Agenda and minutes

35.1     The minutes of the meeting held on 8 December were agreed as a correct record.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

36.1     There were none.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

37.1     There were none.

38.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care seeking approval of the final draft of the Pan-Sussex Domestic Abuse Accommodation and Support Strategy and the proposed spend priorities.

38.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to –

1)         approve the final draft of the pan-Sussex Domestic Abuse Accommodation and Support Strategy.

2)         approve proposed spend priorities identified in response to the Needs
Assessment, Strategy and consultation.

3)   delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care to make any minor

modifications to the Strategy considered necessary after the meeting and to take any

action necessary to implement the Strategy

Reason

38.3     The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 requires local authorities to undertake or arrange the completion of a needs assessment of the accommodation-based support needs of victims / survivors of domestic abuse in its area, and publish a strategy setting out how they will protect and assist survivors of domestic abuse in safe accommodation.

38.4     Over 70 stakeholders, professionals, service providers and survivors took park in engagement meetings to inform the needs assessment for accommodation based support.

38.5     Public respondents and the People Scrutiny Committee have endorsed the strategic priorities.

39.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care seeking agreement for use of the Government’s Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund.

39.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to –

1)           Agree that the Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund is allocated to independent care providers as outlined in the report, and;

2)           delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care to take all actions necessary to give effect to the recommendation

Reason

39.3     The Council has undertaken consultation with independent care providers about the potential uses of the Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund. Information from other local authorities indicate that the Councils proposals are broadly in-line with what other Councils are proposing.

39.4     Discussion with the Chair of the Registered Care Association for East Sussex has indicated that the proposal to passport the WRRF funding to providers based on staff numbers would be met favourably by the sector.