Issue - meetings

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 has introduced a new statutory definition of domestic abuse, which legally requires Council’s to implement it as part of their strategic housing responsibilities.  The draft Domestic Abuse Policy sets out how the Council will respond to reports of domestic abuse, including both as a landlord and when people approach as homeless and for housing advice. 

Purpose of report

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduced a new statutory definition of domestic abuse, which legally required Councils to implement it as part of their strategic housing responsibilities. The draft Domestic Abuse Policy set out how the Council would respond to reports of domestic abuse, including both as a landlord and when people approach as homeless and for housing advice.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.         Notes the content of the report, the consultation responses and Equality Impact Assessment.

2.         Approves the Domestic Abuse Policy.

3.         Delegates authority to the Director of Housing and Property, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property to make minor amendments to the Domestic Abuse Policy as needed by changes to regulation or legislation.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Not implementing the new policy and instead operating within the framework of the Lincolnshire Preventing Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021 – 2024 and the Council’s Safeguarding Policy – this was rejected.

Reason for decision

Implementing a new Housing Services Domestic Abuse Policy would set out how the Council would meet their statutory responsibilities to their tenants, members of their household and people approaching for housing advice and homelessness assistance if they were affected by domestic abuse.

The Council would respond to reports of domestic abuse both as a landlord and within their remit as a housing provider. The Policy would ensure that the Council took steps to ensure support for any individuals suffering domestic abuse.

The Policy would assist the Council to meet the aims within the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership. This was the single multi–agency forum for addressing community safety issues across Lincolnshire. Within the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership there was a Core Priority Group focusing specifically on domestic abuse.

Funding for domestic abuse support work had been sourced and these practices would form part of daily business for teams going forward.

The Council was committed to the white ribbon campaign which would take place on 25 November 2022, coinciding with 16 days of action against domestic violence. On adoption of the policy the Council intended to deliver training via the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) to upskill all front-line staff.

The following points were raised during discussion:

·         This policy supported two Corporate Plan priorities and would become ‘business as usual’ work of the Council.

·         Domestic abuse affected all members of society including children. Anyone who was the victim of domestic abuse should reach out to the Council or the Police.

·         The Policy was available in other languages.

·         Domestic abuse cases rose during the pandemic, and 6% of all victims were men.

·         Staff would be upskilled to enable them to become ‘Domestic Abuse Champions’. This was industry best practice across Housing Services.