Issue - meetings

Modern Slavery Transparency Statement

Meeting: 09/07/2019 - Executive (Item 73)

73 Modern Slavery Transparency Statement pdf icon PDF 203 KB

To consider the report of the Director (JY)

 

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 27 June 2019 and its comments will be reported. (The appendices were previously circulated to the Scrutiny Committee on the above date).

 

Decision:

Agreed

RESOLVED that Executive approve:

 

(1)   the adoption of the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement 2019-20; and

 

(2)   the Leader and the Chief Executive be authorised to update and amend the document and republish on an annual basis

 

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received a report, which had already been considered by Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee on 27 June 2019 and explained that whilst the Council did not have a statutory requirement to adopt a modern slavery transparency statement, it was considered best practice so to do.  This would encourage ethical business practices and policies and would protect employees from exploitation.  Members’ attention was drawn to the detailed minutes of People Scrutiny which had been circulated.

 

Particular reference was made to the fact that once the Council had adopted this statement, all of its suppliers of goods and services would need to similarly adhere to ethical business practices and policies with this forming part of future procurement exercises.

 

RESOLVED that Executive approve:-

 

(1)           the adoption of the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement 2019-20; and

 

(2)           the Leader and the Chief Executive & Growth Director be authorised to update and amend the document and republish on an annual basis.

 

 


Meeting: 27/06/2019 - Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee (Item 22)

22 Modern Slavery Transparency Statement pdf icon PDF 203 KB

To consider the report of the Director (JY).

 

Minutes:

The Policy Officer presented the report, requesting that the Council adopt a Modern Slavery Transparency Statement and to authorise the Council Leader and Chief Executive and Growth Director to update and republish the document on an annual basis.

 

She explained to Members that Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which came into effect in October 2015, required commercial organisations with an annual turnover of more than £36 million, to produce a modern slavery transparency statement each financial year. Although there was no legal obligation for local authorities to publish a statement, many had chosen to do so, to encourage ethical business practices and policies and to protect employees from exploitation. The publishing of the Statement represented a good practice, and set out what Exeter City Council would do to protect its employees and contractors from exploitation.

 

Members were informed that other Local Authorities were also being encouraged to publish transparency statements and that 86 Councils had currently done so.

 

In response to questions from Members, the Policy Officer explained that

 

·         If modern slavery was identified in the city, Council staff were obligated to contact one of the Safeguarding leads who would call the Police and also contact the Environmental Health department. Environmental Health would carefully monitor the situation, however, it would be a resource intensive area.  Modern Slavery will form part of the Safeguarding training provided to all staff.

 

·         The Migrant Worker Action Group (MIGWAG), was comprised of various organisations, including Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council. They provided support to people coming into the UK, who could be forced to work in illicit trades.

 

·         The requirement was for suppliers with annual turnovers of more than £36 million to implement modern slavery related procedures. The figure had been set by central Government. The reasoning for that figure, could be confirmed by the Procurement Team, who would provide a response.

 

·         The action requiring suppliers of goods and services to implement due diligence in relation to their own suppliers was only in relation to sub-contractors whose annual turnover exceeded £36 million. Confirmation could be confirmed by the Procurement Team.

 

·         The figures for instances of modern slavery in Exeter and how they compared to other areas, would be provided by the Policy Officer.

 

·         There was no legal requirement to adopt the statement, but it would be good practice to do so. Various local authorities who had adopted the statement had undertaken it differently, but its overall design was to protect people from exploitation. There would be no legal issues for the Council.

 

·         The legislation commencement date would be confirmed to Members.

 

The Chair commented on the safeguarding training provided to all Licenced taxi drivers in Exeter, and the positive impact it had achieved. He explained that all discussion points raised during the agenda item would be provided to the Executive on 9 July.

 

The Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee noted the report and requested Executive approve:

 

(1)  The adoption of the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement 2019-20; and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22