Content

9.1

The Director of Integrated Commissioning, and the
Director of Customer Experience and Communities submitted a report
presenting an update to the Committee on activities taken across
the last year by the Council and a wide range of other statutory
and voluntary sector partners to tackle Domestic and Sexual Abuse
and Violence Against Women and Girls. Representatives of such
partners (Wayne Grocott - Cranstoun, Katie Lewis - IDAS
(Independent Domestic Abuse Services) and Diane Johnson –
South Yorkshire Police) attended the meeting and outlined details
of the activities that they are involved with in tackling these
matters.
 
The report also updates the Committee on the
Council’s progress in implementing its Commitment to the
White Ribbon Campaign and seeks approval to apply for
reaccreditation to the Campaign when the current accreditation
period expires.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and
Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

 

(a) note the
range of activities and challenges presented in the Domestic and
Sexual Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Annual Report and
the White Ribbon action plan update report;

 

 

 

(b) thanks the
range of statutory and voluntary sector partners and other
stakeholders who together help us, as city, address the harms
caused by domestic and sexual abuse and violence against women and
girls;

 

 

 

(c) reaffirm the
Council’s commitment to tackling violence against women and
girls; and

 

 

 

(d) approves the
application for Sheffield Council to reaccredit with the national
White Ribbon Campaign.

 

 

9.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

9.3.1

Domestic and
sexual abuse, and violence against women and girls, has a huge
impact on the lives of individual victims, families and wider
society.  Sheffield has a proud history
of tackling the problem, challenging perpetrators and supporting
victims.

 

 

9.3.2

Continuing the commitment to deliver on the aims and principles
set out in the new Strategy will mean the Council will be playing a
significant leadership role in the city.  Working across the Council and with a range of
city stakeholders, together we can continue to tackle violence and
abuse and help make lives better for victims and their
families.

 

 

9.3.3

The Council has repeatedly reaffirmed our Commitment to the
White Ribbon Campaign through motion to full Council, and seeking
reaccreditation with the campaign is in line with this
commitment.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

The Council could decide to allow our accreditation with the
White Ribbon Campaign to lapse.  
However, doing this would contradict the commitment made to tackle
violence against women and girls and the affirmation of this
through the Council motion.  It would
also mean the efforts and resources committed to the campaign so
far would be wasted.