Issue - meetings

The Panel is invited to comment on the Signing of the Huntingdonshire District Council Armed Forces Covenant Report.

Executive Councillor: S Conboy

By means of a report by the Community Development Officer, Community Services – People Team (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Signing of the Huntingdonshire District Council Armed Forces Covenant Report was presented to the Panel.

Councillor Bywater thanked the Officer for sharing the report with him prior to it being brought through the democratic process and stated his strong support for the proposal to establish and formally adopt the Huntingdonshire District Council Armed Forces Covenant. He reflected on his experiences as a former serviceman and believed that such a Covenant was vitally important to enable the Council to do everything possible to support the district’s Armed Forces communities. He stated that the covenant represented a clear and meaningful commitment to ensure the fair treatment of Service Personnel, veterans and their families and for them to not be disadvantaged when accessing public services. Aligning the Council’s approach with the statutory duties set out in the Armed Forces Act was in his view timely and necessary. He welcomed the clarity that the Covenant would bring and felt that it was essential that this be embedded across Council policies and aligned with neighbouring authorities He was reassured by the Senior Leadership commitment detailed within the report as well as the commitment to report back regularly to Overview and Scrutiny and noted the accountability and transparency this would provide. He was fully in support of the proposal. Councillor Pitt echoed the comments of Councillor Bywater and deferred to his expertise on the subject and the knowledge of the Officers within the Council.

It was clarified to the Panel, following a comment from Councillor Shaw that the Working Group mentioned within the report would be made up of service area leads as identified by Heads of Service and that this group will meet quarterly. It was further noted that an Armed Forces Board would be established as a cross County group and would also meet regularly.

In response to a question from Councillor Lowe, it was clarified that staff training would be available and accessible for all Council staff through the Council’s Learning and Development programme.

In conclusion, Councillor Hunt stated that he felt the report co-defined the things which the Council already did and that the comments of Councillor Bywater in support of the proposal greatly reassured him that this was the right thing to do.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be passed to Cabinet for their consideration when making a decision upon the recommendations within the report.