Issue - meetings

Recommendations:

i)           That Executive notes the contents of the report, the proposed Domestic Abuse Policy for the Housing Service, consultation responses and the Equality Impact Assessment.

ii)         That Executive approves the Domestic Abuse Policy for the Housing Service.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Community Development presenting the Domestic Abuse Policy for the Housing Service for approval. As a stock holding housing authority the council was required to have a domestic abuse policy to comply with the Regulator of Social Housing’s updated Neighbourhood and Community Standard.

Councillor Simon Myers, Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, introduced the report and advised that the policy would support council officers in responding effectively to domestic abuse and supporting victims.  The policy had been developed following consultation with partner organisations and key staff within the council.

In response to a question Councillor Myers confirmed that the policy was robust and proactive and in line with other registered social landlords.  Nic Harne, Corporate Director Community Services, confirmed that the policy formed the foundation of the Council’s work towards gaining Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation, which provided the gold standard benchmark for a housing provider response to domestic abuse.  Councillor Janet Sanderson welcomed the policy as the Safeguarding Partnership regularly considered the implications for children who were victims of domestic abuse, and she confirmed that the Partnership was happy to support the policy.

Resolved (unanimously) – that:

i)           the contents of the report, the proposed Domestic Abuse Policy for the Housing Service, consultation responses and the Equality Impact Assessment be noted; and

ii)         the Domestic Abuse Policy for the Housing Service be approved.