Chesterfield councillors will decide tomorrow whether to pledge support for a national scheme to foster links and understanding between local communities and their military service personnel.

The Armed Forces Community Covenant is a national scheme run by the Ministry of Defence, to acknowledge the contribution of former and serving servicemen and women including the region's 2nd Batallion the Mercian Regiment, currently fighting in Afghanistan. It will also allow the council to bid for funds from a pot of £30million to run projects to promote local links.

Chesterfield Borough Council will vote at a meeting in the town hall over whether to back the plan.

The covenant has already been launched in Hampshire and Oxfordshire, where links have been forged between health and government bodies to meet the unique needs of servicemen and women.

Paul Mulingani, county manager of the Derbyshire Royal British Legion, said: "We think it's a really excellent opportunity for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to show their support for the armed services.

"We're formulating a joint plan as to how they (the council) can actually honour the covenant and how we the Royal British Legion can help them to do that by working the services that both of us have got for the benefit of the armed forces community."

Mr. Mulingani said all local councils in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have agreed to formally sign the pledge.

He said: "It should be something which makes everyone aware and gives them the chance to support the boys. It was an exercise well worth doing and the councils have grabbed it with both hands."

Chris Hayward, Cabinet Member for Localism and Chairman of the armed forces covenant steering group, said: "This is an important way we can show our commitment to ensuring that those in the Armed Forces are not disadvantaged as a result of the vital work that they do for us.
 
"This is not only about those serving in the forces, but also their families and veterans.”