1. Modern Slavery
Proposer: Mr Farrell Seconder: Dr
Sullivan
“Though slavery was
abolished in the UK in 1833, there are more slaves today than ever
before in human history. Figures from the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) suggest that there are more than 40 million
people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million
held in forced labour.
There were 3805 victims of modern slavery identified in the UK in 2016. A rising number but still well below the 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims estimated by the Home Office.
Modern Slavery is happening nationwide. 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 can include sexual and criminal exploitation.
This council believes
That action needs to be taken to raise awareness of modern slavery and the fact that it is happening all over the UK.
That the current support for victims is not sufficient and needs to go beyond the 45 days they are currently given by the government.
That councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don’t contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.
This council resolves
To adopt the Co-operative Party’s Charter against Modern
Slavery to ensure our procurement practices don’t support
slavery.
The Charter:
[Kent County Council] will:
1. Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.
2. Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.
3. Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.
4. Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.
5. Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
6. Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
7. Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.
8. Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.
9. Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.
10. Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.
2 Reducing plastic use in Kent
Proposer: Mr Hook Seconder: Ida Linfield
The County Council notes:
1. That plastic waste is a major global environmental problem, especially affecting communities like Kent where the sea and coastline are important; and
2. The national campaign for Plastic Free Communities, in which communities commit to a reduction of single use or disposable plastics.
The County Council warmly congratulates the first two Kent towns to be awarded Plastic Free Town status, namely Whitstable and Faversham, and notes that essential to this status being awarded was action by local councils, businesses and public and private sector organisations to identify and reduce their plastic use.
The County Council fully supports the many other Kent towns and villages who are currently working towards this status.
The County Council, bearing in mind its position as one of the largest and most high-profile organisations in Kent, resolves to show leadership on this issue and request the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste to:
Minutes:
a)
Modern
Slavery
(1) Mr Farrell moved and Dr Sullivan seconded the following motion:
1.1“Though slavery was abolished in the UK in 1833, there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. Figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggest that there are more than 40 million people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million held in forced labour. There were 3805 victims of modern slavery identified in the UK in 2016. A rising number but still well below the 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims estimated by the Home Office.
1.2Modern Slavery is happening nationwide. 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 can include sexual and criminal exploitation.
1.3This Council notes:
(i) That action needs to be taken to raise awareness of modern slavery and the fact that it is happening all over the UK.
(ii) That the current support for victims is not sufficient and needs to go beyond the 45 days they are currently given by the government.
(iii)That councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don’t contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.
1.4
This Council
resolves:
(i) To adopt the Co-operative Party’s Charter against Modern Slavery to ensure our procurement practices don’t support slavery.
1.5 The Charter:
[Kent County Council] will:
(i) Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.
(ii) Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.
(iii)Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.
(iv)Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.
(v) Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
(vi)Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
(vii) Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.
(viii) Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.
(ix)Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.
(x) Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.”
(2) Mr Long proposed and Ms Rankin seconded the following amendment:
1.1
“Though slavery was
abolished in the UK England in 1772
833, there are more people held in
conditions of slaverys today than ever before in
human history. Figures from the International Labour Organisation
(ILO) suggest that there are more than 40 million people in modern
slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million held in forced
labour. There were 3805 victims of modern slavery identified in the
UK in 2016. A rising number but still well below the 10,000 and
13,000 potential victims estimated by the Home
Office.
1.2 Modern Slavery is happening nationwide. 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 can include sexual and criminal exploitation.
1.3This Council believes:
(i) That action needs to be taken to raise awareness of modern slavery and the fact that it is happening all over the UK.
(ii) That the current support for victims is not sufficient and needs to go beyond the 45 days they are currently given by the government.
(iii)That councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don’t contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.
1.4 This Council
resolves:
(i)
To adopt the Co-Operative
Party’s Charter following new Policy
against Modern Slavery to ensure our procurement commissioning practices don’t support
slavery.
1.5 The Policy: - Kent County Council will -
(i)
Train its corporate
procurement commissioning team to understand
modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and
Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and
Supply.
(ii)
Require its contractors suppliers in all new
tender invitations and future contracts to comply fully with
the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract
termination as a potential sanction for
non-compliance.
(iii) Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.
(iv) Highlight to its suppliers in all new tender invitations and future contracts that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.
(v) Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
(vi)
Require its tendered
contractors suppliers in
all new tender invitations and future contracts to adopt a
whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the
whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
(vii) Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.
(viii) Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.
(ix) Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.
(x) Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.”
(3) Following the debate, the Chairman put the amendment set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:
Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr P Bartlett, Mrs C Bell, Mrs R Binks, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Ms K Constantine, Mr A Cook, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mr D Farrell, Mrs L Game, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr M Horwood, Mrs L Hurst, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Monk, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Dr L Sullivan, Mr B Sweetland, Mr I Thomas, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr M Whybrow
Against (7)
Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr A Hook, Mr E Hotson, Ida Linfield
Abstain (1)
Mr H Rayner
Amendment Carried
(4) The Chairman put the substantive motion as set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:
For (57)
Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr P Bartlett, Mrs C Bell, Mrs R Binks, Mr R Bird, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr I Chittenden, Ms K Constantine, Mr A Cook, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mrs T Dean, Mr D Farrell, Mrs L Game, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr A Hook, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Ida Linfield, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Monk, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr D Pascoe, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Dr L Sullivan, Mr B Sweetland, Mr I Thomas, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr M Whybrow
Against (0), Abstained (0)
Substantive Motion Carried
(5) RESOLVED that:
1.1 This Council believes:
(i) That action needs to be taken to raise awareness of modern slavery and the fact that it is happening all over the UK.
(ii) That the current support for victims is not sufficient and needs to go beyond the 45 days they are currently given by the government.
(iii)That councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don’t contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.
1.2 This Council resolves:
(i) To adopt the following new Policy against Modern Slavery to ensure our commissioning practices don’t support slavery.
1.3
The Policy – Kent County Council
will -
(i) Train its corporate commissioning team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.
(ii) Require its suppliers in all new tender invitations and future contracts to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.
(iii)Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.
(iv)Highlight to its suppliers in all new tender invitations and future contracts that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.
(v) Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
(vi)Require its suppliers in all new tender invitations and future contracts to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
(vii) Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.
(viii) Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.
(ix)Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.
(x) Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.
b) Reducing plastic use in Kent
(1) Mr Hook moved and Ida Linfield seconded the following motion:
“This Council notes:
1.1That plastic waste is a major global environmental problem, especially affecting communities like Kent where the sea and coastline are important; and
1.2The national campaign for Plastic Free Communities, in which communities commit to a reduction of single use or disposable plastics.
1.3The County Council warmly congratulates the first two Kent towns to be awarded Plastic Free Town status, namely Whitstable and Faversham, and notes that essential to this status being awarded was action by local councils, businesses and public and private sector organisations to identify and reduce their plastic use. The County Council fully supports the many other Kent towns and villages who are currently working towards this status.
1.4The County Council, bearing in mind its position as one of the largest and most high-profile organisations in Kent, resolves to show leadership on this issue and request the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste to:
a) Ask Directors to arrange for plastic use in the Directorate to be reviewed and reduced, and to report back to the County Council on this effort;
b) Invite all KCC members, staff and service users wherever possible to suggest ways in which the County Council's plastic use can be reduced; and
c) Publicise the efforts made by the County Council to encourage both organisations and individuals in Kent to reduce their plastic use.”
(2) Mr Cooper proposed and Mr Hotson seconded the following amendment:
1.1That plastic all types
of waste is present a major global
environmental problem, especially affecting communities like Kent,
the Garden of England, where the sea, and coastline and
countryside are important; and
1.2The national campaign for Plastic Free Communities, in which communities commit to a reduction of single use or disposable plastics, as well as Keep Britain Tidy’s campaign to end waste and educate future generations.
1.3That these large amounts of waste decimate communities, create huge environmental issues and present a huge cost to the tax-payer.
1.4The County Council warmly congratulates the first two Kent towns to be awarded Plastic Free Town status, namely Whitstable and Faversham, and notes that essential to this status being awarded was action by local councils, businesses and public and private sector organisations to identify and reduce their plastic use.
1.5The County Council fully supports the many other Kent towns and villages who are currently working towards this status, and that this achievement will be the start of a greater drive for communities to reduce all types of waste.
1.6The County Council, bearing in mind its position as one of the largest and most high-profile organisations in Kent, resolves to continue to show leadership on this issue and request the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste to:
a)
Ask Directors to arrange for plastic
use in the Directorate to be reviewed and reduced, and to report
back to the County Council on this effort;Congratulate Corporate Directors for arranging for
the ongoing reduction of waste generation, particularly noting the
drive to and the use of disposable plastics, and the ongoing effort
to make the Council a paperless environment;
b)
Invite all KCC members, staff and service
users wherever possible to suggest ways in which the County
Council's plastic use overall level of
waste can be reduced;
c) Publicise the efforts
made by the County Council to encourage both organisations and
individuals in Kent to reduce their overall level of
waste plastic use.
(3) Mr Hook, as proposer of the original motion, with the support of his seconder agreed to accept the amendment.
(4) Following the debate, the Chairman put the substantive motion set out in paragraph (7) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:
For (53)
Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr P Bartlett, Mrs C Bell, Mrs R Binks, Mr R Bird, Mr D Brazier, Mr P Carter, Mr I Chittenden, Mr A Cook, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mrs T Dean, Mr D Farrell, Mrs L Game, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr A Hook, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Ida Linfield, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Monk, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr D Pascoe, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Dr L Sullivan, Mr I Thomas, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr M Whybrow
Abstain (1)
Mr H Rayner
Against (0)
Substantive Motion Carried
(5) RESOLVED that:
1.1That all types of waste present a major global environmental problem, especially affecting communities like Kent, the Garden of England, where the sea and coastline and countryside are important; and
1.2The national campaign for Plastic Free Communities, in which communities commit to a reduction of single use or disposable plastics, as well as Keep Britain Tidy’s campaign to end waste and educate future generations.
1.3That these large amounts of waste decimate communities, create huge environmental issues and present a huge cost to the tax-payer.
1.4The County Council warmly congratulates the first two Kent towns to be awarded Plastic Free Town status, namely Whitstable and Faversham, and notes that essential to this status being awarded was action by local councils, businesses and public and private sector organisations to identify and reduce their plastic use.
1.5The County Council fully supports the many other Kent towns and villages who are currently working towards this status, and that this achievement will be the start of a greater drive for communities to reduce all types of waste.
1.6The County Council, bearing in mind its position as one of the largest and most high-profile organisations in Kent, resolves to continue to show leadership on this issue and request the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste to:
a) Congratulate Corporate Directors for arranging for the ongoing reduction of waste generation, particularly noting the drive to and the use of disposable plastics, and the ongoing effort to make the Council a paperless environment;
b) Invite all KCC members, staff and service users wherever possible to suggest ways in which the County Council'soverall level of waste can be reduced;
c) Publicise the efforts made by the County Council to encourage both organisations and individuals in Kent to reduce their overall level of waste.