Kingston Council has formally backed a motion supporting the Armed Forces Covenant, signalling its commitment to ensuring fair treatment and respect for those who serve or have served in HM Armed Forces, and their families.
The Corporate and Resources Committee met on Thursday, 24 September 2026, and unanimously supported the motion, which was originally referred from the full council meeting on 14 July 2026. The motion, proposed by Councillor James Giles and jointly seconded by Councillors Stephen Evans and Ian George, calls on the UK Government to provide improved statutory guidance, sufficient funding, and effective monitoring for public bodies regarding their duties under the Covenant.
Under the Armed Forces Act 2021, local authorities are legally obligated to have due regard
to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when exercising public functions in housing, education, and healthcare. The motion highlights that this Covenant Duty
is set to be expanded through the Armed Forces Bill, broadening its scope to include childcare and social care, employment and service in the armed forces, personal taxation and welfare benefits, criminal justice, immigration, and citizenship, and pensions, service-related compensation, and transport.
Councillor Anita Schaper, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact & Governance, spoke in favour of the motion, stating that while Kingston has made progress since signing the Covenant in 2013, the Covenant promises must mean more than just words.
She added that as the legal duty expands, councils need clear guidance, adequate funding, and effective accountability. Kingston Council has indeed made progress in areas such as housing, education, employment, social care, and civic recognition. However, the motion implies that specific areas require improvement, such as clearer statutory guidance, adequate funding, better public awareness, measurable outcomes, and an effective route of redress when the promise is not kept.
Councillor Stephen Evans, speaking in support, highlighted the symbolic importance of the Covenant, especially in the current geopolitical climate. The Armed Forces Covenant encapsulates the relationship between society and our armed forces, so it actually really matters,
he said. He emphasised the need for government support to provide essential services to armed forces personnel, their families, and veterans.
Councillor Ian George also spoke in favour, noting that the motion was a good report
with nothing too onerous on the council.
He acknowledged the complexity of the Covenant and the work of the dedicated working group over the years.
The motion further requests that the UK Government implement a dedicated promotional campaign to raise public awareness of the Covenant and ensure effective means of redress for the armed forces community when the Covenant Duty is not fulfilled. This promotional activity aims to improve public awareness and positively recognise those who serve, or have served, in HM Armed Forces.
It also asks for an update on Kingston's own delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant, which will be incorporated into the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion annual report. The next update is due to report to the Corporate and Resources Committee in November 2026.
The UK Government is being urged to provide improved statutory guidance, sufficient funding for better and more consistent support, effective promotion through a dedicated programme, proper monitoring and accountability for the expanded Covenant Duty, and effective means of redress when the Covenant Duty is not fulfilled.
Public reports pack Thursday 24-Sep-2026 19.30 Corporate and Resources Committee