Agenda and draft minutes

The Leader will advise of any items she has agreed to take as urgent business.

There were no items of urgent business.

(Report of the Director of Strategy and Performance). The report seeks  the   agreement from the Leader  to the  Armed Forces Community Covenant. This  report will go forward to  Cabinet and Full Council for noting and endorsement.

The Leader considered a report, previously circulated, which set out the current services and support that the Council offers to service and ex service personnel and the potential support it could offer through a Community Covenant.  The report also sought approval to commit the Council to signing a Community Covenant with the armed forces.

RESOLVED:

1. That, it be agreed that the Council be committed to signing an Armed Forces Community Covenant.

2. That the draft Community Covenant document, set out in Appendix A of the report, be approved.

3. That it should be recommended that Cabinet and Council note and endorse the Community Covenant.

4. That a multi agency working group should be established to agree a Community Covenant action plan.

Alternative options considered

The Council does not have to sign up to the Community Covenant – it is not a legal requirement; however; most other Local Authorities have committed to signing the Covenant.

Reasons for decision

The national Armed Forces Community Covenant initiative was launched by the government in May 2011 and provides a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community. By signing the covenant the Council will be helping to support the armed forces community in the borough and to nurture public understanding and awareness of issues affecting the armed forces community. 

To consider any new items of urgent business admitted under Item 1 above.

There were no new items of urgent business.