Councillors have voted to strengthen the council’s commitment to the Armed Forces community, building on our existing pledge under the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Covenant, signed by the council in 2011, sets out our commitment to support serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families in Devon.
We achieved the Silver Award in the Employers Recognition Scheme in August 2020, demonstrating our commitment to fair recruitment and support for reservists and cadet force volunteers.
According to the 2021 Census, around 49,000 people in Devon identified as UK Armed Forces veterans, representing 5.1 per cent of the population aged 16 and over, well above the national average of 3.8 per cent.
“Their presence is woven into the very fabric of our county,” Councillor Andrea Davis told fellow councillors at a meeting of our Full Council this week.
Councillors unanimously supported a Notice of Motion brought by Councillor Davis, requesting that the council:
- Strives for the Gold Award in the Employers Recognition Scheme, which includes offering additional leave for Cadet Force leaders to support their training commitments
- Re-establishes a dedicated Armed Forces Covenant group for staff and elected members who are serving, veterans, or close family members, providing a confidential space for peer support and advice on best practice
- Considers recognising service in the Armed Forces as a protected characteristic under the Public Sector Equality Act, mirroring recent steps taken for care leavers
Addressing the council chamber, Councillor Davis said:
“We are already committed to supporting them. Devon County Council has been a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant since its establishment in May 2011, acknowledging the nation’s moral obligation to support this community.
“We proudly achieve the silver award in the employees recognition scheme in August 2020, demonstrating our commitment to fair recruitment, support for reservists and awareness of defence related policies.
“In November 2022, the covenant became a legal obligation requiring public bodies like ours to formally consider the needs of armed forces community in areas like housing, healthcare and education.
“Today’s motion is the next essential step in fulfilling both our moral and legal duty.”
Councillor Ed Tyldesley, said:
“I would like to thank Cllr Davis for bringing this motion and especially the recommendation that we try to achieve the gold award. As a cadet force leader of 12 years I have seen firsthand the impact that the cadet forces in Devon have on our most disadvantaged children and the adult volunteers themselves. It is completely life-changing.
“The cadet force nationally is one of the greatest tools for social mobility that this country has ever seen suggesting that there is annually 120 million pounds worth of benefit, or return on investment, for the funding that we put into the cadet forces. So thank you very much, I strongly support this motion.”
Councillor Edward Hill, said:
“I support this petition. Something that sticks out in it is the reference to the Equality Act and making service in the armed forces a protected characteristic. It is an important aspect of this motion to include the Equality Act.”
Cllr Michael Fife Cook, said:
“When people leave the services, quite often the first two years is disastrous. It’s very, very hard for people who have done many years in the services to be able to assimilate back into civilian life. I remember when I came out how difficult it was for me.
“I think we should aim for gold and I think we should honour the people who are prepared to put their lives on the line. I absolutely support this.”
Councillor Simon Clist, Cabinet lead for Armed Forces Covenant, said after the meeting:
“It is great that the council has supported this Notice of Motion unanimously and reaffirms our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant moving forward.”
