Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Executive Member for Place and Economic Prosperity.

RESOLVED that:

1.     The Council supports Fairtrade and welcomes initiatives by local communities in the borough to encourage the use of Fairtrade goods, including by seeking to achieve Fairtrade Town status.

2.     The Council offers Fairtrade refreshment options within Council offices where possible, and explores opportunities to offer such products at other Council venues.

3.     The Head of Legal and Governance be requested – in consultation with the relevant Executive member – to consider enhancing references to social value within the Council’s procurement documentation.

The Executive Member for Place and Economic Prosperity, Councillor Humphreys, introduced the report which set out the actions available to the Council in relation to Fairtrade. The report followed a motion to Full Council presented by Councillor Ritter in October 2019. Councillor Humphreys explained that the Council’s support for Fairtrade would need to be balanced against delivery of other Council priorities recently agreed in the new Corporate Plan. He stated that the Council should support local groups that wished to pursue ‘Fairtrade Town’ status, but that interested groups would need to lead on that.

The Council would start to offer Fairtrade refreshment options in its offices where possible, noting that there was likely to be some additional cost which would need to be absorbed within existing revenue budgets.

Consideration would also be given to enhancing references to social value within the Council’s procurement documentation. This would make it easier for the Council to consider the use of local suppliers.

The Leader of the Council thanked officers for the work that had been done on Fairtrade, and the Fairtrade Town Steering Group whom had attended the Council in October to offer advice and support.

In response to observations from Visiting Members, it was noted that:

·         The Council was keen to support Fairtrade initiatives

·         The Steering Group had worked closely with Reigate Business Guild, which was supportive of the initiative

·         The recommendations met the requirements of ‘Fairtrade Town’ status

·         A written response would be provided to a Visiting Member on the differences between the motion to Full Council and the recommendations set out in the report

RESOLVED that:

1.    The Council supports Fairtrade and welcomes initiatives by local communities in the Borough to encourage the use of Fairtrade goods, including by seeking to achieve Fairtrade Town status.

2.    The Council offers Fairtrade refreshment options within Council offices where possible, and explores opportunities to offer such products at other Council venues.

3.    The Head of Legal and Governance be requested – in consultation with the relevant Executive member – to consider enhancing references to social value within the Council’s procurement documentation.

Reason for decision: To confirm the Council’s support for Fairtrade and ethical sourcing, and its support for local communities pursuing local initiatives to encourage the use of Fairtrade products.

Alternative Options:

Support the motion as presented to Full Council in October 2019. This option was not recommended, as (i) it would go above and beyond what the Council was able to do; and (ii) the resources required to fully implement the motion would have been considerable and required staff or funding to be diverted from the delivery of agreed corporate priorities.

Do not support a motion in respect of Fairtrade. This option was not recommended. The Council have a responsibility to support and promote sustainable development and consider social value, and whilst the amended motion would have some limited cost implications these are considered acceptable.