Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the notes of the meeting held on 14 July 2022 were correctly recorded and be signed by the Chairman.

1.    Mr Peerbux introduced the report and provided an overview of the Crime Reduction Grant (allocated by the Police and Crime Commissioner) projects that had been agreed upon or were subject to funding bids. If current funding bids were successful, there would be approximately £10,000 left, with a search for other projects suitable for funding ongoing.

2.    An overview was given about the ongoing review of the KCST. This included provisions for hybrid working arrangements, a review of the remit and future areas of focus for the team and an update on the day-to-day activities, information sessions and webinars that were delivered by the team.

3.    In response to a question from the Chair, Mr Peerbux explained how efforts were made to ensure that co-location and the new working environment would facilitate joined-up working between the teams. It was noted that in-person meetings and working arrangements were very important.

4.    It was confirmed that once completed the review would be briefed to the senior management of the KCST before being brought to this partnership.

5.    Ms Brinson gave an update on conference planning. There had been discussions on what topics to cover with considerations to cover a couple of broad themes. It was intended that the conference be held as a hybrid event at Detling Showground and online, with a provisional date of 28 March 2023.

6.    It was raised that a single focus on VAWG would be most effective, as it was an area that the Partnership wanted to make more progress on. A Partnership Member expressed a concern that attempting to cover too many topics would prove counterproductive.  

7.    A Partnership Member highlighted that VAWG covered areas broader than Domestic Abuse and that it was important to ensure the focus did not become too narrow.

8.    It was discussed that the conference must have tangible outcomes. It was noted that once the themes and topics had been agreed then outcomes would be generated. There were many partnership strategies and workstreams that a VAWG conference could help inform. 

RESOLVED the Kent Community Safety Partnership Members noted the progress and actions undertaken by the Working Group and the work of the KCST.

1.    Ms Westlake (Senior Commissioner KCC Strategic Commissioning) introduced the update, and a PowerPoint presentation was given alongside Ms E Oates (Project Officer KCC Strategic Commissioning). The presentation gave a overview of the Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS), background to the review of KIDAS and summary of the key findings from the review.    

2.    Ms Westlake said that overall, the review findings had been very positive, with the service judged to have been responsive in meeting outcomes and proactive in meeting changes in demand. Survivor feedback was reviewed with 87% of users happy with the service. Other areas of success were noted which included numerous successful funding bids, effective campaigns and an increase in male survivors. The review had recommended a full recommissioning of the service while opportunities would be explored to continue relationships and grow integration. Review findings and recommendations were going through KCC’s internal governance process. A further update would be provided in the future.

3.    Ms Annan-Veitch (Project and Partnership Manager KCC) then proceeded with the presentation to update the Partnership on the Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy and Delivery Plan. The presentation gave an overview of the following areas: background to the strategy and delivery plan, how the delivery plan works, the work of the Partnership Groups, the Districts Domestic Abuse Coordinators Group, the Media and Communications Groups and an overview of their several campaigns. Details were then given on how partners could get involved in forthcoming campaigns, which included the 16 days of action against domestic abuse.

4.    In response to a question from the Chair, it was noted that there was an ongoing evaluation of the strategy and its outcomes. The findings were reported to the executive group every 6 months with key objectives RAG rated.

5.    A Partnership Member raised a concern over the scrutiny and governance arrangements for the contract review. It was confirmed that there were robust scrutiny and governance processes in place for the contract review. The formal governance would be located with the KCC Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee. 

6.    A Partnership Member expressed concern at the 63% rate of people who found it easy to make a referral. It was confirmed that this would be looked at and if there were to be a new iteration of the contract it would be an area to improve.

RESOLVED that the Kent Community Safety Partnership (KCSP) Members noted the update.

1.    Mr Rabey (Chair of the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board) (KMSAB) introduced the update and gave a PowerPoint presentation on the KMSAB Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

2.    It was explained that as Chair of the KMSAB Mr Rabey had a responsibility to hold agencies to account for the care they provided.

3.    The Strategic Plan had been developed in cooperation with strategic safeguarding partners, all were given the opportunity to agree to the strategy. There were clearly defined aims that KMSAB wanted to achieve, and they would be reviewed annually to ensure that they were on track. Must ensure that when services would be provided, they were done so by including the voice of the person affected and that people with lived experience were encouraged to give their views to inform future plans.

4.    The presentation highlighted KMSAB’s Strategic Plans: statutory duties, foundations, operating environment, vision and approach to Partnership working. The priorities were promoting person-centred safeguarding, strengthen system assurance and embed improvement and shape future practice.

5.    It was noted that the following week was Safeguarding Adult Awareness Week with many themes that addressed areas for cooperative working for the whole Partnership.  The Chair applauded the joint working between the KMSAB and the Partnership. 

RESOLVED that the Kent Community Safety Partnership (KCSP) Members noted the update.

-       16^th March 2023

RESOLVED that the future meeting date be noted.

1.    Mr Peerbux provided an update on the Kent and Medway Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) cases and advised the kent.gov.uk website using the link below: that all published cases can be found on

https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/partnerships/kent-community-safety-partnership/domestic-homicide-reviews 

2.    Mr Peerbux confirmed that there is a funding model in place with all statutory partners contributing funding towards DHRs and highlighted that whilst there are risks to the funding model, these will be monitored and it was proposed that the funding model and contributions remain the same as previous years.

3.    The proposed funding arrangements for 2023/24 was agreed by the Partnership.

RESOLVED that the funding arrangements for 2023/24 have been agreed and that the Domestic Homicide Review update be noted.

1.    Mr Wilkinson (Assistant Director Contest and Serious Organised Crime, KCC) provided an update on the PREVENT Duty Delivery Board

RESOLVED that the update on the PREVENT Duty Delivery Board be noted.

1.    Mr Wilkinson provided Members with an update on the Kent and Medway Joint Exploitation Group.

RESOLVED that the update on the Kent and Medway Joint Exploitation Group be noted.

1.    Mr Peerbux (Head of Community Safety, KCC) introduced the update. He said that recent awareness-raising weeks had reflected priorities listed in the Kent Community Safety Agreement (CSA). The Kent Community Safety Team (KCST) would be focused on promoting the upcoming Safeguarding Adults Awareness Week, working alongside various stakeholders. Mr Peerbux then gave an overview of the aims and themes of the week. This would also overlap with the themes from the 16 days of action against domestic abuse that would start with White Ribbon Day on 25 November 2022.

2.    Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and gender-based violence were noted as areas where the Partnership required additional focus. There had been a good focus on Domestic Abuse, but other areas of VAWG would require additional attention.

3.    Ms Brinson (Community Safety Team Leader, KCC) said that the annual strategic assessment process to identify emerging priorities for the forthcoming year was underway. Data would be collected and discussed with partner organisations. As part of the process, a data workshop would take place where partners would meet and discuss their data, emerging issues and trends and answer questions from district colleagues. Further partners would be invited to speak at the workshop. This information will be used by District Partners to update their strategic assessments and priorities for the next year as well as undertaking the annual review and refresh of the CSA.

RESOLVED that the Kent Community Safety Partnership (KCSP) Members noted the update.