Issue - meetings

To take note of the following motion, submitted by Cllr Lord, notice of which was given on 5 October 2021. The Chairman has indicated he intends to refer the motion to the Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue for consideration. It will therefore not be debated at this meeting.

‘Recent news reports have highlighted the impact of male violence in the UK, including in West Sussex. This Council believes that:

(a)        Victims of male violence are never to blame.

(b)        Significantly reducing male violence will make women and men safer and lessen the suspicion that groups of young men and single men in particular face.

(c)         Alongside enhancing services for victims, agencies should focus their efforts on preventing male violence rather than asking innocent people to modify their behaviour.

(d)        The causes of male violence are complex and often start in early life.

(e)        Solutions cannot be created by agencies and voluntary organisations working in isolation.

This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue to convene a cross-agency group (including but not limited to the police, health services, county, district and borough councils, and voluntary organisations) with the remit to:

(1)        Understand the extent and nature of male violence in West Sussex;

(2)        Assess the effectiveness of the programmes currently in place;

(3)        Identify gaps in provision with reference to national and international best practice; and

(4)        Report back to this Council within six months with details of a comprehensive and ambitious plan to ultimately end male violence in West Sussex, including details of the resources and timelines required.’

40.1     The following motion was moved by Cllr Lord and seconded by Cllr Cherry:

‘Recent news reports have highlighted the impact of male violence in the UK, including in West Sussex. This Council believes that:

(a)         Victims of male violence are never to blame.

(b)         Significantly reducing male violence will make women and men safer and lessen the suspicion that groups of young men and single men in particular face.

(c)         Alongside enhancing services for victims, agencies should focus their efforts on preventing male violence rather than asking innocent people to modify their behaviour.

(d)         The causes of male violence are complex and often start in early life.

(e)         Solutions cannot be created by agencies and voluntary organisations working in isolation.

This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue to convene a cross-agency group (including but not limited to the police, health services, county, district and borough councils, and voluntary organisations) with the remit to:

(1)         Understand the extent and nature of male violence in West Sussex;

(2)         Assess the effectiveness of the programmes currently in place;

(3)         Identify gaps in provision with reference to national and international best practice; and

Report back to this Council within six months with details of a comprehensive and ambitious plan to ultimately end male violence in West Sussex, including details of the resources and timelines required.’

40.2     The motion was referred to the Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue for consideration.