Decision details

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

Decision Maker: Co-operative Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

The proposal is to draw down new burdens funding of around £1,325,868 when this is allocated by central government and agree spending of £575,000 on commissioning support for people living in safe accommodation due to domestic abuse in relation to counselling, substance misuse, housing and financial advice and support. The funds will also pay for units of safe accommodation for young women and a survivor liaison role.

 

Decision:

9.1

Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a statutory duty on local authorities to provide specialist support to domestic abuse victims / survivors in safe accommodation. A government grant of £1,329,538 has been awarded to assist the Council meeting its new statutory duty. Approval is sought to agree proposed spending plans with any funds unallocated at this point to be approved via a delegated authority to the Director of Integrated Commissioning (in consultation with the Director of Adult Health and Social Care, the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Executive Member for Health and Social Care) to meet such statutory obligations.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED: That Co-operative Executive:-

 

 

1)     Note the Council being awarded a grant of £1,329,538 for 2022/2023 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to meet its new statutory duties under Domestic Abuse Act 2021 as outlined in the report;

 

2)    Approve such spending plans as outlined in this report, in respect of the grant funding being awarded to the Council. Variations to be entered into once the funding has been received;

 

3)    To the extent not covered by existing delegations, delegates authority to the Director of Integrated Commissioning in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, the Director of Adult Health and Social Care and the Executive Member for Health and Social Care to carry out such procurements regarding any funds as yet unallocated and award such contracts following a successful procurement process in order to provide specialist support services to domestic abuse victims / survivors in safe accommodation, in line with the report; and

 

4)    Where no such authority exists under the Leaders Scheme of Delegation, delegates authority to the Director of Integrated Commissioning in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, the Director of Adult Health and Social Care and the Director of Legal and Governance to take such other steps as may be necessary to meet the outcomes and objectives of the report.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

Sheffield has been allocated £1,329,538 in funding for the year 2022-2023 to meet the new statutory duties introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and outlined within this report. Accepting the funding and allocating as outlined within the report will support the Council to meet those statutory duties.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

The Council could decide to not accept the funding however this would mean that it would be unlikely to be able to meet the statutory duties in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Healthier Communities and Adult Social Care Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee

 

Report author: Alison Higgins

Publication date: 18/03/2022

Date of decision: 16/03/2022

Decided at meeting: 16/03/2022 - Co-operative Executive

Effective from: 25/03/2022

Accompanying Documents: