This report sets out the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement, as approved by the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education Committee, outlining the approach taken to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within the Council’s business or supply chain.

The Director of Adult Care and Health Services submitted a report setting out the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement, which outlined the approach taken to make sure that modern slavery or human trafficking was not taking place within the Council’s business or supply chain, as required under the Modern Day Slavery Act 2015.  The Statement was attached to the report at Appendix 1 and an Equality Impact Assessment at Appendix 2.

The report explained that the 2019/20 Statement had been adopted on behalf of the Council by the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education (ACE) Committee at its meeting on 8 January 2020.  The Committee had also agreed a zero tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery (slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour) and authorised the Executive Director for Adult Care And Health Services to adopt and update the Modern Day Slavery Transparency Statement each year.

The report explained that the statement was now being submitted to Policy committee to note the decision taken by ACE committee and note that the Statement would apply across the whole of the Council’s services.  The statement committed the Council to ensure that it took a “whole council” approach to this issue.

Resolved –

(1)     That the decision taken by the Council’s Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education Committee on 8January 2020 to approve the Modern Day Slavery Transparency statement be noted;

(2)     That it be noted that the Statement applied across the whole council.