Minutes:
“This Council:
· Stands firmly behind our UK Armed Forces and fully supports the aims of the Armed Forces Covenant.
· Welcomes the new Armed Forces Act but sees the legislation as a missed opportunity to further improve the lives of veterans in the Welwyn Hatfield area.
· Notes with disappointment that the Act makes Welwyn Hatfield Council and local public bodies legally bound to have “due regard” to the Covenant when providing support to Forces communities, but exempts central government from any such duty, creating a two-tier Covenant for veterans.
· Notes with further disappointment that the Labour led proposals backed by the Royal British Legion and ex-Service chiefs plans which were among others, to improve Armed Forces accommodation, employment support and ensuring central government has the same responsibility to deliver the Act that local authorities have, were voted down so not included in the Act.
This Council resolves:
· To write to the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace asking him to reconsider the decision to not include in the Armed Forces Act, Widen the scope of the Bill to ensure it takes in all areas like service accommodation, employment, pensions, compensation, social care, criminal justice and immigration. Ensure central government has the same responsibility to deliver the Covenant that the Bill gives to local authorities and other local public bodies. Force the MOD to review its treatment of LGBTQ+ personnel pre-2000 and options for restoring ranks in full.
· This Council will continue the campaign with the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant board and Forces charities to see the Government continue to strengthen the Covenant and improve vital services to veterans.”
It was moved and seconded by Councillors G.Hayes and L.Chesterman that the motion be approved.
It was then moved and seconded by Councillors T.Kingsbury and D.Bell that the motion be amended as follows:-
“This Council:
· Stands firmly behind our UK Armed Forces and fully supports the aims of the Armed Forces Covenant.
· Welcomes the new Armed Forces Act but sees the legislation as a missed opportunity to further improve the lives of veterans in the Welwyn Hatfield area.
·
Notes with disappointment that the Act makes Welwyn
Hatfield Council and local public bodies legally bound to have
“due regard” to the Covenant when providing support to
Forces communities, but recognises that the
Statutory Guidance has yet to be published when the new duty comes
into force. This council notes that at present the Bill appears
to exempts central
government from any such duty, creating a two-tier Covenant for
veterans.
·
Notes with further disappointment that the
Labour led proposals backed
by the Royal British Legion and ex-Service chiefs plans which were
among others, to improve Armed Forces accommodation, employment
support and ensuring central government has the same responsibility
to deliver the Act that local authorities have, were voted down so were not included in
the Act.
This Council resolves:
· To write to the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace asking him to reconsider the decision to not include in the Armed Forces Act, Widen the scope of the Bill to ensure it takes in all areas like service accommodation, employment, pensions, compensation, social care, criminal justice and immigration. Ensure central government has the same responsibility to deliver the Covenant that the Bill gives to local authorities and other local public bodies. Force the MOD to review its treatment of LGBT personnel pre-2000 and options for restoring ranks in full.
· This Council will continue the campaign with the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant board and Forces charities to see the Government continue to strengthen the Covenant and improve vital services to veterans.”
On being put to the meeting there voted:-
FOR the Amendment – 38
AGAINST the Amendment – 0
ABSTENTIONS for the Amendment – 0
The amendment was CARRIED.
The Motion, as amended, was then put to the meeting and there voted:-
“This Council:
· Stands firmly behind our UK Armed Forces and fully supports the aims of the Armed Forces Covenant.
· Welcomes the new Armed Forces Act but sees the legislation as a missed opportunity to further improve the lives of veterans in the Welwyn Hatfield area.
· Notes with disappointment that the Act makes Welwyn Hatfield Council and local public bodies legally bound to have “due regard” to the Covenant when providing support to Forces communities, but recognises that the Statutory Guidance has yet to be published when the new duty comes into force. This council notes that at present the Bill appears toexempt central government from any such duty, creating a two-tier Covenant for veterans.
· Notes with further disappointment that the proposals backed by the Royal British Legion and ex-Service chiefs plans which were among others, to improve Armed Forces accommodation, employment support and ensuring central government has the same responsibility to deliver the Act that local authorities have were not included in the Act.
This Council resolves:
· To write to the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace asking him to reconsider the decision to not include in the Armed Forces Act, Widen the scope of the Bill to ensure it takes in all areas like service accommodation, employment, pensions, compensation, social care, criminal justice and immigration. Ensure central government has the same responsibility to deliver the Covenant that the Bill gives to local authorities and other local public bodies. Force the MOD to review its treatment of LGBT personnel pre-2000 and options for restoring ranks in full.
· This Council will continue the campaign with the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant board and Forces charities to see the Government continue to strengthen the Covenant and improve vital services to veterans.”
On being put to the meeting there voted:-
The Motion, as amended, was declared carried UNANIMOUSLY.