The Executive Director of Social Care and Health submitted a report that set out the policy for the Council with regard to Modern Day Slavery.  A copy of the Modern Day Slavery Statement 2019/20 was attached to the report at Appendix 1 and an Equality Impact Assessment was attached to the report at Appendix 2.

The report explained that the Modern Day Slavery Transparency Statement outlined the approach the Council had taken, and continued to take, to make sure that modern slavery or human trafficking was not taking place within the business or supply chain and a zero tolerance approach was proposed to any form of modern slavery (slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour).

The report proposed that the Modern Slavery Transparency document be adopted as required in legislation, this statement would commit the Council to ensure that it took a ‘whole Council’ approach to the issue.  The report also proposed that the Council should continue to be an active member of the Berkshire wide anti-slavery network and work in an ongoing way to deliver its safeguarding functions.

Resolved –

(1)     That adoption of the Reading Borough Council Modern Day Slavery Transparency Statement 2019/20, as attached to the report, be agreed;

(2)     That a zero tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery (slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour) be agreed;

(3)     That the Executive Director of Social Care and Health Services be granted delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Health, Wellbeing and Sport and Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care, to adopt and update the Modern Day Slavery Transparency Statement each year on behalf of the Council.