Issue - items at meetings - FP938 Domestic Abuse Policy

Issue - meetings

FP938 Domestic Abuse Policy

Meeting: 08/10/2019 - Cabinet (Item 52)

52 Domestic Abuse Policy (Forward Plan Reference FP938) pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Recommendation from the meeting of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 4 September 2019 on the adoption of an updated Domestic Abuse Policy.

 

Note: Report attached.  Click link below item 10 for the Appendixes:-

 

Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee Agenda Pack – 4 September 2019

https://democracy.welhat.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=155&MId=1006

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Domestic Abuse Policy, as updated and recommended by the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was adopted.

Minutes:

Recommendation from the meeting of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 4 September 2019 on the adoption of an updated Domestic Abuse Policy.

 

(1)        The Decision Taken

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Domestic Abuse Policy, as updated and recommended by the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee, be adopted.

 

(2)        Reasons for the Decision

 

The current Domestic Abuse Policy was adopted by Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust in December 2015.

 

Following the re-integration of the former Trust in February 2017 and changes in legislation and practice since the previous policy was approved, a full review and update of the current policy had been carried out.

 

The updated draft Domestic Abuse Policy defined the Council’s objective to provide a consistent and supportive response to all those who experienced domestic abuse either directly or indirectly.

 

The Government’s homelessness code of guidance for local authorities recommended that housing authorities should have policies in place to identify and respond to domestic abuse. Section 177(1) of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 placed a duty on the Council to assist those who were homeless or threatened with homelessness due to domestic abuse or other violence.

 

Perpetrating domestic abuse was a crime as well as a breach of tenancy. The Council had tools and powers to deal with perpetrators of domestic abuse under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 as well as the ability to commence civil proceedings in respect of the tenancy.