Agenda

To receive any disclosure of interests from Councillors or Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs), other registerable interests (ORIs) and non-registerable interests (NRIs) in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

To receive and answer any questions from the public.

(Questions must be received in writing by Democratic Services – democracy@winchester.gov.uk – no later than 10am on Wednesday 7 January 2026)

RECOMMENDED:

That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2026/27 be adopted.

South Downs National Park Authority: Cllr Jerry Pett

(a)           Armed Forces – End to the Unjust Benefits System for Veterans – “Credit Their Service”

Proposer:  Cllr Danny Lee
Seconder:   Cllr Brian Laming

Preamble

Winchester is a proud supporter of the Armed Forces community, the Royal British Legion (RBL) and Armed Forces Covenant. Our district has deep historic and present-day ties with the Armed Forces, including service personnel, veterans, and their families who contribute to our community.

However, veterans receiving military compensation continue to face unfair treatment in the welfare system. The Royal British Legion’s “Credit Their Service” campaign highlights this serious injustice.

This inequity results in our poorest veterans and their families being denied full financial support that would otherwise be available to civilians receiving equivalent compensation through civil courts. Winchester City Council can lead locally by ensuring military compensation can be treated fairly and advocate for national reform.

Council Notes

·       That military compensation, awarded by the UK Government for injury, illness or loss sustained in service, is still treated as income by c80% of local authorities in the UK and is therefore means-tested benefits, despite civilian personal-injury compensation being fully disregarded.

·       That the Royal British Legion’s ‘Credit Their Service’ campaign has identified more than 150,000 veterans and family members affected nationally each year.

·       That councils have the discretion to disregard Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and War Pension income in local benefits including Council Tax Support (CTS), Housing Benefit (HB), Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), and Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

·       That the Royal British Legion lists Eastleigh and other authorities – including Wigan, Durham, Northumberland, and Basingstoke – as councils that have adopted fairer treatment by fully disregarding military compensation in local schemes.

·       That Winchester City Council has a strong commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and can demonstrate national leadership by ensuring local veterans are treated fairly. Winchester City Council signed the Covenant on 2 March 2022[1].

Council Resolves

1. To support the Royal British Legion’s “Credit Their Service” campaign, recognising the injustice caused when military compensation is treated as income in local means-tested benefits.

2. To amend all relevant Winchester City Council policies to ensure that

·       All Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and War Disablement Pensions are fully disregarded when assessing financial liability for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

·       All Armed Forces compensation and War Pension income is fully disregarded when assessing eligibility or award levels for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).

·       The same principle is applied wherever legally permissible in Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit calculations within local discretionary parameters.

3. To embed this position explicitly within the Council’s Private Sector Housing Policy and DFG Policy Statement, citing the Armed Forces Covenant duty to ensure fair treatment.

4. To publicise the policy clearly to veterans, local voluntary groups, and Armed Forces representatives across the district.

5. To write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions urging national reform so that military compensation is fully exempt from all means-tested Department for Work and Pensions benefits.

6. To work with the Royal British Legion,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

To receive any resignations from committees and to make any necessary re-appointments.

The total time for questions and the answer and supplementaries thereto shall not exceed 40 minutes.