Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This report considers the County Council services available to the Armed Forces community in Hampshire and recommends that the Executive Member for Policy and Resources:

1.2. Endorses actions taken to date as the County Council's initial response to its membership of the South East (Aldershot) Super Garrison Civilian Military Partnership.

1.3. Authorises the setting up of an Officers' Steering Group to progress service improvements and extend its contribution to the Super Garrison Project and the County Council's role as one of the Government's Welfare Pathway Pilots.

1.4. Agrees to the specific needs of the Armed Forces community being explicitly identified in the future service planning of the County Council.

2. Contextual information

2.1. In recent years, the Armed Forces community comprising serving members, their families and veterans has become increasingly separated from their local communities largely due to the need for heightened security in the UK as well as when serving overseas.

2.2. In early 2008 in response to concerns over this increasing segregation between the Armed Forces and their host communities, housing issues and shortcomings in the range and quality of services available, the Army initiated discussions with the local authorities and other service providers in the areas within which it is based.

2.3. The County Council's initial response was to introduce improvements in educational services and carry out research to establish information on the needs of the Armed Forces Community so as to be able to better target the services provided.

2.4. This was followed by the publication of the Command Paper `The Nation's Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Services, their Families and Veterans'. This set out a number of practical measures to support the Armed Forces community and a consultation paper `The Nation's Commitment to the Armed Forces Community: Consistent and Enduring Support' was published in July 2009. The County Council's response highlighted the importance of effective local engagement with the Armed Forces but expressed concerns over the statutory duties and prescriptive measures proposed in the Consultation Paper.

2.5. Parallel to these policy initiatives, the Army has established a number of `Super Garrisons' across the UK with the South East (Aldershot) Super Garrison being principally based within Hampshire.

2.6. The objective of the Super Garrison is to provide a base for over 5,000 military personnel and facilities that will allow them and their families to have a more stable life in one location where they can make their career, go on operational tours of duty and be trained, thus minimising disruption to them and their families. The intention is to achieve better integration with local communities and make the operational forces more effective when away from home, be it on training exercise or going on tours of duty with the assurance that their families are settled and secure.

2.7. In October 2008, the County Council entered into a Super Garrison Partnership along with Surrey County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, the Hampshire Primary Care Trust and other agencies.

2.8. All three Armed Forces participated in the Hampshire Senate Workshop in September 2009 aimed at improving services available to the Armed Forces. Three key areas of concern were identified: Housing, Education and Health Care.

2.9. In addition to the Army's numerous bases, the Royal Navy has an extensive presence in the South of Hampshire and the Royal Air Force operates RAF Odiham. Also, the new headquarters of the UK Land Forces are due to be established in Andover.

2.10. Over 20,000 people are employed in Hampshire in the Armed Forces or by the Ministry of Defence. This represents a major community with specific needs, some of which are common to all service people whilst others are specific to individual groups. In addition, the Armed Forces make a major contribution to the community structure of the County and along with related defence industries form a major source of employment and investment within the County.

3. Initial Service Improvements

3.1. An informal officer project team has been assembled within the County Council which has worked with representatives of the Armed Forces and identified a range of early interventions which are being implemented and are summarised below.

Children' Services

3.2 Extensive discussion and negotiation have taken place with officers of the Super Garrison project, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services and senior officers in that Department. A range of issues has been covered, including the proportion of children and young people in Hampshire who have a service background, their educational achievements, and the particular arrangements that schools and the Children's Services Department need to make for them. Discussions are ongoing and a further series of meetings planned, which includes opportunities for representatives of the Super Garrison to talk with leading headteachers in Hampshire. Further work is proposed to ascertain whether any additional support is required for the families of Forces personnel in reflection of the stress caused by separation from the longer tours of duty and training currently being borne by the Army.

Chief Executives

3.3 Corporate Communications have worked closely with the Army and have commissioned Ipsos MORI to identify the key issues affecting service personnel and their families living in Hampshire. This work will provide an evidence base for targeted changes to the delivery of services provided by the County Council and other agencies. Focus Group meetings were held in Farnborough and Winchester from which a detailed questionnaire has been developed and has recently been sent to 4,000 army personnel in Hampshire.

Adult Services

3.4 Adult Services are working with the Army and Hampshire Primary Care Trust to bring proposals to the Health and Wellbeing Partnership. In particular, the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse and mental illness arising from military service will be the subject of discussion and alongside more targeted support for Armed Forces personnel and their families. In addition to active members of the Armed Forces, the extent of problems amongst former members and their families will also be investigated.

Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs

3.5 Two initiatives are underway to improve the cultural and recreational opportunities for Armed Services personnel which are as follows:

1. the provision of a concessionary scheme for admission to specified museums, heritage sites and country parks managed by the County Council;

2. the provision of improved information about access to cultural and leisure facilities and events in Hampshire in conjunction with the Armed Forces Information Services (HIVES).

The concessionary cards have been distributed through the HIVES to all Armed Forces personnel in Hampshire.

Environment

3.6 The proposed major Aldershot Urban Extension (AUE) development provides a timely opportunity to tie the army population into the existing communities and forge some stronger partnership. A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the AUE was adopted last year; but the transport aspects will need to be developed significantly and will include the Army as a key landowner. The interactions between the AUE and the retained garrison will be crucial to the potential for this site and it is intended that proposals will be worked up with the Army. More broadly, the Town Access Plan and Local Transport Plan will encourage sustainable travel for the army community.

3.7 The Aldershot Garrison is served by a good network of local bus services which also link to the local railway stations. For those people not able to use bus services, the local dial-a-ride service has some capacity to provide individual journeys to some facilities in the area. The local community transport scheme also has a fleet of minibuses which provide transport for shopping trips, outings etc. A meeting with the representatives of the Garrison community to identify specific needs and problem journeys has been arranged to explore the most appropriate responses and solutions to these. A marketing campaign to promote the range of transport services which are available to the Garrison community will be pursued also.

Property, Business and Regulatory

3.8 Discussions are underway to ensure that the work of the Community Safety Service complements the work of the Military Police and Hampshire Constabulary in Aldershot and other areas with military bases in Hampshire. It is also intended that the `No Cold-Calling Zone' initiative of Trading Standards should be extended to Armed Services families and that email alerts about healthy eating advice, particularly for young people, scams and rogue traders should be sent to the Armed Forces Information Services for onward transmission.

Economic Development

3.9 One of the key objectives of the Super Garrison Partnership is to support the economic prosperity of service personnel and their families through basic skills training, promoting the economic development of service leavers and their families and assistance in access to financial services.

3.10 The Economic Development Office is currently exploring opportunities to support the achievement of these aims in collaboration with other partners involved in economic development in the area.

3.11 It is proposed that a Super Garrison Economic Partnership will be established to include Hampshire County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and other appropriate local authorities, Job Centre Plus, Chamber of Commerce, SEEDA and Business Link.

3.12 In addition, the Economic Development Office will be scoping the potential for a study of the economic impact of the military in Hampshire. The data from such a study would inform and direct the development of future joint working.

4. Proposed Welfare Pathway Pilot

4.1 The County Council was approached by the Ministry of Defence as part of its promotion of its `Welfare Pathway' initiative contained within the `Nation's Commitment' Green Paper. Along with North Yorkshire and Kent County Councils, who also have major military establishments within their boundaries, Hampshire has been requested to act as a pilot to trial improved service and support arrangements for veterans. Whilst the Armed Forces provide extensive welfare support, particularly whilst in service, there are concerns about longer term health, emotional and behavioural problems of a sector of ex-servicemen who lose contact with the services own welfare organisations.

4.2 Involvement in the Welfare Pathway Pilot would be a logical extension of the County Council's wider programme of support for the Armed Forces and accords with the aim of improved working with partner organisations and the Armed Forces identified in the September meeting of the Hampshire Senate.

4.3 Following discussions with the Leader of the County Council, a commitment has been made to the Ministry of Defence for Hampshire to participate as one of the Welfare Pathway Pilots during 2010.

4.4 It is intended that the Welfare Pathway Pilot should be progressed through the Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

5. Conclusions

5.1 By identifying their specific needs and providing targeted and extended services, the County Council will be able to better respond to the severe demands placed on the Armed Services community in Hampshire by repeated overseas deployments and in so doing recognise and meet their specific needs.

5.2 The operations in Afghanistan have now lasted longer than the Second World War. The has led to repeated and extended tours of duty which have resulted in increasing numbers of deaths and physical and mental injuries suffered by service personnel. The tensions that this brings to their family relationships and the long-term health of the service personnel will be of increasing importance in the provision of services by the County Council and other members of the Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

5.3 The Armed Forces have responded very positively to the initiatives made by the County Council through its Members and individual departments. However, in order to ensure continuous improvement is made to the services available and for this to be built into the future service planning of the County Council, more formal project management and reporting arrangements are proposed.

5.4 The provision of accurately targeted and timely services will not only assist the Armed Forces families and veterans but should reduce longer term commitments and expenditure by the County Council.

6. Proposed Project Management and Reporting Arrangements

6.1. It is proposed that the Executive Member for Policy and Resources should chair an officer working group with representatives from each of the County Council's departments. In support of these arrangements, it is proposed that a Project Officer is seconded to co-ordinate the work of the Steering Group and to assist with contact with the Armed Forces and other partners within the South East (Aldershot) Super Garrison Partnership.

6.2. Inevitably, the main focus of the Super Garrison Partnership is with the Army but RAF Odiham is also represented. It is intended that similar discussions will be held with the Royal Navy which has an extensive presence in the South of Hampshire, albeit with more settled patterns of housing and deployment.

7. Recommendation(s)

That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources:

7.1. endorses the actions taken to date by the County Council in support of the armed services community within Hampshire;

7.2. authorises the setting up of an Officer Steering Group to progress improvements to County Council services available to the armed services community under the chairmanship of the Executive Member for Policy and Resources;

7.3. calls for the specific needs of the armed services community to be considered formally in the future service planning of the County Council and in its partnership work with other agencies in Hampshire.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Other Significant Links

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of the Framework which is not expected to compromise equalities in terms of race, creed or gender but to improve well-being for all.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

The proposals seek to enhance the safety of the Armed Forces and adjoining communities.

3. Climate Change:

a How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint/energy consumption?

The proposals put forward include measures to improve access through improved pedestrian, cycle and public transport use and are aimed at reducing the carbon footprint across the Armed Forces community.

b How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

Engagement in the Super Garrison Partnership will enable proposals to be brought forward to respond to climate change