Issue - meetings

This report provides background information about the Armed Forces Covenant, the current setup for the district and county councils and a recommended approach for the new Buckinghamshire Council. This includes confirmation that the proposed HR policies for the new Council will be supportive of the Armed Forces Community and will be appropriately publicised.

RESOLVED:

·         To agree to add an agenda item to the first ordinary full Buckinghamshire Council meeting, seeking the new Council’s agreement to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

·         To agree the proposed number of Armed Forces Champions and role description.

The Leader advised that he was the Portfolio Holder for the area, but paid tribute to Councillor B Bendyshe-Brown, along with the other Armed Forces Champions in the districts, and thanked him for his assistance in constructing the majority of the content of the paper.

Members were asked to consider a report that asked them to agree the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant at the first ordinary full Buckinghamshire Council meeting and to agree the recommended number of Armed Forces Champions as two (an Armed Forces Champion and a Deputy).  The report provided background information about the Armed Forces Covenant, the current setup for the district and county councils and a recommended approach for the new Buckinghamshire Council. The report included confirmation that the proposed HR policies for the new Council would be supportive of the Armed Forces Community and would be appropriately publicised.

It was highlighted that the existing councils had a long track history of supporting and working in partnership with armed forces communities and members and officers alike were passionate about maintaining that level of commitment and capacity in the new council.

It was confirmed that that the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver status would not be jeopardised by the covenant being signed at the first ordinary full meeting of the new council.  A request was made and amendment put forward by T Green for the covenant to be signed at the AGM of the new council, this was seconded by K Wood.  Following advice from the Monitoring Officer, a vote was taken and the amendment was not supported.

Tribute was paid to all Armed Forces Champions around the county: Mr B Bendyshe-Brown, Buckinghamshire County Council; Mr P Strachan, Aylesbury Vale District Council; Ms M Harker, Chiltern District Council; Mr D Smith, South Bucks District Council and Mr I McEnnis, Wycombe District Council.

RESOLVED:

1.    To agree to add an agenda item to the first ordinary full Buckinghamshire Council meeting, seeking the new Council’s agreement to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

2.    To agree the proposed number of Armed Forces champions and role description.

The item was deferred to the next meeting in order for the Armed Forces Champion to be able to attend the meeting.