Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: April 17, 2025

Purpose: 1.8 The purpose of this report is to update Cabinet on the progress of the newly launched SDAS model and to inform and seek approval for the proposed spend plan for the Domestic Abuse Part 4 Duty Funding 2025/26, subject to formal agreement with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Content: The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health and Communities, which sought approval to accept the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant and to allocate the funding as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.   The Assistant Director Public Health and Communities was in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   The Officer informed that, in April 2021, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 had become legislation, which subsequently had placed a number of statutory duties on local authorities in relation to domestic abuse.   Following the introduction of this Act, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (now known as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) had provided local authorities with grant funding to cover the cost of new burdens placed upon them to carry out these statutory duties and functions. The funding specifically related to the provision of support within domestic abuse safe accommodation, which was contained within Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.   The funding had been previously referred to as “new burdens funding” For 2025/26 it had recently been renamed as “Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant”. Rochdale Borough Council had received the following amounts so far: £565k in 2021/22, £567k in 2022/23, £578K in 2023/24 and £589K in 2024/25.   The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had recently informed councils across England that they would now receive further funding for 2025/26. Rochdale Borough Council would receive £734,625.   In consultation with relevant key stakeholders, a spend plan had been produced for 2025/26 funding. This was outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.   Cabinet Members also noted the update on the progress of the newly launched Specialist Domestic Abuse Service model (SDAS).   Resolved: 1.    That the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant (DASAG) 2025/26 be accepted and the funding be allocated as set out in Appendix 1 to this report; 2.    That it be noted adding DASAG 2025/26 to the Community Safety reserve for use in future years as indicated in the spend plan to support the costs of the SDAS contract; 3.    That the modification of existing contracts as detailed in this report be agreed to enable the delivery of services funded via the DASAG 2025/26; 4.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health and Communities in consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal, Governance and Coroners and the relevant Portfolio Holder to spend the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant as per plan outlined in Appendix 1 to the report and to enter into relevant agreements; 5.    That it be noted that the Director of Public Health and Communities has the ability to vire budget between allocated areas within the spend plan to ensure most effective spend and delivery; 6.    That it be noted that any in year underspend would be transferred to the Community Safety Reserve as per the Reserve Policy. This reserve would contribute to the cost of delivering the Council’s domestic abuse statutory duties; 7.    That the positive implementation and performance update of SDAS and the associated funding pressures be noted.   Reason for decision: The Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant had been made available to local authorities to enable them to fulfil the functions of the statutory duty outlined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 relating to the provision of support to victims of domestic abuse and their children residing within safe accommodation. The SDAS model was contract managed by Public Health and Community Safety. Section 5.9 onwards of the report considered progress of the model so far, outcomes achieved and challenges. The proposed spend plan for the DASAG 2025/26 had been developed based on this, domestic abuse needs assessments and with the statutory duties as the focus.   Alternatives considered and rejected: Alternatives had been considered when developing the spend plan for the grant. The most significant alternative considered was utilising all available grant in 2025/26 rather than carrying some forward to help manage budget pressures in future financial years. This option was not recommended, as it would have potentially created a large budget pressure for 26/27 onwards with no guarantee of this funding continuing. By allocating the grant as recommended, immediate pressures in 2025/26 could be managed as well as longer-term pressures in the domestic abuse service model, therefore reducing budget pressures for the council.