Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G01A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

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    Minutes:

    Cllr Nick Johnson sent apologies, with Cllr David Noakes present as a substitute.

     

    The co-opted education representatives, Lynette Murphy-O'Dwyer and Martin Brecknell,  sent apologies. 

2.

Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent

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    In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within 5 clear working days of the meeting.

     

    Minutes:

    There was none.

3.

Disclosure of interests and dispensations

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    Members to declare any interests and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting.

     

    Minutes:

    Cllr Alice Macdonald declared that she is a trustee of Glitch, which works to tackle VAWG.

     

    Cllr David Noakes said he works for a council as a Community Safety officer, however he advised this is not a conflict.

4.

Workplan

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    Minutes:

    The chair explained that tackling Violence Against Women and Girls was her recommended focus for the Commission’s work this year and drew members’ attention to statistics outlining the high rates of rape, domestic abuse and violence that men perpetrate.

     

    A member commented that gay people are also victimised, and experience high rates of domestic abuse. Officers commented that this view had been discussed and there was a widespread view that looking at gender based violence would be helpful. Members queried if this would dilute the focus on women and girls, who are overwhelming the sex most likely to be targeted. Officers agreed, however they pointed out that males are more likely to experience servitude. Members discussed looking at Modern Slavery and Child Trafficking in more detail, as well as social and digital media.

5.

Officer presentation on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

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    Sharon Ogden, Safer Communities Team Manager, will present the enclosed briefing.

     

    Licensing will attend to provide an update on their work delivering the Women’s Safety Charter; see enclosed certificate and poster. 

     

    Kirsten Watters, Public Health consultant, will present on the preventative strand of Southwark’s sexual and reproductive health strategy; Healthy and Fulfilling Relationships.

     

    Nina Dohel, Director of Education, will attend to present on changes to the delivery of sex education and safeguarding in schools.

     

    Kate Moriarty-Baker,NHS Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group, Director of Quality & Chief Nurse will attend to report on her role chairing the present multi agency VAWG Delivery Group.

     

     

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The chair invited Sharon Ogden, Safer Communities Team Manager, Southwark Council, to presentthe report on VAWG circulated with the agenda.  Kate Moriarty-Baker, Director of Quality & Chief Nurse, NHS Southwark CCG imputed.

     

    The following points were made in the Commissions subsequent discussions with officers:

     

    Is the impact of the Women’s Safety Charter being assessed? Members suggested this could be worthwhile, with a follow up survey of women and premises. This follow up would also be an opportunity to bring the charter to the attention of premises once again, as the original staff who signed it may have moved on. Members asked if signing up to the charter could be a licencing condition.

     

    There was a discussion on rolling this out to other councils. Officers said that there have been other initiatives; such as ‘Ask Angela’ and a wave project. MOPAC also have a night safety charter. Evaluation would establish whether this was an impactful initiative and if promotion more widely could be justified. A map would be useful to see coverage to date.

     

     Officers explained that there were not plans to evaluate this in the work programme and this would incur significant officer time. As such it would need to be planned for; this could be a Commission recommendation.

     

    A map would be useful to see coverage to date.

     

     

    Kirsten Watters, Public Health consultant, presented on the preventative strand of Southwark’s sexual and reproductive health strategy; Healthy and Fulfilling Relationships – enclosed with the minutes.  

     

    There was a discussion on defining what a healthy relationship was and the different cultural views; it is important to acknowledge these differ. Stigma is an issue preventing people accessing timely treatment. Officers were asked how to combat this and they responded that research and targeted communication can help.

     

    Officers were asked what outcomes they were looking for and they highlighted a focus on prevention and promoting healthy relationships. The approach is to have a more integrated system strategy.

     

    Officers were asked on their views on the present government consultation on Sexual Health teaching – Public Health has provided a professional submission.

     

    A member highlighted the success of the ‘Ask Frank’ drugs information portal and asked if something similar had been considered for sexual health. Officers said that this is not presentably being considered, however the London online testing service is considering a user generated online forum with questions.

     

    Members asked if there was specific Southwark PSHE guidance. Offices said they do suggest toolkits. There is a RE Southwark specific syllabus. Members said it is worth bearing in mind that Academies are exempt from the requirement to teach sex and relationship education. Trusts and standalone schools are more likely to approach the local authority for resources; where as large academy chains may have in-house resources.  A recent Southwark sexual health event saw high attendance from teachers.

     

     

    Nina Dohel, Director of Education, presented on changes to the delivery of sex education and safeguarding in schools.

     

    Members asked if there was a duty to report back to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

VAWG proposed review

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    A draft scoping document on the proposed review into Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is attached.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The Commission discussed how to take the review forward, in light of the previous officer presentations and subsequent discussions.

     

    RESOLVED

     

    Field work will be done by conducting focus groups on the issues outlined in the scoping document. These will be done in junction with secondary schools and with youth & community networks, particularly ones those that members have links with.

     

    Social media will be considered.

     

    Primary and secondary school governing bodies, headteachers and safeguarding leads and networks will be contacted with a survey and through direct contacts, where there are relationships

     

    Trafficking and modern slavery will be addressed in a future meeting.