Issue - meetings

The Council is required to sign off a Modern Slavery Statement on an annual basis to comply with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Councillor Richard Samuel introduced the report by saying that there were still exploitation of people taking place in our society, in all places at all times, and that the Modern Slavery Act that was passed in 2015 was an attempt to try and shift the debate towards a position where this was unacceptable in the UK and our society. The Council has a small but important part to play in that role, and the Cabinet has been asked to sign up a statement that was attached to the report, which was about highlighting Council’s commitment to tackling issues. The Council, as a big public service provider in Bath and East Somerset was trying to create an environment where Council officers, who were involved in Council procurement, begin to exercise the economic power that the Council has as a procurer of services, to drive out slavery in the supply chains that provide services to the Council. The Council’s commitment would be to carry out research on the high-risk supply chain areas identified and draw up a plan on how to engage with key suppliers to find out what they were currently doing to eliminate Modern Slavery in their sub-contracts.  The Council would also consider how due diligence can be continued throughout the contract as part of good contract management and not just as part of a tender process.  A process of auditing of supplier contracts would be developed.

Councillor Richard Samuel moved the recommendations.

Councillor Alison Born seconded the motion by welcoming the report and the statement.

Councillor Dine Romero welcomed the report and added that not so long ago she chaired a well-attended webinar about modern slavery, which included police representatives.  Some people were not aware that modern slavery was happening on our doorsteps and Bath and North East Somerset Council would continue to fight against it.  Councillor Romero invited everyone to contact the Council straight away if they had any concerns on this matter.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

Sign off and publication of the Council’s Modern Slavery Statement 2021/2022 by the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive and publication in a prominent location on the Council’s Website.