Agenda item

The Assistant Director for Housing Management presented the report to the Committee for the consideration and provision of a response on the proposed Housing Domestic Abuse Policy (the ‘Policy’).

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 introduced significant changes to improve the quality of social housing for tenants by tightening the regulations imposed on the Social Housing Sector.

The Regulator for Social Housing had produced the following standards to “deliver a well governed social housing sector” which provided quality homes and services for tenants:

1. The Safety and Quality Standard;
2. The Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard;
3. The Neighbourhood and Community Standard; and,
4. The Tenancy Standard.

The Neighbourhood and Community Standard required landlords to engage with other relevant parties so tenants could live in safe and well-maintained neighbourhoods and feel safe in their homes.

It also set out that all Registered Providers must have a policy for how they recognised and effectively responded to cases of domestic abuse.

The proposed Policy, attached at Appendix 1, set out how the Council’s Housing department, including Dragonfly Management (Bolsover) Ltd. acting on behalf of the Council, would tackle domestic abuse, support victims and survivors of domestic abuse, and hold perpetrators to account.

The Policy did not propose any changes to the operational management of domestic abuse cases, but did create a need for Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding training to be undertaken for some roles.  This would include, upon starting a position, regular training to ensure skills and knowledge were retained.

The Committee was provided a further updated “Homeless applicant pathway referral” which, while similar to the one presented on Page 75, included additional support for tenants and customers.

With regards figure 4.4 on Page 67, the “Perpetrators of domestic abuse”, the Committee was informed the Council took into account victims’ and survivors’ wishes, with many preferring to walk away.  However, if possession action was desired against the perpetrator, the Council would take possession against the tenant who had been convicted of an offence relating to domestic abuse.

The Committee was informed the Specialist Domestic Abuse Officer had been in post from January 2025 and as of the meeting had handled 22 applications from homeless victims and survivors and 3 applications from existing tenants – a difference was already being made.

A Member welcomed the Policy and noted the use of “domestic violence” instead of “domestic abuse” on Page 61.  The Assistant Director for Housing Management would update the Policy accordingly.

To questions on victims and survivors not fitting under the safeguarding rules or not providing consent for the Council to act on their behalf (and what the following steps would be), the Assistant Director for Housing Management informed an exploration on these questions would be carried out but noted the Council’s actions would depend on the individual circumstances of each case.

The Committee was further informed that while a fortnightly meeting took place between the Council and police colleagues, it was important to not breach data protection regulations.  However, the Council would always step in to protect children if required and would continue working with the police.

A Member noted the Council was always concerned with safeguarding, especially when children were involved, but if required the Council should pass on appropriate information to relevant agencies.  The Assistant Director for Housing Management stated this could be incorporated into the Policy.

Moved by Councillor Sandra Peake and seconded by Councillor Amanda Clarke

RESOLVED that the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee note the proposed Housing         Domestic Abuse Policy and provide comments for consideration in its further            development.

The Assistant Director for Housing Management and Housing Strategy and Development Officer left the meeting at 10:27 hours.