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Meeting documents

Cabinet
Wednesday, 5th February, 2003

Bath & North East Somerset Council

MEETING:

Council Executive

AGENDA
ITEM
NUMBER

MEETING DATE:

5th February 2003

TITLE:

FAIR TRADE IN THE COUNCIL

WARD:

All

AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM

List of attachments to this report: None

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 In 1997, the Council passed a resolution in support of Oxfam's Fair Trade campaign as follows:

1.2 `That the Council be sensitive to the principles of fair trade in relation to purchasing policy, and raises awareness of the issues both within the Council and the wider community.'

1.3 On 23rd January, 2003, the Council passed the following resolution:

"That the Council

(1) Supports the Fairtrade Foundation's aim of tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal, through encouraging support for the Fairtrade Mark;

(2) Recognises the scope for local organic farmers to apply for Fairtrade status under the recent experiment agreed by the Soil Association and the Fairtrade Foundation;

(3) Plays an active part in pursuing the designation of Bath and North East Somerset as a Fairtrade area, in partnership with local employers, schools, the media and other bodies and therefore instructs the Chief Executive to take the lead in convening a local Fairtrade steering group in accordance with the goals set out by the Fairtrade Foundation;

(4) Serves Fairtrade coffee, tea and other products at its meetings and promote awareness of Fairtrade through Council News, in accordance with the goals set out by the Fairtrade Foundation; and

(5) Instructs the Chief Executive to investigate how the Council may legitimately encourage the use of Fairtrade goods by its catering contractors and in vending machines on Council premises.

1.4 Much has been done to implement the original resolution. The Head of Sustainability and Economic Development has been appointed lead Officer to support the Executive Councillor for Economic Development and Environment in delivering an action plan on future Fairtrade initiatives. This will include:

(1) Making staff aware of the principles of fair trade;

(2) Promoting opportunities to meet, and awareness of, fair trade objectives within the local community; and

(3) Integrating fair trade principles into a corporate sustainable purchasing policy.

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 That the Executive Member for Economic Development and Environment prepare a detailed action plan for the Council Executive aimed at delivering objectives on fair trade and integrating those principles into corporate objectives and policies.

Contact person

Jonathan Richards, Senior Policy & Projects Officer, Sustainability & Economic Development.

(Report drafted by Graham Russell, Democratic Services Manager in consultation with Bill Cotton.)

Background papers

Fairtrade Foundation's Fairtrade Towns Initiative Goals & Action Guide

Document3

This version was printed 28-Jan-03 9:27 AM