Decision details

Domestic Abuse Funding from Central Government for Specialist Support for Domestic Abuse Survivors / Victims in Safe Accommodation

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Decision:

9.1

It is noted that the Council has accepted this funding, a government grant of £1,325,868 for the year 2021-22. The purpose of the grant funding is to assist the Council meeting its new statutory duty within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. There is a statutory duty upon local authorities to provide specialist support to domestic abuse victims / survivors in safe accommodation. Approval is sought to agree proposed spending plans and a delegated authority to agree a procurement strategy to the Director of Director for Health and Social Care meet such statutory obligations.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED: That Co-Operative Executive:-

 

  1. Note that the Council has approved receipt of a government grant of £1,325,868 to meet its new statutory duties under Domestic Abuse Act 2021;

 

2.    Approve such spending plans and strategy as outlined in this report, in respect of the grant funding; 

 

  1. To the extent not covered by existing delegations, delegate authority to Director of Director for Health and Social Care in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services to carry out such procurement as may be necessary in order to provide specialist support services to domestic abuse victims / survivors in safe accommodation, in line with this report;

 

  1. To the extent not covered by existing delegations, delegate authority to the Director for Health and Social Care in consultation with Director of Finance and Commercial Services to agree appropriate contract terms and following the such procurement approve contract awards and thereafter enter into such contracts; and

 

  1. Where no such authority exists under the Leaders Scheme of Delegation, delegate an authority to Director for Health and Social Care in consultation with Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal Services to take such other steps as may be necessary to meet the outcomes and objectives of this report.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

The funding is related to the statutory duty which is included in the Domestic Abuse Act that had cross party support and received Royal Assent on the 29th April. Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act has introduced a statutory duty for Local Authorities to ensure all victims of domestic abuse have access to the right support within safe accommodation when they need it. 

 

Tier one LAs (such as Sheffield) have a duty to assess the need for support and prepare strategies to provide specialist support for victims who need to reside in the relevant safe accommodation.

 

The Government have provided £125 million to cover costs of the new duty in 2021/22 to ensure there is sufficient provision of support within domestic abuse safe accommodation.

Sheffield has been allocated £1,325,868 in funding for the year 2021-22 to meet the new statutory duties. As the funding is related to Domestic Abuse it is proposed that the funding is managed in the Domestic Abuse / Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team (under Head of Commissioning Sam Martin) who will work closely with Housing Independence Service and colleagues in Housing on implementing the proposals.

 

The governments draft statutory guidance for support in safe accommodation states that ‘where possible, commissioning should be conducted on a long-term basis to encourage consistency and security for victims and their children. Unless there is good reason not to, commissioning should at a minimum reflect the period covered under the local strategy (3 years).’ It is recommended that for key services such as the women’s refuges, a 5year commissioning plan with break clauses and mitigations around central government funding reductions will enable high quality service provision for the city and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of domestic abuse on individuals and families.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

None

 

 

9.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

9.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

9.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Executive Director, People Services

 

 

9.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Overview and Scrutiny Management

 

Publication date: 28/06/2021

Date of decision: 23/06/2021

Decided at meeting: 23/06/2021 - Co-operative Executive

Effective from: 03/07/2021

Accompanying Documents: