Richmondshire District Council’s Response to Meeting the Principles of The Armed Forces Covenant (2018-20)

The Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) covers a number of key areas. Those relating to services provided by Richmondshire District Council (RDC) are listed below, outlining its responsibilities together with statistical information for the last three years.

AFC’s Principles AFC RDC’s RDC’s response RDC’s response RDC’s response Guidance Statements Responsibilities 2016/17 2017/18 2018-2020

1. HOUSING 1.1 Members of the The North In 2016/2017 In 2017/2018 In 2018-2020 Armed Forces should Home Choice Richmondshire Richmondshire Richmondshire have the same access Allocations Policy District Council District Council District Council to social housing and automatically considers rehoused, into rehoused, into rehoused, into other housing schemes members of the Armed Social Housing, 5 Social Housing, 5 Social Housing, 15 as any other citizen. Forces to have a Local applicants (4% of applicants (5% of applicants (5% of Connection to the area. our total our total allocation our total allocation This is extended to allocation for the for the year) who for the two year applications from former year) who were were either recently period) who were service personnel, either recently discharged / had either recently where the application is discharged / had historically served in discharged / has made within 5 years historically served the Armed Forces or historically served in following discharge. in the Armed who were the the Armed Forces or Members of the Armed Forces or who spouse of a currently who were the Forces have the same were the spouse serving or former spouse of a currently access to Social of a currently member of the serving or former Housing as any other serving or former Armed Forces. member of the citizen. member of the Armed Forces. Armed Forces. 1. HOUSING 1.2 Some local Home Out of the 11 Only 6 presentations During this period authorities offer Choice offers additional homeless in 17/18. 3 were there were 57 additional priority for preference to members applications accepted and re- presentations from social housing to those of the Armed Forces made to the housed into military personnel / who have recently left who have an urgent Housing Options permanent families of MOD or are soon due to housing need (as per service, 9 were accommodation. 19 personnel seeking leave the service. Appendix 16 of the accepted and re- applicants were advice / assistance Allocations Policy). housed in to given ‘gold band - At with housing. Page 1 – Version 1 (2018-20)

Additional preference is permanent Risk’ status on the The majority of these deemed to be that their accommodation. housing register and relate those priority band date will be 17 applicants their homelessness receiving their 93 backdated by 6 months. were given gold was prevented. day notice to leave Members of the Armed band ‘at risk’ military Forces who are ‘at risk’ status on the CBL Housing Options accommodation. of homelessness and register. team is building These are have received their 93 good relations with automatically day Notice to Vacate accepted under the their accommodation and is much more duty to prevent will have their banding effectively homelessness even increased in accordance preventing though this falls with their priority status homelessness as outside the 56 day in order to give them these figures reflect. statutory limit. every opportunity to resolve their housing By working with such situation in advance of clients over a 93 day their potentially period many cases homeless date. Every do not result in a applicant will also have homeless situation the opportunity to speak arising. 30 of the 57 to a Housing Options were assisted into advisor to discuss all housing. The available affordable remainder are likely housing solutions. to have resolved their situation without further involvement other than advice being given. 1. HOUSING 1.3 Government The English Churches is Of the 5 referrals Riverside Care and Single Persons departments and a charity which provides to The Beacon’s Support (ECHG) Accommodation voluntary/community supported Supported have expanded their Scheme for Ex- sectors will provide accommodation at The Accommodation supported housing Services Personnel Beacon in Catterick facility and we can

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supported housing for Garrison for homeless scheme, 3 clients now refer via the (SPACES) continues homeless veterans. veterans. were re-housed. Single Persons to be accessed. Amicus Trust is a Accommodation charity that provides Scheme for Ex- In addition to this the supported Services Personnel Beacon Project can accommodation in (SPACES) into any offer supported Bedford which RDC can facility in Catterick accommodation . refer homeless veterans Garrison, into. , Charities that we Homeless veterans Aldershot. work with include aged between 16-25 SPACES also have SSAFA and Royal years can also access access to other British Legion. the Young People’s various Pathway and be accommodation We provide links to considered for providers, such as, other sources of accommodation within SHADE (St Peter’s advice such as the the two supported Court, Sacriston, Veterans Gateway housing schemes within Durham), Scottish Link. Richmond although this Veterans is not specifically for ex- Residences, veterans. (Edinburgh, Phoenix House is a Glasgow and rehabilitation Centre Dundee) based at Catterick Launchpad, Garrison. (Avondale House in Biker, Newcastle), Speke House (Liverpool) Amicus Trust (Bedford), Alabare (South West and Wales. 1. HOUSING 1.4 Serving personnel Serving Personnel have The North The North Yorkshire The North Yorkshire should have priority the same priority status Yorkshire Home Home Choice Home Choice status in applying for as any other citizen. Choice

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Government sponsored When a member of the Allocations Policy Allocations Policy / Allocations Policy / affordable housing armed forces receives / RDC Policy. RDC Policy. RDC Policy. schemes, and service confirmation of their leavers should retain discharge, they may this status for a period receive additional of 12 months after priority in line with discharge. homeless legislation and the North Yorkshire This ‘priority status’ can Home Choice transfer to their Allocations Policy. They bereaved spouse/civil would retain this priority partner. status until they have been suitably re- housed. A bereaved spouse / civil partner would receive additional preference in line with the North Yorkshire Home Choice Allocations Policy until they were suitably re- housed. 1. HOUSING 1.5 Those injured in Injured Service men and The North The North Yorkshire The North Yorkshire service should have women who are being Yorkshire Home Home Choice Home Choice preferential access to discharged from the Choice Allocations Policy / Allocations Policy / appropriate housing Armed Forces due to Allocations Policy RDC Policy. RDC Policy. schemes. their injuries would / RDC Policy. receive additional preference, in line with the North Yorkshire Home Choice Allocations Policy, until they were suitably re- housed. This additional

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preference means that their priority band date would be backdated by an additional 6 months. 1. HOUSING 1.6 Those injured in Service personnel have No applications No applications 2 x DFG awarded to service should have the same rights to received. received. ex-service personnel assistance with access Disabled necessary adaptations Facilities Grants (DFG) to private housing. as civilians. 1. HOUSING 1.7 Injured service A Disabled Facilities No applications No applications Not applicable to personnel’s lump sum Grant (DFG) is a received. received. any DFG compensation is statutory means tested applications disregarded for the local council grant to received. 1 x DFG purposes of capital help towards the cost of awarded to ex- means test for adapting a person’s service personnel affordable housing home to enable them to but in receipt of a schemes, and Disabled continue to live there. passporting benefit Facilities Grant. When an individual therefore no means- applies for DFG their test applied. 1 x Armed Forces DFG awarded to ex- Compensation Scheme service personnel (AFCS) or War Pension but no means-test Scheme (WPS) as work below compensation threshold for payment(s) is not taken financial into account in the assessment. 1 x means test. DFG withdrawn by This commitment ex-service personnel applies to those in as moving out of the receipt of WPS for area. disablement of 80 per cent or higher and receiving a Constant Attendance Allowance. It also applies to those

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who receive an AFCS lump sum payment and guaranteed income payment. 2. BENEFITS AND 2.1 Those service To ensure that the During 2016/17, During 2017/18, 5 During 2018/19 & TAX personnel who own or Council captures the approximately 10 accounts were 2019/20 there were rent private correct information to accounts were subject to this 5 accounts where accommodation are allow the 50% MOD job subject to the discount. this discount applied responsible for paying related discount to be discount. Council Tax direct to applied. the appropriate Local Authority. For these service personnel, a 10-50% council tax discount may be claimed from their Local Authority where their main job-related dwelling is provided by the MoD anywhere in Great Britain. 2. BENEFITS AND 2.2 Payment from the The Council currently During 2016/17 During 2017/18 25 During 2018/19 17 TAX Armed Forces disregards this income 26 cases cases benefitted cases benefitted Compensation Scheme in its entirety. benefitted from from this scheme, from this scheme or War Pensions this scheme, amounting to a total amounting to a total Scheme is not taken amounting to a of £44,248 (Housing of £31,014 (Housing into account when total of £47,554 Benefit). Benefit). entitlement to income- (Housing related benefits is Benefit). During 2019/20 10 assessed. The same cases benefitted rules apply to Housing from this scheme Benefit and Council amounting to a total Tax Benefit which are of £18,937 (Housing administered by Local Benefit) Authorities who have

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the discretion to go beyond the £10 disregard including disregarding it entirely. 2. BENEFITS AND 2.3 As the Government Whilst the Council will In 2016/17, In 2017/18 although In 2018/19 and TAX develops its plans for a not be administering the following the we have been a “Full 2019/20 although we universal credit to Housing element under introduction of Service” Universal have been a “Full replace many on the Universal Credit, it is “Full Service” Credit area, the Service” Universal benefits currently still responsible for Universal Credit, Council has Credit area, the available, it will ensure calculating Council Tax the Council continued to Council has the needs of veterans Reduction and will decided to disregard the Armed continued to and their specific therefore consider continue to Forces disregard the Armed circumstances are whether to continue to disregard the compensation Forces taken into account. disregard the Armed Armed Forces payments or War compensation Forces compensation compensation Pensions Scheme. payments or War payments. payments or War Pensions Scheme. Pensions Scheme. 3. PARTICIPATION 3.1 The Government The Council’s Electoral Figures for Figures for 2017/18 Reduction of the AS CITIZENS are committed to Team targets service 2016/17 (534) (372) only relate to number of registered ensuring that Service personnel each year to only relate to those who have Service Voters in personnel can encourage maximum those who have registered as 2018/19 (319) due to participate fully in registration. This is registered as Service Voters. non-renewals of elections. achieved via targeted Service Voters. It Reduction is due to applications press coverage in is not possible to non-renewal of following the Garrison publications. obtain information application following expiration of 5 years Liaison with Army unit relating to the expiration of 5 registration period. registration Officers and Service years registration However in 2019/20 through the Catterick personnel who period. However the the number of Garrison liaison group. have registered use of the online registered Service Service Personnel do as ordinary application at Voters increased to not have to register at voters. www.gov.uk/register- 355 (General an address they are to-vote has assisted Election in currently residing, they with more service December 2019). can register at an personnel

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address they have registering as However the use of previously lived at e.g. ordinary voters. This the online their parents’ property, facility can be application at or at an address they accessed anywhere www.gov.uk/register- would reside if they in the World. In to-vote has assisted were not in the forces Armed Forces with more service e.g. a private property. Barracks 25% are personnel registered as registering as Service Personnel, ordinary voters. This 75% are registered facility can be as ordinary voters. accessed anywhere in the World. The number of ordinary voters registered in HM Barracks and Service Properties have increased 2018/19 (374) and 2019/20 (155). 3. PARTICIPATION 3.2 Service personnel Service Personnel can Figures for Figures for 2018/19 Figures for 2019/20 AS CITIZENS and their spouses/civil only register as a 2016/17 (39) (33) relate to those (56) relate to those partners who are Service Voter if posted relate to those registered as registered as overseas or away from overseas. Dependents registered as Service voters with Service voters with their UK residence (other than spouses/civil Service voters an absent vote, an absent vote. 16 during an election may partners) can register as with an absent using a with corresponding elect to vote either by Overseas Electors when vote, using a correspondence address post or proxy, whether they are 16/17 years correspondence address overseas/BFPO. 2 they have chosen to old. Anyone overseas address overseas/BFPO. to an away address. register as Ordinary, cannot register as an overseas/BFPO. 26 to registered Service or Overseas Ordinary voter as address. 2 have Voters. qualification to register postal proxy at a UK address arrangements, 10 includes being resident have setup a proxy. at that property.

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All requests for postal or proxy voting arrangements are dealt with promptly. 4. RECOURSE 4.1 Armed Forces The Managing Director The Chief The Chief Executive Over the 2018-2020 Advocates have been operates as the Executive / Corporate Director period: established at a senior Council’s Armed Forces attended three attended four liaison The Chief level in major Champion. liaison meetings meetings with the Executive/Corporate government with the Catterick Catterick Garrison Director attended departments. A number Garrison Commander and eight Garrison of Local Authorities Commander and MoD personnel. Liaison meetings have established MoD personnel. with the Catterick Armed Forces The Chief Executive Garrison Champions to perform The Chief attended three North Commander and a similar function at a Executive / Yorkshire Armed MoD personnel. local level. Corporate Forces/Civilian Director attended Integration The Chief Executive two North Partnership Board attended four North Yorkshire Armed Meetings. Yorkshire Armed Forces/Civilian Forces/Civilian Integration The Corporate Integration Partnership Director attended a Partnership Board Board Meetings. North Yorkshire Meetings. Armed Forces The Chief Covenant Network The Chief Executive Executive Meeting. attended two Armed attended a North Forces Community Yorkshire Armed The Chief Executive Covenant Regional Forces Covenant attended two Armed Grants Panel Network Meeting. Forces Community Meetings (see Covenant Regional section 5.2). The Chief Grants Panel Executive Meetings (see The Corporate attended an section 5.2). Director attended a Armed Forces North Yorkshire

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North East The Chief Executive Armed Forces Covenant Fund visited Phoenix Covenant Network Board Meeting House Recovery Meeting, three and a Community Centre; attended a Catterick Garrison Covenant Careers Fair for the Working Group Regional Grants Armed Forces; meetings and 3 Panel Meeting contributed to a Catterick Garrison (see section 5.2). MoD/Clinical town centre Commissioning meetings. The Chief Group ‘knowledge Executive sharing’ event; and The Planning attended an sat on an Armed Manager has also Armed Forces Forces Covenant attended two Covenant Task and Finish Catterick Garrison Seminar. Group. Master Plan meetings. During the year the role of the Deputy Leader of the RDC have appointed Council was an Armed Forces expanded to include Champion Member – being the Member Cllr Kevin Foster Champion on Armed Forces issues. Cllr Ian Threlfall attended several meetings and events in this capacity. 4. RECOURSE 4.2 Members of the The Council has a During 2016/17 During 2017/18 the During 2018-20 Armed Forces Complaints and there were no Council received there were no community should Compliments Policy complaints one complaint where complaints received have means of which is published on received stating a the complainant stating a connection recourse open to them our Website and we connection with stated a connection with the Armed if they believe they are actively encourage the Armed with the Armed Forces. not being treated in a feedback on all the Forces. Forces.

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fair or appropriate way. services we provide. They can make use of Paper versions can be established public found at all our service complaints Community Offices. processes. The first step would be to complain to the local service provider (e.g. Local Authority). If this still does not resolve the complaint, they can access Ombudsman services. 5. THE 5.1 Reservists are RDC allow employees No information The provision was As part of the Armed COVENANT unique in being to join the Army and held for 2016/17 available to staff Forces Community AND THE members of both the Naval Reserves and during 2017/18 Covenant Employer WIDER Armed Forces and staff are entitled to up to although no leave Recognition Scheme SOCIETY civilian communities. two additional weeks’ was requested / Silver Award – this The SaBRE unpaid leave for taken by staff as extended leave is in (Supporting Britain’s attendance at annual reservists. place. This includes Reservists and camp on provision of volunteer members Employers) campaign documentary evidence of non-regular forces seeks to deliver from the Unit e.g. Territorial Army, effective employer Commander. Staff must Navy Reserves etc support to reservists. obtain prior approval who are entitled for from their Head of up to two weeks Service and must additional paid leave recognise the need to for military provide adequate notice deployment, and two as per the requirements further additional of the annual leave paid days of leave to policy. attend military events.

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5. THE 5.2 The Armed Forces The Chief Executive sits The Chief The Chief Executive The Chief Executive COVENANT Community Covenant on the Armed Forces Executive attended two Armed attended two Armed AND THE Grant scheme aims to Community Covenant attended one Forces Community Forces Community WIDER support projects at a Regional Grant Panel Armed Forces Covenant Regional Covenant Regional SOCIETY local level to which considers Community Grants Panel Grants Panel strengthen ties applications for funding Covenant Meetings. Meetings. between members of local projects. Regional Grants the Armed Forces Panel Meeting. The Council is RDC’ Business and community and the The Council provides continuing the Community Team wider community in ‘match funding’ for such A successful delivery of the actively promote the which they live. projects via its various consortium Healthy Horizons funding opportunities social grant schemes. County wide bid project for older for community has been made veterans as part of groups and to the Aged the Ex Forces in organisations and Veterans Fund in North Yorkshire offer support in 16/17 and the wider project. One of making applications Council will the veteran clients to the grant. We deliver one of 16 from the project has encourage projects taking been invited to cut applications to apply place across the ribbon at the to RDC funding North Yorkshire. start of the Tour De streams as match The Council Yorkshire in funding and project has Richmond Town on demonstration of allocated £63,866 Saturday 5th May Council support for of the total project 2018. the project. costs of £1,004,664 The Council The Council awarded. continues to be an continues to be an active partner in the active partner in the A successful delivery of the North delivery of the North County wide bid Yorkshire Armed Yorkshire Armed has been made Forces Community Forces Community on behalf of the Covenant Network Covenant Network local authorities group group. The Working across North Group have

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Yorkshire County delivered the Council and following priorities as City to improve part of the project: awareness and • Research delivery of the • Training Covenant across • Practitioners North conference Yorkshire/York The group continues through an to take a North integrated 11- Yorkshire wide point programme approach, sharing of training, best practice and research and ideas on how best to information support our armed sharing. The forces communities. programme will be delivered for During 2018 and all sectors, 2019, the Pop-Up alongside bid Shed programme partners with total offered free sessions project costs to those aged 40 being £196,017. and over who live in North Yorkshire and had served in the armed forces, completed National Service conscription, or worked in the Merchant Navy in support of the military at some point. It also offered volunteering opportunities for younger veterans,

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family members and carers. It provided a safe, supportive and friendly setting where ex-forces could socialise, learn new skills and hone existing skills by working alongside each other.

5. THE 5.3 Build on links Richmondshire District An ongoing The Council The Council COVENANT between Reserve Council ensures there recruitment provides opportunity provides opportunity AND THE Forces and Cadet are opportunities for campaign to for the Cadet for the Cadet WIDER Associations and youth young people who are encourage young Associations to play Associations to play SOCIETY groups. members of Reserve people to join the a role within a role within Forces or Cadet membership of community events community events Associations to engage Richmondshire’s such as the Tour de such as the Tour de with youth projects Youth Council ran Yorkshire. Yorkshire. across the District. during 2016/17. 5. THE 5.4 Show public Richmondshire District In 2016/17 the In 2017/18 the Poppy Appeal COVENANT displays of support for Council participates in Chairman of the Chairman of the collection tins were AND THE the Armed Forces, the annual Armed District Council District Council held once again placed WIDER including donations to Forces Day chose ‘Help for a civic reception throughout the SOCIETY charities such as Help commemorations in Heroes’ as one of hosting the offices in October for Heroes or the Royal Friary Gardens, his chosen Nepalese and November 2018 British Legion, or active Richmond inviting charities and held Ambassador, Dr and 2019, with all participation in service personnel and various Durga Bahadur money raised homecoming parades their families; Royal fundraising Subedi and through weekly or Armed Forces Day. British Legion Branches; events representatives from dress down days in representatives of throughout the Colburn Town November going to various local groups and year. Council at Mercury the Poppy Appeal. charities who support House at which they the military community The Chairman discussed how links Our Annual Armed both serving and retired; and between the Forces Day Flag

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representatives of dress down days in Royal British Legion, various local November going to scouts and girl groups and the Poppy Appeal. guiding associations, charities who Help for Heroes, and support the The Chairman and forces personnel – military Vice-Chairman Army and RAF. community both attended various serving and military functions In 2019 the retired; cadet throughout the year Chairman of the forces; local including the Council, Councillor dignitaries and Yorkshire (N&W) Stuart Parsons, led the wider Army Cadet Force officials from the community. Presentation Day, authority along with various RAF forces personnel The Poppy Leeming Councillor Parsons Appeal was again events/parades, a gave the initial held in November Royal Air Force address and Colonel and the Chairman Association Battle of Peter Stitt, and Vice- Britain Service, Commandant of the Chairman Remembrance Day School of Infantry attended various services, and replied on behalf of military functions passing out parades the armed forces. throughout the at Catterick They were joined by year including the Garrison. veterans, civic Yorkshire (N&W) leaders, councillors, Army Cadet representatives from Force the Police, St John’s Presentation Day, Ambulance and various RAF Royal British Legion, Leeming local school children events/parades from MKC (Military and the British Kids Club) Heroes, Forces scouts and girl Resettlement guiding associations, Help for Heroes, and

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Service Careers forces personnel – Fair. Army and RAF.

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman attended various functions with military connections throughout 2018 including an Annual Reception at RAF Leeming, the HQ 4th Infantry Brigade & HQ Catterick Garrison Reception and Beating Retreat, the presentation of a Bevin’s Boys Veterans Badge, Catterick Garrison HQ and Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, Remembrance Sunday Service & Wreath Laying, a Passing Out Parade of Gurkha Company Recruit Intake 2018, Help for Heroes and Tour de Yorkshire Celebration Evening, British Gurkhas and Nepalese Community Catterick

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& Darlington Celebration of Nepalese New Year BS 2076/AD 2019 and an event at which the Army Foundation College exercised its Freedom of the Borough of .

In 2019 various events with military connections were attended by the Chairman and Vice- Chairman including the Yorkshire (North and West) Army Cadet Force Presentation Day, RAF Leeming Annual Reception, 4 SCOTS Beating Retreat and Cocktail Party, Help for Heroes Phoenix House Community Open Day, Official Opening of a Special Exhibition at the Green Howards Museum, City Council & Ripon

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Branch of the Royal Air Force Association Battle of Britain Civic Event, Catterick Garrison Community Engagement Dinner, Remembrance Sunday Services and Wreath Laying Ceremony’s, 2ITB Passing Out Parade of Gurkha Company Recruit Intake 2019.

In 2018 and 2019 both Chairman held an Annual Civic Reception and Dinner to which representatives from the Army, RAF and Cadet Force were invited. Other achievements in Richmondshire District 2018/2020 Council has been awarded the following through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme: Bronze Award - 2017 Silver Award - 2018

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