Interim drug and alcohol commissioner to earn £100k

The new role is considered too important to wait for a permanent appointment

A new interim Drug and Alcohol Commissioner will be paid a salary exceeding £100,000 a year, a council said.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) wants to recruit someone with the right expertise on a temporary basis, and claimed the role was too important to wait for a permanent appointment.

The unitary authority is working on improving its drug and alcohol misuse services, adding that it wants enough targeted support for people who need further intervention than that provided by traditional NHS services.

The interim Drug and Alcohol Commissioner would be responsible for creating, finding and monitoring ways of preventing drug use, reducing harm, aiding recovery, and providing rehabilitation.

According to the latest figures, WNC's substance misuse service supports approximately 1,800 adults and 100 children and young people at any one time.

Speaking about the wage, Andrew Last, cabinet member for HR and corporate services at the Reform UK-led authority, said: "Due to the departure of the previous Commissioner six months prior to the tender process, there was an urgent need to secure specialist commissioning expertise to ensure continuity and compliance and service delivery.

"The day rate for this interim role is in line with market averages for the level of specialist experience required."

But other council groups have questioned why the role has not been made permanent at this stage.

Daniel Lister, the leader of the Conservative group on the council, said: "The very same councillors who campaigned against agency spending are now waving through these exact same arrangements.

"They've gone from 'agency spending is destroying local government' to 'well, we need this particular one', faster than you can say U-turn."

Meanwhile, Independent councillor Ian McCord added: "I would think most people out there on the street would think why are [they] paying somebody more than £100,000 to come up with some document that no one's going to read?"

In response, finance cabinet member John Slope said: "These [drug and alcohol] services save lives, support families and reduce crime.

"This decision is about expertise, compliance and protecting some of the most vulnerable residents in West Northamptonshire."

WNC said it will look into how it could fund a permanent position, and adds that costs for the interim role are being funded entirely by ringfenced grants from Public Health.

A list of organisations in the UK offering support and information with some of the issues in this story is available at BBC Action Line.

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