The Strategic Director, Place will submit a report (Document “P”) which provides an update on the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant locally and report on progress made by the Bradford District Armed Forces Covenant Partnership and the Council in identifying and addressing need within the local Armed Forces Community.

The report also provides an overview of the West Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant Implementation Project and notes expected legislative changes to the Armed Forces Covenant expected later this year.

Recommended –

To note and comment on the contents of the progress report on the Bradford District Armed Forces Covenant and the work of the Bradford District Armed Forces Covenant Partnership to meet the needs of the local Armed Forces Community.

(Gemma Paine - 01274 437573)

The Strategic Director, Place submitted a report (Document “P”) which provided an update on the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant locally and reported on progress made by the Bradford District Armed Forces Covenant Partnership and the Council in identifying and addressing need within the local Armed Forces Community.

The Chair introduced Councillor Dodds and referred to her passion for her duties as Armed Forces Champion.  Councillor Dodds reported that an enormous amount of work had been conducted throughout the Covid pandemic and paid tribute to the efforts of the West Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant Implementation Officer and to the work of other West Yorkshire Partners.  It was explained that the work undertaken to develop the West Yorkshire Service Pupil Premium Resource Directory for schools, which was hosted on the Bradford Council website, had received national recognition.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Davies, who was representing the armed forces, expressed gratitude for the support that the City provided; he felt that the city loved the armed forces; was an amazing partner and he believed that the armed forces could not achieve the things it did without the city’s support. He reported that across the UK Bradford was a place with a lot to shout about; he felt that was not the case in some other places and he expressed thanks and the appreciation of all the armed forces. 

The report revealed that between 1 April2018 and 30 June 2021 a total of 373 people applying for employment with the Council identified themselves as either currently serving or having served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

Of those applicants 37 were shortlisted for interview and 13 contracts of employment were issued.   Member queried why only 10% of applicants had been shortlisted and only 5% had been offered a contract.  It was questioned if additional training may be required to allow those applicants to successfully apply.  In response the representative of the armed forces explained that all local authorities recruited in identical ways although this was not always universally understood.  A partnership to support applicants through the process was being developed by the armed forces.

A Member questioned if statistics were compiled to show the number of homeless people or rough sleepers who were armed forces veterans.  It was explained that this information was not available at the meeting but was compiled by the Housing Options teams.  It was agreed to provide that information after the meeting.

It was explained that a training programme to build staff awareness of the covenant was being developed and a survey was being conducted to understand if the Armed Forces Community were represented in the workforce.  Members expressed interest in the covenant awareness training programme.  It was clarified that this was an on line training course and details would be shared with Members. 

It was queried why NHS users were questioned to ascertain if they were armed forces personnel or veterans and it was explained that this was to allow for additional support to be provided for specific needs.  It was reported that the Bradford District Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Action Plan, appended to the report, aimed to build relationships with the NHS although those plans had been hindered throughout the Covid pandemic. 

A Member, acknowledging the difficulty that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) could have on members of the armed forces, questioned if local health services were able to fulfil the pledges undertaken in the covenant.  Whilst being unable to guarantee the provision of NHS services the Armed Forces Covenant Officer confirmed that there were pathways to mental health services specifically for the Armed Forces Community offered through the NHS, and that service was in the process of being rebranded as ‘Op COURAGE’.  Members requested that an update be provided in the next update report.

The possibility of conducting prayers for all faiths in the annual remembrance service was discussed.  In response it was explained that the remembrance services were organised nationally and in a very prescriptive manner.  Talks had been conducted with faith leaders about the services in Bradford to ensure that people of all faiths were welcomed and that their contributions to the armed forces were acknowledged. 

Councillor Dodds explained a proposal to develop an armed services hub and Members were advised that plans commenced in 2019, to create a hub at Belle Vue Barracks, had been stalled by the pandemic.  The proposal was to provide support to younger veterans, and others, who were not accessing breakfast clubs or other support methods.  It was reported that Wakefield Council had developed a hub, based in Pontefract, and whilst it had not yet opened, Councillor Dodds planned to visit that facility and hoped that a similar service could be developed either at Belle Vue Barracks on in the city centre. 

The support provided through the covenant to the Afghan relocation scheme was questioned and assurances were provided that Afghan settlers did receive support. 

The ability for other nationals who had now become Bradford citizens to access support was queried and whilst that information was not available at the meeting it was agreed that the issue would be investigated and provided in a future update report.  

The report also provided an overview of the West Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant Implementation Project and noted expected legislative changes to the Armed Forces Covenant expected later in the year. It was requested that in the next annual update report the impact of the new legislation and progress in relation to the development of an armed forces hub be included.