The Head of Democratic Services reported that the Armed Forces Community Covenant is a local level agreement with the Armed Forces, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the Government and the Armed Forces.  He stated that the Leader of the Council had been appointed as the Council’s Armed Forces Champion with the Council establishing its Community Covenant on 22 November 2013.

The Armed Forces Community Covenant was signed by 32 supporting organisations and with the signing of the Covenant, provided access to the Community Covenant Grant Scheme.  The fund supported local projects which brought together the civilian and armed forces communities, strengthening ties and mutual understanding.  Local authorities could bid for grant funding for projects which deliver tangible results and meet the overall aims of the scheme  for sums between £100 to £250,000 (although larger bids may also be considered in exceptional circumstances).  The Armed Forces Community Covenant Steering Group known as the Bridgehead Group, had been set up to develop an action plan and to consider applications for grant funding, prior to their submission to the Ministry of Defence.

The Head of Democratic Services highlighted the achievements of the County Borough Council in developing the Armed Forces Community Covenant.  He stated that the Authority had worked in partnership with Bridgend Town Council and the Bridgend Veterans Association to deliver an enhanced Armed Forces Day event on 28 June 2014.  The event had proved to be a great success with the average footfall in the Town Centre on the day of the event being increased by 2,500 people.  The majority of Town and Community Councils had signed the Covenant with the remainder making arrangements to sign up in the near future and approximately 200 members of the public had signed the Covenant to show their support for the Armed Forces.  Participating organisations had been circulated a questionnaire to identify other outcomes they had achieved from the event, which would be collated into a post event report to be made available in due course.

The Head of Democratic Services reported that the main challenge faced by the County Borough to develop the support and services needed to meet the requirements of the Covenant and of the veterans was to identify the veterans and the specific needs they have.  Proud and independent veterans or ex-service personnel often prevented them asking for help and support, whilst the MOD due to the constraints of the Data Protection Act could not identify to the Authority those service personnel who were leaving the armed forces and relocating to the area.

The Head of Democratic Services reported that during the Armed Forces Day Event an information questionnaire was developed which invited veterans and ex-service personnel and their families to identify themselves and their support needs.  The request also provided an opportunity for the individual to permit their personal details to be shared with the support organisations and to date a total of 42 completed forms had been returned. The data collected from these forms would be added to the Council’s database and email addresses passed over to the support organisations identified on the form for follow up.  Other key issues identified included Health and Wellbeing; Education (the consideration of non-standard school holidays for the children of serving personnel); Housing and Homelessness and retraining and employment.

The Head of Democratic Services reported that with the possibility of grant funding available from the Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme, there were opportunities for local organisations and community groups to identify projects to support veterans and communities within the County Borough.  He highlighted successful examples in Hampshire and in Gateshead.

The Head of Democratic Services reported that with the current high profile of the Armed Forces and the commitment of the signatories of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, it was hoped that the momentum of the Covenant which had been generated recently could be built upon to:-

·         Continue to identify the veterans and ex-service personnel within the County Borough;

·         Improve the understanding of the support and services needed by them;

·         Identify suitable projects which can be developed and grant bids.

A Member of the Forum informed that Bridgend Town Council had set up a military advisory group and asked whether the County Borough Council would continue to provide legal support in implementing stopping up orders for temporary road closures.  The Head of Democratic Services informed the Forum that the Council would support where it can with stopping up orders, subject to the availability of resources.

A Member of the Forum questioned the mechanism for applying for funding.  The Head of Democratic Services informed the Forum that an application was submitted by an organisation for funding, who would run the project and oversee it, and the Bridgehead Group would receive a report on the outcome of the project.

RESOLVED:            That the Forum noted the report.