AFC0029
Written evidence submitted by the Welsh Local Government Association.
Background
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) represents the interests of local government and promotes local democracy in Wales. Its primary purposes are to promote better local government, to promote its reputation and to support authorities in the development of policies and priorities which will improve public services and democracy.
The WLGA is a politically led cross party organisation that seeks to give local government a strong voice at a national level. The Association is a membership organisation that represents all 22 local authorities in Wales, the 3 fire and rescue authorities and the 3 national park authorities are associate members.
The WLGA believes that services are best provided within a democratic framework of local accountability and that the people who use public services should have as much of a say in the way they are organised, managed and funded as possible. Local government is seen as being the tier of government closest to service users and best able to respond to their needs. It is recognised that it is the role of central government to set the strategy for public services nationally but that it is down to local government to deliver services based on local circumstances.
Originally established in 1996 primarily as a policy development and representative body, the WLGA has since developed into an organisation that also leads on improvement and development, procurement, employment issues and hosts a range of partner bodies supporting local government.
Armed Forces Covenant in Wales
Local government in Wales has fully embraced the Armed Forces agenda. All 22 local authorities were early signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant and each local authority has both an elected member and officer Armed Forces Champion to help imbed the Covenant across local services, galvanizing partners and providing challenge where necessary.
All local authorities in Wales can make use of and receive support from an Armed Forces Liaison Officer (AFLO), at a regional level, who play a vital role in delivering covenant commitments and further embedding these across local authority services. These posts were initially funded by the Covenant Fund but have been subsequently funded by Welsh Government as part of a national project coordinated by the WLGA, which is testament to their impact and the commitment at all levels to the Armed Forces agenda in Wales. A recent evaluation of the roles undertaken by Welsh Government conclusively found that the AFLO roles had brought about substantial benefits to the delivery of covenant commitments in Wales.
In 2017, the WLGA received funding from the Covenant Fund, as part of the national project, which aimed to:
In addition to the development of AFLO’s, the project involved the development of several new resources aimed at local authorities including a microsite; a training package and it also saw the establishment of the WLGA Armed Forces Network. The Network is made up of Armed Forces Champions and lead officers from the 22 local authorities in Wales and shares good practice to help councils improve how they support the Armed Forces community.
In partnership with Welsh Government, the WLGA also worked with local authorities to develop a 5 year timetable for the hosting of a national Armed Force Day in Wales from 2022-26.
The WLGA also hosts the Supporting Service Children in Education Cymru Programme (SSCE Cymru) which is a programme initially funded by the MOD’s Education Support Fund and funded by Welsh Government from 2019. Since the programme began in 2014 SSCE Cymru has worked with schools, children and young people, local authorities, Welsh Government, education professionals, Armed Forces families and support organisations to gather their views and experiences, build networks across Wales and raise awareness and understanding of the experiences of children of Armed Forces personnel. SSCE Cymru has developed guidance and a range of digital resources for schools and families, hosted conferences and stakeholder days and commissioned research to support educational establishments to better understand the needs of Service children and improve their experiences in education. Further information is available on the SSCE website: SSCE Cymru :: Supporting Service Children in Education Wales website
Examples of Projects and Work within Welsh Local Authorities
Examples of work that has been undertaken within local authorities in Wales include:
Caerphilly Council – Caerphilly council and other authorities within the region have been working to help ensure the needs of the Armed Forces Community are considered as part of corporate policy development through the inclusion of the AFC as part of Equality Impact Assessments.
Denbighshire Council – Working Denbighshire. Working Denbighshire is an employability service which offers veterans expert advice, guidance and support to help remove the barriers hindering them in obtaining a brighter future.
Neath Port Talbot – The Bulldogs Boxing and Community Activities in NPT provides a range of support and activity sessions for members of the AFC including 1-2-1 support sessions, drop-in sessions, walking groups, social events and employability skills sessions.
Pembrokeshire – The Veterans and Community Gallery. Pembrokeshire Council in partnership with a number of organisations sponsors the VC Gallery which is a registered Charity based in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. The VC Gallery helps service veterans and those in the wider community by getting them engaged in a variety of art projects so that they can take time out to socialise and express themselves through art.
Powys – Powys Council launched a Guaranteed Interview Scheme in 2023. The scheme is designed to help military veterans fulfil their potential in civilian life by helping to remove the barriers to finding civilian employment.
Rhondda-Cynon-Taf – RCT Council hosts a number of Veterans Community Groups (Taff-Ely Veterans; Valley Veterans; Cynon-Valley Veterans; Woody’s Lodge; and Served and Proud LGBTQ+ Support Hub) provide a welcoming space for residents of RCT to connect with like-minded individuals, engage in meaningful conversations, and access vital support when needed.
Challenges of Delivering the Armed Forces Covenant
How councils respond to the Covenant will vary depending on local circumstances and the population profile. A recurring challenge is identifying veterans. More information about the number of both serving personnel and veterans in our communities would help councils better plan their local services to make sure the right services can be developed and are in place. The WLGA welcomed the UK Government’s decision to include a question on whether someone has served in the Armed Forces in the 2021 census.
A key challenge to the sustainability of local Covenant projects is the cost pressures facing local government, which are significant. Local government must be fully and sustainably funded to undertake the roles required of them and they can continue to take forward and address their local Covenant commitments in full and not just those aspects that will be enshrined into law.
Extension of the Covenant
The Association recognises the commitment of the UK Government to extend the Covenant as part of its Election Manifesto. In relation to the extension to include further local authority services, the Association will need to consult with its member authorities to fully consider the benefits and implications of this extension.
Extension of legal duty to Central Government and Devolved Administrations
It is perhaps not the role of the WLGA to comment as to whether or not the UK and Welsh Governments should be subject to the Armed Forces duty. However, given the roles that the UK Government and Welsh Government play in providing leadership and setting national and strategic policy, which directly impacts how local services operate, there would perhaps be merit in extending the duty in this manner.
23rd January 2025