Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing that sought approval of a grant of £885,733 for 2024/25 from the Department of Levelling Up to fulfil the functions of the new statutory duty arising from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Act introduced several new duties and a range of implications for local authorities including safe accommodation strategic planning, safe accommodation provision and support for victims, and the prioritisation of domestic abuse victims within homelessness applications.

In July 2022 Cabinet noted the acceptance of the grant of £852,283 in 2022/2023 from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to fulfil the functions of the new statutory duty placed on Tier 1 Local Authorities relating to the provision of support to victims of domestic abuse and their children residing within safe accommodation: and delegated authority to the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, to approve further grant due for 2023/24 up to a maximum of £2.5 million pound. Coventry was awarded £869,332 for 2023/2024.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has now determined under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, that the DA (Domestic Abuse) Grant funding will be provided to local authorities, for the financial year 2024/2025, 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.

The report detailed the newly commissioned services in response to the needs assessment undertaken to ensure the Council complies with its new duties under the Act. The grant also funds a domestic abuse programme manager to co-ordinate delivery of the Domestic Abuse Strategy and action plans, Appendices to the report provided details on each of the services commissioned and brief evaluations on what has been achieved so far.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1)  Approves the acceptance of the grant of £885,733 for 2024/2025 from the Department of Levelling up 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: and

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources and the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, to accept any future additional grant funding to fulfil the functions set out in this report in subsequent years 2025 – 2026 and 2026 - 2027 up to a combined total amount of £2.5 million pounds.

3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Finance and Resources to make the necessary adjustments to the revenue budget to give effect to the recommendations set out in this report.