Issue - meetings

(a)       That the presentation be received and Ms Clancy and  Captain Neil Turnbull be thanked for their contribution;

(b)       That the adoption of a Community Covenant for Flintshire be agreed  in principle; and

(c)        That the signatories as proposed be agreed.

The Chairman introduced and welcomed Ms Tanya Clancy and Captain Neil Turnbull, Military Civil Integration, HQ 160 (Wales) Brigade.   He invited Ms. Clancy to provide a presentation on the Community Covenant for Wales.

            Ms. Clancy gave a detailed presentation on the following areas:-

• The aim of the Community Covenant
• Making the Covenant count
• Who has signed
• Myth v Fact
• Service Leavers
• Community Covenant Grants

The Chair thanked Ms Clancy for an informative presentation.

The Chief Executive commented on the positive stance to adopt an Armed Forces Community Covenant between the Council, the Armed Forces in Flintshire and representatives from the Voluntary, Health and Education Sectors.  He referred to a number of proposed measures to be included within the Covenant and invited Councillor A.P. Shotton, Leader of the Council, and champion of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, to provide further information.

Councillor A.P. Shotton referred to a Notice of Motion that had been submitted to County Council last year to seek support to hold an Armed Forces day in Flintshire.  He commented on the opportunity that the Community Covenant presented to reaffirm the Authority’s commitment to the Armed Forces and on the ongoing work to develop the draft agreement and submit for approval to Cabinet and County Council. 

The observations made by Councillor D. Evans on the report and the draft Community Covenant were distributed to Members for information during the meeting.

Councillor R.J.T. Guest expressed the view that the Authority should be mindful of the needs of Flintshire and not be overly influenced by projects  implemented in other Authorities.  He commented on the need for effective  communication with Armed Forced personnel.  Councillors B. Dunn, N.R. Steele-Mortimer and W.P. Shotton endorsed these views. 

Councillor Guest referred to the  recommendations in the report and proposed recommendation (I) be amended so that the adoption of a Community Covenant for Flintshire be recommended in principle but not as appended.    This was on the basis that further work needed to be done.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor R.G. Hampson and became the resolution of the Committee.

The Chief Executive commented that a report on the Community Covenant was to be submitted to Cabinet on 22 January 2013 and to County Council on 29 January 2013.  He was confident that the Group Leaders would be able to determine the details of Flintshire’s Covenant.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the presentation be received and Ms Clancy and  Captain Neil Turnbull be thanked for their contribution;

(b)       That the adoption of a Community Covenant for Flintshire be agreed  in principle; and

(c)        That the signatories as proposed be agreed.