Agenda and minutes

                None.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 8th November 2023 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

Invitees:

-           Sally Anne Jenkins – The Strategic Director for Social Services

-           Finn Madell - Head of Corporate Safeguarding

-           Amy Thomas - VAWDASV Regional Lead Advisor

The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV)Regional Lead Advisor gave an overview of the report.

The Committee asked the following:

• The Committee sought clarification on the term "Regional Movement" used in the development of the Strategy. The Lead Advisor explained that staffing issues resulted in a lack of data collection and analysis. Additionally, changes in the Public Service Boards during that period had an impact.
• The Committee wanted to know the percentage of reported Domestic Abuse crimes that occurred in Newport, considering regional variations. The Lead Advisor acknowledged the request and mentioned that data collected from Gwent Police limited the ability to delve deeper into the data collection process.
• The Committee questioned the usefulness of partnerships being aware of differences in prevalence of specific VAWDASV categories within areas. The Lead Advisor explained that confirming such differences was challenging due to variations in data collection and categorisation by each Local Authority (LA). The Head of Corporate Safeguarding emphasised the need for data analysis awareness but prioritised meeting service needs.
• The Committee enquired about the total budget available. The Lead Advisor advised of the funding from WG and contributions from partners, noting that funding grants were given for specific projects. However, sustained funding for supported projects was challenging due to the annual availability and amalgamation of funding sources.
• The Committee asked about future funding allocations. The Lead Advisor indicated that funding would be used to meet the needs of victims, which changed annually. They provided examples of previously funded projects and noted the limitations in cost recovery. The Strategic Director for Social Services explained the challenges of determining funding responsibilities and being stretched between funding grants in this area.
• The Committee expressed concerns about the funding model. The Strategic Director highlighted the difficulties in the current financial climate, particularly when working in areas of high vulnerability with long-lasting impacts. The Lead Advisor echoed these concerns and mentioned that the reliance on short-term grants was not unique to the region. They noted that the Welsh Government (WG) had developed a blueprint workstream for sustainable funding, but acknowledged that achieving it would take time.
• The Committee acknowledged the recent focus on VAWDASV and hoped that as it becomes more established, there would be improved structure around funding.
• The Committee requested clarification on the source of unconscious bias in relation to male victims when considering intersectionality. The Lead Advisor explained that the bias was systematic, as systems have traditionally been set up in favour of women. They emphasised the importance of representing men in reporting harm.
• The Committee acknowledged the disadvantage experienced by communities from diverse backgrounds in relation to Domestic Abuse. They enquired about the support provided to women from these backgrounds to help them live independently. The Lead Advisor noted working with specialist providers and the availability of WG funding for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

a)      Forward Work Programme Update (Appendix 1)

b)      Actions Plan (Appendix 2)

Invitee:

-        Neil Barnett – Scrutiny Adviser

a)    Forward Work Programme Update (Appendix 1)

The Scrutiny Adviser presented the Forward Work Programme, and informed the Committee of the topics due to be discussed at the next two committee meetings:

Wednesday 7^th February 2024, the agenda item;

• Area Planning Board Substance Misuse Service

The Scrutiny Adviser noted to the Committee that the SenCom Regional Support Services for Schools report would now come to Committee to be discussed around June or July 2024.

Wednesday 28^th February 2024, the agenda item;

• Newport Barnardos Partnership Update

b)    Actions Plan (Appendix 2)

The Scrutiny Advisor updated the Committee on the one outgoing action in relation to the One Newport Wellbeing Plan Final Report and informed them that the information had been sent to the One Newport Partnership on the 9th September 2023.

The meeting ended at 18:18