Wolverhampton Council to declare military service a 'protected characteristic'
A council is set to recognise armed forces personnel as having 'protected characteristics', offering special 'consideration and support'.
Members of Wolverhampton Council will this week be asked to back a motion by Councillor Obaida Ahmed for the armed forces to be regarded 'with the same consideration and support' as if they were a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act laid down special protections for a number of groups, including ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, religious groups and the disabled.
It said members of the armed forces should be given locally protected status, in the same way that young people who have experienced local authority care had also been recognised by the authority.
A report by Councillor Ahmed said the authority had already been recognised by the highest badge of honour for organisations that have signed the armed forces covenant, and former and current armed forces members were allowed concessionary rates at the city's leisure centres.
The council also had a guaranteed interview scheme for veterans who applied for positions at the council, and they were also given preference in social housing allocation by Wolverhampton homes.
"!However, as fantastic as these achievements are, we know as an exemplar council that we can always do more," said Councillor Ahmed.
"We are determined that every decision made by this council and every policy set here considers the impact on our armed forces community.
"This motion proposes including 'the armed forces community' as a protected characteristic in all of our equality impact assessments.
"This will give the armed forces community formal recognition and make sure that all decisions that are made and policies that are set consider their specific needs and the impact on them."
Councillor Ahmed said the council should recognise that the armed forces community is a group that faced disadvantage, and that the council had a duty to put the needs of disadvantaged people at the heart of decision-making.
Councillors will be asked to vote on the motion at Thursday's meeting.
