Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from B Bagley, Chief Supt P Davies, W Driscoll, Capt C Evans, F Evans, and S Richards.

In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Meeting of the Panel held on 24 September 2014 be agreed as a correct record.

S Martin reported on correspondence received from the above company which outlined their request to collect textile waste from civic amenity site and give a percentage of any profits to SSAFA.

 

He indicated his disappointed at the companies approach towards the Authority and they seemed to be trying to exploit the aims of the covenant. He stated the Authority currently does not allow private firms to collect at civic amenity sites, but is willing to review in a case by case basis.

 

D Singletary indicated that he had not heard of the company or their links with SSAFA and he would formally respond refusing the request on behalf of this  and the Neath Port Talbot Covenant, and would prefer if requests involving SSAFA came through the Swansea SSAFA branch rather than directly from the groups ‘fundraising’ on their behalf.

The Chair referred to the event scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday 21^st January at The Grange in Mumbles.

 

She hoped that as many of the partner organisations within the covenant would be present and extended the invitation to any groups, businesses and organisations who wished to come and support the event and sign up to the covenant.

 

An outline of the afternoons planned activities was outlined.

 

Lt Col S Fry of HMS Cambria indicated his organisation would provide a stand at the event.

 

S Martin indicated he would circulate the event programme electronically to all Members of the Panel to publicise via social media etc.

 

 

Cruse Bereavement Course

S Stokoe indicated he had he attended the above course and found it very beneficial.

 

Gowerton RFC

The Chair and S Martin indicated that they had attended the recent match between Gowerton RFC and the Army Reserves team which had taken place at Gowerton to formally launch the new floodlights purchased as a result of the Clubs successful application to the Armed Forces Community Covenant Fund for their work in the community and links with veterans and the Armed Forces.

 

1^st Choice Housing

D Lloyd-Willams outlined the plans of her organisation to expand their housing provision to include veterans. A four bed property with live-in support in the Gorseinon area is planned to open in the new year.

 

She indicated the aims of the organisation to possibly open another facility in the local area should the need be identified.

 

She indicated that 1^st Choice Housing work in partnership with Alabare and she would forward information on the proposals to all panel members.

 

S Martin indicated he would circulate a recently received Alabare newsletter.

 

Defence Employer Recognition Award

The Chair reported that the Authority had been nominated for an award at an event in Cardiff on 30^th January.

 

Armed Forces Event

S Martin reported that he had attended a recent national Armed Forces Covenant event in Ffos Las, Carmarthenshire. where he was asked to act as a speaker and publicised the good work of the Swansea Covenant panel.

 

University Wales - Trinity St Davids

E Warburton indicated that the new Vice- Chancellor would like to re-sign the covenant on behalf of the University.

 

Veterans NHS Wales

V Williams reported that their annual review had recently been published. She outlined the increase in referrals for the current year, which had been alleviated by the funding for an additional therapist but indicated the funding for that temporary post would come to an end in March 2015, which would invariably increase waiting times again.

 

Change Step

Steve Stokoe reported that referrals continue to come into the organisation on a regular basis, and he indicated the organisation hoped to take on the North Wales model in the New Year to include veterans partners and children.

 

He outlined the proposals for a promotional film to be made in 2015 which may involve the use of Council premises and queried whether the film could be displayed on the big screen at Castle Square. He would liaise further with S Martin on the possible use of premises and the big screen.

 

Fund Future

S Martin reported on the uncertainty regarding the future operation of the fund. Further information is to follow from the MOD.

 

The deadline for the current round of applications had passed but he indicated that one late application may be received.

 

Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report

S Martin distributed an executive summary of the annual report. He indicated he would circulate a web link to panel members of the full document.

 

Various Events

The Chair reported on the various events and visits she had attended and undertaken as part of her role, including the Veterans event at the recent Swans v Arsenal game, which fell on Remembrance Sunday, where a memorial plaque had been unveiled to commemorate players form the Swans who had died during WW1.

 

The veterans had been invited onto the pitch by the Swans and had the photos published in the Evening Post. The council had then arranged for copies of the photos to be presented to the veterans at the Council meeting held in December.