Report of the Strategic Director – Neighbourhoods attached

This report sets out the current funding arrangement for Domestic Violence and Abuse services across Manchester. It highlights in particular new investments that the council is making in 2021/22 to help further support victims and children and tackle perpetrator behaviour.

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods), which set out the current funding arrangement for Domestic Violence and Abuse (DV&A) services across Manchester. It highlighted in particular, new investments that the Council was making in 2021/22 to help further support victims and children and tackle perpetrator behaviour.

Key points and themes in the report included:-

·                Nationally and locally, it had been acknowledged that funding provision for DV&A services had historically been piecemeal and short term in nature;

·                In total the Council funds £2,268,305 in 2021/22 for DV&A services which included contributions from Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Community Safety Partnership;

·                In addition to this, it had recently been confirmed that the Council would receive a further £1,652,996 for 2021/22 from central government in relation to new burdens funding.  The funding was guaranteed for three years, but funding allocations for 2022/23 and 2023/24 have not yet been set;

·                Decisions on how DV&A funding is used going forward will be informed by the   Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy Refresh; and

·                A key aim of the new strategy would be to work with services, alongside schools, colleges and universities to support them in helping to prevent abuse, intervene earlier and change attitudes

Some of the key points that arose from the Committees discussions were:-

·                Further clarification was requested regarding the accommodation that would be provided for males who were the victims of DV&A;

·                Further information of the structure and function of the DV&A Partnership Board;

·                Noting the ad hoc and piecemeal funding provided by central government to address DV&A was there strategic oversight of the various spending and funding bids across the city;

·                Further information was requested in relation to the New Burdens Funding;

·                Further information was requested on the Drive programme;

·                Work needed to be undertaken with housing providers to ensure that it was the perpetrator of DV&A that was required to leave the family home; and

·                What is the overall cost of DV&A to public services.

The Strategic Lead Integrated Commissioning explained that nationally funding to deliver DV&A services was piecemeal and short term and this approach was challenging when designing services. He advised that Manchester had remained committed to investing in DV&A services over the years of austerity which placed the city in a strong position to respond to the Domestic Abuse Act that placed a new duty on local authorities to provide support to victims in refuges and other safe accommodation. He stated that the new Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy for the city  was being developed in partnership with the wider public services, communities and residents, and a draft would be available in the summer.

The Domestic Abuse Reduction Manager advised that the DV&A Partnership Board would replace the Domestic Violence Strategy Group and they would meet in July. She advised that the remit and governance arrangements of the Board would be agreed. She informed the Members that this Board would strengthen the existing relationships and develop new ones with a range of partners across the city. She advised that they were currently working with MACC to ensure that there was VCSE representation on the Board. She further advised that the Board would strengthen the understanding and coordination of funding streams across the city to address DV&A and would assist with reducing any duplication of funding bids.

The Domestic Abuse Reduction Manager stated that a recent report published by Safe Lives had calculated the cost of DV&A was £34k per victim and that she would share the report with the Committee for information. She stated that the New Burdens Funding was in addition to the homelessness fund and would be used to establish Domestic Abuse Specialist Support posts that would deliver an enhanced offer in refuge spaces. She stated that the exact details of these posts were still to be determined and that further information would be provided to the Committee at an appropriate time.

The Domestic Abuse Reduction Manager informed the Committee that as previously described the Domestic Abuse Act placed a new duty on local authorities to provide safe accommodation, and this included using dispersed accommodation that was provided through the homeless service. She further made reference to the DV&A project that was being delivered by the LGBT Foundation in collaboration with local housing providers across Greater Manchester. The Chair stated that the Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee would continue to consider and scrutinise the provision of DV&A services provided for different community groups.

In regard to the Drive programme the Domestic Abuse Reduction Manager informed the Committee that Manchester was participating in the national roll out of the programme in the South of the City. She stated that Drive was the Home Office recommended approach for the management of high-risk high harm perpetrator work and followed a specified model using the Respect accredited standard. She stated this was a multi-agency approach and that an analysis of the impact and outcomes of this programme would be undertaken and the outcomes reported to Members via the appropriate scrutiny committee.

With regard to the issue and the specific case relating to perpetrators of DV&A remaining in the family home the Domestic Abuse Reduction Manager informed the Member that she would discuss this following the meeting.

The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer stated that she acknowledged the comments expressed by the Committee in relation to the challenges presented by short term funding for such important services. She stated that all options would be considered as part of the budget setting process. 

The Chair in concluding this item of business paid tribute to staff and partners working to support all victims of DV&A.

Decision

The Committee notes the report