Decision details

In 2022, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities committed £257 million funding over a period of two years to enable local authorities to help over 70,000 victims of domestic abuse in England in accordance with their duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Local authorities would receive £127.3 million in 2023 to 2024 and £129.7 million in 2024 to 2025 with individual allocations calculated according to a national formula.

The allocated funding is given to local authorities for the delivery of their duties and the provision of support services including counselling, financial advice, therapy for children and rehousing.

The funding allocated to the Council for the financial year 2024 – 25 is £34,064.00.

This funding is issued as an un-ringfenced grant to local authorities who are then responsible for making decisions on how the funding is spent to benefit those in need.

To support the continuation of the working relationship with the Government and expectations relating to the spend of the allocated funding, the Council has been required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding.

To enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the working relationship and expectations relating to the payment of £129.7 million from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to local authorities in 2024/25 for the purposes of exercising their functions under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (‘the Act’) relating to the provision of support to victims of domestic abuse and their children residing within safe accommodation.

Option 1 - To enter into the MOU
Option 2 - Not to enter into the MOU. However, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a legal duty on councils to fund support in safe accommodation for all victims and their families.

The allocated funding has been provided to local authorities for the delivery of their duties and the provision of support services including counselling, financial advice, therapy for children and rehousing.

The funding is issued as an un-ringfenced grant to local authorities who are then be responsible for making decisions on how the funding is spent to benefit those in need.