Decision Reference Number: WPCC3-0090
Lead Officer: Sara Ansell
Chief Officer approval: N/A
Date: 30/03/2023
Status: Non-confidential
Decision summary:
Approval for the acceptance and spending of a total of £0.600m of Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP) funding that has been awarded by the Home Office, split equally between the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25. The Commissioner received confirmation of the funding on the 27th March 2023, after submitting a bid as part of the competitive process ran by the Home Office.
The 2023/24 funding award will enable the continuation of the scheme until March 2025. The Home Office award of £0.600m is reliant on an additional £0.075m of match funding in each year form the PCC, which can be met out of the annual budget. The funding will enable the continued delivery of a bespoke and enhanced Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme in Warwickshire.
I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.
Signature: Philip Seccombe
Date: 06/04/2023
Supporting information
1. Background information
In 2021/22 and 2022/23, following a competitive bidding process carried out by the Home Office, the PCC was successful in attracting funding for a bespoke Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme in Warwickshire. Funding for 2023/24 and beyond was again subject to a further competitive bidding process carried out by the Home Office. The OPCC duly submitted a bid, and was notified on the 27th March 2023 that it had been successful and would be awarded £0.300m per year in 2023/24 and 2024/25, to be matched by a contribution of £0.075m in each year from PCC funds.
The availability of funding supports the Governments ongoing national focus on tackling DA as one of its main priorities and in line with its domestic abuse strategy. The award will help address this priority which is also reflected in the Police and Crime Plan, and the continuity of the scheme and funding will ensure that the recommendation in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy for Warwickshire, to provide an accredited service working to Respect standards, that offers integrated support to the connected victim-survivor, and provides outcomes and evaluation data, continues to be met.
The current scheme is operated by a local third-sector organisation called Family Intervention Counselling Service (FICS), who will continue to operate the scheme until March 2025.
2. List of additional information attached as appendices
Award notice and project initiation notice.
3. Expected benefits
The expected benefits are that the current comprehensive scheme can be continued until March 2025, which offers support and services to perpetrators to change behaviours and divert them away from their offending.
4. Impact of not approving the application
If this application is not approved, the PCC would in effect be declining the award of Home Office grant to fund a DAPP in Warwickshire for the next two years.
The DAPP has been properly scoped and the Home Office have effectively supported the provision following the competitive bidding process. The scheme has been delivered previously by working in effective partnership with a third sector provider, with stringent terms and conditions in place and performance monitoring that is closely scrutinised on an ongoing basis. Not approving this decision would see an end to this work and there would be no continuity and ongoing delivery of services to perpetrators of DA to divert them away from their offending
5. Costs (including any identified savings)
The costs of continuing the scheme to March 2025 will be funded from £0.300m per year of Home Office grant and £0.075m per year of PCC funding
6. Equality considerations
The programme is open to all, irrespective of any protected characteristics.
7. Legal comments
A grant agreement is issued from the Home Office in respect of the receipt of the grant, which includes what expenditure is eligible and the criteria for spending. These conditions are passported to the provider. The outcomes from the scheme are reviewed and reported to the Home Office as requested. All legal and procurement advice relevant to the award has been adopted.
8. Social or Environmental considerations
The programme aims to divert perpetrators away from their offending and thus have significant social benefits.
9. Publication
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Unless the information provided is covered by an exemption and stated to be either confidential or partly confidential, the information contained in the form will be published on the OPCC website.
Comments from the Treasurer
This decision notice aims to seek approval for acceptance of the total award of £0.600m grant from the Home Office , split over two years, the allocation of £0.075m of PCC funding per year, and the ongoing work with a partner organisation to deliver a DAPP scheme in Warwickshire. This is in line with the priorities outlined in the Police and Crime Plan, and enables a bespoke and enhanced service to be delivered in Warwickshire until March 2025.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
The Home Office funding, alongside the commitment of the PCC to fund effective and necessary services to divert perpetrators of domestic abuse away from offending and causing harm to victims is key. This grant will enable local services and existing established partnerships to continue to strengthen services for individuals across Warwickshire.
