Agenda item

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillor S Sheahan:

“Modern slavery is an appalling crime in which people are exploited and treated as commodities. It includes forced and compulsory labour, servitude and human trafficking. Taken together, these are fast becoming the most profitable global crime activity.

The most robust estimate to date of the scale of modern slavery in the UK was produced by the Home Office in 2014. The estimate suggested that there were between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK in 2013, although the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been reported as saying that these figures were just the 'tip of the iceberg.'

In its latest UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery (October 2018,) the Home Office states "The NCA assesses that the actual scale of modern slavery in the UK is gradually increasing and, if drivers remain at their current levels, will continue to do so over the next three years."

This Council believes -

a)    that action needs to be taken to raise awareness of the scale and extent of    modern slavery in the UK

b)    that councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and      supplies don't contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.

This Council resolves to –

1.      Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

2.      Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.

3.      Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

4.      Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.

5.      Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

6.      Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

7.      Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

8.      Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.

9.      Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.

10.   Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually”.

Councillor S Sheahan moved the following motion:

“Modern slavery is an appalling crime in which people are exploited and treated as commodities. It includes forced and compulsory labour, servitude and human trafficking. Taken together, these are fast becoming the most profitable global crime activity.

The most robust estimate to date of the scale of modern slavery in the UK was produced by the Home Office in 2014. The estimate suggested that there were between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK in 2013, although the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been reported as saying that these figures were just the 'tip of the iceberg.'

In its latest UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery (October 2018,) the Home Office states "The NCA assesses that the actual scale of modern slavery in the UK is gradually increasing and, if drivers remain at their current levels, will continue to do so over the next three years."

This Council believes -

a) that action needs to be taken to raise awareness of the scale and extent of modern slavery in the UK

b) that councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don't contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.

This Council resolves to -

1.    Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

2.    Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.

3.    Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

4.    Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.

5.    Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

6.    Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

7.    Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

8.    Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.

9.    Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.

10.  Report instances of concerns raised and referred to national referral agencies to the Audit and Governance Committee as part of the quarterly Standards and Ethics report.

11.  Publicise annually actions undertaken by the Council”.

Councillor S Sheahan spoke to the motion and stated that modern slavery was a crime resulting in the abhorrent abuse of human rights. He added that the Council must take action to guard against modern slavery.

Councillor N J Rushton seconded the motion and thanked Councillor S Sheahan for agreeing to the minor amendment.  He felt it was important to unite on this matter and stated that he was happy to support to motion.  He advised that a list of actions had been prepared in support of the motion which would be circulated after the meeting. 

Councillor D Everitt spoke in support of the motion and felt that modern slavery had become more apparent.  He referred to particular cases in the media and urged all Councillors and staff to be vigilant.

Councillor S Sheahan exercised his right of reply and thanked members for their comments and co-operation.

The Chairman then put the motion to the vote and it was declared CARRIED. It was therefore

RESOLVED THAT:

a) Council believes that action needs to be taken to raise awareness of the scale and extent of modern slavery in the UK

b) Council believes that councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don't contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.

Council resolves to:

1.       Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

2.       Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.

3.       Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

4.       Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.

5.       Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

6.       Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

7.       Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

8.       Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.

9.       Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.

10.    Report instances of concerns raised and referred to national referral agencies to the Audit and Governance Committee as part of the quarterly Standards and Ethics report.

Publicise annually actions undertaken by the Council.