Issue - items at meetings - An Armed Forces Community Covenant for Brighton & Hove City

Report of Head of Policy, Performance & Analysis (copy attached).

(1)               That the Brighton & Hove Community Covenant attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(2)               That the establishment of a Military Civil Partnership Board to support the Brighton and Hove Armed Forces Community be approved; and

(3)               That the re-launch of the Brighton & Hove Heroes Welcome campaign to show support to British Armed Forces personnel in the city be approved.

57.1         The Head of Communities & Equality introduced the report, which outlined a draft community covenant for approval following a notice of motion to council and the establishment of a Military Civil Partnership Board.  She noted that it had taken some time to bring the proposed community covenant to committee but hoped that it would now be supported and taken forward.

57.2         Councillor A. Norman welcomed the report and the proposed Partnership Board, but felt that there was a lack of ambition when compared to other authorities who had progressed with a community covenant.  She hoped that there would be some form of local signing event to promote the covenant and queried whether housing issues affecting military personnel would be considered by the Partnership Board.

57.3         The Head of Communities & Equality welcomed the proposal for a signing ceremony and stated that she would look at how this could be taken forward.

57.4         Councillor G. Theobald stated that he was a little disappointed about the length of time it had taken to bring this matter forward and hoped that it could be progressed rather more quickly.

57.5         Councillor Mitchell stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group supported the covenant and hoped that further information would be made available in regard to housing and support for the military personnel.

57.6         The Chair noted the comments and stated that he hoped the Partnership Board would be able to take matters forward and put the recommendations to the vote.

57.7         RESOLVED:

(1)         That the Brighton & Hove Community Covenant attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(2)         That the establishment of a Military Civil Partnership Board to support the Brighton and Hove Armed Forces Community be approved; and

(3)         That the re-launch of the Brighton & Hove Heroes Welcome campaign to show support to British Armed Forces personnel in the city be approved.