The Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention presented the report which provided an update on activity to improve the provision of support to children, adults and families affected by domestic abuse. The report considered progress at both strategic and operational levels.

Members noted that a planned stakeholder event scheduled for April was to be delayed by at least a month due to the coronavirus epidemic, and alternative ways of gathering data were being considered. Members also noted that when people were made to remain at home to prevent infection, domestic abuse was a potential risk, as were financial pressure caused by not working.

Resolved - That

(1)  the progress made since November 2019 to improve services for children, adults and families affected by domestic abuse be noted.

(2)  the extension of the timescales previously proposed to launch a new borough-wide partnership strategy for domestic abuse be supported in order to enable meaningful co-production to take place (extending from April 2020 to September 2020).

(3)  it be noted that co-production of the partnership strategy will delay timescales for reviewing commissioning arrangements and developing a detailed training programme. Activity to improve services will continue throughout and be reported on a regular basis.