Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Health and Housing to present a report and the recommendations from the People & Health Overview Committee on 15 September 2025.

That the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-28 be approved.

Reason for the decision

To ensure the Council met its statutory duty under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 relating to preparing and publishing a domestic abuse strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Housing presented the revised Dorset Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2028 prepared in accordance with statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The strategy outlined the Council’s continued commitment to supporting victims and their families in safe accommodation, informed by updated needs assessments and a whole systems approach.

The People and Health Overview Committee at its meeting on 15 September, recommended the Domestic Abuse Strategy for approval.

It was proposed by Cllr G Taylor seconded by Cllr S Robinson

Decision

That the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-28 be approved.

Reason for the decision

To ensure the Council met its statutory duty under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 relating to preparing and publishing a domestic abuse strategy.

To consider a report by the Programme Coordinator for Community Safety.

The Domestic Abuse Programme Manager introduced the report. The Domestic Abuse Strategy was developed in conjunction with the Community Safety Partnership, which sought to avoid duplication and build upon existing work. He reflected on the progress made through the previous Domestic Abuse Strategy and that the new strategy gave an opportunity to build upon work already undertaken to tackle domestic abuse over the next 3 years.

Committee members asked questions of the officers, and the following points were raised:

·         In order to reach people affected by domestic abuse, there are local communication campaigns and national campaigns throughout the year.

·         An initiative called the Dragonfly Project was a community-based domestic abuse awareness programme which trained community champions. Information about the project would be circulated to all members.

·         The Safeguarding Families Together project and using talks in schools on healthy relationships were both used to prevent domestic abuse in young people.

·         The strategy and its outcomes would be monitored through a delivery plan and performance measures, with formal monitoring through the Community Safety Partnership.

·         Deprivation could be a contributor to domestic abuse; however domestic abuse could happen in all households.

Proposed by Cllr R Holloway, seconded by Cllr J Atwal.

Decision:

That the Committee recommend to Cabinet that the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-28 be approved.