The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission met to discuss the progress of the Eliminating Violence Against Women & Girls Strategy 2022-25, to note scrutiny reports, letters and responses, to review the scrutiny actions tracker, to review the Living in Hackney work programme for 2025/26 and to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. The Commission reviewed the progress made against delivering the priorities and actions outlined in the Eliminating Violence Against Women & Girls Strategy 2022-25 and agreed the work programme shortlist for the 2025/26 municipal year.

Eliminating Violence Against Women & Girls Strategy 2022-25

The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission reviewed the progress made against delivering the priorities and actions outlined in the Eliminating Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2022-25. The roundtable discussion was seen as timely with the refreshed strategy due to be agreed in late 2025, giving members an opportunity to input into the emerging priorities and how they might be delivered at the early stage.

The Strategy has 4 Priorities, echoing the national and MOPAC VAWG Strategies:

• Preventing and reducing VAWG
• Supporting all victims and survivors
• Holding perpetrators to account
• Building trust and confidence

The Priorities have been taken forward by the range of agencies who comprise the Hackney VAWG Partnership. Implementation of the VAWG Strategy is led / coordinated by the Council's Domestic Abuse Intervention Service. The Strategy is overseen by the VAWG Strategic Board which reports directly to Hackney's Community Safety Partnership.

Some examples of areas highlighted through consultation include:

Things that are working well:

• Hackney is a borough where it feels like 'domestic abuse is everyone's responsibility' which is positive
• The Domestic Abuse Intervention Service's availability and helpful approach to partnership working in order to safeguard victims/survivors
• The Hackney Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment is effective in prompting consideration of intersectional needs within a single, user-friendly document
• Hackney's VAWG Operational Group is a positive, constructive forum enabling the active participation of 3rd sector agencies
• Children's Social Care responses to domestic abuse are helpful, supporting victims / survivors and working in a joined-up way with partner agencies

Things that need to improve:

• Victims / survivors who have joint tenancies can find separation more difficult
• Counselling services are limited and victims/survivors can wait some time before therapeutic support is provided
• Preventative approaches are not consistent in all schools

Hackney expects the national VAWG Strategy to be published in early autumn and will seek to align its local priorities with the national and London VAWG Strategies. The Council anticipates that its strategy will have the following priority areas however these may be subject to change depending on the national and London strategies.

• Preventing VAWG and tackling misogyny
• Supporting victims / survivors of VAWG
• Holding perpetrators to account and reducing harm
• Raising awareness and developing practice

It is hoped that Hackney's next Eliminating VAWG Strategy will be published in late 2025.

Scrutiny Reports, Letters and Responses

The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission received responses from the Executive to its findings and suggestions for improvement on the following topics, as included in the agenda papers:

• Supported Accommodation for Homeless Residents with Complex Needs, July 2025
• Housing Green Spaces, Sept 2025

Scrutiny Actions Tracker 2025/26

The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission reviewed the actions tracker 2025/26. This tracker brings together the agreed actions from previous meetings of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission and any subsequent action, outcome and result. It is used to monitor responses, actions and outcomes against requests for information or further action. The tracker is updated after every meeting. Once an action has been completed and reported to the next meeting, it will be removed from the tracker.

Living in Hackney Work Programme 2025/26

The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission reviewed the work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year and agreed the shortlist. Suggestions for the work programme had been received by backbench councillors, cabinet members, chief officers, key partners and the public. Based on these suggestions, a shortlist had been developed by the Chair and Vice-Chair. The agreed shortlist will be discussed with cabinet members, senior officers and other key stakeholders before the work programme is finalised.