Issue - meetings

To consider any Notices of Motion that have been received in accordance with paragraph 1.34 of the Council Procedure Rules

Consideration was given to the following Notices of Motion:-

Modern Slavery

Proposed by Cllr S Corcoran  and seconded by Cllr A Harewood

This Council notes:-

• ­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.

Background information:

Modern slavery briefing

RESOLVED

That the motion be referred to Cabinet.

2.       Single Use Plastics

Proposed by Councillor R Bailey and seconded by Councillor
H Davenport

We know how harmful single use plastics are to the environment, indeed in 2017 the NFWI called on the Government and industry to research and develop innovative solutions to stop the accumulation of micro plastic fibres in our oceans.

We urge full council endorsement of this campaign and in so doing seek to eliminate all single use plastic within CEC managed buildings and facilities by 2020 and seek to encourage the elimination of single use plastic within its supply chain by 2025.

RESOLVED

That motion be referred to Cabinet.