Agenda item - MHCLG Funding Award

Report of the Executive Director for Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities.

RESOLVED:

(1)         That it be noted that the Pan Sussex Partnership is undertaking a needs assessment, as required by the MHCLG funding, which will gather data and identify gaps in service provision;

(2)         That it be agreed to spend a portion of the MHCLG funding to develop an extra resource in Brighton & Hove City Council to support the development of policy, and the commissioning and oversight of services in relation to domestic violence and domestic abuse. This resource would amount to approximately £25,000 until the end of March 22;

(3)         That officers be requested to produce a report back to an urgent TECC sub-committee as soon as the needs assessment has been completed in July with the following information:

(i)        That on completion of the needs assessment, and after consultation with relevant cross-party Members, that officers provide options for  Members to discuss and decide on how the remaining, approximately £581,000, MHCLG funding will be spent in Brighton & Hove; and

(ii)      That the carry forward of £99,962 separate MHCLG funding from the 2020/21 financial year to Rise, to cover the continued MHCLG project funding for first two quarters of 2021/22 be noted, and that the further report as detailed above in 3 (i) above will also detail the options on continuation of this funding, following the required MHCLG needs assessment exercise.

9.1            The Head of Safer Communities introduced the report which provided an update on the work of the Pan Sussex Framework and sought approval for the expenditure of funding.

9.2            The Chair noted that there was a cross-party amendment and invited Councillor Simson to move the amendment.

9.3            Councillor Simson moved the amendment on behalf of the Conservative, Labour and Green Groups, which was jointly seconded by Councillors Grimshaw and Powell.

9.4            The Committee welcomed the report and raised a number of questions in relation to the proposals and a discrepancy in regard to paragraphs 3.1 and 7.1 in the report and sought clarification on the receipt and spending of the MHCLG funding.

9.5            The Head of Safer Communities stated that she would need to clarify the date that the Grant was received and confirmed that the £50k Capacity Building Funding had been used to establish the Project Team and to undertake the Needs Assessment which would include consultation with 3^rd Sector Providers. She stated that there was an expectation that the Needs Assessment would have to be completed before any funding could then then spent but she would seek to clarify this with colleagues in the Procurement Team.

9.6            Members of the Committee queried whether support services were made available to those survivors of domestic abuse who were placed outside of the city and asked for further information in regard to the number of staff and recruitment and when the Domestic Violence Partnership Board would be established and meeting.

9.7            The Head of Safer Communities stated that she would ensure the information requested was provided to the Members of the Committee following the meeting.

9.8            The Chair then put the amendment to the vote which was carried and then the recommendations as amended to the vote which were carried.

9.9            RESOLVED:

(1)      That it be noted that the Pan Sussex Partnership is undertaking a needs assessment, as required by the MHCLG funding, which will gather data and identify gaps in service provision;

(2)      That it be agreed to spend a portion of the MHCLG funding to develop an extra resource in Brighton & Hove City Council to support the development of policy, and the commissioning and oversight of services in relation to domestic violence and domestic abuse. This resource would amount to approximately £25,000 until the end of March 22;

(3)      That officers be requested to produce a report back to an urgent TECC sub-committee as soon as the needs assessment has been completed in July with the following information:

(i)     That on completion of the needs assessment, and after consultation with relevant cross-party Members, that officers provide options for  Members to discuss and decide on how the remaining, approximately £581,000, MHCLG funding will be spent in Brighton & Hove; and

(ii)    That the carry forward of £99,962 separate MHCLG funding from the 2020/21 financial year to Rise, to cover the continued MHCLG project funding for first two quarters of 2021/22 be noted, and that the further report as detailed above in 3 (i) above will also detail the options on continuation of this funding, following the required MHCLG needs assessment exercise.