This CLP notes:

That the Co-operative Party has worked with a wide range of NGOs, Local Government procurement teams and the Co-operative Group to develop a new Charter which aims to ensure there is no place for modern day slavery in the supply chains used by local authorities. Councils collectively spend £40bn each year

The Charter proposes that that each council shall:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.
  • 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.
  • Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.
  • Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.
  • 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.
  • Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.

We note the Charter helped form the basis for an excellent practice note on ethics and procurement within the Welsh Government Code of practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains, the “Guide to tackling modern slavery and human rights abuses“.

Further, this CLP resolves to ask the Conwy County Borough Council whether an “’Anti-slavery and Ethical Employment Champion” has been appointed and a summary of activities so far.”

 

Passed Unanimously at the CLP meeting on 10th October 2018

Reply from Conwy County Borough Council

The Council takes its responsibilities towards Safeguarding very seriously, requiring all staff to undergo training. The safeguarding training  raises staff alertness to some of the issues contained within the Charter, particularly with regard to Modern Slavery. Matters relating to low tender prices are picked up in tender evaluation criteria  – the Council seldom invites bids on a price basis.

The Council is developing its policy regarding Ethical Procurement with the aim of mirroring Wales Government’s policy. It is hoped that this will be adopted before the end of March 2019.

Regards,

M.P.Halstead

Aberconwy Labour Party
Aberconwy Labour Party
Link to Instagram Link to Twitter Link to YouTube Link to Facebook Link to LinkedIn Link to Snapchat Close Fax Website Location Phone Email Calendar Building Search