Issue - meetings

Make a Stand Pledge

Meeting: 19/09/2019 - Cabinet (Item 74)

Officer: Shifa Mustafa

Key decision: Yes

Decision:

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

RESOLVED: To

1. Sign up to the Charted Institute of Housing’s “Make A Stand” pledge on behalf of the Council to make a commitment to support people experiencing domestic abuse;

2. Note that the Council already complies with three of the elements of the pledge;

3. Appoint the Cabinet Member of Safer Croydon and Communities, to own the activity around supporting those experiencing domestic abuse to adhere to the final element of the pledge; and

4. Agree to publicise the signing of the pledge through the Council website and social media.

Minutes:

Councillor Louisa Woodley exited the Council Chamber at 1949 hours.

Councillor Leila Ben-Hassel exited the Council Chamber at 1951 hours.

The Cabinet Member for Safer Croydon & Communities introduced the report which provided a summary of the Charted Institute of Housing’s “Make a Stand” pledge and the four commitments were; to put in place and embed a policy to support council residents who were affected by domestic abuse, to make information about national and local domestic abuse support services available on the Council’s website and in other appropriate places so that they were easily accessible for residents and staff, to put in place a HR policy, or amend an existing policy, to support members of staff who may be experiencing domestic abuse, and to appoint a champion at a senior level in the organisation to own the activity the Council was undertaking to support people experiencing domestic abuse.

It was noted that raising awareness was important; campaigns were run across the Borough and advertising spaces were being utilised. A key area of work was the introduction of the DRIVE project, which looked to find long term solutions to domestic abuse, reduce the number of victims and challenge perpetrators to stop; Croydon was the only site in London to pilot this project for the Mayor of London.

Victoria Atkins MP, Minister for Safeguarding & Vulnerability and Minister for Women, visited the FJC (Family Justice Centre) earlier in the week to find out about the impact the project might have. It was too early to see any clearer findings; however, the statistics gathered by Bristol University from across the country following earlier pilots showed a reduction in violence, including physical violence, harassment and stalking.

The Cabinet Member for Homes & Gateway Services thanked Councillor Hamida Ali and the Council officers for their hard work and expressed the importance of feeling safe within a home for residents. It was important for all Council officers to work together and report any incidents witnessed within the home to ensure people could receive assistance when they need it.