Agenda item

To consider the draft Domestic Abuse Strategy and Housing Landlord Domestic Abuse Policy.

The Panel considered the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2028 & Housing Landlord Domestic Abuse Policy.  The Service Manager – Community Safety & Support highlighted the legislative background to the Panel where new duties had been placed on tier 2 authorities to cooperate with the lead local authority, as far as is reasonably practicable. 

Four key strategic priorities had been identified in the strategy, namely: awareness & early intervention, workforce development, high quality service provision and multi-agency working and pathway development.

The priorities within the strategy were aligned to Hampshire Domestic Abuse Partnership and were informed by the national Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and serious violence duty. 

New burden funding of just over £70,000 had been allocated to the District Council as a result of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.  Hampshire County Council had also provided a whole housing approach grant of £53,364 and work was taking place with Stop Domestic Abuse to provide a one-year co-located post to ensure that all victims and survivors of domestic abuse had access to appropriate support.

The Housing Antisocial Behaviour Manager reported that the NFDC Housing Landlord Domestic Abuse Policy supported meeting the priorities within the Domestic Abuse Strategy and detailed how the council as housing landlord would support victims and survivors of domestic abuse.  The policy proposed would increase engagement with housing tenants, ensure that staff were trained to recognise signs of domestic abuse and that they know how to respond, whilst assessing risk.

A Panel member raised the issue of respect to women and females and issues around access to online materials which could lead to an unhealthy view of relationships.  The Service Manager – Community Safety and Wellbeing recognised, this to be an issue and that there had been an increase in misogynistic behaviour.  Within educational settings, targeted work had been carried out over the last 12 months around healthy relationships.  This had been received positively by young people and it was anticipated that this work would continue as a result.

A question was asked about training within the housing service for staff, recognising there could be a link with, for example, noisy neighbours, antisocial behaviour and domestic abuse.  It was confirmed that training had been identified within the strategy as a priority and this was also recognised in the housing landlord policy.  Staff had been attending domestic abuse courses and there were processes in place and reports of domestic abuse needed to be responded to urgently.  It was also confirmed that there was appropriate support for members of staff, in terms of their welfare, and that there would be domestic abuse champions within each department.

A Panel Member recognised that private landlords would benefit from information on domestic abuse to enhance their awareness and well as how support could be accessed.  The Service Manager Community Safety & Support confirmed that work could be carried out with private landlords. 

A question was asked about the processes in place within the council to ensure that data was not inadvertently given to the perpetrator of domestic abuse on the victims - survivors.  It was explained that there were clear processes and procedures in place, which was supported by the information governance team.  Staff were also trained to ensure that information was not shared inappropriately.

The draft Strategy and Housing Landlord Domestic Abuse Policy was welcomed and full supported by the Panel.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the draft Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2028 be supported for Cabinet approval and formal consultation; and

2.     That the draft Housing Landlord Domestic Abuse Policy be supported for approval by the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness.