Agenda item

(a)       That the positive progress made in meeting the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the commitments for further improvement be endorsed; and

            (b)       That the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report be approved

The Chief Executive presented the report which was the first Annual Report of Flintshire County Council’s Armed Forces Covenant.  He advised that the report outlined the progress and commitment of the Authority and its partners who had signed the Covenant to support the Armed Forces Community.   He explained that the  North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had also joined the Flintshire Covenant and had formally signed the Covenant in a short ceremony prior to today’s meeting of the Council.  The Chief Executive asked that Members considered endorsing the positive progress made in meeting the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the commitments for further improvement and approved the Annual Report prior to its publication on the Council’s website.  The Chief Executive invited Councillor Andrew Dunbobbin to speak on the item as the Council’s Armed Forces Champion.

                        In moving the report Councillor Dunbobbin referred to the positive comments made by the Welsh Government (WG) concerning the work undertaken in Flintshire and specifically the work for schools to capture data on whether any pupils or students were children of serving members of the Armed Forces, and the offer of guaranteed interviews for veterans who meet the essential criteria of the job role.  

                        Councillor Clive Carver congratulated the Authority on producing the Armed Forces Covenant, however, referring to the areas for improvement detailed in paragraph 1.05 the report, he felt that there was an omission in the objective “for schools to start capturing whether any pupils/students are children of serving members of the Armed Forces” and suggested the wording in Flintshire’s Covenant should be amended to include “children of both serving and veteran members of the Armed Forces”.  The Chief Executive acknowledged the point made by Councillor Carver and gave an assurance that the work was applied to both serving and veteran members and it was agreed that the wording would be amended to provide clarification.   

Councillor Tudor Jones referred to the promotion of the WG free swimming initiative for veterans and armed forces personnel which was available at four swimming pools in the County and asked whether this facility could be made  available at all the swimming pools in the County.  Councillor Jones also commented on the work being undertaken to restore a war memorial in Ysceifiog and asked Councillor Dunbobbin if he could provide information on any funding which the local community may be able to apply for to assist with the project. 

Councillor Dunbobbin advised that funding was available from the WG until 2018 for the  free swimming initiative and was applicable to all leisure services.  He said he would encourage organisations to apply for the funding which was held centrally by the WG.   Referring to the community project to restore a war memorial, Councillor Dunbobbin advised that local communities could apply for funding though the Armed Forces Community Covenant.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change 1) explained how the WG funding for the free swimming initiative for veterans and armed forces personnel was dispersed across swimming pools in Flintshire and advised that the current arrangements were to be reviewed during the coming months.  He reported that the WG would also be reviewing the funding and provision for free swimming during the next 12 months to ensure that people most in need benefited. 

                        Councillor Arnold Woolley asked that  the word “to” be inserted into second  recommendation on page 6 of the report after the word “prior”.  In response to the question from Councillor Woolley regarding whether the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had signed the Flintshire Covenant, the Chief Executive confirmed that personnel from the Armed Forces had attended and formally signed the Covenant on behalf of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service at a short ceremony prior to the meeting of the Council today.  

                        Councillor Paul Cunningham spoke of the strong public support for the Armed Forces and congratulated the Authority for the work undertaken to support the Armed Forces Covenant.

                        Councillor Hillary McGuill asked if veterans and armed forces personnel could be provided with “unrestricted” instead of “time-limited” access to swimming activities and events.  Councillor DunbobbIn acknowledged the suggestion and advised that there were a number of schemes available from the Armed Forces to assist veterans and armed forces personnel.

                        Councillor Chris Bithell welcomed the initiative for schools to start capturing data on whether any pupils or students were children of veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces.  He spoke of his admiration for the achievements gained by both pupils and students who had to adjust to frequent periods of relocation throughout their education. 

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the positive progress made in meeting the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the commitments for further improvement be endorsed; and

            (b)       That the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report be approved