The Head of Performance and Partnership Services submitted a report on behalf of the Chief Executive, the purpose of which, was to seek approval to:

·       Continue service delivery of existing domestic abuse services, to allow for regional commissioning options to be fully explored.

·       Suspend the relevant parts of the Council's Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs) with regards to the requirement to re-tender the contracts detailed in this report.

·       Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to enter into two contracts with   the existing provider, Calan DVS until 30th April 2021.

By way of background information, he advised that Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) currently commissions a range of domestic abuse services, in line with two separate contracts.

One of these was for Integrated Domestic Abuse Services and a second contract was for the Perpetrator Programme, as detailed in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.6 of the report.

Following a tender exercise in 2015 BCBC entered into a contract with Calan DVS. The contract was commissioned for a three year period, with the option to extend for a further period of up to 24 months. This provision includes:

·            Womens' refuge

·            Move on accommodation

·            Drop in provision part of BCBC's `Assia Suite'

·            Floating support

·             Children and Young Persons Service — this element of the service is an annual option. A decision is made by December each year as to whether provision will continue in the following financial year.

In terms of the Perpetrator Programme, on 30th January 2018 Cabinet authorised the suspension of the Council's CPRs in relation to the requirements to tender a service and authorise to enter into a contract with Calan DVS for the provision of a Perpetrator Programme.

A progress report in November 2018 showed that 26 male perpetrators had been referred to the scheme and of these, 11 have gone on to have 14 sessions, and 11 women (survivors) have received 58 one to one sessions. 100% of males and 100% of the survivors stated that they would recommend the programme to others.

The Head of Performance and Partnership Services, proceeded by stating that The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015, aims to improve the public sector response to abuse and violence across Wales.

Commissioning guidance published in 2019, requires Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence ("VAWDASV") regional commissioning partnerships to carry out an assessment of need to inform VAWDASV commissioning strategies. The guidance stresses the importance of needs led, strengths based and accountable VAWDASV services.

As part of Welsh Government's regional reform process, BCBC has been working in collaboration with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to create a Cwm Taf VAWDASV Steering Group.

In addition, following Bridgend's health care boundary change to Cwm Taf University Health Board, effective from 1st April 2019, BCBC formally joined the Cwm Taf Regional Collaborative Committee, with regards to the Supporting People Grant, allowing for increased collaboration with partners across the Cwm Taf footprint.

In 2019 BCBC commissioned an independent consultant to undertake a VAWDASV population needs assessment to inform commissioning.

The report highlighted a number of gaps in provision, including services for survivors of sexual violence, gender specific provision and services for people with additional needs, including those with mental health and substance misuse issues. A population needs assessment of the Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf areas highlighted some common gaps in provision.

BCBC has commissioned an independent consultant to look at the strengths and weaknesses of existing services. This work is currently ongoing. BCBC will continue to work collaboratively as part of the Cwm Taf VAWDASV Steering Group to explore options for regional commissioning activity.

Finally, the Head of Performance and Partnership Services concluded his submission, by confirming that Cabinet needed to be mindful, that in awarding these contracts to Calan DVS, the Council is exposed to the risk of potential challenge from other providers of such services. The Council's CPRs ensure that procurement exercises are lawful and carried out in compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015, to satisfy EU Treaty principles of transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment.

The Cabinet Member – Future Generations and Wellbeing acknowledged the ongoing changes with regard to the crossover from ABHMU to the Cwm Taf Health Board and the importance of the more vulnerable in society accessing services. She stated that after the regional commissioning proposals had been completed these services would be clearer, and more robust and beneficial to clients such as these.

RESOLVED:                      That Cabinet:

(1)  Approved the continuance of service delivery of the existing Integrated Domestic Abuse Services and the Perpetrator Programme, to allow for regional commissioning options to be fully explored.

(2)  Suspended the relevant parts of the Council’s CPR’s in respect of the requirement as to re-tendering of the proposed contracts.

Authorised the Chief Executive to enter into two separate contracts with Calan DVS, one for the provision of Integrated Domestic Abuse Services and one for the provision of the Perpetrator Programme until 30 April 2021.