Agenda and minutes

It was

Proposed by Councillor Steve Pitt

Seconded by Councillor Simon Bosher

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 October 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

These were agreed by assent.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Charlotte Gerada, Councillor Lee Hunt and Councillor Daniel Wemyss.

Apologies for lateness had been received from Councillor George Madgwick and Councillor John Smith.

The Lord Mayor took the opportunity to congratulate the King on his 75^th Birthday and Councillor Charlotte Gerada on the birth of her baby girl.

Deputations by members of the public may be made on any item where a decision is going to be taken. The request should be made in writing to the contact officer (james.harris@portsmouthcc.gov.uk) by 12 noon of the working day before the meeting (so Monday 13 November 2023  for this meeting), and must include the purpose of the deputation (for example, for or against the recommendations). Email requests are accepted.

The City Solicitor advised that four verbal deputation requests had been made for this meeting. 

The first was from Rob New in support of the notice of motion at minute 120, Portsmouth City Council's support for the improvement of women and girl's sport in Portsmouth.

The second was from Rob New in support of the notice of motion at minute 121, Supporting Local Producers.

The third was from Sharon Holland in support of the notice of motion at minute 122, Chloe's Motion.

The fourth was from Rob New in support of the notice of motion at minute 123, FFC Pathfinder.

At the invitation of the City Solicitor, Rob New and Sharon Holland delivered their deputations to Council.

Councillor Hannah Brent, Councillor Ryan Brent and Councillor John Smith joined the meeting during the deputations.  At the conclusion of the deputations and at the invitation of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Hannah Brent, Councillor Ryan Brent and Councillor John Smith confirmed that they had no interests to declare.

The Lord Mayor advised that no public questions had been received under the provisions of this Standing Order.

The Lord Mayor advised that there were no appointments to be made at this meeting.

The Lord Mayor advised that there was no urgent business to transact at this meeting.

Proposed by Councillor George Fielding

Seconded by Councillor Mary Vallely

This council notes:

Living Wage Week runs from 6-12th November 2023 for the Living Wage Foundation’s annual celebration of the Living Wage movement. [1]

The Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by over 14,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.[2]

To reflect the cost of living crisis, the revised rate for the Real Living Wage has recently been announced as £12 per hour for the UK (excluding London).[3]

Portsmouth City Council pays all of its directly employed staff the Real Living Wage rate. This is welcome and should be celebrated. However, the council isn’t formally accredited.

Portico was accredited as a Living Wage Employer in August 2023.[4]

A recent Canadian study found that a 1% increase in minimum wages translates into a 0.5% rise in retail sales. Furthermore, living wages increase engagement and productivity, reducing turnover of workers and associated recruitment and training costs.[5]

This council believes:

A hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay and it should keep pace with the cost of living. This gives employees security, stability and helps achieve a better work-life balance.

Paying the Real Living Wage is good for business - it boosts staff productivity and motivation at work, helps to retain existing staff and attract new staff.

The Living Wage is important for Portsmouth - the better paid local residents are, the more likely they’ll spend more in the city, strengthening our local economy.

This Council RESOLVES:

(i)   To invite the Director of Corporate Services to put out communications celebrating Portsmouth City Council’s commitment to paying the Real Living Wage, to mark Living Wage Week;

(ii)  To ask the Employment Committee to re-establish a Living Wage working group involving elected members, council officers and trade unions to scope views to be placed back before the Employment Committee detailing the council’s ambitions to become a Living Wage accredited employer; and

(iii)  To ask Cabinet to consider including Real Living Wage accreditation in the upcoming budget setting process to seek sustainable funding.

References

[1] https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-week

[2] https://www.livingwage.org.uk/what-real-living-wage

[3] https://www.livingwage.org.uk/

[4] https://portico.co.uk/portico-receives-accreditation-from-the-living-wage-foundation/#:~:text=We%20are%20incredibly%20delighted%20to,exceeds%20the%20National%20Minimum%20Wage

[5] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/living-wage-business-benefits-unilever/

It was

Proposed by Councillor George Fielding

Seconded by Councillor Mary Vallely

That notice of motion (a) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Simon Bosher

Seconded by Councillor Lewis Gosling

To add

(iv) That this Council notes the Employment Committee report of 17^th

November 2022 in which the Finance Comments said "At the point any decision is taken to implement the RLW the City Council will simultaneously need to identify and approve savings of £1.978m in order to fund this policy initiative"; and

(v) That this Council further notes that Adult Social care is currently £2.8m overspent and that should any decision be taken to implement the RLW, the City Council will simultaneously need to identify and approve further savings of £3.6m in order to fund this policy initiative, leading to £6.4m of service cuts.

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor George Fielding, agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Simon Bosher into the motion.

Council voted on the motion incorporating the subsumed amendment in the name of Councillor Simon Bosher.

Following the vote, the motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

This council notes:

Living Wage Week runs from 6-12th November 2023 for the Living Wage Foundation’s annual celebration of the Living Wage movement. [1]

The Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by over 14,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.[2]

To reflect the cost of living crisis, the revised rate for the Real Living Wage has recently been announced as £12 per hour for the UK (excluding London).[3]

Portsmouth City Council pays all of its directly employed staff the Real Living Wage rate. This is welcome and should be celebrated. However, the council isn’t formally accredited.

Portico was accredited as a Living Wage Employer in August 2023.[4]

A recent Canadian study found that a 1% increase in minimum wages translates into a 0.5% rise in retail sales. Furthermore, living wages increase engagement and productivity, reducing turnover of workers and associated recruitment and training costs.[5]

This council believes:

A hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay and it should keep pace with the cost of living. This gives employees security, stability and helps achieve a better work-life balance.

Paying the Real Living Wage is good for business - it boosts staff productivity and motivation at work, helps to retain existing staff and attract new staff.

The Living Wage is important for Portsmouth - the better paid local residents are, the more likely they’ll spend more in the city, strengthening our local economy.

This council RESOLVES:

(i)   To invite the Director of Corporate Services to put out communications celebrating Portsmouth City Council’s commitment to paying the Real Living Wage, to mark Living Wage Week;

(ii)  To ask the Employment Committee to re-establish a Living Wage working group involving elected members, council officers and trade unions to scope views to be placed back before the Employment Committee detailing the council’s ambitions to become a Living Wage accredited employer;

(iii) To ask Cabinet to consider including Real Living Wage accreditation in the upcoming budget setting process to seek sustainable funding;

(iv) That this Council notes the Employment Committee report of 17^th

November 2022 in which the Finance Comments said "At the point any decision is taken to implement the RLW the City Council will simultaneously need to identify and approve savings of £1.978m in order to fund this policy initiative"; and

(v)  That this Council further notes that Adult Social care is currently £2.8m overspent and that should any decision be taken to implement the RLW, the City Council will simultaneously need to identify and approve further savings of £3.6m in order to fund this policy initiative, leading to £6.4m of service cuts.

References

[1] https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-week

[2] https://www.livingwage.org.uk/what-real-living-wage

[3] https://www.livingwage.org.uk/

[4] https://portico.co.uk/portico-receives-accreditation-from-the-living-wage-foundation/#:~:text=We%20are%20incredibly%20delighted%20to,exceeds%20the%20National%20Minimum%20Wage

[5] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/living-wage-business-benefits-unilever/

Proposed by Councillor Graham Heaney

Seconded by Councillor Yinka Adeniran

This Council notes that the World Health Organisation produced its guide to global age-friendly cities in 2007 (1). In the UK Age UK have produced their own age-friendly communities guide (2).

The Age UK guide defines this as, “Age-friendly communities are places where age is not a barrier to living well and where the environment, activities and services support older people to have opportunities to enjoy life and feel well, participate in society and be valued for their contribution, have enough money to live well, feel safe, comfortable and secure at home and access quality health care”.

Portsmouth Pensioners Association (PPA) produced their own document “A local manifesto and action plan to make Pompey an (even more) ‘age-friendly’ place to live” and distributed their publication as widely as possible.

According to PPA, over a year ago the City Council agreed to support the age-friendly city project, but they report that, “despite warm words from leading councillors the initiative has stalled”.

Council therefore RESOLVES to request that the Scrutiny Management Panel initiate a short review to discover what has happened to the age-friendly city project.

1)    The WHO Age-friendly Cities Framework - Age-Friendly World

2)    Age-friendly communities guide | Age UK

It was

Proposed by Councillor Graham Heaney

Seconded by Councillor Yinka Adeniran

That notice of motion (b) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Matthew Winnington

Seconded by Councillor Hugh Mason

To delete the recommendation at paragraph five and replace with:

'Council welcomes the work the Portsmouth Health and Wellbeing Board and its members are taking to move forward with the Portsmouth as an Age Friendly City work and particularly the next steps approved at the meeting of the Board on 27^th September 2023.

This Council therefore supports the approach taken by the Board and encourages all members of the Board to involve themselves in the activities to move this work forwards. PPA are also a key partner in the development of this activity and will be involved going forwards in its development.

The Council also looks forward to an update on the Age Friendly City work to date to be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board by the end of the 2023-2024 municipal year.'

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Graham Heaney, agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Matthew Winnington into the motion.

Council voted on the motion incorporating the subsumed amendment in the name of Councillor Matthew Winnington.

Following the vote, the motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

This Council notes that the World Health Organisation produced its guide to global age-friendly cities in 2007 (1). In the UK Age UK have produced their own age-friendly communities guide (2).

The Age UK guide defines this as, “Age-friendly communities are places where age is not a barrier to living well and where the environment, activities and services support older people to have opportunities to enjoy life and feel well, participate in society and be valued for their contribution, have enough money to live well, feel safe, comfortable and secure at home and access quality health care”.

Portsmouth Pensioners Association (PPA) produced their own document “A local manifesto and action plan to make Pompey an (even more) ‘age-friendly’ place to live” and distributed their publication as widely as possible.

According to PPA, over a year ago the City Council agreed to support the age-friendly city project, but they report that, “despite warm words from leading councillors the initiative has stalled”.

Council welcomes the work the Portsmouth Health and Wellbeing Board and its members are taking to move forward with the Portsmouth as an Age Friendly City work and particularly the next steps approved at the meeting of the Board on 27^th September 2023.

This Council therefore supports the approach taken by the Board and encourages all members of the Board to involve themselves in the activities to move this work forwards. PPA are also a key partner in the development of this activity and will be involved going forwards in its development.

The Council also looks forward to an update on the Age Friendly City work to date to be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board by the end of the 2023-2024 municipal year.

1)    The WHO Age-friendly Cities Framework - Age-Friendly World

2)    Age-friendly communities guide | Age UK

Proposed by Councillor Mary Vallely

Seconded by Councillor George Fielding

The success of the ‘Summer of Women’s Sport 2023’, particularly the English Roses and Lionesses reaching the finals of their respective netball and football World Cup competitions, means a huge spike in participation figures in female team sport.

England Netball reported a 400% increase in website traffic to their ‘session finder’ page in the days following the Roses silver medal. *

With 28.9% of females in Portsmouth taking part in less than 30mins of activity a week and 51.3% of that figure reporting they’ve taken part in NO activity in the last 28 days**, it is essential that we acknowledge the need for more provision for Portsmouth females to participate in Sport.

The most recent Active Lives Survey, measuring activity levels of adults in England, indicates that the scale of recovery since Covid-19 has varied over different sections of society with women, still less likely to be active than others.

Sport England’s strategy ‘Uniting the Movement’ has a strong focus on tackling inequalities and are committed to investing more in people and places that need extra support.

BH Live’s recent review into the year long campaign to increase female participation to their Pyramids Centre group programme has been deemed a failure, with Covid 19 and the new University of Portsmouth Ravelin Sports Centre sighted as factors, but no further insight has been made available.

The Council commends the passion and commitment of Debbie Laycock, Netball in the Community, for her relentless awareness-raising and pursuit for equality in Portsmouth’s Sport & Leisure facilities.

The Council also commends the work of Lizzie Butcher, formerly of BH Live, for her work increasing women’s participation in sports in Portsmouth, most notably ‘chat over Chai’ badminton group that has been so successful with the City’s Muslim community and ‘Mums & Tots’ Netball-based fitness sessions, breaking down the barriers of childcare for Portsmouth’s Mums.

The Council also acknowledges the dedication and efforts of Portsmouth’s sporting volunteers, without whom much of the activity and sport that does go ahead in Portsmouth, wouldn’t be organised. Thank you to all Portsmouth’s sporting volunteers.

Council RESOLVES to ask the relevant Cabinet Members/Portfolio Leads:

(i)      To work with Portsmouth’s education establishments to ensure equality in their community use sports facilities, support and find solutions to facility issues and ensure these issues do not impact on pupil/ student sports participation;

(ii)    Review and, where appropriate, seek to increase the provision of space for female sports participants in Portsmouth. Put in place measures for success and ensure any new leisure provider contract includes female provision targets; and

(iii)   Offer support to Portsmouth's sport and leisure facility providers on how to improve gender equality in sport, in an attempt to reduce barriers to Portsmouth female participation in sport and activity. Portsmouth female participation in sport and activity.

*England Netball

**Active Lives Survey published in April 2023, Portsmouth figures supplied by Energise Me

It was

Proposed by Councillor Mary Vallely

Seconded by Councillor George Fielding

That notice of motion (c) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Steve Pitt

Seconded by Councillor Leonie Oliver

Para 1 - delete 'means' and insert 'will hopefully lead' after 'competitions'.

Para 2 - Insert 'It is encouraging that' at the start of the first sentence.

Para 4 - Delete everything after 'England' and insert 'shows that, while men's activity levels have returned to pre-pandemic levels, women's activity levels remain slightly below this (down 0.7%). Both, however, continue to see activity levels up over the longer term (since November 2015).'

Para 5 - Insert 'new 10 year' after 'Sport England's' and the following after inequalities:

..'among under-represented groups (like women and girls, people with a disability, people on low incomes),…'

Para 6 - delete all.

Insert new final para - 'The Council also acknowledges the work of its leisure operator, BH Live, in contributing to sports development in Portsmouth.'

Resolution (i) - Replace 'work' with 'engage'. Delete 'education establishments' and insert 'schools, colleges, university, along with the MOD and other sports facility operators to help….'. After 'community sports facilities' delete 'support'. After 'facility issues' delete 'and' and insert 'to help'.

Resolution (ii) - Second sentence after the 'and' insert 'seek to'. After 'provision' insert 'and participation'

Resolution (iii) - delete 'on how'. Delete 'in an attempt' and insert 'help' before 'reduce'. Delete 'Portsmouth' before the word female. Delete last sentence.

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Mary Vallely agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Steve Pitt into the motion.

Council voted on the motion incorporating the subsumed amendment in the name of Councillor Steve Pitt.

Following the vote, the motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

The success of the ‘Summer of Women’s Sport 2023’, particularly the English Roses and Lionesses reaching the finals of their respective netball and football World Cup competitions, will hopefully lead to a huge spike in participation figures in female team sport.

It is encouraging that England Netball reported a 400% increase in website traffic to their ‘session finder’ page in the days following the Roses silver medal. *

With 28.9% of females in Portsmouth taking part in less than 30mins of activity a week and 51.3% of that figure reporting they’ve taken part in NO activity in the last 28 days**, it is essential that we acknowledge the need for more provision for Portsmouth females to participate in Sport.

The most recent Active Lives Survey, measuring activity levels of adults in England, shows that, while men's activity levels have returned to pre-pandemic levels, women's activity levels remain slightly below this (down 0.7%). Both, however, continue to see activity levels up over the longer term (since November 2015).

Sport England’s new 10 year strategy ‘Uniting the Movement’ has a strong focus on tackling inequalities among under-represented groups (like women and girls, people with a disability, people on low incomes), and are committed to investing more in people and places that need extra support.

The Council commends the passion and commitment of Debbie Laycock, Netball in the Community, for her relentless awareness-raising and pursuit for equality in Portsmouth’s Sport & Leisure facilities.

The Council also commends the work of Lizzie Butcher, formerly of BH Live, for her work increasing women’s participation in sports in Portsmouth, most notably ‘chat over Chai’ badminton group that has been so successful with the City’s Muslim community and ‘Mums & Tots’ Netball-based fitness sessions, breaking down the barriers of childcare for Portsmouth’s Mums.

The Council also acknowledges the dedication and efforts of Portsmouth’s sporting volunteers, without whom much of the activity and sport that does go ahead in Portsmouth, wouldn’t be organised. Thank you to all Portsmouth’s sporting volunteers.

The Council also acknowledges the work of its leisure operator, BH Live, in contributing to sports development in Portsmouth.

Council RESOLVES to ask the relevant Cabinet Members/Portfolio Leads:

(i)       To engage with Portsmouth’s schools, colleges, university, along with the MOD and other sports facility operators to help ensure equality in their community use sports facilities and find solutions to facility issues to help ensure these issues do not impact on pupil/ student sports participation;

(ii)      Review and, where appropriate, seek to increase the provision of space for female sports participants in Portsmouth. Put in place measures for success and seek to ensure any new leisure provider contract includes female provision and participation targets; and

(iii)     Offer support to Portsmouth's sport and leisure facility providers to improve gender equality in sport to help reduce barriers to female participation in sport and activity.

*England Netball

**Active Lives Survey published in April 2023, Portsmouth figures supplied by Energise Me

Proposed by Councillor Benedict Swann

Seconded by Councillor Cllr Lewis Gosling

Portsmouth City Council recognises and notes the huge contribution made by our regional farmers, growers and wider food and drink industry to our local economy, environment and wider rural communities.

Therefore, Portsmouth City Council commits to further enhancing our partnerships alongside local arable, livestock, and dairy farmers to enhance our magnificent countryside by:

(i) commiting to support our local farmers, growers and food and drink sector by, where possible, ensuring that all food and drinks provided at council organised events is sourced from local suppliers; to always include meat and dairy, alongside plant-based produce;

(ii) As part of tackling the environmental priorities for Portsmouth City Council; The Council will consider ways to encourage residents, where possible, to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious produce, including meat, dairy and plant based options. Thus reducing food miles to our tables and boosting the local economy; and

(iii) requesting that the Cabinet Member investigates the possibility of local small businesses and producers being able to display and sell their products in the vicinity the Portsmouth Cruise Terminal so as to champion our fantastic local produce to visitors to the city and raise the city's profile as the gateway not just to our historical goldmine of a city, but to the wider Hampshire area.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Benedict Swann

Seconded by Councillor Lewis Gosling

That notice of motion (d) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Graham Heaney

Seconded by Councillor Steve Pitt

To amend recommendation (i) as follows: after ‘by’ in second line, amend to read “…ensuring that all food and drinks provided at council organised events is sourced from local suppliers; to include meat, dairy and seafood alongside plant-based produce where possible."

Add new recommendation (iii): to continue to work with Hampshire Farmers Markets to promote the events they organise throughout the year; and

Renumber existing recommendation (iii) as recommendation (iv).

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Benedict Swann agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Graham Heaney into the motion.

Council voted on the motion incorporating the subsumed amendment in the name of Councillor Graham Heaney.

Following the vote, the motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

Portsmouth City Council recognises and notes the huge contribution made by our regional farmers, growers and wider food and drink industry to our local economy, environment and wider rural communities.

Therefore, Portsmouth City Council commits to further enhancing our partnerships alongside local arable, livestock, and dairy farmers to enhance our magnificent countryside by:

(i)       commiting to support our local farmers, growers and food and drink sector by ensuring that all food and drinks provided at council organised events is sourced from local suppliers; to include meat, dairy and seafood alongside plant-based produce where possible;

(ii)       as part of tackling the environmental priorities for Portsmouth City Council; The Council will consider ways to encourage residents, where possible, to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious produce, including meat, dairy and plant based options. Thus reducing food miles to our tables and boosting the local economy;

(iii)      to continue to work with Hampshire Farmers Markets to promote the events they organise throughout the year; and

(iv)      requesting that the Cabinet Member investigates the possibility of local small businesses and producers being able to display and sell their products in the vicinity the Portsmouth Cruise Terminal so as to champion our fantastic local produce to visitors to the city and raise the city's profile as the gateway not just to our historical goldmine of a city, but to the wider Hampshire area.

Councillor George Madgwick joined the meeting during the item.  At the invitation of the Lord Mayor, he stated a declaration of interest which is listed in minute 110.

Proposed by Councillor Kirsty Mellor

Seconded by Councillor Cal Corkery

Full Council notes

That domestic abuse isn't always physical. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten a victim.

This form of controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent on a perpetrator by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.

This form of abuse can continue even after a relationship has formally ended.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the severe impact coercive control has on those subjected to it by perpetrators, including the introduction of a specific criminal offence. Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (SCA 2015) created the offense of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate family relationship.

In January 2023, Portsmouth resident Chloe Holland took her life after a year’s worth of coercive and controlling behaviour from her partner.

The cause of domestic abuse suicide can be complex; nevertheless, in France, there is a specific offence of causing suicide as a result of domestic abuse; if domestic abuse is a prominent factor, the perpetrator can expect a sentence of up to 10 years. No such law exists in the UK. Although case law does exist that allows prosecution for manslaughter in certain circumstances, in practice this rarely happens.

Chloe’s mother, Sharon Holland, is now campaigning to raise awareness of the impact of coercive control and calling for more severe consequences for perpetrators where victims subjected to the abuse end up taking their lives.

The charity Women’s Aid has also called for action to ensure sentences for coercive control reflect the severity of the crime and hold perpetrators accountable.

The full extent of domestic abuse-related suicide is unknown, and research undertaken by Refuge provides detailed, substantial evidence on the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts amongst domestically abused people in the UK.

Full Council believes:

Coercive control is a severe form of domestic abuse, and it is crucial perpetrators face legal consequences in line with the suffering and damage they have caused to victims and their families.

Where victims of coercive control take their lives as a result of that abuse, perpetrators should face suitable punishment, including manslaughter charges where appropriate.

The police must treat all sudden deaths of those known to be victims of domestic abuse as potential homicide from the outset.

There are consistent failures to investigate suicides in the context of domestic abuse despite the mechanisms to do so.

Full Council RESOLVES:

(i)            To request the Leader of the Council write to Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan and Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt and ask them to use their influence with the government to lobby to ensure perpetrators of coercive control receive sentences which reflect the severity of their crimes and charges of manslaughter where appropriate; and

(ii)          To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary on behalf of Portsmouth City Council to request the government consider creating a specific statutory offense of manslaughter by coercive or controlling behaviour.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Kirsty Mellor

Seconded by Councillor Cal Corkery

That notice of motion (e) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

Council voted on the motion.

Following the vote, the motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

Full Council notes

That domestic abuse isn't always physical. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten a victim.

This form of controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent on a perpetrator by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.

This form of abuse can continue even after a relationship has formally ended.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the severe impact coercive control has on those subjected to it by perpetrators, including the introduction of a specific criminal offence. Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (SCA 2015) created the offense of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate family relationship.

In January 2023, Portsmouth resident Chloe Holland took her life after a year’s worth of coercive and controlling behaviour from her partner.

The cause of domestic abuse suicide can be complex; nevertheless, in France, there is a specific offence of causing suicide as a result of domestic abuse; if domestic abuse is a prominent factor, the perpetrator can expect a sentence of up to 10 years. No such law exists in the UK. Although case law does exist that allows prosecution for manslaughter in certain circumstances, in practice this rarely happens.

Chloe’s mother, Sharon Holland, is now campaigning to raise awareness of the impact of coercive control and calling for more severe consequences for perpetrators where victims subjected to the abuse end up taking their lives.

The charity Women’s Aid has also called for action to ensure sentences for coercive control reflect the severity of the crime and hold perpetrators accountable.

The full extent of domestic abuse-related suicide is unknown, and research undertaken by Refuge provides detailed, substantial evidence on the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts amongst domestically abused people in the UK.

Full Council believes:

Coercive control is a severe form of domestic abuse, and it is crucial perpetrators face legal consequences in line with the suffering and damage they have caused to victims and their families.

Where victims of coercive control take their lives as a result of that abuse, perpetrators should face suitable punishment, including manslaughter charges where appropriate.

The police must treat all sudden deaths of those known to be victims of domestic abuse as potential homicide from the outset.

There are consistent failures to investigate suicides in the context of domestic abuse despite the mechanisms to do so.

Full Council RESOLVES:

(i)            To request the Leader of the Council write to Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan and Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt and ask them to use their influence with the government to lobby to ensure perpetrators of coercive control receive sentences which reflect the severity of their crimes and charges of manslaughter where appropriate; and

(ii)          To ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary on behalf of Portsmouth City Council to request the government consider creating a specific statutory offense of manslaughter by coercive or controlling behaviour.

Proposed by Councillor Simon Bosher

Seconded by Councillor Lewis Gosling

The Families First for Children Pathfinder (FFC Pathfinder) is the delivery mechanism for testing implementation of some of the most significant reforms to how children and families are supported and protected.

The FFC Pathfinder provides local areas with the opportunity to be at the heart of work to transform family help and children’s social care, working together with central government to influence future reforms in safeguarding partners, family help, child protection, and family networks.

To date, over £45 million of funding has been made available for the FFC Pathfinder to design and test reforms set out in Stable Homes, Built on Love.

Portsmouth was being encouraged to apply for this due to interest in programmes devised by Portsmouth third sector.

Portsmouth has third sector organisations such as The Roberts Centre which provides support for children, families, young people and vulnerable adults from across Portsmouth and the surrounding area who are keen to access this funding, but are unable to apply directly.

Where PCC is the only organisation through which applications can be made the onus is on them to apply if there is demand from Portsmouth’s third sector.

This Council calls on the administration to:

(i)    Submit a formal bid to The Government for Wave 2 of the Pathfinder funding if there is still a chance to do so or if upon further consideration the decision is not to make such an application refer back to Council the rationale for such a stance being taken;

(ii)   If an application cannot be made or the time for submission extended, then council seeks to encourage Cabinet to take all reasonable steps to access DoE funding to support additional local programmes; and

(iii)Agree that the City Council, with reference to applications for funding support requests from third sector providers to either align and support such applications or take the lead in making them and progressing such funding requests as are deemed feasible when considering the overall corporate plans and focus of the Administration.

It was

Proposed by Councillor Simon Bosher

Seconded by Councillor Lewis Gosling

That notice of motion (f) as set out on the agenda be adopted.

As an amendment it was

Proposed by Councillor Suzy Horton

Seconded by Councillor Matthew Winnington

Para 1, replace the word 'the' with 'a'.

Para 3, insert 'the Government social care implementation strategy document' before 'Stable'.

Delete paras 4, 5 and 6 and replace with:

Council notes that:

·       The deadline for obtaining this funding was 6 November and the council did not apply

·       The Council's current model for Family Safeguarding is regarded as Outstanding by OFSTED.

·       Portsmouth has third sector organisations such as The Roberts Centre and Homestart Portsmouth and many others which provide support for children, families, young people and vulnerable adults from across Portsmouth and the surrounding area who are keen to access this funding, but Government regulations stop them from doing so.

·       The Council is always keen to support innovation, as evidenced by the current programmes it is engaged with and leading on.

In the resolution section 'This Council calls on…', delete everything before 'refer' in (i), everything before 'Council' in (ii) and replace 'o' with 'f' in (ii) so that it reads 'DfE' and not 'DoE'

Following debate, the proposer of the original motion, Councillor Simon Bosher agreed to subsume the amendment put by Councillor Suzy Horton into the motion.

Council voted on the motion incorporating the subsumed amendment in the name of Councillor Suzy Horton.

Following the vote, the motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

The Families First for Children Pathfinder (FFC Pathfinder) is a delivery mechanism for testing implementation of some of the most significant reforms to how children and families are supported and protected.

The FFC Pathfinder provides local areas with the opportunity to be at the heart of work to transform family help and children’s social care, working together with central government to influence future reforms in safeguarding partners, family help, child protection, and family networks.

To date, over £45 million of funding has been made available for the FFC Pathfinder to design and test reforms set out in the Government's social care implementation strategy document Stable Homes, Built on Love.

Council notes that:

·       The deadline for obtaining this funding was 6 November and the council did not apply.

·       The Council's current model for Family Safeguarding is regarded as Outstanding by OFSTED.

·       Portsmouth has third sector organisations, such as The Roberts Centre and Homestart Portsmouth, which provide support for children, families, young people and vulnerable adults from across Portsmouth and the surrounding area who are keen to access this funding, but Government regulations stop them from doing so.

·       The Council is always keen to support innovation, as evidenced by the current programmes it is engaged with and leading on.

This Council calls on the administration to:

(i)  Refer back to Council the rationale for such a stance being taken;

(ii)  Council seeks to encourage Cabinet to take all reasonable steps to access DfE funding to support additional local programmes; and

(iii) Agree that the City Council, with reference to applications for funding support requests from third sector providers to either align and support such applications or take the lead in making them and progressing such funding requests as are deemed feasible when considering the overall corporate plans and focus of the Administration.

The Lord Mayor advised that no questions from members had been received under the provisions of this Standing Order.