An Independent Deepings councillor has welcomed plans to sign up to a Modern Slavery Charter - over two years after he called for the adoption of a similar document.

In September 2018, the Conservative dominated South Kesteven District Council declined to sign up to a standard ten-point Modern Slavery Charter which had already been adopted by more than 80 councils.

Coun Dilks (Independent Deeping St James) said: "I was disappointed my suggestion was rejected by SK Conservatives, particularly as elsewhere across the country there'd been much cross-party support for the Cooperative Party's Modern Slavery Charter on which my 2018 motion was based.

"But I was delighted that in January this year, the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership finally adopted a similar Charter – clearly based on the ten-point plan which SKDC previously declined to sign up to.

"Now the county-council run Partnership has asked all Lincolnshire councils to adopt it.

"It's ironic that South Kesteven district councillors are now being asked by one of their own Cabinet Members to adopt a Charter substantially the same as the one they rejected two years ago.

"But I welcome the fact that even some South Kesteven Conservatives seem to have eventually realised it's a good idea to sign up to a shared Charter and agree a joint plan of action across councils to tackle the scourge of Modern Slavery more effectively.

"This is an evil which is ruining the lives of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens right now and a serious issue that ought to be above petty party politics."

As Nub News reported recently , the matter is to be debated and accepted at a meeting tomorrow (Thursday).