To approve the attached Herefordshire Armed Forces Community Covenant (AFCC) Pledge, Action Plan and delivery arrangements.

THAT:                        the Herefordshire Armed Forces Community Covenant, which incorporates an Action Plan and delivery arrangements (as at Appendix 1 to the report) be approved.

Herefordshire is home to the prestigious and world renowned Special Air Service and Council has recently agreed to adopt The Rifles as the county regiment.  The Council and its partners already provide varying degrees of support for the Armed Forces Communities but this has not always been in a coordinated or proactive manner.  Additionally there is no joined up approach to understanding, integrating or recognising the sacrifices of the county’s Armed Forces Community.  The AFCC proposes a structured civilian and military partnership approach to addressing these issues.

The Cabinet could choose not to progress an AFCC for the county however, this could mean that the Armed Services Community in Herefordshire were left less well supported than other parts of the United Kingdom.