ST Helens Council has reiterated its commitment to supporting members of the Armed Forces community.

After signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, the council is required to produce an annual progress report to Colonel Russell Miller, the Commanding Officer at Headquarters North West.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged when accessing public services.

This week a report went to cabinet that identifies the progress made against the objectives of the covenant, between June 2017 and May 2018.

Cllr Lynn Clarke, cabinet member for better neighbourhoods and the borough’s ‘Armed Forces Champion’, said: “The council continues to learn how to support the Armed Forces community, which covers all generations and includes cadets, reservists, regulars, veterans and their families.

“Each generation experiences different demands, conflicts and deployments.

“As civilians we must acknowledge that we cannot fully understand the implications or the impact of these experiences.

“But as stewards of the borough it is our duty to ensure that these brave men and women have access to appropriate health, housing, education, employment and support services, when the need them, and we must remain ever-mindful of this within our decision making.

“The council’s commitment to respect and preserve the past, nurture and enhance the present, and lay the foundations for a successful future is clearly demonstrated within this report.”

Council leader Derek Long said the council can “always do better” at supporting members of the Armed Forces community.

The Labour councillor also said he has held talks with Cllr Clarke about how the council can recognise the 80th anniversary of the start of the Second World War in 2019 and the end of the Spanish Civil War.

Cabinet noted the St Helens Armed Forces Covenant Progress Report.

Cllr Clarke said it will now be published on the council’s website.