Agenda item

Report attached.

The Deputy Leader of the Council reported on behalf of the Portfolio holder for Housing and Regeneration who had submitted a report to seek authority to enter into a Grant Agreement with HARV (Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Domestic Abuse Service) to enable HARV to deliver domestic abuse support services to enhance the domestic abuse safe house provision and deliver a sanctuary scheme in Hyndburn.

The Leader of the Conservative Group asked if the service covered all sections of the community including men.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

Lancashire CC in partnership with the 12 Lancashire district housing authorities and 11 domestic abuse service providers has been successful in securing a grant award of £1,249,947.00 across the county via a bid to MHCLG (Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local Government). This nationwide ‘2018 – 2020 Fund for

Domestic Abuse Services’ is for local areas to work collaboratively across local

authority boundaries to strengthen domestic abuse provision. An additional £120,000

has been awarded that will help towards the delivery of sanctuary schemes. The

funding is a one off grant payment for 18 months (October 2018 to end of March 2020).

Through this bid Hyndburn has secured an allocation of £96,619 to assist in the

enhancement of the domestic abuse safe house provision in the Borough. Funding will be used by HARV to employ support workers which include a dedicated BME (Black Minority Ethnic) and Complex Needs Worker and a part time Family Support Worker to support families living in the safe houses and ensuring that victims from all sections of the community are able to access the provision.

HARV also manages and co-ordinates the Boroughs sanctuary scheme provision for victims of domestic abuse in Hyndburn. This support enables victims of domestic

abuse to stay safe in their own homes through the provision of physical security

measures including window and door locks, strengthening doors, emergency alarms

etc. The grant funding will ensure this scheme continues.

The Council will enter into a grant agreement with HARV which will provide funding to HARV to enable it to deliver support to the residents in Hyndburn’s safe houses and to deliver a sanctuary scheme to keep victims of domestic abuse safe and secure in their own homes.

Alternative Options Considered and Reasons for Rejection 

There are no realistic alternative options. Both Hyndburn Borough Council and HARV

supported the successful bid to MHCLG. HARV has provided the support to the residents in Hyndburn’s safe house for the last 5 years and has delivered the sanctuary scheme in the Borough since 2006. This new funding will enable HARV to continue to deliver support to vulnerable victims of domestic abuse in the borough. As the funding is for 18 months only it does not seem reasonable or proportionate to look at grant funding other agencies that would have set up costs etc. The grant funding received will deliver the outcomes stated in the bid.

Resolved                           (1)   That Cabinet agreed to the Council accepting grant funding of £96,619 - for safe house support and

an amount to be determined (approx. £5k to £10k)

to support a sanctuary scheme - from Lancashire

County Council to enhance domestic abuse

support services in the Borough; and,

                                (2)   That Cabinet delegated authority to the Head of Regeneration and Housing following consultation

with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing Services to agree the terms of, and enter into a grant agreement with Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Domestic Abuse Service (HARV) to enable them to enhance their domestic abuse safe house provision and deliver a sanctuary scheme in Hyndburn.