Agenda item

Report of the Statutory Deputy City Mayor/Lead Member for Housing,

Property and Regeneration and Strategic Director Place.

Salford City Council - Record of Decision (Cabinet)

I Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby approve Salford Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy 2022-2025

The Reasons are:

·         The Domestic Abuse Bill received royal ascent on 29^th April 2021.  The Act has placed a statutory duty on tier one local authorities including Salford as a lower tier authority to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and their children within refuges and other safe accommodation and provide clarity over governance and accountability.

·         According to the new Domestic Abuse Act, Tier One authorities including Salford City Council, with support from their Local Partnership Boards, must conduct a local needs assessment to determine the level of need for domestic abuse support for victims /survivors residing in or needing safe accommodation in their area. 

·         The Needs Assessment will support the development of a local strategy required by the Domestic Abuse Act. Understanding what domestic abuse is and how it impacts on individuals, families and communities is crucial to ensuring quality and cost-effective services are delivered in Salford.

Options considered and rejected were:

The development of the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation is a statutory requirement, therefore there were not any other options to consider

Assessment of Risk: Low

The source of funding is:

The MHCLG Domestic Abuse Capacity Building Fund has been allocated equally across Tier 1 local authorities in England, including Salford with £50,000 received by the council. 

Legal Advice obtained: Frances McBride   09/11/21 TEL NO: 0161 234 3417

The introduction of the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy and its implementation plan gives effect to the new duties contained in Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. It ensures statutory compliance, provides governance and ensures public accountability.

Financial Advice obtained: Paul Hutchings 11/11/21 TEL: 0161 793 2574

·         The strategy itself has been funded through the Domestic Abuse Capacity Building Fund which was allocated to support local authorities with their preparation work and discharging the functions of the duty effectively.

·         Whilst the strategy itself has no further financial implications at this stage, there may be direct financial implications resulting from the implementation of the strategy.  The Government announced earlier this year that tier 1 local authorities will receive £125 million of funding to cover the cost of new burdens placed upon local authorities in meeting their new statutory duty under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act for this financial year (2021/22). The allocation for Salford for 2021/22 is £677,601.  The funding is for one year and no announcements have been made about future year’s funding.   It is imperative that we have a fully costed plan of how this funding will be spent.

Procurement Advice obtained:  Emma Heyes – Procurement Category Manager 

Date Provided 16/07/21

The Council has a contract for Specialist Professional Services with Bloom, which was put in place in December 2019 for a period of four years, via the NEPRO3 framework. Call-off procedure is via direct award or mini-competition.

HR Advice obtained: N/A

Climate Change Advice obtained: N/A

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: N/A

Contact Officer:     Shahla Zandi                       

Telephone number: 0161-7932055

The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Growth and Prosperity Panel 

For Democratic Services use only

This decision was published on   14.12.21                                         

This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 21.12.21                                       unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.