Meeting documents

Cabinet is asked to NOTE the progress update in appendix 1, as presented to the TEC Select Committee on 4 June 2019.

Mr G Williams, Cabinet for Community Engagement and Public Health, reported that the Transport, Environment and Communities (TEC) Select Committee had provided a report on the progress to date on the eight recommendations agreed by Cabinet in April 2019. 

Mr Williams highlighted the following points:

• The prominent position of the modern slavery statement on the BCC web page. 
• The Training Strategy had been finalised; officers had carried out training for staff at BCC and the district councils.
• To date, over 840 professionals had been trained; 150 from BCC. 
• More training days were planned for 2019. 
• There would be an ‘Anti-slavery Day’ on 18 October 2019; materials from the Willow Project would be used.
• Single points of contacts (SPOCs) were available for front line teams. 
• Members should continue to receive training.
• An article was published in the Evening Standard regarding a successful modern slavery raid in Buckinghamshire.
• 80 referrals had been received from 1 September 2018 to 23 April 2019.

Mr Williams summarised that there had been referrals from many organisations; people were aware of modern slavery and how to report; there had been successful prosecutions and the Select Committee were happy with the progress.

Following the report Cabinet raised and discussed the following points:

• In response to a question from the Chairman on how well the Service worked with neighbouring police forces; Mrs A Sarchet, Communities, Engagement and Safety Manager, acknowledged that there was scope for improvement.  Mrs M Edwards, Communities Project Manager, added that the Willow Project covered the Thames Valley area and the police joined forces in operational work at a national level.  However, there were always further improvements that could be made.
• It was agreed that Modern Slavery should be part of the member induction programme for the new Buckinghamshire Council.
• Ms Cranmer asked when the evaluation of the Willow Project would be published.  Mr Williams reported that review work would be carried out before March 2020 but no firm publication date was known.
• Lin Hazell asked about the process for individuals found to be modern day slaves.  Mrs Edwards explained that if the victim had been identified via the national referral process they would be supported until a decision was made.   In terms of local support, the Willow Project would support victims for however long was required. 
• The victims were from a wide range of backgrounds.  The County Council had a clear process and guidance for making referrals via the national referral mechanism and for notification of potential victims of modern slavery.
• Mr Chilver asked for information on the follow up action of any referrals and whether there had been any prosecutions.  Mrs Edwards stated she did not have the data on how many victims had been through the national referral process.  However, victims would have received help via the Willow Project which provided long term support to individuals and families.  Mrs Sarchet added that the contract was new and that the data was unavailable at the moment.

RESOLVED:  Cabinet NOTED the progress update in appendix 1.