Decision details

A charter to commit the council to take action through procurement and contract management to ensure that its suppliers are not involved in modern slavery.

(i)  To adopt the Co-operative Party’s Charter Against Modern Slavery. The charter will be known as ‘Southampton City Council’s Charter Against Modern Slavery’.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Service Director – Digital and Business Operations, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Customer Experience, to develop a plan for implementing the Charter Against Modern Slavery.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Service Director – Digital and Business Operations to report on the progress of implementation of the Charter Against Modern Slavery in 12 months’ time following the return of the Procurement Service to council control.

1.  The term ‘Modern Slavery’ captures a whole range of types of exploitation, many of which occur together. These include but are not limited to:

•Sexual exploitation;

•Domestic servitude;

•Forced labour;

•Criminal exploitation;

•Other forms of exploitation include organ removal, forced begging, forced benefit fraud, forced marriage and illegal adoption.

2.  Modern Slavery occurs when 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/or inhumane treatment.

3.  The Charter Against Modern Slavery will ensure that the Council takes all reasonable steps to prevent its contractors and suppliers from undertaking practices which directly or indirectly support modern slavery through a firm and unequivocal commitment to the ten elements of the Charter.

4.  The Charter will also ensure that the Council’s procurement and contract management processes prevent the Council contracting with any organisations which have a link to, or involvement in, Modern Slavery.

Not to adopt the Charter Against Modern Slavery.

To adopt some clauses from the Charter Against Modern Slavery or create a separate charter.