Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities, Councillor Victoria Atherstone

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the Domestic Abuse Policy is adopted;

2.    Cabinet agrees that the Council will seek Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) Accreditation;

3.    authority is delegated to the Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services in consultation with the Director for Governance, Housing and Communities to amend the housing and homelessness policy as relates to Domestic Abuse as appropriate in light of developing best practice;

4.    the proposal in Appendix 3 for the creation of a partnership plan to support local implementation of the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2028 is noted.

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities introduced her report, saying that since the reintegration of housing services, it is important to have a separate domestic abuse policy to safeguard and support tenants, staff and elected members.  The policy provides clear guidance on reporting domestic violence in any form, and encourages working with local businesses to ensure their policies are also in place.  Tenants will be able to report domestic abuse through safe and confidential channels, all reports will be treated as high priority, and training of different levels and types will be available to all staff and members.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services welcomed the report and thanked officers and the Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities, saying it is becoming increasingly clear that we need to target our properties to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are better protected. The Leader welcomed the alignment of the whole county on this important issue, which she said would strengthen what we already have and do.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the Domestic Abuse Policy is adopted;

2.    Cabinet agrees that the Council will seek Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) Accreditation;

3.    authority is delegated to the Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services in consultation with the Director for Governance, Housing and Communities to amend the housing and homelessness policy as relates to Domestic Abuse as appropriate in light of developing best practice;

4.    the proposal in Appendix 3 for the creation of a partnership plan to support local implementation of the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2028 is noted.