Agenda and minutes

            At the start of the meeting the Chair welcomed everyone and thanked the Vice Chair – Councillor V. Hill for her support over the previous 12 months.

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2021 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            It was reported that no questions had been received.

            The Board considered a report of the Operational Director – Community and Environment, which provided an update on the activities taking places across the Borough in response to domestic abuse and sexual violence. The Executive Board at its meeting on 16 June 2022 had approved a revised approach to delivering specialist domestic abuse support and services in Halton (Minute EXB 9 refers). Details of the SafeLives Whole Picture Approach, adopted in Halton, was outlined in the report.

            The report provided Members with further information on:

·         the increase in domestic abuse cases since Covid-19. Halton had the highest rate of cases discussed at MARAC compared to Cheshire (Q3 2021/22);

·         the Halton domestic abuse accommodation service;

·         the domestic abuse service offer for children, young people and families;

·         Halton’s bid to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, to improve the local service offer for victims in Halton specifically those who had been subjected to historical domestic abuse that would not have been eligible for domestic abuse support within the current commissioned service. A total of £163,200 had been awarded over a three year period.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Operational Director – Policy, Planning & Transport, which provided an update on the work undertaken by the Emergency Planning team during 2021-22.

            Members received a presentation which highlighted the teams statutory duties to comply with the following legislation:

·         the Civil Contingencies Act 2004;

·         Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations (COMAH) 2015; and

·         Major Accident Hazard Pipeline (MAHP) Regulations 1996

            Members noted that Halton had a number of Emergency Plans in place with the aim to ensure resilience. These Plans were regularly updated and tested. The Board was advised on examples of local risks, details of the exercises that take place at COMAH sites in the borough, information on Emergency Centres and the work the Emergency Planning team carried out with partner agencies both within Cheshire and Cross-Border and as part of Cheshire Resilience Forum.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted

            The Board considered a report of the Operational Director – Community and Environment, which advised Members that a working group had been established to develop a new toolkit for practitioners to deal with issues of modern slavery and human trafficking in Halton. The toolkit could be used by officers to see what support was available and how they could escalate issues and to whom.  A copy of the modern slavery toolkit was attached to the report for information.

            RESOLVED: That the Board note the work being undertaken to develop this toolkit and that the main responsibilities for victim support sits within safeguarding.