The Corporate Director Resources submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to inform Committee of the issues faced by victims of Domestic Abuse, Violence against Women and Sexual Violence in our communities, and to outline support avenues available for these problems in society.

Paragraph 4.1 of the report gave the definition of Domestic Abuse, which could be encompassed without being limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional pressures.

By way of background information, the Early Intervention and Prevention Co-ordinator confirmed that the organisation that supports the above problems were called Calan DVS (formerly Bridgend Woman’s Aid) which was a recognised Integrated Domestic Abuse Service. There were 60 staff that supported the organisation which covered not only BCBC but also the Western Bay area.

She proceeded to advise, that two women a week were killed in the UK as a result of Domestic Abuse, and there had been no change in this statistic within the last 15 years, though this was attempting to be addressed by the support of emerging agencies forming a more holistic approach to address these issues.

The report then gave information which confirmed that victims were not necessarily confined to one particular gender or ethnic group, and for example, aside of these other victims of potential abuse were disabled people, older people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) people.

A Member enquired if there was usually a particular pattern that was followed in respect of Domestic Abuse, such as hereditary or genetically.

The Early Intervention and Prevention Co-ordinator said that in respect of past generations, if young people had seen this type abuse with their parents, it could affect children in a number of ways. If that was a daughter, then that person could perceive themselves as being submissive, but that may go the opposite way if the child was male. It could also have an effect whereby the children in the family would think that treatment such as this is normal, or they could see how wrong it was, and go the opposite way as they develop and get older. Children and parents needed not just support, but also to be educated in intervention and prevention methods, that would assist in problems perhaps not starting in the first instance.

A Member confirmed that the life expectancy of a person living in the Llynfi Valley, was on average 20 years less than some more affluent areas of the County Borough. A project had been established made up of a number of streams to resolve and/or support people living there, and one of these streams was looking to educate children in schools on how to achieve a healthy relationship.

A Member stated that Bridgend like other areas of the UK was developing into a multi-cultural county, and that thought should be given to having the medium of English being taught to people who had none or limited communication skills in this language. She asked if consideration had been given to this, to which the Early Intervention and Prevention Co-ordinator replied she did not know. The Member asked if this could be followed up outside the meeting to which Officers replied that it would.

The Deputy Leader stated that it would be interesting to see how the Llynfi Valley Project would progress, particularly the work to be undertaken in schools. If this element of the Project was successful, perhaps it could then be rolled out to other schools throughout the County Borough, if resources were permitted to allow this.

The Early Intervention and Prevention Co-ordinator confirmed that the training given by organisations such as Calan DVS was not compulsory, and it was up to the particular school to agree to have organisations such as this allowed in the school for the purpose of the training. She added however, that Welsh Government were looking more closely at educating children through schools in terms of relationships and problems associated with abuse.

The Community Safety Team Leader confirmed that resources needed to be fed into organisations who supported people who were the subject of abuse, and the problem was, that some of the organisations that assisted here were voluntary and often relied on avenues of funding. There was also going to be established a multi-agency One Stop Shop in Level 1 of the Civic Offices that was designed for members of the public to visit to enquire about various matters, and this would also provide advice and support avenues for sufferers of Domestic Abuse. There was also a Domestic Abuse Policy in existence within BCBC he added.

A Member suggested that the topic subject of the item being discussed could be made available for all Members as part of a future Pre-Council Presentation.

Officers advised that a Member Development session on Domestic Abuse etc, perhaps could be arranged to coincide with the opening of the One Stop Shop in November. The Chairperson added that the Committee should also be invited to the One Stop Shop opening event.

RESOLVED:                           (1) That the Cabinet Committee received, considered and noted the report.

                                                (2) That the Cabinet Committee receives an updated report in due course outlining the methods by which Domestic Abuse is being addressed and tackled in the County Borough, to include the success of the One Stop Shop.

                                                (3) That the Cabinet Committee also is advised in due course on the success of the Llynfi Valley Project referred to during debate on this item.