The following Platform Piece was written by Cllr Doug Beattie MC, to welcome the adoption of the Armed Forces Community Covenant by ABC Council

Anna Soubry MP, the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, once told me with a degree of satisfaction that every council in the United Kingdom, including the Isles of Scilly, had signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Every council that is except those in Northern Ireland - until now.

In early May just after the formation of the new Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council an Ulster Unionist Notice of Motion was brought before the Chamber asking for councillors to consider and adopt the Armed Forces Community Covenant. The headline for many was it passed, but what was more extraordinary was that it passed with no objections. The Sinn Féin and SDLP councillors choosing to abstain rather than vote against.

For many it was seen as a pragmatic decision given the council has a unionist majority but in reality it was a brave decision. It proved that there are those in our society in positions of influence, who's views may well be polar opposite, yet they understand the importance of allowing communities to pursue what is important to them. And the Armed Forces Covenant is important to the Unionist community.

The Armed Forces Community Covenant complements, at a local level, the Armed Forces Covenant which was introduced in the United Kingdom in 2011. For Northern Ireland it has no bearing on health, education or housing which are devolved functions and remain the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly in line with section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act.

It does however make available the Community Covenant Grant scheme, a fund of 10 million pounds per year for the next twenty five years designed to help those serving soldiers, veterans and their families who are in need. It promotes remembrance, understanding and integration with the local community.

Since that motion was passed in May a further two councils have voted to adopt the Community Covenant, again with no objections. Sadly however when the motion was brought before Derry City and Strabane District Council it failed to be adopted. All, bar Unionists councillors, voting against the motion ensuring it would fail. Although I can understand their reasons and inability to support the Armed Forces Community I am extremely disappointed they will prevent others from doing so. If there are some who can be viewed as progressive, like those in other council areas, there are those who are unwilling to move forward.

I find it strange that Sinn Fein and the SDLP party applaud equality and the protection of the most vulnerable, yet when a motion is put before them to ensure equality and that protection they vote against it. In essence they want equality and protection for the most vulnerable as long as they are not from a military background. For that is what the Armed Forces Community Covenant is about, it gives no advantage, no preferential treatment, but addresses the needs of some of the most aged and vulnerable in our society and in line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

I will not condemn Sinn Fein or the SDLP in Derry City and Strabane District Council for voting against the motion because I realise not everyone has the ability to see past the shores of Northern Ireland and our own long conflict. I will not play Orange and Green politics purely to get one over on the other side. Instead I will, like my Ulster Unionist colleagues, focus on helping vulnerable veterans and their families from all communities regardless which council serves them.

On the 27th July 2015 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant. It was signed with little fanfare and no jingoistic hype, it was the first to be signed in Northern Ireland, I hope it is not the last.