Cabinet re-iterates its commitment to Armed Forces

Cabinet re-iterates its commitment to Armed Forces

Cabinet agreed at its meeting on June 22nd that the Council will continue with its commitment to the Armed Forces with a further £100k programme of investment over the next 5 years. It was also agreed that the recently appointed Heritage and Ancient Monuments Officer will develop a programme of investment and improvement to War Memorials, providing a key point of contact for communities across Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has invested significantly in recent years to increase the level of support provided to our veterans and was proud to be one of the first Local Authorities in Wales to establish an Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between the civilian community of Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Armed Forces community based in the County Borough.

In 2019 the Council launched the Veteran’s Advice service, which provides free, impartial, dedicated information, advice and support to members of the Armed Forces community within Rhondda Cynon Taf. The service covers a range of areas, including benefits, adult social care, finances, employment, and housing. The service has helped over 600 Veterans and family members in Rhondda Cynon Taf to date. The further £100K committed to by Cabinet will ensure this investment continues over the next 5 years.

During the last 18 months the Armed Forces Team have worked closely with Councillors, local community groups and the Highways Dept. on a number of war memorial projects that have included a range of improvement works and maintenance. In addition, the team provided a range of support to the community in Cwmparc on the opening of their new war memorial.

Maintenance works have included:

• Penrhiwceiber Clock Tower - A major restoration project, that involved fixingthe 4 clock faces and the memorial being restored to its former glory. Themonument was cleaned along with the inscribed brass panels, commemoratingthe fallen from the village of Penrhiwceiber.
• Mountain Ash War Memorial – Improvement to the footpaths leading up to thewar memorial, as well as installing a number of WW1 benches and litter bins
• Ynysangharad Park War Memorial - Installation of WW1 street furniture.
• Cynon War Memorial Gardens – The Council is supporting the installation ofan information lectern on the site of the memorial garden, working with theCynon Memorial Garden Committee.

Deputy Leader and Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Maureen Webber said:

“We all owe such a huge debt to all those service men and women who have fought and served both at home and overseas.

Many lost their lives during battle, but we continue to remember them with great pride and extreme gratitude and offer our support to their families and all of our veterans across Rhondda Cynon Taf.

It is important that all of our veterans of all ages, and their families, know that the Council’s Armed Forces Veterans Service is there to offer them help, support and guidance whenever they need it in their lives. 

The Council is proud to continue its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which it first signed 10 years ago. A decade on and we remain loyal and pledge our continued support.

The investment we have committed to over the next 5 years will ensure this. And the employment of the Heritage and Ancient Monuments Officer will help us to further develop our develop a programme of investment and improvement to War Memorials which are so important to keeping the memory of those who served alive in our communities”.