Cheshire East considers cutting safe accommodation places for domestic abuse victims by 25 per cent
Cheshire East has been asked to provide evidence of a fall in domestic abuse, amid concerns it could reduce the number of safe accommodation places for victims by a quarter.
A report on a planned review of the provision of safe accommodation sparked concern among some members of the children and families committee.
At present, the council commissions accommodation units from the charity My CWA (Cheshire Without Abuse).
Cllr Jos Saunders (Poynton, Conservative), said at Monday's (June 9) meeting of the committee: "It [the report] states that you're asking for 16 units for accommodation.
"But at the moment, My CWA are providing us with 21 units because they have other sources of funding.
"So, in a sense, we're getting 25 per cent more than what we're commissioning, and we're getting it for free.
"In the data, I couldn't see anywhere that domestic abuse had fallen by 25 per cent.
"Why are we only going for 16 units when it's pretty clear, because it doesn't state that any of those units have been empty, that we need 21 at least."
Cllr Michael Beanland (Poynton, Conservative), also questioned the possible reduction in provision.
Rhiannon Edwards, domestic abuse lead for Cheshire East Council, said the needs assessment attached to the report was published in 2023 and 'we're currently commissioning a rapid review of this because things have changed since then. It is slightly out of date'.
She added: "But because of that, I'd just like to point out that things will have changed on the requirements for accommodation units.
"We have 16 accommodation units at the moment and part of the rapid review is looking at what that should look like for 2026/27.
"We are probably looking at a completely different model of units, but until we know what the need is, I think we've got to wait and find out what that looks like."
Cllr Saunders later told the meeting that if the report came back to committee in September, following the consultation, and still recommended 16 accommodation units she would not support it.
"I still haven't heard any evidence, and I still can't find anything in the report which tells me that domestic abuse and the need for the units we currently have has gone down," she said.
"The only caveat I would have for that is it seems this report is old."
She asked why the committee hadn't been given a more up to date report.
The committee voted to approve the review of the provision for safe accommodation across Cheshire East for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Ten councillors voted in favour and one abstained.
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