Report of the City Treasurer (Deputy Chief Executive) attached.

This report provides an update on the activities to address Modern Slavery.

The Sub Group considered the report of the City Treasurer (Deputy Chief Executive) that provided an update on the activities to address Modern Slavery.

The main points and themes within the report included: -

·                An update on the amendments to the tender documentation, noting that it was recognised that the contract management arrangements which followed were essential to the effective monitoring of the position and identifying any concerns or issues which might arise;

·                Information on the Ethical Procurement Policy;

·                Information on the arrangements to safeguard against Modern Slavery within the Procurement Process;

·                Noting that the Council had issued an amended Standard Terms and Conditions in June 2019, to include for whistleblowing and the Modern Slavery Act 2015;

·                Information on activities delivered to raise awareness of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 through the Council’s Ethical Procurement Policy; and

·                Providing the voluntary Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement that had been produced, noting that this was a working document which would be reviewed and updated over the next 12 months.

Some of the key points that arose from the Sub Group’s discussions were: -

·                Which areas of activity were at most risk of Modern Slavery;

·                Was there more awareness of Modern Slavery now amongst contractors;

·                What work was being delivered at a Greater Manchester (GM) level to address Modern Slavery;

·                What action was taken following a report of Modern Slavery; and

·                The need to be mindful that there were many different forms of Modern Slavery.

Officers reported that one of the activities most at risk of Modern Slavery was within the construction industry. In recognition of this officers from Capital included in their evaluation of recent tenders for the North West Construction Hub (Medium Value Framework and Small Works Framework) to undertake site visits on tenderers current projects, speaking with managers and operatives, and observe what and where information was made available to those working on site in relation to identifying and reporting modern slavery and whistleblowing arrangements. 

The Procurement Manager Level II advised that Modern Slavery and the ethics of the Council were prominent in all contracts so the importance of these was evident to all suppliers. Officers advised that security contracts and cleaning contracts would be reviewed to ensure that this was reflected also.

The Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement stated that overall, larger employers who were legally required to, had adopted appropriate policies and procedures in relation to Modern Slavery, and advice and guidance could be provided to smaller businesses on this issue. He also advised that the Local Government Association had produced guidance for use by procurement teams within local authorities.

Officers advised that the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire was working with Greater Manchester Police to address Modern Slavery as a specific piece of targeted work. Members were advised that allegations would be investigated and prosecuted by the police as this was a criminal offence, adding that any breaches of the contract would also be investigated and appropriate action taken.

The Sub Group was advised that officers from the procurement team also attended multi agency safeguarding meetings so that they could share and learn of local intelligence that might raise concerns regarding Modern Slavery practices that could then be appropriately investigated.

Following discussion amongst the Sub Group as to what employment practices defined Modern Slavery the Chair advised that Modern Slavery laws were designed to address specific criminal practices and Labour Laws existed to protect employees from other forms of bad practice that workers experienced.

Decisions

The Sub Group endorsed the Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement.