To receive an update on the current position in relation to the proposals to the re-model accommodation services for victims of domestic abuse including the results of the consultation exercise and the current draft Equality Impact Assessment.

At previous meetings, Board members had considered the proposal to change the accommodation model from a refuge to one of emergency accommodation.  They had also heard from a range of organisations, including the current provider of the refuge, about the range of services provided in Torbay to support victims of domestic abuse.

The Director of Adult Services attended the meeting and presented her report which provided an update on the current position for re-commissioning domestic abuse services in Torbay.  The report included the results of the recent public consultation on the proposal to change the accommodation model together with the latest Equality Impact Assessment of the proposal.

It was noted that, as a result of the consultation, a collaborative approach would now be pursued to design future domestic abuse services, including accommodation and outreach support.  The membership of the Domestic Abuse Steering Group had been reviewed to ensure all relevant stakeholders were represented and the Group would be reviewing the Domestic Abuse Strategy.  The Group would then prioritise the appropriate involvement of stakeholders in the planning and design of future domestic abuse services and the allocation of funding including seeking partner contributions for those services.

To consider the proposals in relation to the re-modelling of accommodation services for victims of domestic abuse including the results of the recent consultation exercise and the draft Equality Impact Assessment.

Further to the previous meetings of the Priorities and Resources Review Panel, representatives of Westcountry Housing Association attended the meeting to explain to the Board the services that they provided in relation to domestic abuse.  The representatives were asked to give their views on how well they felt services were co-ordinated in Torbay.  They were also asked for their views on the Council’s proposals for re-modelling accommodation services for victims of domestic abuse.

The Board went on to consider a report which provided an update on the Council’s proposals for re-modelling accommodation services for victims of domestic abuse, the reasons behind the decision to change the delivery model and the interim results of the (recently extended) consultation exercise.

The Executive Head – Community Safety and the Supporting People Manager (together with the Executive Lead for Community Safety) also attended the meeting to answer the Board’s questions, in particular around the development of the Domestic Abuse Strategy, the decision making process for de-commissioning the seven dispersed units of accommodation for victims of domestic abuse in March 2012 and how the recommendations of the Domestic Abuse Steering Group to review the current delivery model had been reached.

It was noted that the re-modelling of accommodation services for victims of domestic abuse would now be considered at the meeting of the Council scheduled to take place in December 2013 and that the Overview and Scrutiny Board would give further consideration to the issue at its next meeting.