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To enter into contract with the successful
supplier (jointly, along with our commissioning partners, details
of which are set out below) to provide a range of additional
security measures for maintaining victim safety at home, otherwise
known as Target Hardening and Sanctuary Scheme measures. This
contract will be for a period of three years from 01 April 2026 to
31 March 2029, with options to extend the contract annually
thereafter, up to 31 March 2033, subject to relevant approvals and
available finance.

Reasons for the decision

The aim of this
Target Hardening and Sanctuary service is to prevent homelessness
and to keep victims and their children safe in their own homes,
protecting them from further harm whilst also promoting safety and
well-being for victims of domestic abuse and their children.

This will be achieved through the provision of a range of
additional security measures, ranging from the installation of
security devices which can be fitted readily to buildings without
major adaption, through to Sanctuary provision. The latter is a
more extensive fitment of security measures which can include a
‘sanctuary room’ to provide a safe place where victims
can call and await the arrival of the police.

Gloucester City Council has led on the commissioning of this
service via the county-wide Partnership Team. Cheltenham Borough
Council will enter into contract with the successful supplier
alongside: Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District
Council, Gloucester City Council, Stroud District Council,
Tewkesbury Borough Council, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service
(as part of Gloucestershire County Council) and the Office of the
Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

Aside from an annual contribution from the OPCC, the funding for
this contract operates as a ‘pay as you go’ service to
meet the demand for the scheme. Each district authority will be
responsible for ordering and paying for the services directly.
Having reviewed costs incurred so far for 2025/26 and for 2024/25,
we anticipate the council’s costs to be around
£25,000/year. These costs will be met from the
council’s Homelessness Prevention Grant Funding allocation.
This is funding which the council receives each year from the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support
the delivery of initiatives such as this.

Alternative options considered

1) To not recommission this service. If this
service was not to be recommissioned, then the council would lack
an appropriate homelessness prevention response to households
experiencing domestic abuse. This option is therefore
rejected.

2) For each authority to commission this service individually. This
approach is also rejected on the basis that it could increase the
risk of inconsistencies in service delivery across the county and
place additional burdens on referring agencies to navigate multiple
service offers. It is also unlikely that this approach would
deliver the same value for money that can be achieved through a
county-wide commissioning of this service.