Issue - meetings

This Council notes, with concern:

·         the recent Cooperative ‘Tackling Slavery’ campaign, which finds Modern Slavery to be very much with us in the present day, with an estimated 5,145 cases in 2017;

·         that 188 referrals were made either by or to Greater Manchester police in 2017 alone; and

·         that the above figures are likely to represent the ‘tip of the iceberg’ with the International Labour Organisation estimating annual profits from the trafficking of humans generates $150 billion globally.

This Council recognises:

·         that Modern Slavery is defined as a situation where traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment;

·         this is not an issue which concerns just one group or nationality, with the third largest victim group in 2016 being comprised of UK nationals, proportionate splits between male and female cases and sourcing of Modern Slavery from over 100 countries in 2017;

·         that Local Authorities in England spend over £40billion per year on our behalf across the services they provide and the supply chains they fund.  As organisations with huge spending power, we have a responsibility to the public to do our level best to ensure that public money does not end up supporting this exploitation;

·         The Cooperative Party’s’ recommendation for Local Authorities to adopt a Modern Day Slavery Charter (which can be read at https://party.coop/policy/modern-slavery-charter/), is comprised of series of simple and low-cost actions which can help Councils ensure their supply chains are not contributing to modern slavery.

Consequent to the above, this Council resolves to:

·         instruct and work with the relevant Officers to produce a Stockport Council Modern Slavery Statement, which adopts and incorporates principles set out in the Co-operative Party’s Charter against Modern Slavery which go beyond the provisions of existing LGA guidelines on Modern Slavery, in order to ensure our procurement practices do not support slavery;

·         review this Stockport Modern Slavery Statement  annually to ensure currency; and

·         request that the Chief Executive write to the Cooperative Party Tackling Slavery Campaign to alert them to these actions, of our support for their efforts and ongoing  vigilance against this abhorrent practice.

Moved by:                  Councillor David Meller

Seconded by:           Councillor Elise Wilson

RESOLVED - This Council notes, with concern:

·         the recent Cooperative ‘Tackling Slavery’ campaign, which finds Modern Slavery to be very much with us in the present day, with an estimated 5,145 cases in 2017;

·         that 188 referrals were made either by or to Greater Manchester police in 2017 alone; and

·         that the above figures are likely to represent the ‘tip of the iceberg’ with the International Labour Organisation estimating annual profits from the trafficking of humans generates $150 billion globally.

This Council recognises:

·         that Modern Slavery is defined as a situation where traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment;

·         this is not an issue which concerns just one group or nationality, with the third largest victim group in 2016 being comprised of UK nationals, proportionate splits between male and female cases and sourcing of Modern Slavery from over 100 countries in 2017;

·         that Local Authorities in England spend over £40billion per year on our behalf across the services they provide and the supply chains they fund.  As organisations with huge spending power, we have a responsibility to the public to do our level best to ensure that public money does not end up supporting this exploitation;

·         The Cooperative Party’s’ recommendation for Local Authorities to adopt a Modern Day Slavery Charter (which can be read at https://party.coop/policy/modern-slavery-charter/), is comprised of series of simple and low-cost actions which can help Councils ensure their supply chains are not contributing to modern slavery.

Consequent to the above, this Council resolves to:

·         instruct and work with the relevant Officers to produce a Stockport Council Modern Slavery Statement, which adopts and incorporates principles set out in the Co-operative Party’s Charter against Modern Slavery which go beyond the provisions of existing LGA guidelines on Modern Slavery, in order to ensure our procurement practices do not support slavery;

·         review this Stockport Modern Slavery Statement  annually to ensure currency; and

·         request that the Chief Executive write to the Cooperative Party Tackling Slavery Campaign to alert them to these actions, of our support for their efforts and ongoing  vigilance against this abhorrent practice.