Agenda item

Report of the Democratic Services Officer.

The Armed Forces Community Covenant

Councillor Collis as Member Lead for armed forces relationships attended the Committee to discuss his role and current initiatives to support the Armed Forces Community Covenant.

He explained that the Armed Forces Covenant was signed by the Mayor of Gedling in 2013. In 2014 Gedling was awarded the Silver Award for Employers when it was confirmed that they would support all current and future employees in the reserved forces.  This has been re-awarded in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Gedling is the only Borough Council in Nottinghamshire to have achieved this.

Representatives from the authority attended a very informative Armed Forces Covenant Symposium, the Civil and Military Partnership Board and an event called honouring the Covenant organised by veterans in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire where problems, progress and associated matters linked to the Covenant were discussed.

Gedling Borough is currently reviewing the development plan for the Covenant, and the Covenant Action Plan will be refreshed to include the following key action points:

·         Updating the Covenant web page,  adding links to relevant web sites

·         Identifying the military and ex-military community.  Currently we can only identify this is people make themselves known. The possibility of including a question to establish this in customer service, leisure and benefit registration processes is being considered

·         Maximising the Covenant Fund

·         Military/ex-military engagement projects which would include exploring the possibility to establish informal support groups

·         Engaging cross departmental impact assessments of services on military/military community

·         Supporting military memorials and memorial events

·         Supporting the RBL outreach service in the Civic Centre

·         Accessing opportunities through the County Council Community Voluntary Service.

Members suggested that leisure centre concessions should be considered for military and ex military personnel.  They also felt it would be helpful to have a written update at the next committee on progress of the Covenant refresh.

Councillors Truscott, Elliott and Hewson left the meeting.at 7.40pm

Visit to the Contact Centre

It was agreed that Members, who expressed an interest in visiting the Contact Centre would be contacted after the Committee.

Collection of inappropriately filled bins

Members discussed the written response to the request for information regarding arrangements for inappropriately filled bins to be collected and educating residents about correctly filling refuse bins.  Members appreciated the response but decided that they would like to invite the Service Manager, Transport and Waste to the next Committee to enable them to explore a number of issues.

Scrutiny Reviews 2017/18

The need for additional Members to be included in the proposed new reviews was discussed.  It was decided that a further request should be circulated with a reminder that evening meetings could be arranged if this would be more convenient for Members.

Programme of Portfolio Holder Attendance

The forward plan for the attendance of Portfolio Holder attendance was agreed.

RESOLVED to:

·         Thank Councillor Collis for attending the meeting; and

·         Request a written update on progress to refresh the Covenant

·         Invite the Service Manager Transport and Waste to the next Committee

·         Continue with arrangements for the Contact Centre visit

·         Request additional members for the proposed working groups

·         Agree the forward plan of Portfolio Holder attendance.