The Public Services Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on 13 October 2025 to discuss the Gwent Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) Regional Strategy, as well as review the forward work programme and action list. The committee will also look to confirm the minutes of previous meetings and review the council and cabinet work planner.

Here's a closer look at the topics on the agenda:

VAWDASV Regional Strategy

The committee is scheduled to assess the regional arrangements in place under the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015, and how these support Monmouthshire County Council in delivering the Act’s objectives.

The report pack states that the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 aims to strengthen the prevention of, and protection from, gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence, while also enhancing support for those affected. The Act places a statutory obligation on relevant authorities to actively reduce risk factors and minimise the impact of such violence, mandating the creation of joint local strategies between local authorities and health boards.

In 2016/17, the Monmouthshire Public Services Board (PSB), along with the four other PSBs in Gwent, agreed to adopt regional arrangements for addressing Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse, and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV). According to the report pack, this was intended to be a pioneering pathfinder initiative, with the objective of ensuring equitable support services across Gwent, irrespective of postcode, through a regional strategy underpinned by partnership working and collaboration.

Following the publication of the revised National Strategy for VAWDASV by Welsh Government in 2022, Gwent has developed a new regional VAWDASV Strategy (2023–2026). The report pack states that this strategy sets out a clear framework for partnership working and governance arrangements, designed to ensure the effective delivery of the updated objectives set by the national strategy.

The Gwent Strategy 2023 -2026 consists of the following objectives and fundamentals:

Objectives:

• Prevention: Improve arrangements for the prevention of gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence.
• Protection: Enhance arrangements for the protection of victims of gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence.
• Support: Strengthen support for people affected by gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence.
• Strategic Alignment: Align local delivery with regional and national VAWDASV objectives through robust governance and partnership working.
• Collaboration: Foster partnership working and collaboration to improve services for victims and survivors, pooling resources and expertise regionally.
• Data, Needs Assessment, and Monitoring: Use shared data analysis and needs assessments to identify service gaps and target interventions more effectively.
• Workforce Development: Support the workforce through training, learning, and development opportunities to ensure staff have the skills and knowledge to serve residents affected by VAWDASV.
• Accountability and Continuous Improvement: Hold all partners accountable for their contributions, using thematic reviews, audits, and consultations to inform direction and improve services.

Fundamentals:

• Survivor-focused Approach: Ensure a consistent, survivor-focused, and evidence-informed approach to tackling VAWDASV locally and regionally.
• Inclusive and Intersectional Service Delivery: Design services to be accessible for all communities, including older victims and those with no recourse to public funds.
• Governance and Accountability: The Gwent VAWDASV Partnership Board provides strategic leadership, sets priorities, and ensures accountability for regional strategy implementation.
• Integration with Other Priorities: Embed VAWDASV as 'everybody's business across public services, promoting integration with safeguarding, housing, and health.

The Gwent Strategic Delivery Group, reporting to the Gwent VAWDASV Board, coordinates the Strategy with members from Monmouthshire County Council, other Gwent local authorities, and partner organisations.

The report pack notes that an extensive board and sub-group structure operates across Gwent to support the VAWDASV agenda, involving representatives from relevant authorities under the VAWDASV Wales Act as well as key partner organisations that contribute to addressing VAWDASV.

The report pack also notes some challenges, including:

• Difficulties in gathering comprehensive data and monitoring performance, which makes it challenging to measure the overall impact of the strategy on a whole-system basis.
• Accessibility of services in rural areas.
• Ensuring that services are provided equitably to all groups, including male victims, rural communities, and individuals with no recourse to public funds.
• Sustaining effective collaboration and integration across multiple agencies and boards.
• Ensuring that sufficient resources and expertise are available at the local level.
• The need for more targeted communication and the sharing of evidence-based insights.

The report pack summarises that the Gwent VAWDASV Strategy and regional approach sets out a clear and ambitious framework for tackling violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual violence across the region, and that a key strength of the strategy lies in its robust multi-agency governance structure.

The report pack also recognises that challenges persist in aligning regional priorities, addressing service gaps, and improving the use of data and commissioning intelligence, and that limited officer capacity and the complexity of the partnership landscape does hinder consistent delivery.

Public Services Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme and Action List

The committee is scheduled to review its forward work programme and action list, with several items listed for discussion.

The committee will consider a progress update after 6 months on adult suicide, with ABUHB and Mind in attendance.

The committee will also discuss progress on the National Highways - M48 and Severn Bridge 7.5t weight Limit, changes to the Ambulance Performance Framework, drug related deaths in Monmouthshire, pre-decision scrutiny of the Public Service Board Annual Report, and the Integrated Services Partnership Board.

Items to consider for inclusion are the progress of the new Magor and Undy Community Hub, investment in better bus infrastructure, working with the police, partners and communities to tackle anti social behaviour, and exploring streams such as the Housing Social Grant and Substance Misuse Grants.

The report pack lists the following actions from the meeting on 7 July 2025¹:

• To review progress in approximately 6 months on adult suicide and invite ABUHB colleagues and MIND.
• ABUHB to share key performance indicators and comparative data in a future presentation on dementia services.
• Committee to visit the ABUHB staff to better appreciate how support is delivered for dementia services.
• ABUHB to provide contact for Dementia Hubs.
• Agreement to add the Ambulance Service Response Changes to the planner for the autumn.
• Agreement to schedule Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence services at the earliest opportunity.
• Agreement to call a Special Meeting before the summer break to discuss the Proposed Changes to Nevill Hall Hospital with ABUHB.
• Guidance to be sought on the extend of the Committee's remit to scrutinise matters relating to the Cardiff Capital Region.

The report pack lists the following action from the meeting on 28 July 2025²:

• To forward the request for a future Members Seminar on Royal Gwent, Chepstow, and local hospitals to Democratic Services for liaising with Dan Davies on dates.

Council and Cabinet Work Planner

The committee is scheduled to review the council and cabinet work planner.

Items listed on the planner for consideration by the cabinet include:

• Pavement Cafe Policy
• 2025/26 Revenue & Capital Monitoring Update 3
• 2026/27 WCF/Mon Farm treasury strategy
• 2026/27 Draft Revenue & Capital budget proposals
• Cultural Strategy
• 2025/26 Revenue & Capital Monitoring Update 2
• Destination Management Plan
• 2025/26 Revenue Monitoring Update 1
• Panel Performance Assessment
• Connect to Work and Future Focus programmes
• A strategy to take forward a whole authority approach to wellbeing and prevention
• WELSH CHURCH FUND WORKING GROUP
• Health & Safety Annual Report
• Proposed endorsement of the Monmouthshire Local Area Energy Plan
• Real Living Wage Employer Accreditation
• County of Sanctuary Strategy
• Review of Housing Support Grant Programme.
• Highway Traffic Regulation Amendment Order No 17
• Lloyds tour of Britain Stage 5 Pontypool to Tumble
• Welsh Church Fund Working Group
• Chepstow Integrated Transport LUF project
• Strategic Director's Report, Children, Learning, Skills and the Economy'
• 2024/25 Revenue & Capital monitoring Outturn (incl early update on 2025/26)
• 2026/27 Revenue & Capital MTFP update and process
• ADD AS FIRST ITEM Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023: Monmouthshire County Council's Annual Report
• Play Sufficiency Update
• Shire Hall Delivery Stage - Financial Approval
• Strategic OfficerLeadership and Organisation Structure changes
• Strategic Risk Assessment
• Nature Recovery Action Plan & Green Infrastructure Strategy
• Placemaking Grant 25/26 & 26/27
• Marches Forward Partnership
• Active Gwent Sports Partnership Digital, Data and Technology Collaboration
• Y Prentis Update

Items listed on the planner for consideration by the council include:

• Annual Safeguarding Report
• Director's Annual Report
• RLDP for Adoption
• Self-assessment 2024/25
• Separation of Licensing Functions
• Appointments to Outside Bodies
• Licensing Act Policy 2025
• SAC Membership Report
• Constitution Review
• Senior Pay Review
• Chepstow Integrated Transport LUF project
• Strategic Director's Report, Children, Learning, Skills and the Economy'
• Publication of the Councils Pay Policy
• Contract Procedure Rules
• 2025/26 Final Budget sign off including CT resolution
• 2025/26 Capital Strategy & Treasury Strategy
• Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2025/26
• Council Diary 2025/26
• GWENT REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP BOARD (RPB) AREA PLAN AND RPB ANNUAL REPORT 23/24

Items listed on the planner for consideration by the Integrated Community Mental health Directorate (ICMD) include:

• WELSH CHURCH FUND WORKING GROUP
• Health & Safety Annual Report
• Highway Traffic Regulation Amendment Order No 17
• Lloyds tour of Britain Stage 5 Pontypool to Tumble
• Welsh Church Fund Working Group
• PSPO Lane Closure to prevent fly tipping & off roading
• Welsh Church Fund Working Group - meeting 4
• Proposal to increase the fee payments to Monmouthshire Foster Carers
• Highway Traffic Regulation Amendment Order No 16
• County of Sanctuary: Homes for Ukraine
• 2025/26 Community Council and Police Precepts final
• Decision to transfer Dixton Archive from Monmouth Museum to Herefordshire Record Office
• Welsh Church Fund Working Group - meeting 3
• 2025/26 Community Council and Police Precepts draft

Previous Meeting Minutes

The committee is scheduled to confirm the minutes of two previous meetings:

• Public Services Scrutiny Committee, 7 July 2025
• Special Joint Meeting with People Scrutiny Committee, 28 July 2025