To consider the following Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Cllr Gareth Lyon pursuant to Standing Order 10 (1):
“This council recognises the cost-of-living crisis and the severe challenges facing many local businesses.
This council also recognises the particular steps many local businesses and groups make to recognise and honour the service of our Armed Forces and veterans.
In order to help both businesses and our Armed Forces and veterans, this council will invite local businesses to notify us of their discounts and offers for armed forces and will publish a central listing of all local businesses and groups that have notified the Council that they make discounts available to Armed Forces and Veterans.”
Minutes:
The Council were asked to consider a Notice of Motion
submitted by Cllr G.B. Lyon under Standing Order 10 (1) on Discounts for Armed
Forces and Veterans, as set out below:
“This council recognises the cost-of-living crisis and the
severe challenges facing many local businesses.
This council also recognises the particular
steps many local businesses and groups make to recognise and honour the
service of our Armed Forces and veterans.
In order to help both businesses and our Armed Forces and veterans,
this council will invite local businesses to notify us of their discounts and
offers for armed forces and will publish a central listing of all local
businesses and groups that have notified the Council that they make discounts
available to Armed Forces and Veterans.”
In PROPOSING the Motion, Cllr G.B. Lyon stated that the
publication of a central listing would help Armed Forces personnel and veterans
to access and accept services more efficiently and would build on the momentum of
the recent National Armed Forces Day event. In SECONDING the Motion, Cllr Steve
Masterson agreed that the listing would be a positive step and should be
publicised using all available media, such as Arena, BFBS radio etc.
During debate, the view was expressed that this Motion did
not do enough to address the real issues faced by serving personnel and
veterans, such as the availability of housing and health services support.
It was MOVED by Cllr Gareth Williams and SECONDED by Cllr Thomas
Day, that the Motion be amended to insert the following words (text in bold)
and to remove the words struck through:
"This council recognises the cost-of-living crisis and
the severe challenges facing many local businesses.
This council also recognises the particular
steps many local businesses and groups make to recognise and honour the
service of our Armed Forces and veterans, exemplified by many of them
generously offering support and discounts during our National Armed Forces Day
event 2026.
In order to help both businesses and our Armed Forces and
veterans, this council will: invite local businesses to notify
us of their discounts and offers for armed forces and will publish a central
listing of all local businesses and groups that have notified the Council that
they make discounts available to Armed Forces and Veterans
In PROPOSING the amendment, Cllr Gareth Williams stated that
the amendment would strengthen the Motion and would prevent the duplication of
work that was already ongoing. In SECONDING the amendment, Cllr Day agreed that
the use of the existing system for showing armed forces discounts would be
better than setting up a new Council-run website.
In discussing the amendment, it was noted that the Armed
Forces Covenant provided military families with some assistance in these areas,
but that assistance should be extended beyond serving soldiers and veterans, to
cadets and wider service families.
Following further discussion, the amendment was put to the
meeting. There voted FOR: 30; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAIN: 2 and the amendment was DECLARED
CARRIED.
The new Substantive Motion was put to the meeting:
"This council recognises the cost-of-living crisis and
the severe challenges facing many local businesses.
This council also recognises the particular
steps many local businesses and groups make to recognise and honour the
service of our Armed Forces and veterans, exemplified by many of them
generously offering support and discounts during our National Armed Forces Day
event 2026.
In order to help both businesses
and our Armed Forces and veterans, this council will:
There voted FOR: 30; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAIN: 2 and the Motion was DECLARED CARRIED.