The Council's latest Modern Slavery Statement outlines the action taken over the past year - and the priorities for 2026 to 2027 - to make sure modern slavery and human trafficking have no place in our services or supply chains. The Statement also highlights the responsibilities we all share to safeguard vulnerable people and support ethical employment practices.
Working both directly and through the Ardal procurement partnership with Monmouthshire, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan, the Council continues to strengthen due diligence, improve supply chain transparency and promote socially responsible procurement across more than £1.2bn of annual spend.
Staff awareness has continued to grow, with over 6,500 employees now having completed the Council's online safeguarding and modern slavery training. Face to face sessions have also been developed for teams without regular digital access. Referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) have increased again, showing improved understanding of how to recognise and report concerns.
Work with suppliers has also progressed, including strengthened tender documentation, improved self assessment processes, and continued compliance with the Welsh Government's Ethical Employment in Supply Chains Code of Practice.
The 2026 to 2027 Statement sets out next steps, including expanding training, increasing support for Community Wellbeing commitments, collaborating with Welsh Government on shared resources, and deepening joint work through Ardal. The Council will also explore how technologies such as AI can help improve visibility and identify risks within supply chains.
View the Modern Slavery Statement 2026 to 2027 (PDF, 701 KB)
