Minutes:
The Board considered a report of
the Strategic Director, Communities, which informed the Members of the Armed Forces Community Covenant set out in
Appendix 1 to the report. The term ‘Armed Forces’ referred to the Army, Royal
Navy and Air Force.
The Board was advised that Halton was part of
a pan Cheshire Covenant covering the Local Authorities of Cheshire East,
Cheshire West & Chester, Warrington and Halton. In addition to local authorities, health,
probation and Job Centre plus were involved in supporting the covenant.
The Board was further advised that the Armed
Forces Community Covenant had been signed by dignitaries representing each of
the authorities on the 30th June 2012, Armed Forces Day.
It was reported that each Local Authority was
required to have a nominated Armed Forces Champion, the Community Development
Manager had been designated this role in Halton. The Armed Forces Champion provided
representation on a Community Covenant working group that covered the Cheshire
area and provided a point of liaison for the forces.
Furthermore, it was reported that The Armed
Forces Community Covenant set out twenty pledges, around five key themes:-
• Housing;
• Employment & Benefit;
• Education;
• Health; and
• Wellbeing.
It was reported that the Council would work
with partners to assist and support our armed forces and their families in line
with the pledges set out in the covenant.
The Board noted that The
Territorial Army were also included in the Covenant as they would be utilised
more in the future with the reduction in the armed forces.
The Board discussed the
importance of knowing how many armed forces families could be re-locating to Halton. It was noted
that this would need to be addressed in the Housing Strategy; school provision
would need to be considered and it would also have an impact on GP and health
services. In response, it was reported that
the number of people re-locating was currently unknown as the armed forces did
not collect such data on discharge.
However, transition arrangements had been raised at a meeting in Preston
but information had not as yet been received.
It was highlighted that
key partners would need to be identified in the Borough to help to deliver the
pledges in the covenant. Clarity was
sought on how some of the pledges would be fulfilled i.e. re prosthetic limbs,
how the Board would monitor it and ensure that it was meeting its
obligations. In response, it was
reported that some pledges wold be via local provision. However a North West network existed for such
work as prosthetic limbs and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) were keen
to do some work on understanding the pledges.
It was also reported that the Veteran Association had met with the CCG
to consider how local services could be improved generally and how the provision
could be mainstreamed to ensure they were given priority and due care and
attention.
It was noted that £35m
had been allocated to the fund and very little had been accessed to date. It was also noted that a high number of ex
forces personnel were involved in the criminal justice system.
RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised
be noted.
Supporting documents: