Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This paper is to request that the Leader of the County Council approve a grant of £660 to cover the transport costs incurred by three schools in the South Totton and Marchwood area when a number of their pupils attended a visit by Princess Anne to Southampton. The Princess Royal awarded service medals to members of the 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, based in Marchwood.

2. Contextual information

2.1. The Princess Royal, Princess Anne visited Southampton on 22 October 2009 to present service medals to the men and women of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment , based in Marchwood. Thousands lined the streets, Hampshire primary and secondary age school children among them. Some of the pupils, from Marchwood Infant and Junior Schools and Applemore College have parents serving in the regiment. The assembled crowds watched as the troops, accompanied by the band of the Royal Logistics Corps, paraded along the waterfront. Princess Anne, the regiment's Colonel in Chief, presented medals to the soldiers who had just returned from a six month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

2.2. The following comments, on the day and the experience, were supplied by Marchwood Infant School.

"The Year 2 children who attended thoroughly enjoyed the visit and I believe it was a unique opportunity for them to share in this moment with the soldiers who are very much part of our school and village community. Prior to the visit we made sure the children understood what was happening and why. One Y2 class made a banner to take to the event as we were keen that the soldiers, many of whom were dads to the children, noticed us in the crowd. After the event the children wrote about their experiences and we have incorporated these pieces of writing along with lots of photographs and items from the local newspaper into a book to remember the event. We have duplicated this and will hopefully present a similar book to the regiment so that they have a keepsake too.

Lots of the photographs we took also formed part of our Remembrance Day learning and school display and I am sure enhanced the children's understanding of this annual focus on our armed forces and the role they play in world peace.

Please pass on our thanks to the appropriate people for finding funding for the coaches that allowed our children to be part of this memorable occasion."

2.3. Each school organised a coach to transport their pupils and accompanying staff and adults to and from the venue; the cost of each was £220.

3. Finance

3.1. The costs to the authority are as detailed above, a grant of £660 is requested.

4. Recommendation(s)

4.1. That the Leader approves the grant of £660 for costs of transport for pupils to attend the visit of the Princess Royal to Southampton.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. No adverse impact in regard to race, culture, gender or disability arising from this report has been identified. However, to ensure that the admission arrangements do allow for the best interests of all children to be properly taken into account when applying the published policy an equality impact assessment is being undertaken.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. N/A

3. Climate Change:

3.1. N/A