E m e r g i n g I s s u e s Emerging Issues


COUNCIL TAX REBATE FOR THOSE ON OPS


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AF personnel, together with personnel from the Army and RN who are in receipt of the Operation


Allowance, for example on deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq, will benefit from a tax- free rebate on the cost of council tax (CT) from 1 Oct 07. Payment of the CT rebate will commence from 1 Apr 08.


Armed forces personnel in receipt of the Operational Allowance will benefit from a tax-free payment designed to offset around 25% of their CT bill. The CT rebate is calculated on the number of days in theatre and is equivalent to £140 over a 6-month tour.


Rebates will be made only to those who have paid CT or who pay Contributions in Lieu of Council tax (CILOCT) for Service Accommodation throughout their deployment period.


The MOD intends to extend the CT rebate to other overseas deployments in due course. The methodology for claiming CT rebates has yet to be confirmed but will be advised prior to 1 Apr 08


NEW PUBLICATION FROM DE A Guide To Living In SFA


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his publication replaced the old Occupant's Handbook and is already


available on the DE Internet and DE Ops Housing Intranet. Copies of the booklet will be available in the HIVE soon.


DVD -A GOOD MO T 4 VE


owards the end of last year, DE Ops Housing experienced a number of cases of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) being handed


over at MOVE OUT that did not meet the cleaning standard as defined in the Housing Prime Contract for England and Wales and the Regional Prime Contract for Scotland.


Similarly, there were instances of properties that were let to occupants at MOVE IN that did not meet the cleaning standard. Much of the problem was put down to interpretation of the cleaning specification. How do you define 'clean'?


It was therefore felt that a short video or DVD on this subject would help clarify any ambiguities. The target audience would be DE Ops Housing staff, the Prime Contractors’ staff and their contractors, and Service families.


Winter 2007


Copies of the DVD have now been distributed to all Housing Information Centres, Prime Contractors staff, local HIVE offices, Service Families Federations and overseas housing providers. DE Ops Housing is intending to place a copy of the DVD on the SFA pages of the DE website.


Within DE Ops Housing, a copy of the DVD will be left with each occupant at the Pre-Move Out Advisory Visit and collected by the Housing Officer at MOVE OUT.


If the DVD raises any questions on the cleaning standard which you would like to discuss with DE Ops Housing staff, please contact your local Housing Information Centre (HIC) on 0800 169 6322.


SSAFA CHILDREN’S UK HOLIDAY DATES 2008


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he dates have been announced for the SSAFA Forces Help 2008 UK children’s


holidays. Tese holidays offer children whose lives have been touched by disabilities and additional needs a chance to have fun and gain confidence.


The holidays are available for the dependant children of serving regular or reserve personnel. For UK holidays, parents must be available to transport children to and from the holiday. Although the holiday is free, parents will be asked to make a contribution towards incidental expenses and this will include the children’s pocket money.


Applications for all holidays will be accepted from the 14th January 2008 from the Children’s Holiday Project Co-Ordinator on 0792 058 6178 or via email jane.kyte@ssafa.org.uk.


Siblings / Young Carers - Adventure Holiday Sunday 25th – Saturday 31st May 2008 Southeast Hampshire YMCA, Curdridge, Southampton


For children aged 8 to 12 years old who have a brother or sister who has a significant disability or additional need or are a young carer of a disabled parent. Closing date for applications is 29th February 2008


Disabled / Additional Needs – Activity Holidays - UK Sunday 20th July – Friday 25th July 2008 Calvert Trust Kielder, Kielder Water, Hexham, Northumberland Sunday 3rd August – Fri 8th August 2008 Calvert Trust Exmoor, Wistlandpound, Kentisbury, Barnstaple, Devon


For children aged 8 to 14 years with a significant disability or special need. Each child will be allocated his or her own volunteer coach. Closing date for applications is 18th April 2008.


Disabled - Special Needs Activity Holidays – Western Europe Late July (Date TBC)


For children aged 8 to 14 years old with a significant disability or special need whose family is deployed in Western Europe. For further information on this holiday please contact the Volunteer Projects Office on 02161 472 3392 or email bfgvpo@bfgnet.de.


Holiday Volunteers Needed These holidays are only possible with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers who ensure that the children are safe and happy while away from home. More volunteers are always required.


Being a volunteer can sometimes be hard work but it is always fantastically rewarding. No previous experience is necessary, although this would be an advantage. You must be over 18 years of age, have a good sense of humour, loads of stamina, a reasonable level of fitness and a total commitment and dedication to children. Applicants will be required to undertake security checks. The closing date for volunteer applications is the 29th February 2008 Those wanting more information about volunteering should contact the Children’s Holiday Project co-ordinator on 0792 058 6178 or email HYPERLINK "mailto:jane. kyte@ssafa.org.uk"


jane.kyte@ssafa.org.uk THE NEW ARMED FORCES


CHILDCARE VOUCHER SCHEME Steve Richardson, of Service Personnel Policy


What is it? A salary sacrifice scheme is a contract variation between an employer and employee in which the employee receives a reduced cash salary in return for a form of non cash benefit provided by the employer. In the case of the Armed Forces Childcare Voucher Scheme you get childcare vouchers instead of cash as part of your total salary and you can use the vouchers to pay or part pay for registered childcare.


Who is eligible for the scheme? The Scheme will be open to all members of the UK Armed Forces. This includes all regular Service personnel, MPGS and those members of the Reserves who are mobilised on Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) or on permanent staff engagements and all other members of the Reserve Forces.


How does it work? A Service person who is a parent or guardian can elect to receive between £30 and £243 per


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