Decision details

(i)  To appoint the Board to provide advice to the Council about the

    exercise of its functions under Part 4 of the 2021 Act and the       provision of other local authority domestic abuse support in its area.

(ii)  To adopt the proposed Terms of Reference of the Board (‘the Terms of Reference’), attached at Appendix 1 of this report.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director Communities, Culture and Homes, having sought the advice of the Board, to:

  (a) prepare and consult upon a draft strategy (‘the Part 4    strategy’) as required by s 57 of the 2021 Act;

  (b) carry out any functions required to give effect to the Part 4

    strategy;

  (c) carry out any functions required to support the provision of    other local support in the Council’s area;

  (d) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Part 4 strategy;

  (e) report on progress and how funding has been used in    relation to the exercise of the Council’s functions under Part    4 of the 2021 Act to the Ministry for Housing, Communities    and Local Government;

  (f) appoint a chair and vice chair to the Board (the Executive     Director Communities, Culture and Homes may appoint    themselves as chair);

  (g) add or remove representatives to the Board, ensuring the

    minimum representation requirement (as set out by s 58(2) of    the 2021 Act) is met and considering the inclusion of a wider

    representation to support the Council’s local approach to    tackling domestic abuse;

  (h) make any minor adjustments to the Terms of Reference as    and when necessary; and,

  (i) do anything considered necessary in order to fulfil the    Council’s legal obligations pursuant to the 2021 Act.

The Council is required by s 58(1) of the 2021 Act to appoint the Board.

2. Delegating authority to the Executive Director Communities, Culture and

Homes to carry out functions required to support the provision of other local

support (ie system-wide support) in the Council’s area will facilitate a ‘single

system’ approach to the provision of support in relation to Domestic Abuse,

with centralised oversight of key multi-agency services.

While relevant draft statutory guidance asks authorities to consider using

existing structures to meet the duties set out in Part 4 of the 2021 Act, it is

considered that the existing multi-agency domestic and sexual violence group

cannot adequately meet these duties.

The 2021 Act requires the Board to advise the Council about the provision of other local authority support in its area. Accordingly, the option of limiting the

function of the Board to the provision of advice about support in relevant safe

accommodation has not been considered. The Board will advise the Council

on the provision of system-wide support in relation to domestic abuse.

None