Issue - meetings

This report requests authority to award a contract as required by Contract Standing Order No 88. This report summarises the process undertaken in tendering this contract and, following the completion of the evaluation of the tenders, recommends to whom the contract should be awarded.

that the contract for the provision of a domestic violence advocacy service for women 16 years old and over, domestic violence family support and MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) coordination service for all high risk victims be awarded to Hestia Housing and Support.

The report from the Strategic Director, Environment and Neighbourhoods requested authority to award a contract for the provision of domestic violence advocacy service and family support and also multi agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) coordination as required by Contract Standing Order No 88. The report summarised the process undertaken in tendering the contract and, following the completion of the evaluation of the tenders, recommended to whom the contract should be awarded. 

The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Councillor Denselow (Lead Member for Stronger Communities) in introducing the report, stressed the importance of needs in this area being met and referred to the appointment of a shadow minister for preventing violence against women and girls, Seema Malhotra, the first MP to hold this title. He referred to the high incidence of domestic violence, the problem of late reporting and the key issue that violent crime and studies have shown that 25% of young male offenders had experienced domestic violence at home. Councillor Denselow emphasised the council’s commitment to the provision of a quality service and the paid tribute to the work of the advocacy service and MARAC coordination service that would now be carried out by Hestia Housing and Support.

Members welcomed the proposals and Councillor Mashari (Lead Member, Employment and Skills) referred to the need for services to be based around Customer Services where many presented. Councillor Hirani (Lead Member for Adults, Health and Well-being) referred to the decrease in crime which contrasted to the rise in domestic violence incidents. In response to a question on outreach work, Councillor Denselow added that much activity was taking place in other areas, including work to counteract female genital mutilation and the Cabinet recognised that there was a cultural and sociological context to underreporting in general.

RESOLVED:

that the contract for the provision of a domestic violence advocacy service for women 16 years old and over, domestic violence family support and MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) coordination service for all high risk victims be awarded to Hestia Housing and Support.