Issue - meetings

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive on the Council’s new duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Domestic abuse was a manifestation of one-person (or persons) exerting power and control over an another with whom they shared a personal connection. Domestic abuse could take many forms including, but not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. It also included honour-based violence, forced marriage, other culturally recognised forms of abuse and a range of controlling and coercive behaviours. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 also highlighted economic abuse. 

Preventing harm from Domestic Abuse was a priority within Coventry and was a key measure within the One Coventry Corporate Plan. Coventry’s Domestic Abuse Strategy 2018–2023 outlined the city’s approach to addressing domestic abuse, including honour-based violence and forced marriage.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Act provided, for the first time, a statutory definition of domestic abuse and delivered a number of significant changes to improve the protection of victims within the community and the criminal justice system.

The Act had a number of implications for the Council, as a Tier 1 Local Authority, including the requirement that a new statutory board be created, the implementation of a statutory definition of domestic abuse, a duty to produce regular needs assessments and strategies, delivery of specific minimum types of support for victims within safe accommodation, the prioritisation of domestic abuse victims within homelessness applications and a requirement to annually report to the Secretary of State.

The Government had provided Coventry City Council with a grant of £849,930 in 2021/22, for the purpose of and the expectation that the Council started to prepare and fulfil the relevant functions under the duty. No funding had been provided beyond 2021/22 and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that any further funding would be confirmed as part of the Governments Comprehensive Spending Review. The Grant terms did not include a requirement for spend to be completed by 31st March 2022, and as detailed in paragraphs 1.16 and 1.29 of the report, the plan was to commit the grant over the period up to 30th September 2022 to reflect time for the needs assessment to be completed as well as further commissioning activity.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Approves the proposal to create the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board as a statutory board of the local authority.

2)  Approves acceptance of the grant of £849,930 in 2021/2022 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to fulfil the functions of the new statutory duty on Tier 1 Local Authorities relating to the provision of support to victims of domestic abuse and their children residing within safe accommodation.

3)  Notes the Council’s new duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.