Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Development and Transformation.

Decision

That the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement for the financial year 2021-22 be published.

Reason for the decision

A forthcoming legislative change to the Modern Slavery Act, section 54, will result in a mandatory requirement for any local authority with a budget of £36m, and above, to publish a Modern Slavery Transparency Statement on an annual basis.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Transformation presented the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement. This had also been considered by Place and Resources Overview Committee on 7 June 2022.

In proposing the Statement, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that once approved it would be published and there after a Modern Slavery Transparency Statement would be published on an annual basis. The motion was seconded by Cllr D Walsh.

Decision

That the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement for the financial year 2021-22 be published.

Reason for the decision

A forthcoming legislative change to the Modern Slavery Act, section 54, will result in a mandatory requirement for any local authority with a budget of £36m, and above, to publish a Modern Slavery Transparency Statement on an annual basis.

To consider a report of the Service Manager for Commercial and Procurement.

The committee received and considered a report of the Service Manager Commercial and Procurement, which set out the proposed Dorset Council Modern Slavery Transparency Statement for the financial year 2021-22.

The committee considered the issues arising from the report and during discussion, the following areas were covered:

·            The statement was reviewed on an annual basis

·            The requirement for a generic point of contact on the Community Safety website

·            Strengthening of word within paragraph 2.1 of the report to set out the role the Council ‘must’ have in this area

·            Clarification of the wording in paragraph 8.1 of the report with regard to wellbeing issues

·            Further information to be included with regard to how the Council looked at issues around supply chains.

Recommendation to Cabinet

That the proposed Modern Slavery Transparency Statement be approved, (subject to the amendments requested by the Place and Resources Overview Committee as set out above).