Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities) introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

a)    Plymouth had the second highest veteran population of all local authorities in the Country;

b)    The first Community Covenant was signed in 2012 which saw the appointment of the Council’s first Armed Forces and Veteran’s Champion;

c)    The Council achieved Silver Recognition in the Employment Recognition Scheme;

d)    New legislation changed the Covenant from voluntary to an organisational commitment, and this had changed the way covenants looked throughout the country, and since this had been changed the Council had received Gold Employment Recognition Status;

e)    The proposal for the new Covenant would go beyond legislative requirements and as an organisation; the council had already gone beyond the legislative requirements.

Councillor Murphy (Armed Forces and Veterans Champion) added:

f)     The Armed Forces Covenant was a commitment from the nation to those who serve, or have served in the British Military and to their families. By signing, the council committed to acknowledge and understand those who serve, or have served, in the armed forces, and their families, would be treated with respect and fairness in all of the services the Council offered, and the unique and selfless sacrifice associated with service would be recognised;

g)    Emphasis was put on supporting young people with their mental health due to the conditions their parents would work in, and the accommodation provided not being adequate;

h)    The new Covenant would outline a criteria that all businesses who had signed would offer a guaranteed interview for spouses of military personnel;

i)     Over 70 businesses had signed the Covenant;

j)     The Navy would become more involved in the new Covenant.

Cabinet asked that Officer’s correct an error in the document to remove reference to “Her Majesty’s” and replace with “His Majesty’s”.

The Cabinet agreed the renewal of the Armed Forces Covenant by Plymouth City Council subject to the above amendment being made.