FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH THE ARMY TRAINING CENTRE (PIRBRIGHT)

Transcription

1 Agenda Item N. 3 SPECIAL COUNCIL - 8 DECEMBER 2016 Summary FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH THE ARMY TRAINING CENTRE (PIRBRIGHT) At its meetings n 22 September and 27 Octber 2016, the Freedm f the Brugh Wrking Grup discussed the merits f affrding the Army Training Centre based at the Pirbright Camp the hnur f Freedm f the Brugh in recgnitin f the Centre s lng assciatin with Wking and the distinguished service given by its members in varius frms and deplyments thrughut its histry. The Wrking Grup unanimusly supprted the prpsal and the Cuncil is nw asked t agree that the hnur f Freedm f the Brugh is bestwed n the Army Training Centre (Pirbright). In rder t cnfer the hnur, a reslutin in favur theref passed by nt less than tw-thirds f the members vting theren will be required. The admissin f Hnrary Freeman t the Brugh is gverned by Sectin 249 f the Lcal Gvernment Act which states that the matter must be cnsidered at a meeting specially cnvened fr the purpse i.e. n ther business can be transacted at such a meeting. Reasns fr Decisin This prpsal is brught befre the Cuncil in recgnitin f the imprtant rles and cntributins played by the Army Training Centre (Pirbright) and t bestw the hnur f Freedm f the Brugh t mark the imprtant relatinship between the Army Training Centre, Wking Brugh Cuncil and the Cmmunity. Recmmendatins The Cuncil is requested t: RESOLVE That (i) (ii) in exercise f the pwers cnferred by Sectin 249 f the Lcal Gvernment Act 1972, the Cuncil f the Brugh f Wking, being sensible f the heritage f distinguished service and achievement f the Army Training Centre (Pirbright) and being desirus f recgnising, cnfirming and cntinuing the ties f friendly assciatin which have lng existed between the Brugh and the Centre, d hereby cnfer upn All Ranks f the Army Training Centre (Pirbright) the Hnrary Freedm f the Brugh f Wking and thereby the right, privilege, hnur and distinctin f marching thrugh the streets f the Brugh n all ceremnial ccasins with clurs flying, bands playing, drums beating and baynets fixed; and the Chief Executive be authrised t cause the Cmmn Seal f the Cuncil t be affixed t the Scrll signifying the Grant f the Freedm f the Brugh t All Ranks f the Army Training Centre (Pirbright); and the Cmmanding Officer f the Army Training Centre (Pirbright), Lieutenant Clnel RJH Green, be invited t cnsider the Army Training Centre marching ceremnially thrugh the Brugh, n St Gerge s Day, 23 April 2017, with Clurs flying and baynets fixed. The Cuncil has authrity t determine the recmmendatins abve. 1 WBC16-040

2 Freedm f the Brugh The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) Backgrund Papers: Sustainability Impact Assessment Equalities Impact Assessment Reprting Persn: Ray Mrgan, Chief Executive Ext. 3333, E Mail: Ray.Mrgan@wking.gv.uk Cntact Persn: Frank Jeffrey, Demcratic Services Manager Ext. 3012, E Mail: Frank.Jeffrey@wking.gv.uk Prtfli Hlder: Cllr Jhn Kingsbury E Mail: cllrjhn.kingsbury@wking.gv.uk Date Published: 30 Nvember

3 Freedm f the Brugh The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) 1.0 Intrductin 1.1 Freedm f the Brugh is the highest hnur that the Cuncil can bestw. This Brugh has cnferred the hnur n 5 ccasins, recgnising the cntributins t the Brugh f Wking f Edward Smith (1987), Henry Cawsey (1987), David Rbinsn (2000), Ann Ansell (2010) and Rhd Lfting (2010). 1.2 A number f Cuncils in the Suth East have cnferred this hnur n lcal Regiments including Epsm and Ewell Brugh Cuncil, Guildfrd Brugh Cuncil, Mle Valley District Cuncil, Runnymede Brugh Cuncil and Surrey Heath Brugh Cuncil. 1.3 The Cuncil s Freedm f the Brugh Wrking Grup, at its meeting n 22 September 2016, discussed the pssibility f awarding the hnur f Freedm f the Brugh t the Army Training Centre (Pirbright). The Members unanimusly supprted the suggestin and it was agreed that a draft prpsal fr Cuncil wuld be drawn up t enable the Wrking Grup t discuss the matter in greater detail at a further meeting held in Octber. 1.4 At its meeting n 27 Octber 2016, the Members f the Wrking Grup agreed t recmmend t Cuncil that the hnur f Freedm f the Brugh is bestwed n the Army Training Centre (Pirbright). This reprt sets ut the details f the prpsal as drawn up by the Freedm f the Brugh Wrking Grup. 2.0 The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) Backgrund 2.1 The Army Training Centre is based in the Alexander Barracks, part f a cmplex develped in Pirbright, and lies within the Parliamentary Cnstituency f Wking. The site was riginally purchased by the War Office in 1875, which quickly established rifle ranges, a training dept and 'encampment' fr the Brigade f Guards. In additin t the Alexander Barracks, the site is hme t the Elizabeth Barracks, base f the 1 st Battalin f the Welsh Guards, and the Brunswick Training Camp, hme f the Husehld Divisin and Parachute Regiment Centralised Curses. 2.2 The Army Training Centre trains ver 5,000 recruits and reservists each year and there are 500 permanent staff and 170 civilian staff at Pirbright Camp. There are 450 Service family accmmdatin units n the site which huse families frm the Centre, the 1 st Welsh Guards, the Defence Cllege f Lgistics, Plicy and Administratin at Deepcut and Frimley Park Hspital. 2.3 The Army Training Centre is the destinatin fr all female recruits ver 17, plus male recruits ver 17 fr all cap badges except the Ryal Armured Crps, Husehld Cavalry, Ryal Engineers and Ryal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. 2.4 The Army Training Centre delivers the 14 week training curse knwn as the Cmmn Military Syllabus (CMS) which is cmpleted by all adult recruits when they jin the Army. 2.5 The curse is designed t develp individual and team skills with the emphasis ver the 14 weeks n rbust fitness, peratinal shting and fieldcraft, which is cnducted in a prgressive manner, preparing recruits fr their Phase 2 training, where they learn the specific skills fr their chsen trade in the Army. 2.6 The Centre delivers Phase 1 Training fr new recruits jining Army Air Crps Army Medical Services Crps f Ryal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 3

4 Freedm f the Brugh The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) Crps f Ryal Engineers Crps f Army Music Ryal Armured Crps Ryal Regiment f Artillery Ryal Crps f Signals Ryal Lgistic Crps Adjutant General s Crps Intelligence Crps 2.7 Pirbright has sme f the mst mdern facilities in the whle British Army fllwing a multi-millin-pund rebuild ver the last few years. The Centre has excellent sprts, medical and educatinal facilities, including an n-site electrnic-learning Centre (e-lc) ffering a wide range f curses and e-learning packages t military and civilian staff as well as dependents. There is a well equipped gym, a swimming pl and all-weather utdr sprts pitches. 3.0 Freedm f the Brugh 3.1 The traditin f Brughs cnferring the Freedm dates back t ancient times. Originally such cnferment cnveyed special privileges upn the recipient but ver the years this has been curtailed s that, tday, the cnferment is purely hnrary. 3.2 The right t cnfer Freedm f the Brugh was first established thrugh the Hnrary Freedm f the Brughs Act 1885, subsequently incrprated int ther legislatin. The current authrity lies with the Lcal Gvernment Act 1972, as amended by the Lcal Demcracy, Ecnmic Develpment and Cnstructin Act The award itself will nt cnfer any special privileges r rights n the recipient, but recgnises an exceptinal cntributin, r distinctive service t Wking by an individual r grup f peple. 4.0 The Brugh s Supprt fr the Armed Frces The Armed Frces Cvenant 4.1 In May 2011 the Gvernment published the Armed Frces Cvenant which utlined the natin s mral bligatin t ur Armed Frces. T implement this natinal statement f mutual supprt, Cuncils acrss the Cuntry were encuraged t sign cmmunity cvenants with their lcal Armed Frces cmmunities. 4.2 On 1 Nvember 2012, Wking Brugh Cuncil and representatives f the public, business, charitable and vluntary sectrs signed a Cmmunity Cvenant with the Cmmanding Officer f the Army Training Centre at a ceremny held at the H.G. Wells Cnference and Events Centre. 4.3 The Wking Armed Frces Cmmunity Cvenant is a frmal statement f mutual supprt between the civilian cmmunity and the lcal Armed Frces Cmmunity. It is intended t cmplement the Armed Frces Cvenant, which utlines the mral bligatin between the natin, the gvernment and the armed frces. The Cvenant aims t raise awareness f issues affecting the armed frces cmmunity and prvide supprt t the armed frces cmmunity thrugh assisting with health and wellbeing, husing, leisure and culture, husing and emplyment. 4

5 Freedm f the Brugh The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) 4.4 The Leader f the Cuncil, Cuncillr Kingsbury, was appinted the Brugh s Armed Frces Champin fr at the meeting f Cuncil n 23 May The Military Cvenant Advisry Panel 4.5 Since January 2013 the Cuncil has appinted a Military Cvenant Advisry Panel t advise n and steer the implementatin f activities in supprt f the Cvenant and suggest ideas that may be develped t further the principles f the Cvenant. The Panel meets regularly and includes representatives frm the Ryal Lgistics Crps 27 Regiment and the Army Training Centre as well as ther partners as and when apprpriate. 4.6 As part f the Cuncil s supprt fr the Armed Frces, several pages n the Cuncil s website have been develped t prmte the Armed Frces and publicise lcal prjects and events, such as the annual raising f the Armed Frces Day flag in June utside the Civic Centre. An extensive actin plan has been develped, identifying the ways in which the lcal Cmmunity and businesses can wrk with, supprt and prmte the Armed Frces. Crprate Cvenant 4.7 In February 2015, the Executive tk the decisin that, as a large emplyer with interests in lcal ecnmy, it was apprpriate fr Wking Brugh Cuncil t sign the Crprate Cvenant. A Crprate Cvenant is a vluntary statement f supprt fr the Armed Frces Cmmunity wrking fr and using the services f a particular cmpany, crprate entity r charitable rganisatin. 4.8 It cmplements the Armed Frces Cvenant, which sets ut the mral bligatin between the Natin, the Gvernment and the Armed Frces. As part f this structure, there is als the Cmmunity Cvenant, which was established t empwer lcal authrities and cmmunities t supprt members f the Armed Frces Cmmunity in their area and imprve public understanding f issues that affect them. 4.9 Wking Brugh Cuncil has been a signatry f the Lcal Cmmunity Cvenant since 2012 as well as the Surrey wide Cmmunity Cvenant. The aim f the Crprate Cvenant is t cmplement these existing elements and ensure that the Armed Frces Cmmunity face n disadvantage in their engagement with business. 5.0 Prpsal 5.1 It is prpsed that the Cuncil exercises its pwers under Sectin 249 f the Lcal Gvernment Act 1972 t cnfer the Hnrary Freedm f the Brugh n all ranks f the Army Training Centre and t invite the Centre t march thrugh the streets f the Brugh n St Gerge s Day, 23 April 2017, with the full privileges cnferred theren. 5.2 The award is t recgnise the achievements and distinguished service f the unit, bth fr this Brugh and fr the Cuntry as a whle given in varius frms and deplyments thrughut its histry. 5.3 In rder t cnfer the hnur f Freedm f the Brugh upn the Army Training Centre a reslutin in favur theref passed by nt less than tw-thirds f the members vting theren will be required. The admissin f Hnrary Freeman t the Brugh is gverned by Sectin 249 f the Lcal Gvernment Act which states that the matter must be cnsidered at a meeting specially cnvened fr the purpse i.e. n ther business can be transacted at such a meeting. 5

6 Freedm f the Brugh The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) 6.0 Implicatins Financial 6.1 Cnsideratin will be required as t the means f presenting the award f Freedm f the Brugh. Sectin 249 (6) f the Lcal Gvernment Act 1972 prvides that: The cuncil f a Lndn brugh r a district which has the status f a city, brugh r ryal brugh r parish r cmmunity as afresaid may spend such reasnable sum as they think fit fr the purpse f presenting an address r casket cntaining an address 6.2 It is prpsed that a frmal presentatin is made n St Gerge s Day, 23 April The detailed arrangements f the ceremny wuld be drawn up in cnsultatin with the Members f the Freedm f the Brugh Wrking Grup n behalf f the Cuncil. 6.3 The csts f any such ceremny and assciated paraphernalia, based n previus ceremnies, is likely t be in the regin f 5,000. A mre accurate indicatin f the csts f the event will be knwn nce plans have prgressed t a mre detailed stage. Human Resurce/Training and Develpment 6.4 Any implicatins arising frm these prpsals in terms f Officer time can be met frm within existing resurces. N training r develpment implicatins are anticipated. Cmmunity Safety 6.5 There are n cmmunity safety issues directly arising frm this reprt. Risk Management 6.6 There are n risk management issues directly arising frm this reprt. Sustainability 6.7 There are n specific sustainability implicatins arising frm the prpsals. Hwever, the prpsals d raise pprtunities fr educatin and infrmatin arund the wrk f the Army Training Centre, and the ptential t develp greater engagement between the lcal cmmunity and the Army. Abve all, the prpsals will make a significant cntributin t Wking s pride f place. Equalities 6.8 There are n equalities implicatins directly arising frm this reprt. 7.0 Cnsultatins 7.1 The prpsals set ut in this reprt have been cnsidered in detail by the Freedm f the Brugh Wrking Grup. REPORT ENDS 6

7 Eliminate discriminati n Advance equality Gd relatins Equality Impact Assessment The purpse f this assessment is t imprve the wrk f the Cuncil by making sure that it des nt discriminate against any individual r grup and that, where pssible, it prmtes equality. The Cuncil has a legal duty t cmply with equalities legislatin and this template enables yu t cnsider the impact (psitive r negative) a strategy, plicy, prject r service may have upn the prtected grups. Psitive impact? Negative impact? N specific impact What will the impact be? If the impact is negative hw can it be mitigated? (actin) THIS SECTION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AS EVIDENCE OF WHAT THE POSITIVE IMPACT IS OR WHAT ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN TO MITIGATE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS Gender Men Wmen Gender Reassignment White Mixed/Multiple ethnic grups Race Asian/Asian British Black/African/Caribbean/ Black British Gypsies / travellers Other ethnic grup 7

8 Eliminate discriminati n Advance equality Gd relatins Psitive impact? Negative impact? N specific impact What will the impact be? If the impact is negative hw can it be mitigated? (actin) THIS SECTION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AS EVIDENCE OF WHAT THE POSITIVE IMPACT IS OR WHAT ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN TO MITIGATE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS Disability Sexual Orientatin Age Religin r Belief Physical Sensry Learning Difficulties Mental Health Lesbian, gay men, bisexual Older peple (50+) Yunger peple (16-25) Faith Grups Pregnancy & maternity Marriage & Civil Partnership Sci-ecnmic Backgrund The purpse f the Equality Impact Assessment is t imprve the wrk f the Cuncil by making sure it des nt discriminate against any individual r grup and that, where pssible, it prmtes equality. The assessment is quick and straightfrward t undertake but it is an imprtant step t make sure that individuals and teams think carefully abut the likely impact f their wrk n peple in Wking and take actin t imprve strategies, plicies, services and prjects, where apprpriate. Further details and guidance n cmpleting the frm are available. 8

9 Sustainability Impact Assessment Officers preparing a cmmittee reprt are required t cmplete a Sustainability Impact Assessment. Sustainability is ne f the Cuncil s crss-cutting themes and the Cuncil has made a crprate cmmitment t address the scial, ecnmic and envirnmental effects f activities acrss Business Units. The purpse f this Impact Assessment is t recrd any psitive r negative impacts this decisin, prject r prgramme is likely t have n each f the Cuncil s Sustainability Themes. Fr assistance with cmpleting the Impact Assessment, please refer t the instructins belw. Further details and guidance n cmpleting the frm are available. Theme (Ptential impacts f the prject) Psitive Impact Negative Impact N specific impact What will the impact be? If the impact is negative, hw can it be mitigated? (actin) Use f energy, water, minerals and materials Waste generatin / sustainable waste management Pllutin t air, land and water Factrs that cntribute t Climate Change Prtectin f and access t the natural envirnment Travel chices that d nt rely n the car A strng, diverse and sustainable lcal ecnmy Meet lcal needs lcally Opprtunities fr educatin and infrmatin Prvisin f apprpriate and sustainable husing Persnal safety and reduced fear f crime Equality in health and gd health Access t cultural and leisure facilities Scial inclusin / engage and cnsult cmmunities Equal pprtunities fr the whle cmmunity Cntribute t Wking s pride f place 9