Agenda Item No. 3 SPECIAL COUNCIL - 8 DECEMBER 2016 FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH THE ARMY TRAINING CENTRE (PIRBRIGHT) Summary At its meetings on 22 September and 27 October 2016, the Freedom of the Borough Working Group discussed the merits of affording the Army Training Centre based at the Pirbright Camp the honour of Freedom of the Borough in recognition of the Centre’s long association with Woking and the distinguished service given by its members in various forms and deployments throughout its history. The Working Group unanimously supported the proposal and the Council is now asked to agree that the honour of Freedom of the Borough is bestowed on the Army Training Centre (Pirbright). In order to confer the honour, a resolution in favour thereof passed by not less than two-thirds of the members voting thereon will be required. The admission of Honorary Freeman to the Borough is governed by Section 249 of the Local Government Act which states that the matter must be considered at a meeting specially convened for the purpose i.e. no other business can be transacted at such a meeting. Reasons for Decision This proposal is brought before the Council in recognition of the important roles and contributions played by the Army Training Centre (Pirbright) and to bestow the honour of Freedom of the Borough to mark the important relationship between the Army Training Centre, Woking Borough Council and the Community. Recommendations The Council is requested to: RESOLVE That (i) in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council of the Borough of Woking, being sensible of the heritage of distinguished service and achievement of the Army Training Centre (Pirbright) and being desirous of recognising, confirming and continuing the ties of friendly association which have long existed between the Borough and the Centre, do hereby confer upon All Ranks of the Army Training Centre (Pirbright) the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Woking and thereby the right, privilege, honour and distinction of marching through the streets of the Borough on all ceremonial occasions with colours flying, bands playing, drums beating and bayonets fixed; and the Chief Executive be authorised to cause the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to the Scroll signifying the Grant of the Freedom of the Borough to All Ranks of the Army Training Centre (Pirbright); and (ii) the Commanding Officer of the Army Training Centre (Pirbright), Lieutenant Colonel RJH Green, be invited to consider the Army Training Centre marching ceremonially through the Borough, on St George’s Day, 23 April 2017, with Colours flying and bayonets fixed. The Council has authority to determine the recommendations above. WBC16-040 1 Freedom of the Borough – The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) Background Papers: Sustainability Impact Assessment Equalities Impact Assessment Reporting Person: Ray Morgan, Chief Executive Ext. 3333, E Mail: [email protected] Contact Person: Frank Jeffrey, Democratic Services Manager Ext. 3012, E Mail: [email protected] Portfolio Holder: Cllr John Kingsbury E Mail: [email protected] Date Published: 30 November 2016 2 Freedom of the Borough – The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour that the Council can bestow. This Borough has conferred the honour on 5 occasions, recognising the contributions to the Borough of Woking of Edward Smith (1987), Henry Cawsey (1987), David Robinson (2000), Ann Ansell (2010) and Rhod Lofting (2010). 1.2 A number of Councils in the South East have conferred this honour on local Regiments including Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Guildford Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Runnymede Borough Council and Surrey Heath Borough Council. 1.3 The Council’s Freedom of the Borough Working Group, at its meeting on 22 September 2016, discussed the possibility of awarding the honour of Freedom of the Borough to the Army Training Centre (Pirbright). The Members unanimously supported the suggestion and it was agreed that a draft proposal for Council would be drawn up to enable the Working Group to discuss the matter in greater detail at a further meeting held in October. 1.4 At its meeting on 27 October 2016, the Members of the Working Group agreed to recommend to Council that the honour of Freedom of the Borough is bestowed on the Army Training Centre (Pirbright). This report sets out the details of the proposal as drawn up by the Freedom of the Borough Working Group. 2.0 The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) – Background 2.1 The Army Training Centre is based in the Alexander Barracks, part of a complex developed in Pirbright, and lies within the Parliamentary Constituency of Woking. The site was originally purchased by the War Office in 1875, which quickly established rifle ranges, a training depot and 'encampment' for the Brigade of Guards. In addition to the Alexander Barracks, the site is home to the Elizabeth Barracks, base of the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Guards, and the Brunswick Training Camp, home of the Household Division and Parachute Regiment Centralised Courses. 2.2 The Army Training Centre trains over 5,000 recruits and reservists each year and there are 500 permanent staff and 170 civilian staff at Pirbright Camp. There are 450 Service family accommodation units on the site which house families from the Centre, the 1st Welsh Guards, the Defence College of Logistics, Policy and Administration at Deepcut and Frimley Park Hospital. 2.3 The Army Training Centre is the destination for all female recruits over 17, plus male recruits over 17 for all cap badges except the Royal Armoured Corps, Household Cavalry, Royal Engineers and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. 2.4 The Army Training Centre delivers the 14 week training course known as the Common Military Syllabus (CMS) which is completed by all adult recruits when they join the Army. 2.5 The course is designed to develop individual and team skills with the emphasis over the 14 weeks on robust fitness, operational shooting and fieldcraft, which is conducted in a progressive manner, preparing recruits for their Phase 2 training, where they learn the specific skills for their chosen trade in the Army. 2.6 The Centre delivers Phase 1 Training for new recruits joining o Army Air Corps o Army Medical Services o Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 3 Freedom of the Borough – The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) o Corps of Royal Engineers o Corps of Army Music o Royal Armoured Corps o Royal Regiment of Artillery o Royal Corps of Signals o Royal Logistic Corps o Adjutant General’s Corps o Intelligence Corps 2.7 Pirbright has some of the most modern facilities in the whole British Army following a multi-million-pound rebuild over the last few years. The Centre has excellent sports, medical and educational facilities, including an on-site electronic-Learning Centre (e-LC) offering a wide range of courses and e-Learning packages to military and civilian staff as well as dependents. There is a well equipped gym, a swimming pool and all-weather outdoor sports pitches. 3.0 Freedom of the Borough 3.1 The tradition of Boroughs conferring the Freedom dates back to ancient times. Originally such conferment conveyed special privileges upon the recipient but over the years this has been curtailed so that, today, the conferment is purely honorary. 3.2 The right to confer Freedom of the Borough was first established through the Honorary Freedom of the Boroughs Act 1885, subsequently incorporated into other legislation. The current authority lies with the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. 3.3 The award itself will not confer any special privileges or rights on the recipient, but recognises an exceptional contribution, or distinctive service to Woking by an individual or group of people. 4.0 The Borough’s Support for the Armed Forces The Armed Forces Covenant 4.1 In May 2011 the Government published the Armed Forces Covenant which outlined the nation’s moral obligation to our Armed Forces. To implement this national statement of mutual support, Councils across the Country were encouraged to sign community covenants with their local Armed Forces communities. 4.2 On 1 November 2012, Woking Borough Council and representatives of the public, business, charitable and voluntary sectors signed a Community Covenant with the Commanding Officer of the Army Training Centre at a ceremony held at the H.G. Wells Conference and Events Centre. 4.3 The Woking Armed Forces Community Covenant is a formal statement of mutual support between the civilian community and the local Armed Forces Community. It is intended to complement the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces. The Covenant aims to raise awareness of issues affecting the armed forces community and provide support to the armed forces community through assisting with health and wellbeing, housing, leisure and culture, housing and employment. 4 Freedom of the Borough – The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) 4.4 The Leader of the Council, Councillor Kingsbury, was appointed the Borough’s Armed Forces Champion for 2016-17 at the meeting of Council on 23 May 2016. The Military Covenant Advisory Panel 4.5 Since January 2013 the Council has appointed a Military Covenant Advisory Panel to advise on and steer the implementation of activities in support of the Covenant and suggest ideas that may be developed to further the principles of the Covenant. The Panel meets regularly and includes representatives from the Royal Logistics Corps 27 Regiment and the Army Training Centre as well as other partners as and when appropriate.