To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2018.

To receive the minutes of the Our Manchester Voluntary and Community Sector Fund Task and Finish Group meeting held on 12 July 2018.

Decisions

1. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2018 as a correct record.

2. To note the minutes of the Our Manchester Voluntary and Community Sector Fund Task and Finish Group meeting held 12 July 2018.

Report of the Chief Operating Officer – Neighbourhoods

This report provides a progress update on the implementation of the Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy 2016 – 2020.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Operating Officer (Neighbourhoods) which provided Members with a progress update on the implementation of the Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy 2016 – 2020.

Officers referred to the main points and themes within the report, which included:

·                Providing a background to the report following the ‘Delivering Differently – Manchester’s Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy’ that was launched on the 17 June 2016;

·                A description of achievements and developments over the previous twelve months, including initiatives that focused on the impact of domestic violence and abuse on children and young people;

·                A description of the activities undertaken with a range of partners around the five work streams of: preventing abuse; managing safety; supporting people to seek help; adapting delivery models in response to changing needs and demands; training and developing the workforce;

·                The impact of domestic abuse on children and young people;

·                Funding and commissioning arrangements; and

·                Information on the conduct of domestic homicide reviews.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·                What training had been provided to staff working in schools in relation to Operation Encompass;

·                How did Operation Encompass support those children not in mainstream education;

·                Members commented that the report lacked any figures in the report and asked how many referrals had been made as a result of Operation Encompass;

·                What work was being done through schools to promote healthy relationships;

·                What activities were being undertaken to address coercive behaviours, such as financial and emotional abuse and what support was provided for children who were affected by this;

·                Further information on Domestic Homicide Reviews was sought;

·                What organisations were involved with the Domestic Violence Forum and how did this work fit in with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Policing and Crime Plan;

·                Further information was sought on the Bridging to Change programme, designed to address perpetrators’ behaviour;

·                What work was being done to tackle Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and  so-called ‘Honour Based’ Violence; and

·                How were the outcomes and success of these interventions and actions measured?

The Domestic Violence Manager informed the Committee that the Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy had been co-produced with a range of partners, including the Voluntary and Community Sector, and the Domestic Violence Forum, chaired by the Deputy Leader which comprised of 34 members, including statutory organisations, Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the Probation Service, Health partners and the Voluntary and Community Sector.  She said that the Domestic Violence Forum was collectively responsible for delivering the strategy and they had an agreed action plan. 

DCI Boyce informed the Committee that Operation Encompass provided an overnight referral to the relevant school to notify them if a child had been present when police had attended an incident of domestic violence. This overnight referral made it possible for schools to provide the most appropriate pastoral care to the child. She said that training had been delivered to GMP staff and this continued to be refreshed to ensure good and consistent practice and recording was embedded. She  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This report provides members with details of key decisions that fall within the Committee’s remit and an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to amend as appropriate and agree.

A report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit was submitted. The overview report contained a list of key decisions yet to be taken within the Committee’s remit, responses to previous recommendations and the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee was asked to approve.

Decision

To note the report and agree the work programme.