Purpose

A progress report on the Armed Forces Covenant
since it was reaffirmed in June 2023

Content

That the refreshed Action Plan which sets out
how the Council will deliver the Armed Forces Covenant in Bromley
and measures progress be adopted.

Reasons for the decision

The Armed Forces
Covenant (AFC) was published in 2011 by the Government as part of
its approach to ensure that the Armed Forces are valued and
supported. The Armed Forces Act 2021 enshrines the
Covenant into law for the first time, to help prevent serving armed
forces personnel, military veterans and
their families from being disadvantaged when accessing commercial
and public services.  A key feature of the Act is a new
statutory duty to specified persons or bodies, including councils,
to have due regard to the principles of the Covenant, when
exercising certain housing, education, or healthcare functions
(excluding social care). The Covenant is designed to set out
the relationship between the Nation, the State and the Armed forces
and seeks to formalise the moral obligation that has historically
existed between the Nation and members of the Armed Forces and
their families.