Issue - meetings

This Cabinet report accompanies the three Domestic Abuse Strategies as part of the Safer CSP Community Safety Partnership’s commitment in response to Domestic Abuse in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved: -

·      The overarching Safer BCP Prevention of Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-31

·      The Safe Accommodation Strategy 2026-31

·      The Perpetrator Strategy 2026-31

·      The accompanying Safe Accommodation & Community Services Commissioning Plan

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

It is a statutory requirement under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 for local authorities to create a Safe Accommodation strategy every five years.

These three strategies form the Council’s strategic framework to preventing and respond to domestic abuse across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

Whilst it is not a requirement to have a Perpetrator Strategy or an overarching Preventing Domestic Abuse Strategy, the Community Safety Partnership have developed these complimentary strategies to focus on preventative, early intervention work and ensure that a holistic approach is taken to addressing domestic abuse and perpetrating behaviours in BCP.

All three strategies have been developed through significant public consultation and development, including lived experience groups, Councillor task and finish group and wider stakeholder engagement.

The commissioning plan that accompanies the strategies will inform the commissioning of our domestic abuse services in BCP.

This Cabinet report accompanies the three Domestic Abuse Strategies as part of the Safer CSP Community Safety Partnership’s commitment in response to Domestic Abuse in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report accompanied the three Domestic Abuse Strategies as part of the Safer CSP Community Safety Partnership’s commitment in response to Domestic Abuse in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Kate Salmon addressed Cabinet and advised that, at its recent meeting, the Board had given detailed consideration to this item and had resolved to submit the following recommendations: -

The Overview and Scrutiny Board Recommend to Cabinet: -

That Cabinet be advised that the O&S Board supported the recommendation as outlined in the report to approve:

·       The overarching Safer BCP Prevention of Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-31

·       The Safe Accommodation Strategy 2026-31

·       The Perpetrator Strategy 2026-31

·       The accompanying Safe Accommodation & Community Services Commissioning Plan

Voting: Unanimous

Further to this the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board advised that the Board had further suggested some minor amendments to strategy which had been agreed and incorporated by officers.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved: -

·      The overarching Safer BCP Prevention of Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-31

·      The Safe Accommodation Strategy 2026-31

·      The Perpetrator Strategy 2026-31

·      The accompanying Safe Accommodation & Community Services Commissioning Plan

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

It is a statutory requirement under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 for local authorities to create a Safe Accommodation strategy every five years.

These three strategies form the Council’s strategic framework to preventing and respond to domestic abuse across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

Whilst it is not a requirement to have a Perpetrator Strategy or an overarching Preventing Domestic Abuse Strategy, the Community Safety Partnership have developed these complimentary strategies to focus on preventative, early intervention work and ensure that a holistic approach is taken to addressing domestic abuse and perpetrating behaviours in BCP.

All three strategies have been developed through significant public consultation and development, including lived experience groups, Councillor task and finish group and wider stakeholder engagement.

The commissioning plan that accompanies the strategies will inform the commissioning of our domestic abuse services in BCP.

This Cabinet report accompanies the three Domestic Abuse Strategies as part of the Safer CSP Community Safety Partnership’s commitment in response to Domestic Abuse in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

This Cabinet report accompanies the three Domestic Abuse Strategies as part of the Safer CSP Community Safety Partnership’s commitment in response to Domestic Abuse in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Board was advised that these three strategies form the Council’s strategic framework to preventing and respond to domestic abuse across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector agencies. Whilst it is not a requirement to have a Perpetrator Strategy or an overarching Preventing Domestic Abuse Strategy, the Community Safety Partnership have developed these complimentary strategies to focus on preventative, early intervention work and ensure that a holistic approach is taken to addressing domestic abuse and perpetrating behaviours in BCP. All three strategies have been developed through significant public consultation and development, including lived experience groups, Councillor task and finish group and wider stakeholder engagement. The commissioning plan that accompanied the strategies would inform the commissioning of domestic abuse services in BCP. The Board discussed a number of issues in the subsequent discussion on this item including:

Adjournment 7:11 – 7:21

Accessibility and Use of Terminology - Questions were raised regarding references to a "gendered lens" and "intersectionality". Officers explained that the terms referred to the way in which characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability and other protected characteristics could combine to create additional barriers to accessing support services.

Members welcomed the explanation but requested that terminology used within publicly available documents be expressed more clearly to aid understanding.

Partnership Working with Dorset Police - Concern was raised that the role of Dorset Police and wider partnership arrangements were not sufficiently visible within the strategies. Officers advised that extensive partnership working already existed through mechanisms including Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC), Domestic Abuse Strategic Groups, Safeguarding arrangements, Domestic abuse commissioned services. It was confirmed that Dorset Police participated in strategic and operational governance arrangements and that close working relationships existed in relation to safeguarding and support for high-risk victims. Several Members nevertheless considered that the strategies should more clearly demonstrate these arrangements and explain the role of partner agencies.

Suicide Preventions – The Board queried how domestic abuse work aligned with wider suicide prevention activity. It was reported that domestic abuse had been identified as a significant risk factor within suicide prevention work and that domestic abuse representation was included within wider suicide prevention partnerships and strategic groups.

Members were reassured that the work was not being undertaken in isolation and formed part of a wider public health approach.

Commissioning and In-House Delivery - Clarification was sought regarding the extent to which services would be delivered directly by the Council. Officers advised that specialist domestic abuse support was required under legislation and best practice guidance to be delivered by specialist providers. Whilst some functions remained in-house, including strategic coordination and certain housing-related support roles, accommodation and community-based services would continue to be procured from specialist organisations. It was explained that specialist providers offered established expertise, governance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29