of oxygen. Heavy, regular use of the drug can cause a deficiency of vitamin B12 and a form of anaemia.
Yet it is illegal to sell it for the purpose young people are using it for and action needs to be taken now before we see young people's health damaged for life and even fatalities.
Therefore, this Council calls upon Trading Standards and other partners to consider ways of increasing the awareness of the dangers of this product to rid our streets of this hippy crack."