Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28^th March, 2018 were signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

As this was the last meeting of the current municipal year, the Chair, Councillor Brown, placed on record his thanks to the members, officers and members of the public for all the support given to the Committee and the Scrutiny Boards during the course of the year.

Report of the Acting Director of Public Health and the Head of Environmental Services

Inspector Katherine Sibley, West Midlands Police and Councillors A Khan and P Akhtar, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Committee considered a briefing note of Liz Gaulton, Acting Director of Public Health and Craig Hickin, Head of Environmental Services which sought approval for the draft Coventry Domestic Abuse Strategy for 2018-2023, a copy of which was set out at an appendix to the report. The draft action plan in support of the strategy was tabled at the meeting. Inspector Katherine Sibley, West Midlands Police attended the meeting in respect of this item along with Councillor P Akhtar, Deputy Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership, Councillor John Mutton, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Resources and Councillor P Seaman.

The briefing note highlighted that domestic abuse had been identified as a priority for Coventry, with the annual cost of domestic abuse in the city estimated to be £34.8m. Details of the number of reported domestic abuse crimes was included.

The strategy had been drafted by a multi-agency working group and it was anticipated that the strategy and a wider needs analysis would inform recommissioning of the domestic abuse services. The action plan would support implementation of the strategy.

The strategy covered domestic abuse including honour based violence and forced marriage which were both defined as forms of domestic violence and abuse. The strategy acknowledged that while anyone could experience domestic abuse, there were certain characteristics that could increase a person’s risk, its effects, and/or create barriers to accessing help and support. The strategy acknowledged that whilst in general women predominantly experienced abuse, there were other characteristics which could create barriers to accessing help and support. The following groups were identified as falling within these categories: children; older people; adults with care and support needs, including disabled people; men; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender; black, Asian minority ethnic and refugees; and people with mental illness and /or substance misuse problems.

The Committee noted that the strategy had been informed by engagement with a wide number of stakeholders. A co-design event had been held with professional stakeholders to discuss priorities, identify any gaps and suggest how the strategy could address them. The key issues raised were detailed. Service users and statutory and voluntary sector stakeholders were invited to complete surveys to identify their most important priorities. Targeted engagement with young people aged 15-18 had taken place through the Positive Youth Foundation by convening a focus group, while the adults with care and support needs were surveyed through Grapevine.

The following priorities areas were to be taken forward through the strategy and had been developed using the Government’s Contest model:

·  Prepare – the development of a strong governance and service commission structure to provide high quality, equitable services that were shaped around the needs of victims, ensuring that their voices were heard and responded to

·  Prevent – a long term approach to improve awareness, understanding and early identification of abuse at all levels of society. Victims would be empowered to report and staff would be given the skills and confidence to support them. Interventions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

All outstanding issues have been included in the Work Programme.

The Committee were informed that all outstanding issues had been included in the work programme.  

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Members and Elections Team Manager, the purpose of which was to review the work of the Committee during the course of the 2017/18 municipal year and to identify any priorities or issues for consideration when planning for next year’s scrutiny work programme. A copy of the final work programme was attached at an appendix to the report.

The Committee gave consideration to what had worked most effectively and what should be taken into account when planning arrangements for the next year.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The work programme be noted.

(2) Officers be requested to ensure that future reports/ presentations are circulated with the corresponding agenda in advance of meetings providing members with the necessary preparation time.

(3) Homelessness to be raised as a future item for the Committee’s work programme for 2018/19.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator, which was tabled at the meeting, and informed the Committee of the recommendations from the Business, Enterprise and Economy Scrutiny Board (3) at their meeting on 11^th April, 2018 when they considered an item on the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership  (CWLEP).

At their recent meeting the Board considered an item on the LEP and the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub. Members questioned officers on the work of the LEP as well as on accountability of the decisions made about public money. Whilst recognising that LEPs had been established specifically to be led by the private sector, there was a concern about the lack of oversight by local authorities on the decisions, especially when involving funding. As this was a sub-regional issue, the Board had recommended:

(i) That Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee lead on CWLEP scrutiny for the Council.

(ii) The Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee to work alongside CWLEP officers and scrutiny officers to co-ordinate a holistic approach to CWLEP scrutiny across the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region.

The Committee discussed the option of inviting Jonathan Browning, Chair, and Martin Yardley, Chief Executive, to a future meeting to providing an overview of the CWLEP.

RESOLVED that:

(1) Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee to lead on CWLEP scrutiny for the Council.

(2) The Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee to work alongside CWLEP officers and scrutiny officers to co-ordinate a holistic approach to CWLEP scrutiny across the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region.

(3) Jonathan Browning and Martin Yardley to be invited to a future meeting of the Committee in the new municipal year.