Note of meeting held in Motherwell on Monday 25 September 2019 at 2pm.

Chair

Councillor D. Cullen, Veterans Champion, North Lanarkshire Council

Members present

• Councillors D. Cullen and M Horsham, Veterans Champions, North and South Lanarkshire Councils
• A. Aitken and G Bow, Lead Officers for Veterans North and South Lanarkshire Councils,
• C Mitchell, South Lanarkshire Council
• A Craney and C. Johnstone, North Lanarkshire Council
• A. Cuthbertson, Armed Services Advice Project (A.S.A.P)
• S Burton, BLESMA
• K Cumming, DMWS
• E Gration, DMWS
• C Limond, Police Scotland
• C  Leatherby, Routes to Work
• Major Menzies, 6Bn Royal Regiment of Scotland
• S. Muir, SACRO
• F White, Skills Development Scotland
• D McAllister, SSAFA
• D Campbell, V1P Lanarkshire
• K McClair, VC Hub Co ordinator
• K Goodwin, Veterans UK

Apologies

• J Dawnay, Lanarkshire Lieutenancy
• C. Cunningham, NHS Lanarkshire
• D. Gibson, Fares4free and Poppy Scotland

Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Note of previous meeting

The Group gave consideration to and approved the Note of Meeting held on 8 May 2019.

Development of a Lanarkshire Veterans information booklet/website

Gordon Bow, Administration Manager, South Lanarkshire Council provided an update on the development of the website.  It was confirmed that the website would be developed in the first instance, and thereafter the handbook be compiled on the same basis. Thereon, Caroline Mitchell, South Lanarkshire Council, gave a short demonstration on the content of the website and requested that each organisation provide information and photographs relating to services for Veterans and Armed Forced communities and their families to South Lanarkshire Council for inclusion in the website and handbook.

Decided: that each organisation provide information/photographs to Gordon Bow, South Lanarkshire Council for inclusion in the Website and handbook.

Cosla - proposed working group

Councillor Cullen advised that he had written to Councillor Anderson, President of COSLA, seeking recognition of both the role of Armed Forces and Veterans Champions and the development of policies in support of the Armed Forces Communities, and requesting that a Policy Development Forum be established within COSLA in order that policies be developed and shared together with best practice in relation to Armed Forces across local authorities.  The Group noted that Councillor Anderson had responded by advising that the current Board Structure had been unanimously approved by the first Convention, after the Local Government Elections, and reflected the structures required best to represent the range of issues faced by local authorities and particularly delivery on COSLA’s identified priorities and that issues concerning Armed Forces and Veterans could be debated at any of the Policy Boards.  Councillor Cullen further advised that he would respond to Councillor Anderson and that copies of all correspondence would be circulated to all members of the Group.

Decided: that copies of the correspondence be circulated to all members of the Group.

Skills Development Scotland

F White, Skills Development Scotland updated the Group on the Veterans Employability Event arranged in partnership with Citizen’s Advice, Routes to Work and the Department for Work and Pensions, which is scheduled to take place on Friday 15 November 2019 from 10.30am until 3pm within the Kings Church, Motherwell.

Any other business

Veterans centre

Scott Muir, SACRO updated the Group on the Veterans Hub, Craigneuk, Wishaw which would serve as a central point for Veterans and their families from both North and South Lanarkshire Council and be operational with effect from 1 October 2019, Monday to Thursday from 10am until 2pm and that a formal opening ceremony would take place in November.

GDPR

Councillor Horsham updated the Group on his discussions with the Head of Administration and Legal Services, South Lanarkshire Council in respect of compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations and of the development of a form which would give authorisation upon the receipt of a referral, to share personal data with the appropriate organisations associated with the Lanarkshire Firm Base.

Armed Forces Covenant Trust

Kenny Cummings, DMWS updated the Group on the Armed Forces Covenant Trust and the Positive Pathways Programme which provides funding to Armed Forced Charities for  projects and activities that support the mental health and wellbeing of Veterans  and of the support and assistance available to the charities.

Royal Legion Scotland

A Cuthbertson, CAB advised  the Group that The Royal British Legion were carrying out  a survey to obtain an understanding as to how the welfare benefits system works for veterans who have been injured in service and are in receipt of Armed Forces Compensation Payments or War Disablement Pensions.  A copy of the survey would be circulated to all members in order that individuals could be identified who may wish to complete the survey.

Decided: that the survey be circulated to all members.

BLESMA

Steve Burton, updated the Group on BLESMA, the National Charity established to provide dedicated assistance in their communities to serving and ex-servicemen and women who had suffered life-changing events involving the use of a limb or eye sight, and of the dedicated outreach officers, based in areas throughout UK, who provide support.

Police Scotland

C Limond, Police Scotland updated the Group on the review of the National Employer Supported Policing Scheme and of the entitlement of up to 10 days paid leave for Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers to volunteer in the communities. Clarification was sought in respect of the Officers responsible in authorities for the administration of and the arrangements in place for the Remembrance Sunday Parades at which Police Scotland would be attending.

Scottish Veteran’s Housing Association and Garden City

Councillor Cullen made reference to the housing accommodation for veterans and their families available through the Scottish Veterans Housing Association and the Scottish Veterans Garden Association.

Date of Next Meeting

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 at 2 pm at South Lanarkshire Council.