Proposed by Councillor Anita Leech

Seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson

“This meeting takes place as the White Ribbon campaign’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence comes to a close. (December 10th). 

The 16 Days campaign has taken place against a background of increased reporting of high profile cases of abuse directed against women, stretching from Hollywood to Westminster, but we must not forget the overwhelming majority of abuse takes place in a domestic environment, often against mothers and their children – and yet we see the Government again targeting the most vulnerable with its failed austerity measures.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the majority of victims of domestic homicides recorded between April 2013 and March 2016 were females (70%).

The ONS also said that the police recorded 1.1 million domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in the year ending March 2017, while the majority of victims of 454 domestic homicides recorded between April 2013 and March 2016 were females (70%).

However, according to the latest reports many victims of domestic abuse do not see justice.

Now we have a Government which is trying to sneak out measures which will put even more women’s lives at risk. It is being reported that the Tory Government is planning to remove refuges and other forms of short-term supported housing from the welfare system. At a point in their lives, when they fear for their safety – and often that of their children – many women will now face even more pressure because the Government is withdrawing key support for them.

According to the reports the Government instead plans to hand money to local councils – but as we have seen before local government is expected to make this cash go further than the Government could manage. According to recent media reports “the government proposes handing a “ring-fenced” grant to councils for short-term supported housing. However, this does not exclusively cover refuges – it is also aimed at older people, homeless people, offenders, people with mental illnesses and drug addicts”.

Council recognises local authorities such as Wirral have demonstrated their ability to show great prudence and planning in making ever decreasing funding go much further, but believes it is unacceptable for the Government to place further pressures on local government, placing more women at risk because they are failing to balance their own budget.

Council agrees to write to the Home Secretary to ask her to drop these proposals and take the safety of women in situations of domestic abuse more seriously by providing adequate funding for key issues such as women’s refugees and on-going support for women fleeing domestic violence.”

One amendment which had been circulated in advance of the meeting was submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1) and (9), as follows:

Proposed by Councillor David Burgess-Joyce

Seconded by Councillor Bruce Berry

“Paragraph 2: Delete ‘ – and yet……… measures.’

Delete paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 9 and insert:

Domestic violence is a blight on our society and many victims suffer in silence for many years only to have their plight known to authorities when a tragedy occurs. This blight applies to both women and men alike.

The cross-government definition of domestic violence and abuse is now:

any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to:

·  psychological

·  physical

·  sexual

·  financial

·  emotional

This significantly expands the types of reportable abuse and gives the police and courts wider opportunities to successfully control and prosecute offenders.

Wirral Council successfully bid for additional government funding for 2016. This funding boost was in addition to the original offer of additional funding of £40 million over a 4 years period to support victims of domestic violence, announced as part of its Spending Review. The funding was to help local authorities develop a number of different, innovative services.

As well as the additional funding, domestic abuse is a major priority for the government’s Troubled Families programme. The focus on tackling domestic violence and abuse was increased in the new expanded programme.

The Conservative government announced a new £10 million government fund to help support refuges across the country and boost provision for vulnerable victims of domestic violence.

This built on steps taken by the government to end domestic violence, support victims and ensure offenders are prosecuted. These include:

·  £40 million for Violence Against Women and Girls support services and specialist helplines

·  new laws and powers - including a new domestic abuse offence to capture coercive and controlling behaviour, the criminalisation of forced marriage, and the introduction of new stalking laws

·  the national roll-out of domestic violence protection orders and the domestic violence disclosure scheme

It is clear the government has made significant strides in trying to tackle an historically difficult offence to prosecute whilst encompassing some new family and cultural issues which needed addressing. 

Council believes it is incumbent on the Leader to work with officers to research and develop new and innovative local strategies to support victims of domestic abuse and violence that are more than just temporary measures.

Council agrees to write to the Home Secretary once the Leader of the Council, his Cabinet and Officers have launched these local strategies to advise her of the outcomes for Wirral families that are the victims of domestic violence.”

Following a debate and Councillor Anita Leech having replied the amendment was put and lost (16:38) (One abstention).

The motion was put and carried (38:16) (One abstention).

Resolved (38:16) (One abstention) –

This meeting takes place as the White Ribbon campaign’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence comes to a close. (December 10th). 

The 16 Days campaign has taken place against a background of increased reporting of high profile cases of abuse directed against women, stretching from Hollywood to Westminster, but we must not forget the overwhelming majority of abuse takes place in a domestic environment, often against mothers and their children – and yet we see the Government again targeting the most vulnerable with its failed austerity measures.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the majority of victims of domestic homicides recorded between April 2013 and March 2016 were females (70%).

The ONS also said that the police recorded 1.1 million domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in the year ending March 2017, while the majority of victims of 454 domestic homicides recorded between April 2013 and March 2016 were females (70%).

However, according to the latest reports many victims of domestic abuse do not see justice.

Now we have a Government which is trying to sneak out measures which will put even more women’s lives at risk. It is being reported that the Tory Government is planning to remove refuges and other forms of short-term supported housing from the welfare system. At a point in their lives, when they fear for their safety – and often that of their children – many women will now face even more pressure because the Government is withdrawing key support for them.

According to the reports the Government instead plans to hand money to local councils – but as we have seen before local government is expected to make this cash go further than the Government could manage. According to recent media reports “the government proposes handing a “ring-fenced” grant to councils for short-term supported housing. However, this does not exclusively cover refuges – it is also aimed at older people, homeless people, offenders, people with mental illnesses and drug addicts”.

Council recognises local authorities such as Wirral have demonstrated their ability to show great prudence and planning in making ever decreasing funding go much further, but believes it is unacceptable for the Government to place further pressures on local government, placing more women at risk because they are failing to balance their own budget.

Council agrees to write to the Home Secretary to ask her to drop these proposals and take the safety of women in situations of domestic abuse more seriously by providing adequate funding for key issues such as women’s refugees and on-going support for women fleeing domestic violence.