Agenda item
Participation of the Public
Anyone who lives, works, or studies in West Oxfordshire is eligible to ask one question at the meeting, for up to three minutes, directed at the Leader of the Council or any Executive Member on any agenda item or on any issue that affects the district or its people.
All questions must be no longer than three minutes long.
Members of the public wishing to speak at a meeting must notify [email protected], or call Customer Services on 01993 861000 including their name and the agenda item or topic they wish to speak on, by 2.00pm two clear working days before the meeting (e.g. for a Wednesday meeting, the deadline would be 2.00pm on the Friday before).
If the topic of the question is not within the remit of the Council, advice will be provided on where best to direct the question.
The Leader or relevant Executive Member will either respond to a question verbally at the meeting or provide a written response which will be included in the minutes of the meeting.
Minutes:
A question had been submitted to the Executive prior to the meeting by Siobhan Clements, a public participant. The member of the public was unable to attend and requested that the question be read in her absence:
“West Oxfordshire District Council is a partner in the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022–2025, which commits all councils to action on prevention, safe accommodation, and rural outreach. Yet, from the publicly available minutes, the only WODC activity referenced since 2022 has been a pilot with hairdressers. Could the Executive set out: (1) what concrete actions WODC has taken under the strategy; (2) how those actions are being measured and evaluated; and (3) what specific provision is being made in rural areas of West Oxfordshire, where survivors are often most isolated?”
Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Care, thanked the member of the public for her question and reiterated that this was an important issue. Councillor Saul advised that a detailed written response that set out the support and provision that the Council provided had been prepared and would be sent to the questioner. Councillor Saul also highlighted the partnership work the Council took part in and made particular reference to the work of the Chipping Norton branch of Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Service.
The full written response was as follows:
· WODC contributes £24,500 annually towards the delivery of the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Service (ODAS), delivered by A2Dominion. Whilst the contract is overseen by OCC who make the largest financial contribution, WODC is involved in quarterly contract monitoring. The service provided by ODAS includes:
o Refuge services
o Support groups and counselling
o Practical advice and support face to face or via a helpline
o Support for children and young people
o Training and advice for organisations
· In the Housing team, the Housing Specialist Complex Needs team are DA specialists. The lead has been in the role since Nov 2024. She is the current Chair of the Safe Accommodation Working group in Oxfordshire.
· The work of the Housing team in supporting rural victims has been described as ‘Gold standard’ by Reducing the Risk domestic abuse charity.
· Housing team provides a range of support to victims:
o Referrals for target hardening – to undertake measures to improve security in the home – referrals from eg TVP, Housing associations and children’s social care. Delivered between 24/48 hours after notification. Work with the victim/survivor to take the right steps. A range of measures available – e.g. ring doorbell, lighting, locks, alarms on windows, fire-proof letter bag. Can also arrange ‘sanctuary rooms’ in properties – making a room in the house independently safe - can do this in private rental or social housing.
o Principle is to work around the needs of the victim/survivor – often the best outcome is to stay in their own home especially if children are at the property – fleeing is not always ideal. Don’t force people into temporary accommodation – put them swiftly onto emergency or gold banding in Homeseeker.
o The Complex Needs team within the housing team are flexible and can meet in spaces where victim survivors feel comfortable and safe, this could be their home, a friend, a church, GP surgery our offices and we make the space as secure and confidential as possible.
o The Complex Needs team will give guidance on how to stay safe, we will discuss such a technology abuse and give guidance on safe apps.
o We will also encourage support once they are safe, a strong encouragement for them to reach out to GPs and professionals along with completion of the “Own my life course” when they feel ready to do so
o Officers sit on all Multi Agency Tasking and Coordination (MATAC); Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC); Joint Agency Tasking and Coordination group (JATAC) and Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) – to ensure we not only contribute cases directly but also pick up intel from other agencies to ensure that we can take the necessary action.
o We have close working relationships with Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Service (ODAS) for medium risk victim/survivor.
o Work closely with Reducing the risk re High risk and Victims First for the low- risk victim/survivors.
o Work with people who come to Council attention making a Homeseeker application or a Homeless application due to fear/risk of violence or DA – who may not have gone to the police yet – may be the first conversation had by a victim/survivor - on average receive 1 case a week.
o Help with getting non molestation orders – and liaison with the Court Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA).
o Network of dispersed accommodation is also available across the county – this is for victim/survivors who can’t access refuge such as males, mothers with male children over the age of 10 and those in the LGBTQi+ community.
o Good working relationships with all agencies including Reducing the Risk to be able to review cases and seek advice.
o Sit on the Drive panel. Drive is an intervention for low-risk perpetrators to address behaviours. Drive fills a gap for Standard to Medium risk cases.
· In our Community Safety Partnership Action plan Domestic Abuse is a priority – the CSP has collaborated with the Branch in the past year on a Rural DA campaign focussing on the particular experience faced by survivor victims living rurally where abuse can last up to 25% longer than in urban areas. Also co-hosted an Own My Life event with the Branch in Autumn 2024.
· We established and coordinated the Rural DA subgroup of the Domestic Abuse Strategic Board – 2022-2023 – informed by the publication of the ‘Captive and Controlled’ report by the Rural Services Network.
· Continue to champion the particular needs of rural victim/survivors in rural areas at all opportunities and at all levels.
· Provided funding to the Branch’s Phoenix project film and exhibition led by the Branch in 2022.
· Domestic abuse champions across staff teams – Housing and Community Wellbeing particularly.
· Officers sit on the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Strategic Board.