Agenda item

1. Mr Streatfeild proposed and Mr Hook seconded the motion that:

 

“This County Council resolves to:

 

1.    Recommend that the Executive establish a Veterans Community Resilience Task and Finish Group to examine and identify the responsibilities the Council will have under the upcoming Armed Forces Bill and request the outcomes of this to be reported to the Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee.

2.    Request that the Executive works with the Health and Wellbeing Board to explore and develop appropriate workstreams to better tackle veteran related health inequality, in line with the Armed Forces Covenant commitments to ensure that veterans and serving personnel are not disadvantaged in accessing health and relevant support services.

3.    Request that the Kent & Medway Civilian-Military Partnership Board (KMCMPB), working with relevant partners, map the skills, experience and interests of veterans locally and identify practical ways in which veterans can contribute to domestic resilience, including emergency preparedness, community response, recovery support, mentoring, youth engagement, neighbourhood resilience, volunteering and civic leadership.

4.    Encourage the Executive and relevant services to work with the Integrated Care Board, NHS partners, primary care, veterans’ charities and local voluntary organisations to review and, where appropriate, strengthen pathways for veterans into physical health support, mental health and wellbeing services, suicide prevention and postvention support, rehabilitation, social prescribing, employment assistance and peer support.

5.    Recommend that the Deputy Leader, works with partners across the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to explore the development of a local Veterans Community Resilience Framework setting out how veterans can be brought together, supported and enabled to contribute safely and appropriately to local resilience activity, without replacing statutory emergency services or professional responders.

6.    Recommend that the Deputy Leader explore the establishment of annual Veteran Community Resilience Days across the authority area, bringing together veterans, reservists, former regular personnel with Reserve Liability, emergency services, employers, cadet forces, community groups and local residents.

7.    Ensure that the above referenced Veteran Community Resilience Days are designed to promote wellbeing and social connection; raise awareness of support services; encourage volunteering and civic participation; celebrate military service and local heritage; maintain bonds of comradeship and esprit de corps; and support pathways into Reserve service, mentoring, community leadership and resilience activity where appropriate.

8.    Note the work already completed by the Kent & Medway Civilian-Military Partnership Board to identify veterans who may be isolated, under-supported, or facing service-related health needs, and request the KMCMPB, via its Health and Wellbeing Task Group, explore any connection between veteran deaths and military service to help inform the development of improved support options.

9.    Encourage the Executive and relevant services to work with Kent-based Gurkha veterans, Gurkha community organisations and the Gurkha Welfare Trust, building on the established KCC commitments to support veterans under the Armed Forces Covenant, to identify the needs, strengths and contribution of Gurkha veterans and their families in Kent; improve culturally competent signposting into welfare, housing, health, benefits, translation, employment and social support; and ensure that Gurkha veterans are actively included in Armed Forces Covenant delivery, community resilience planning and local commemorative and civic activity.

10. Encourage the Executive and relevant services to work with Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE) in Aylesford, recognising its long-standing work supporting veterans and their families through welfare provision, housing, employment, training, volunteering and community-building; and explore practical partnerships to strengthen referral pathways, employment support, skills development, supported accommodation links and opportunities for veterans to move towards independent living, purposeful activity and sustained work.

11. Request that progress on the above recommendations, in addition to any other Committee reporting on portfolio specific elements, is reported back to Full Council within twelve months as part of the Armed Forces Covenant reporting.”

 

2. Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 1 to the vote and voting was as follows.

For (69)

Mr J Baker, Mr B Black, Mr O Bradshaw, Mr A Brady, Mr M Brice, Mr M Brown, Mr D Burns, Mr C Burwash, Mr A Cecil, Mr P Chamberlain, Mr W Chapman, Mr B Collins, Mrs T Dean, Mr S Dixon, Mr M Ellis, Ms S Emberson, Mr J Eustace, Mr L Evans, Mr J Finch, Mr R Ford, Mrs B Fordham, Mrs G Foster, Mrs M Fothergill, Mr M Fraser Moat, Mr B Fryer, Mr M Harrison, Mr S Heaver, Mr J Henderson, Mr C Hespe, Mr M A J Hood, Mr A J Hook, Mr S Jeffery, Ms L Kemkaran, Miss I Kemp, Mr A Kibble, Mr P King, Mrs M Lawes, Mr T Mallon, Mr R Mayall, Mr T Mole, Miss D Morton, Mr M Mulvihill, Mr M Munday, Ms C Nolan, Mr P Osborne, Mrs C Palmer, Mr R Palmer, Mr M Paul, Mrs B Porter, Mr T Prater, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ricketts, Mrs S Roots, Ms C Russell, Mr G R Samme, Mr T L Shonk, Mr D Sian, Mr P Stepto, Mr R G Streatfeild, Dr G Sturley, Mr P Thomas, Mr A Thorp, Mr D Truder, Mr R Waters, Mr P Webb, Mr N Wibberley, Mrs P Williams, Mr D Wimble and Mr R Yates.

Against (0)

 

Abstain (0)

Motion carried.

RESOLVED that Council:

 

1.    Recommends that the Executive establish a Veterans Community Resilience Task and Finish Group to examine and identify the responsibilities the Council will have under the upcoming Armed Forces Bill and requests the outcomes of this to be reported to the Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee.

2.    Requests that the Executive works with the Health and Wellbeing Board to explore and develop appropriate workstreams to better tackle veteran related health inequality, in line with the Armed Forces Covenant commitments to ensure that veterans and serving personnel are not disadvantaged in accessing health and relevant support services.

3.    Requests that the Kent & Medway Civilian-Military Partnership Board (KMCMPB), working with relevant partners, map the skills, experience and interests of veterans locally and identify practical ways in which veterans can contribute to domestic resilience, including emergency preparedness, community response, recovery support, mentoring, youth engagement, neighbourhood resilience, volunteering and civic leadership.

4.    Encourages the Executive and relevant services to work with the Integrated Care Board, NHS partners, primary care, veterans’ charities and local voluntary organisations to review and, where appropriate, strengthen pathways for veterans into physical health support, mental health and wellbeing services, suicide prevention and postvention support, rehabilitation, social prescribing, employment assistance and peer support.

5.    Recommends that the Deputy Leader, works with partners across the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to explore the development of a local Veterans Community Resilience Framework setting out how veterans can be brought together, supported and enabled to contribute safely and appropriately to local resilience activity, without replacing statutory emergency services or professional responders.

6.    Recommends that the Deputy Leader explore the establishment of annual Veteran Community Resilience Days across the authority area, bringing together veterans, reservists, former regular personnel with Reserve Liability, emergency services, employers, cadet forces, community groups and local residents.

7.    Ensures that the above referenced Veteran Community Resilience Days are designed to promote wellbeing and social connection; raise awareness of support services; encourage volunteering and civic participation; celebrate military service and local heritage; maintain bonds of comradeship and esprit de corps; and support pathways into Reserve service, mentoring, community leadership and resilience activity where appropriate.

8.    Notes the work already completed by the Kent & Medway Civilian-Military Partnership Board to identify veterans who may be isolated, under-supported, or facing service-related health needs, and requests the KMCMPB, via its Health and Wellbeing Task Group, explore any connection between veteran deaths and military service to help inform the development of improved support options.

9.    Encourages the Executive and relevant services to work with Kent-based Gurkha veterans, Gurkha community organisations and the Gurkha Welfare Trust, building on the established KCC commitments to support veterans under the Armed Forces Covenant, to identify the needs, strengths and contribution of Gurkha veterans and their families in Kent; improve culturally competent signposting into welfare, housing, health, benefits, translation, employment and social support; and ensure that Gurkha veterans are actively included in Armed Forces Covenant delivery, community resilience planning and local commemorative and civic activity.

10. Encourages the Executive and relevant services to work with Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE) in Aylesford, recognising its long-standing work supporting veterans and their families through welfare provision, housing, employment, training, volunteering and community-building; and explore practical partnerships to strengthen referral pathways, employment support, skills development, supported accommodation links and opportunities for veterans to move towards independent living, purposeful activity and sustained work.

11. Requests that progress on the above recommendations, in addition to any other Committee reporting on portfolio specific elements, is reported back to Full Council within twelve months as part of the Armed Forces Covenant reporting.

 

3.    Mr Heaver proposed and Mr Hood seconded the motion that:

 

“This Council resolves to:

 

1.    Support the continued policy of promoting lower speeds by design by working with developers through the planning and highway adoption processes to ensure that new residential developments are designed to operate with 20mph speed limits as the norm, except on appropriate arterial routes.

2.    Support work to ensure that where developments have been designed to function safely and effectively with 20mph speed limits, Kent Highways makes the strongest possible recommendation for the subsequent designation of those limits through the Traffic Regulation Order process.

3.    Recognise the positive contribution of the Vision Zero programme and commit to supporting the safety of Kent residents by seeking a continuation and extension of its principles and objectives, with a view to enabling successor councils to adopt and incorporate Vision Zero within their future transport and community safety strategies.

4.    Call on the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to work with the appropriate teams within the Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate to identify feasible locations for 20mph zone extensions in residential areas and town centres across Kent, and to present the findings to the Growth, Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee, as well as providing each Member with information relating to the division they represent.

5.    Call on the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to allocate an appropriate budget to support the expansion of 20mph schemes across Kent.

6.    Call on the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to explore the technical and legal feasibility of establishing a long-term target of 20mph limits on 75% of Kent’s residential roads by 2030 and report on the outcomes to the Growth, Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee.

7.    Recommend that, subject to technical viability, the Cabinet Member develop a Strategy to deliver against the 2030 target.”

 

4.    Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 3 to the vote and the voting was as follows.

For (16)

Mr A Brady, Mr M Brice, Mrs T Dean, Mr M Ellis, Mr S Heaver, Mr M A J Hood, Mr A J Hook, Mr S Jeffery, Mr M Munday, Ms C Nolan, Mr T Prater, Mr A Ricketts, Mr G R Samme, Mr P Stepto, Mr R G Streatfeild and Mr R Yates.

Against (48)

Mr J Baker, Mr B Black, Mr M Brown, Mr D Burns, Mr C Burwash, Mr A Cecil, Mr P Chamberlain, Mr W Chapman, Mr B Collins, Mr S Dixon, Ms S Emberson, Mr J Eustace, Mr L Evans, Mr J Finch, Mrs B Fordham, Mrs G Foster, Mrs M Fothergill, Mr M Fraser Moat, Mr B Fryer, Mr M Harrison, Mr J Henderson, Mr C Hespe, Ms L Kemkaran, Mr A Kibble, Mr P King, Mrs M Lawes, Mr T Mallon, Mr R Mayall, Mr T Mole, Miss D Morton, Mr M Mulvihill, Mr P Osborne, Mrs C Palmer, Mr R Palmer, Mr M Paul, Mrs B Porter, Mrs S Roots, Mr T L Shonk, Mr D Sian, Dr G Sturley, Mr P Thomas, Mr A Thorp, Mr D Truder, Mr R Waters, Mr P Webb, Mr N Wibberley, Mrs P Williams and Mr D Wimble.

Abstain (5)

Mr O Bradshaw, Mr R Ford, Miss I Kemp, Mr H Rayner and Ms C Russell.

Motion lost.

5.    Mr Bradshaw proposed and Mr Ford seconded the motion that:

 

“This Council Resolves:

 

1.    To request that the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport commission a feasibility study into extending free concessionary bus travel for eligible pass holders before 9:30am on local bus services within Kent.

2.    That the feasibility study should assess:

 

a)    The anticipated financial implications for Kent County Council;

b)    The impact on bus operator capacity and service provision;

c)    Potential health and wellbeing benefits, including improved access to healthcare and reduced social isolation;

d)    Potential economic benefits to town centres, local businesses and the voluntary sector;

e)    Potential environmental benefits arising from increased public transport use.

 

3.    That the study should involve appropriate engagement with relevant stakeholders, including bus operators, NHS partners, district and borough councils, Age UK, Healthwatch Kent and other community organisations to gather necessary information.

4.    That the Cabinet Member be asked to report the findings and recommendations of the feasibility study to the appropriate Committee within six months, including outlining any options for implementation and funding should a viable proposal be identified.”

 

6.    Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 5 to the vote and the voting was as follows.

 

For (17)

Mr B Black, Mr O Bradshaw, Mr A Brady, Mr M Brice, Mr D Burns, Mrs T Dean, Mr R Ford, Mrs M Fothergill, Mr S Heaver, Mr M A J Hood, Mr S Jeffery, Miss I Kemp, Mr M Munday, Ms C Nolan, Mr P Stepto, Mr P Thomas and Mr R Yates.

Against (48)

Mr J Baker, Mr M Brown, Mr C Burwash, Mr A Cecil, Mr P Chamberlain, Mr W Chapman, Mr B Collins, Mr S Dixon, Mr M Ellis, Ms S Emberson, Mr J Eustace, Mr L Evans, Mr J Finch, Mrs B Fordham, Mrs G Foster, Mr M Fraser Moat, Mr B Fryer, Mr M Harrison, Mr J Henderson, Mr C Hespe, Ms L Kemkaran, Mr A Kibble, Mr P King, Mrs M Lawes, Mr T Mallon, Mr R Mayall, Mr T Mole, Miss D Morton, Mr M Mulvihill, Mr P Osborne, Mrs C Palmer, Mr R Palmer, Mr M Paul, Mrs B Porter, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ricketts, Mrs S Roots, Ms C Russell, Mr T L Shonk, Mr D Sian, Dr G Sturley, Mr A Thorp, Mr D Truder, Mr R Waters, Mr P Webb, Mr N Wibberley, Mrs P Williams and Mr D Wimble.

Abstain (4)

Mr A J Hook, Mr T Prater, Mr G R Samme and Mr R G Streatfeild.

Motion lost.