Agenda item - Signing of the Armed Forces Community Covenant

There will be a short signing ceremony led by the Mayor for the Armed Forces Community Covenant for Brighton and Hove.

71.1         The Mayor stated that he wished to welcome representatives from the armed forces, the Royal British Legion and Community Groups, who were attending the meeting as part of and to witness the signing of the community covenant.

71.2         The Mayor stated that today was a red-letter day in the relationship between Brighton & Hove City Council and our local armed forces community, and I am very happy to sign the Armed Forces Community Covenant on behalf of the council.  It is the beginning of a new partnership between us, other public bodies, the armed forces and voluntary organisations to support members and former members of the armed forces and their families.  The covenant aims to:

·               Foster public understanding about the issues faced by the armed services community

·               Ensure men and women, and their families, are not put at a disadvantage by serving in the armed forces.

            It provides a framework for the work of the council and others already in place to help the armed services community and links into NHS work across Sussex to address the health needs of veterans.   To support the Covenant the council set up a Civil Military Partnership Board, which met for the first time last November. Chaired by Cllr Rob Jarrett, its members include representatives from the council and other public services, the armed forces, armed forces charities and the community and voluntary sector.  It set for up four sub-groups who will meet for the first time next month. They will look at four key areas of work:

·               Housing and homelessness

·               Mental health

·               The re launch of the Heroes Welcome and general communications campaign

·               Improving data collection and support to reservists through employer policies, which will become even more important as the size of the regular army diminishes and the number or reservists increases.

            The council is fully committed to this initiative, which is critical to the welfare, health and well being of soldiers, sailors and airmen and women and their families: those serving and those who are veterans. We look forward to closer working with our partners in the future”

71.3         The Mayor and the Chief Executive then joined Brigadier Wolsey, OBE and Mr. Les Coppard, County Chairman Royal British Legion on behalf of Armed Forces Charities, to sign the Community Covenant.

71.4          Following the signing, the Mayor thanked the various representatives for their attendance.