Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report provides a regular update to scrutiny committees on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the contents of this report and the Council commitment to support the armed forces community in Stockport.

Officer contact: Nayuri Patel, 0161 474 3167, nayuri.patel@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an update on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance (Councillor Elise Wilson) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought on how confident the Council was that children from Forces families were in receipt of Pupil Premium. In response it was stated that there was a reasonable degree of confidence but it was acknowledged that more could be done to ask appropriate questions.

·         What more could be done to ensure all those eligible for support were receiving it? In response it was stated that the Council had supported lobbying of the Government to include questions in the next census relation to armed forces. It was also commented that the Armed Forces themselves were developing a ‘passport’ scheme to facilitate retirees being able to better identify themselves.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.