‘Deeds not words’ was the suffragettes’ motto. If they updated it, it would probably read ‘Action not virtue signalling’. It isn’t as snappy but it shows, timelessly, what women want. We may have won the vote but there are still practical changes that needs to happen to ensure women and girls live free from violence.
Ahead of the May 2022 elections, the Liberal Democrats promised significant change to Wokingham Borough Council’s strategy in tackling violence against women and girls.
It has been disappointing to discover that, after 15 months in power, the Liberal Democrat administration’s achievement is an 18 page ‘draft’ strategy, nine pages which copy a list of actions from the Home Office that still needs to be tailored to Wokingham Borough. The rest simply reminds us of what’s already being done, why a strategy is needed, and how it requires organisations working together. A cover sheet sets out actions – such as collecting data and establishing need – which surely the Council should be doing already.
At the meeting where the report was presented, councillors criticised the lack of substance and tried in vain to tease out answers on important questions.
And what of the White Ribbon accreditation that the Lib Dems campaigned on before they got into power, with a demonstration outside the Council offices, media interviews and impassioned speeches mentioning Sarah Everard? Over a year since they’ve been in power there had been just one introductory meeting and two other meetings at officer level. Perhaps they release that spending local taxpayers’ money on a logo isn’t worth it for no tangible benefit for women. It’s obviously not a priority for them now they’re in power.
Then there’s the Anti-Abuse Charter which gained cross-party support when I proposed it in January 2022. It was co-created with Kaleidoscopic UK, a local domestic abuse charity. It was designed to embed a culture across the Council of preventing abuse and supporting victims. When the progress report was presented it was thin and contained copied and pasted text that was barely relevant and about adjacent work. The Charter had clearly been forgotten about for a year and a half. What a wasted opportunity.
And what would the Conservative Group do differently?
We’d ask women and girls what they want to see changed practically to make them safer, working alongside external stakeholders to deliver the changes. For example, I’m often told that the energy efficient streetlights in our Borough leave pitch black pavements between each light and women don’t like walking home at night because of this. Girls in schools need to have a voice too. We need to use data to inform the public where the violence against women and girls hotspots are and work with the police and others to stamp it out.
When the Conservatives ran Wokingham Borough Council, we set up a Domestic Abuse Strategy, and led the way on creating a more joined up approach between the Council and local organisations. The Council’s domestic abuse support service provider, Cranstoun, has been excellent in working with those who commit domestic violence to try to stop the cycle happening again with someone new.
On the draft violence against women and girls strategy, it needs to identify and progress specific actions which will make a tangible difference for victims - when asked the Liberal Democrats couldn’t identify any.
The Conservative Group supports the aims of better support for women and girls in the Borough. However, we believe there needs to be action, not just words. We need to make a true difference to the lives of women and girls in the Borough.
Cllr Laura Blumenthal, Shadow Member for Levelling Up, Equalities and Social Housing
