Agenda item - Options for Commission of Domestic Violence and Abuse and Sexual Violence Services

Report of the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing (copy attached).

21.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing examining the options for the commission of domestic violence and abuse and sexual violence services and seeking Committee approval to the joint commission of specialist and community based services for victims/survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) and Sexual Violence (SV) for Brighton and Hove and East Sussex by Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) and East Sussex County Council (ESCC) which services are to commence on expiry of the current contract arrangements.

21.2    The report was presented by The Head of Safer Communities, Jo Player and the newly appointed Joint Commissioner for DVA and SV, Lindsay Adams. It was noted that in July 2018, the NICE Committee had requested that officers provide options for the effective development of commissioned services for Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) and sexual Violence (SV) provision in the City. This paper reported on aspects of the current service known as “The Portal” and the proposal to involve service users and providers from all sectors in the co-production of a strategy to address the needs of those requiring support as a result of the DVA and SV which would inform the re-commissioning of services.

21.3    It was noted that SV and DV reporting had increased substantially. Using reporting to the Police as an example, between 2013/14 and 2016/17 there had been an increase of 28% in reporting of domestic violence incidents and crimes and an increase of 115% in sexual offences in Brighton and Hove. In 2016/17, 4,703 domestic violence incidents and crimes had been reported to the police and there had been 821 police recorded sexual offences in the city. Although this increase was substantial it was accepted that police recorded data was likely to under represent the scale of violence and abuse as it was considered that a numbers of instances of such crime went unreported. These crime types had a significant impact on victims/survivors, their children and the wider community and also carried a significant financial cost.

21.3    The initial contract period for “The Portal” had been 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2018. The contract period had been extended in conformity with the contract for six months to 31 March 2019, to allow sufficient time for learning from the triage pilot funded by the OSPCC and other new initiatives to come forward in order to inform the redevelopment of the strategy and the design of a needs-led new commission. Within “The Portal” contract BHCC also contracted for refuge provision in Brighton and Hove. Therefore this was also currently due to end on 31 March 2019. The current contracts and provision and potential options going forward were set out in the report.

21.4    In conclusion it was considered that the council currently had one viable option (Option 1) which would provide additional security to contracted specialist service users during a period of review and service commissioning. Whilst this might not be an ideal scenario for commissioned services who wished to continue delivering the existing contract until September 2020, it offered the best outcome possible in an environment of necessary service and budget review. The officer view was that a joint commissioning process provided the council with a strong opportunity to maximise the benefit of its investment in the service so as to ensure high quality services were available for residents.

21.5    Councillor Marsh sought clarification of the options being placed before Committee and it was confirmed that of the two options which were being put forward, Option 1 was considered to represent the “best fit” within the timetable put forward for all parties. It was also confirmed that all funding had now been confirmed by partners in order to cover an extension until November 2019. That additional period would enable purchasing different elements on a bespoke basis to be explored. Councillor Marsh confirmed that she was happy to support the report recommendations.

21.6    Councillor Nemeth stated that following lengthy discussions of the issues to be explored at the previous meeting of the Committee he considered that the report now before Members had addressed his concerns and he would therefore support the report recommendations.

21.7    Councillor Peltzer Dunn concurred in that view stating that the additional information provided as helpful and that he did not feel the need to discuss any of the background information provided to members which fell within exempt category 3.

21.8    Councillor West stated that following deferral of consideration at the previous meeting of the Committee, the additional information he had requested had now been provided, he noted that other partners had agreed to the proposed extension and he was therefore happy to support the report recommendations.

21.9    A vote was taken and members voted unanimously to support the report recommendations.

21.10  RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee notes the intended timescales and development plan as set out in Appendix 3 of the report for the redevelopment of the DVA and SV Strategy which will inform the recommission of DVA and SV services;

            (2) That the Committee approves the extension of the current Portal until 30 November 2019;

            (3) Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing to participate in the joint commission of DVA and SV services in Brighton and Hove only, and including the procurement process and contract award with services to commence in December 2019;

            (4) Agrees to establish a cross party member working group to provide oversight on the commission and request that the officers report to the working group at key stages throughout the procurement process.

            Note: Having considered the report and its supporting appendices Members of the Committee did not feel the need to discuss any of the material contained in the appendix which was exempt under Category 3 of Part 1 of Scheduled 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The report was therefore considered and determined whilst the Public were present.