WINCHESTER City Council has agreed to work more closely with the military.
Councillors unanimously agreed to sign up to the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
It means the council will encourage the community to get involved with local armed forces outfits like Sir John Moore barracks in Littleton and Worthy Down barracks.
The covenant was welcomed across the political parties although Lib Dem leader Kelsie Learney said the council should take the agreement seriously.
She said: “I hugely welcome this coming forward but it’s really important this is meaningful and not just a PR exercise. We will need to put resources into this and come up with an action plan.”
Labour leader Chris Pines added the council should appoint a representative to both independent advisory panels at Sir John Moore and Worthy Down barracks to help link them to the community.
Cllr Derek Green added: “As chairman of the Winchester branch of the Royal British Legion, we have talked about this covenant and we are very, very pleased that the council has come up with this and fully support it.”
Portfolio holder for culture, heritage and sport, Cllr Patricia Stallard, said the council will officially sign the covenant at its annual meeting on May 15.
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