Councillor Pat Patel (Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure & Sport), Emma Crowther (Strategic Commissioning Manager) and Laura Griffiths (Commissioning Officer) presented the report and highlighted –

The purpose of the report was to describe the commissioning plan to put in place a new Domestic Abuse service for Plymouth and to draw on our learning from those with lived experience and ensure the city is meeting its new statutory duties. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Ascent on 29th April 2021. Part 4 of the Act placed new statutory duties on tier 1 Local Authorities to provide safe accommodation for victims and their children, alongside a number of reporting and governance requirements.

Cabinet agreed to -

1. Approve the Business Case and procurement process to commission a new domestic abuse service.

2. Delegate the decision and to award the contract to the Strategic Director for People