Agenda item

To consider a report by the Community Engagement Manager (copy attached), to give an annual update on how the measures introduced under the covenant have supported the armed forces community in Denbighshire, and for the Committee to consider if any changes to the provision are required with a view to strengthening the covenant.

9.35 a.m. – 10.10 a.m.

The Lead Member for Communities introduced the Community Covenant with the Armed Forces Report (previously circulated) for Members to consider an annual update on how the measures introduced under the covenant have supported the armed forces community in Denbighshire and for the Committee to consider if any changes to the provision are required with a view to strengthening the covenant.

A Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community.    It was intended to complement the National Armed Forces Covenant which outlined the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, at a local level.

Full Council formally adopted the Covenant on the 11 September 2012 and requested Scrutiny to satisfy itself on the measures Denbighshire wished to adopt.

The Council agreed to nominate an “Armed Services Champion” (Lead Member for Communities, Councillor Hugh Irving) and a named “Armed Services Lead Officer” (Community Engagement Manager).

A workshop had taken place with representatives from key armed services charities and public sector organisations to advance understanding of the issues facing armed service personnel and veterans.  The role of the working group was to co-ordinate actions, identify gaps in provision and exchange information and good practice. 

A key action identified by the Covenant had been the need to establish a dedicated information page on the Denbighshire County Council website with links to organisations who could give advice and support on issues ranging from welfare concerns to career advice.

The Army had approached Denbighshire County Council with a project in conjunction with Bodelwyddan Castle Trust to develop a visitor/educational experience at the Castle comprising of a new comprehensive WW1 trench system as part of the WW1 Centenary.

An application to seek funding from the Ministry of Defence Community Fund was successful and a grant of £225,000 was approved.  The work was anticipated to be completed by the spring and the project will be for five years.  At the end of the five years, the trenches would become the responsibility of the Castle Trust.  Schoolchildren would be encouraged to visit the trenches and an educational programme was being developed for this purpose across North Wales and Cheshire.

The role of the Council would be to monitor the financial aspect of the project and release funds accordingly.

There was evidence that a number of armed forces personnel who leave the armed forces suffered financial and psychological problems.  Denbighshire was working with partner groups to assist these people to be integrated into the community.

Councillor Cefyn Williams felt that, from an equalities perspective, armed services personnel should not get priority over local people for housing unless they had a local connection. 

In response to members’ questions the Community Engagement Manager advised:

• Royal British Legion personnel had visited the Authority to train Customer Services and Social Services staff on army personnel’s specific needs
• A piece of work was about to be undertaken to map out key issues affecting service personnel and those organisations that could help them.  The Graduate Project Officer gave a brief outline of her role in this mapping work.
• That he would enquire on whether any funding was available to enable relatives of World War 1 victims and relatives of personnel killed in other conflicts to visit their graves in Europe and elsewhere
• That the Working Group was in the process of drawing up a cohesive action plan which would assist organisations to help each other and help service personnel

RESOLVED that the Communities Scrutiny Committee endorse the actions taken.