Cabinet considered the RBWM Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-24. Councillor Carroll, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Health, Mental Health & Transformation stated that he was pleased to bring the update to Cabinet. Although the report was only for noting, he had brought it to Cabinet because of the absolute importance of the issues. The strategy built on the work of the previous 2012-2020 strategy. It renewed the commitment to build on achievements, maintain and improve best practice and develop services for anyone experiencing domestic abuse in the borough. Councillor Carroll paid tribute to the DASH charity which provided key services across the borough.

Members noted that strategy had been developed around four priorities, closely aligned with those in the Government’s Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan(March 2022):

1.    Prevention and early intervention

2.    Provision of services

3.    Pursuing perpetrators

4.    Working in partnership

It also linked to a number of other key local and regional strategies and action plans including:

·     Thames Valley Police & Criminal Justice Plan 2021-2025 (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner - OPCC)

·     Thames Valley Police Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2022-2023

·     RBWM Community Safety Plan 2021-24

·     RBWM Safeguarding Partnership Strategy 2022-25

·     RBWM Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy 2021-24

·     Thames Valley Police Strategic Plan 2021-2022

·     Berkshire Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021-2026

Councillor Carroll concluded that sadly, due to the pandemic, the incidence of domestic abuse had increased and therefore the council must redouble its efforts to ensure victims were protected, and work harder to provide prevention and intervention services.

Councillor Johnson seconded the proposal, highlighting that bringing the report to Cabinet demonstrated a powerful intent.

Councillor Stimson endorsed the strategy. The DASH charity was soon moving premises to ensure it was as comfortable as possible for victims to access services.

Councillor Rayner highlighted the partnership working with Street Angels and Project Vigilance. Councillor Cannon highlighted partnership working with the Community Safety Partnership and the Police and Crime Commissioner.  

Councillor Del Campo welcomed the report. She commented that she understood the strategy was a living document and therefore made a number of suggestions. It was encouraging to see in the EQIA that work was being done to see how different groups experienced the situation and how they accessed support, however she did not feel that the issues of disadvantage had been specifically addressed in the main body of the report. She was glad to see support for perpetrators was included as this was essential to prevention. However, she asked if the scheme was available to those outside of a setting involving children. She would also like to see more information, including the link to mental health, drug and alcohol abuse and multi-agency support.

The Safe Accommodation Strategy identified a number of gaps in the service around refuge support, tailored support for protected characteristics, lack of data on victims’ socio-economic status, and the movement of victims between authorities. Her own experience helping residents was that the strategy was not always consistently applied. Councillor del Campo suggested that delivery of the action plan could be an ongoing item on the People O&S Panel work programme.

Councillor Carroll welcomed the suggestion for Overview and Scrutiny, but noted the decision would be a matter for the Panel. A holistic approach had bene taken for some time, for example he and Councillor McWilliams had worked closely in terms of housing and homelessness, and he had worked with the drug and alcohol service on mental health, resilience and working with the NHS. He was happy to consider what more could be done to ensure the offer remained prominent. It was important to distinguish between equality of access, and hard to reach groups. The offer was universal, but it was recognised that there were hard to reach groups. It was important to find ways to ensure all individuals could immediately access services.

The Director of People Services confirmed that the perpetrator support programme was run by Thames Valley Police and was open to all regardless of age, gender, or family circumstances.

Councillor Price commented that she was delighted to see the service covered all genders. The EQIA was excellent and an example to others.

Councillor Baldwin commented that it was an unbelievably important issue which had been exaggerated by the pressures of the pandemic. Abuse was a scourge on society. He looked forward to the strategy being carried forward in every aspect of the council’s performance.

Councillor Carroll commented that abuse of any nature should be stamped out. A victim first approach was at the heart of the strategy.

Councillor Sharpe welcomed the report. He wanted to ensure the good work of the DASH charity was publicised in the south of the borough.  He asked if the council was working with housing associations on the issue.

Councillor Carroll confirmed that DASH worked borough-wide. Partnership working with Housing Associations was covered in the Accommodation Strategy.

Councillor Hilton reassured Councillor Sharpe that DASH was present in Ascot. He ran a small charity in the area that provided a grant to DASH.

Councillor Carroll placed on record his thanks to the officers involved in preparing the strategy and for all the partners who ensured the issue was a critical priority.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cabinetnotes the report and:

i)           the contents of the RBWM Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-24