Armed Forces Covenant Progress Report
Perth and Kinross Council · 30 October 2024
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL 30 October 2024 ARMED FORCES COVENANT PROGRESS REPORT Report by the Strategic Lead - Housing and Communities (Report No. 24/302) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide a Progress Report in relation to the Council’s commitment under the Armed Forces Covenant. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that Council: (i) Notes the content of this report and approves the continued work in relation to the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background/Main Issues • Section 5: Proposals • Section 6: Conclusion • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND / MAIN ISSUES 4.1 The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and do not face disadvantages when accessing public or private goods and services in the UK. 4.2 The Covenant is a voluntary pledge. Organisations may choose to sign up to show their support for the Armed Forces Community and the principles of the Covenant. All organisations – public, private or voluntary and small, medium or large – are welcome to sign the Covenant. 4.3 Perth & Kinross Council first signed the Covenant in December 2012, reaffirming this commitment in September 2017. 4.4 Signatories to the Covenant can be recognised by the Employer Recognition Scheme, which awards Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The Council received the Gold Award in 2021. These awards are reviewed every 5 years by the Ministry of Defence and there are currently 14 Scottish local authorities in receipt of the Gold Award.
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We are at the early stages of preparing for the next review of our Gold Award in 2026. The local Armed Forces and Veterans Champion meets regularly with champions from local organisations from both the public and private sectors to share experiences and good practice. 4.5 A legal Duty to have due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant, as set out in the Armed Forces Act 2021, came into force in November 2022. 4.6 Organisations must demonstrate “due regard” to the principles of the Covenant, this means they must consciously consider the needs of the Armed Forces community, placing appropriate weight on the principles when carrying out their functions. 4.7 The Duty applies to specific Council functions in housing and education, as well as certain health functions provided by NHS Tayside, including those delegated to the Integrated Joint Board. Housing Functions: • Allocation polices for social housing • Homelessness (strategic advice and accommodation provision) • Grants for adaptations Education Functions: • Admissions (including placing requests) • Transport • Attendance • Additional Support Needs • Educational provision, attainment and curriculum • Student wellbeing 4.8 An Action Plan is in place to track progress across all Council areas, including those covered by the new Duty. The full Statutory Guidance is available here provides more details. 4.9 The Council’s Armed Forces and Veterans Champion, an Elected Member, co-ordinates the work related to the Armed Forces Covenant. The Corporate Equalities Team Leader is also a named Armed Forces and Veterans Council Officer with responsibility for co-ordinating veterans’ issues. Named officer contacts in Housing, Education, Employability, Welfare Rights and Human Resources also address issues relating to Veterans and Reservists. This group meets twice a year with the Council’s Armed Forces and Veterans Champion.
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4.10 The Armed Forces and Veterans Champion attends or chairs various local and national meetings, including: - Highland Gold Network - Veterans and Cadet Force Volunteer Network - Veterans Breakfast Club (monthly) - RAF Association - Association of Perth Veterans - Perth Salute Planning - Working closely with Perth Prison (including building a Wicker Statue for their Memorial Garden). They also hold individual case meetings with Veterans, often concerning housing or mental health issues, and collaborate with Veterans Housing Scotland and SSAFA. 4.11 The Champion is a committee member of the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, overseeing local cadet forces and maintaining regular contact with local cadet units. 4.12 For the first time, the 2022 Census identified those who have served in the Armed Forces. In Perth and Kinross: • 6,896 people identified as having served in the Armed Forces (from a population aged 16 or over of 127,052). - 1,482 said they served in the reserves only. - 4,963 said they served in the regular forces only. - 451 said they served in the regular forces and reserves. • 6,504 households reported having at least one Armed Forces Veteran. • Perth & Kinross has the 9th highest number of Veterans among the 32 Scottish local authorities, with Fife having the highest at 17,217. • The tables in Appendix 1 also give a detailed overview of age and gender of Armed Forces Veterans in Perth and Kinross but summarised points worth noting are: - There is a split of 78% male (6,040) and 12% female (856). - In terms of age 3,383 of the male total (56%) are aged over 65 whilst 411 of the female total (48%) are aged over 65. These figures set in context for the first time why the work outlined above is so vital.
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5. PROGRESS REPORT 5.1 Over the last 12 months, we have demonstrated our commitment to supporting Veterans and their families through various services, civic responsibilities, and as an employer. These include: - • Maintaining and updating the range of information available to Veterans on our website in a dedicated area – http://www.pkc.gov.uk/adviceforveterans • Offering a network for staff who are Veterans, Reservists or Adult Cadet Force Volunteers, or have family members serving in the forces. These network meetings, chaired by the Armed Forces and Veterans Champion, provide opportunities to share experiences and discuss workplace issues and policies. • Reprinting and distributing the ‘Veterans First’ Guide, a booklet with information for those leaving the Armed forces and settling in Perth and Kinross, in partnership with SSAFA. The guide is available online and in booklet form. • Issuing bulletins to promote both Reservists Day and Armed Forces Day. • Continuing to provide special leave with pay (up to 15 days per annum) for reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to attend annual training camps and local detachments. • Continuing to make available the ‘Armed Forces Covenant for Frontline Workers’ eLearning module for all frontline employees. The number of staff completing this module are: - 2023: 87 staff completing the module in 2023 - 2024: (so far) 26 staff - Previous years: 2019 (72); 2020 (73); 2021 (75) and 2022 (42). • Continuing to attend Corporate Induction sessions with a pop-up banner and information leaflets about the Armed Forces Covenant Duty. • Providing a recurring annual budget of £5,000 through the Council budget setting process in February 2023. Current financial year (2024/25) commitment to date is £3,414, based on the following purchases: - Reprint of Veterans First booklets £828 - Poppy Wreaths (75) for Remembrance Day £2,586
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• The Provost (or Depute) and Armed Forces and Veterans Champion have continued to host or represent at various civic and military events since the previous reporting period including local and national ceremonies and salutes, Remembrance Events and engagement and policy events. A full list of these events can be made available upon request. • The Council will continue collaborating with Council services and Veterans Support organisations to address issues related to Veterans in the coming year. 6. CONCLUSION 6.1 The Council remains committed to its responsibilities under the Armed Forces, as demonstrated in this report. This commitment will continue in line with the new Duty. Author Name Designation Contact Details David McPhee Corporate Equalities Team Leader EPLCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Clare Mailer Deputy Chief Executive 17 October 2024 APPENDICES • Appendix 1 – Age and Gender Breakdown of Armed Forces Veterans in Perth and Kinross (Scottish Census 2022)
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce Yes Asset Management (land, property, IST) Yes Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance Yes Risk Yes Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan Yes 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This report supports all of the priorities within the Community Plan 2022-27: (i) Reducing Poverty (including child poverty, fuel poverty and food poverty) (ii) Mental and physical wellbeing (iii) Digital participation (iv) Skills, learning and development (v) Employability Corporate Plan 1.2 This report supports the objectives within the draft new Corporate Plan: (i) Children and young people grow up safe, respected, well-educated, and confident in their ability to realise their full potential; (ii) People and businesses are increasingly able to prosper in a local economy which support low carbon ambitions and offers opportunities for all; (iii) People can achieve their best physical and mental health and have access to quality care and support when they need it; (iv) Communities are resilient and physically, digital and socially connected; (v) Perth and Kinross is a safe and vibrant place, mitigating the impact of climate and environmental change for this and future generations.
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2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 There are no additional financial implications arising directly as a result of this report at this time. Ongoing work is managed within existing budgets and any new developments which may arise in future will be subject to budget approval as appropriate. Workforce 2.2 There are no additional workforce implications arising directly as a result of this report at this time. Ongoing work is managed within existing resources. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 There are no additional Asset Management implications arising as a result of this report at this time. Any new proposed developments which arise in the future will be subject to the relevant approval process at the time. 3. Assessments 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties: (i) Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. Sustainability 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act: • in the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets; • in the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaptation programmes; and • in a way that it considers most sustainable.
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3.4 No steps are required to be considered relating directly to this report. Legal and Governance 3.5 The Strategic Lead, Legal and Governance has been consulted during the development of this report. Risk 3.6 Any risks associated will be mitigated by the monitoring and reporting procedures which are in place for the work concerned. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 This report has been developed through work across all services within the Council. External 4.2 The work reported here contains reference to the partnership working which goes on with strategic partners in all sectors to deliver on our commitment under the Armed Forces Covenant. 5. Communication 5.1 The report will be made available internally and externally when approved. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No other background papers were referred to in the preparation of this report.