Issue - items at meetings - Summary Report: Domestic Violence and Abuse, Sexual Violence and Violence against Women and Girls

Report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources (copy attached)

40.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources the purpose of which was to provide an overview in relation to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA), Sexual Violence (SV) and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), setting out the strategic context, describing the extent and impact of these crime types in the city, and identifying trends, issues and emerging risks, as well as summarising commissioning and partnership activity.

40.2    The Head of Community Safety, Peter Castleton and James Rowlands, VAWG Commissioner, gave a joint presentation highlighting the key issues. There were likely to be increasing pressures in consequence of some Home Office funding streams which were due to cease and if those funding gaps could not be filled reductions would need to be made. Other funding streams including approaches to potential corporate funders were being actively pursued. The Chair, Councillor Daniel, stated  that she was aware of the work that had been and was being done to seek to support this work going forward the outcomes of which were not yet known.

40.3    Sally Polanski, voluntary sector stated that she was aware that this formed part of a national picture a co-ordinated approach was required with all partners to ensure that initiatives could be supported strategically in the longer term.

40.3    Councillor Littman considered that this information was very worrying against a backdrop of growing demand for support services. Councillor Simson agreed stating that if there was a reduction it would simply build up increased problems for the future. It was explained that presently work was being done in concert with the Police and other partners to look at how demand/services could be met in a different way.

40.4    The Chair, Councillor Daniel, confirmed that this was a challenging conundrum to which there were no answers yet, all involved were working  incredibly hard to try to ensure what was needed was provided.

40.5    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee notes the indicative timetable for the review of the city’s VAWG Strategy, the proposal that this becomes a DVA, SV and VAWG Strategy, and agrees that the revised strategy is tabled at a future meeting for approval;

            (2) Notes that the reporting of DVA and SV is increasing and that:

(i) While a re-commissioned specialist service is in place this is likely to operate within a reduced joint commissioning budget and will require outcomes to be prioritised;

(ii)There is a risk to the provision of prevention and recovery services, which are likely to be de-commissioned in 2017-18; and

(3) Advocates a comprehensive and detailed review of the response to these forms of violence and abuse across all service areas.