DISCUSSION PAPER

							                                                        9   DECISION PAPER 5.3




MEETING         : COUNCIL
DATE            : 18 MAY 2006

REPORT OF       : EXECUTIVE
Contact         : Alan Thornley, County Planning Officer
Officer           Tel: ( 01244 ) 603101
                  Email: Alan.Thornley@cheshire.gov.uk


FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS – NOTICE OF MOTION

INTRODUCTION

1      At the Council meeting on 27 October 2005, the following Notice of Motion,
submitted in the name of Councillor E E Carter under the provisions of Standing
Order No 12, was referred to the Executive for consideration taking advice from the
Policy and Communications Strategic Panel with report back to Council for decision
in December.

       “ The County Council , mindful of the need to help the poorest producers
       receive a fair return for their goods , restates its previous support for Fair
       Trade products , reviews the extent to which the use of Fair Trade producers
       can be accommodated under the Council’s Corporate Procurement and Food
       Provision Strategies , and explores ways in which the County can achieve Fair
       Trade status “

2      Following agreement to a deferral at the December meeting of Council, the
Strategic Panel sought further information from officers. A further report was
presented setting out the further information which has been incorporated into this
paper .

FAIR TRADE STATUS

3     To achieve status as a Fair Trade area, five criteria, or goals, set by the Fair
Trade Foundation have to be met. These are:

       (1)    the local council must pass a resolution supporting Fair Trade, and
              serve Fair Trade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and
              canteens;
       (2)    a range of Fair Trade products must be readily available in the area‟s
              shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments (targets
              are set in relation to population);
       (3)    Fair Trade products must be used by a number of local work places
              (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations
              (churches, schools etc);
       (4)    the Council must attract popular support for the campaign; and
       (5)    a local Fair Trade Steering Group must be convened to ensure
              continued commitment to Fair Trade Town status.


PROCUREMENT AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS

4        CBS Catering has for some years been working towards wider use of Fair
Trade products. It is also working towards the greater use of local products – a form
of fairly traded products, but at home. Fair Trade can be built in to Council contracts
with key suppliers and guidance is available to procurers. Fundamentally suppliers
are advised to inform the Council of any Fair Trade products they may have that
meet the Council‟s specifications. Where all other factors are equal the Council can
elect to take the fair trade product over another. Where the Fair Trade product is not
the most economic choice the Council can elect to offer it as an alternative at a price
reflecting the different purchase cost.

5      Over the last year CBS Catering has purchased some £29,000 of Fair Trade
produce. The difficulty faced is the limited range of suitable products available to the
County Council. On a regular basis Fair Trade tea, coffee and orange juice is
obtained. Other products available are: chocolate, string, nuts and dried fruit. With
the majority of these there is insufficient demand to warrant their procurement. The
Council could procure sugar and yoghurt through the Fair Trade route but the current
yoghurt is procured locally and there is a move towards reducing and/or replacing
sugar in catering. The majority of Fair Trade products available on the market are
not greatly in demand within the County Council.

6      The Corporate Procurement Unit has produced a draft Fair Trade procurement
guidance note for Fairly Traded products (Appendix 1 attached) which could be
introduced if the motion is adopted.

FAIR TRADE IN CHESHIRE

7      In 2002, Chester became recognised as the first Fair Trade City in the UK
under the Fair Trade Foundations “Fair Trade Towns” initiative. Macclesfield
Borough was designated as a Fair Trade area in March 2006, with a steering group
and a range of promotional activities.

8       Vale Royal Borough Council is currently working toward Fair Trade status for
the Borough by mid 2006. It has a steering group and has run some promotional
activities.

9      Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council has passed a resolution to only serve Fair
Trade tea and coffee in all Council meetings, produced a local guide and will achieve
Fair Trade status for the Borough by the end of 2006.

10     Congleton Borough is also working toward Fair Trade status through its
current procurement review programme.

11     Ellesmere Port & Neston BC is awaiting a decision on their Fair Trade status
from the Fair Trade Foundation. It has a steering group and is running activities.
12    If Cheshire, as an area were to go for Fair Trade status, the five points above
would have to be satisfied by actions of the County Council.

13     At present, most Districts are progressing/maintaining their Fair Trade status
as part of an individual officers duties (perhaps one day a week). However, a wide
variety of other organisations are involved in local steering groups. For example,
Chester's group includes Chester City Council officers and Members, Cheshire
Development Education Centre, Chester Diocese, Chester Cathedral, Chester Zoo,
University of Chester, Cheshire WI, Chester Fair Trading and a number of individual
businesses selling FAIR TRADE products.

14      The biggest barrier to achieving the status for Cheshire might be achieving a
sufficient number of outlets selling and serving Fair Trade products. Much work has
already been done by the Districts, although some are struggling to get enough
numbers and it would depend on how the Fair Trade foundation viewed the
population figures. It is recommended that consideration be given to a steering group
being established and to bring forward a proposed Council resolution to be passed
so that only Fair Trade tea and coffee is served, along with a commitment to support
the promotion of it in the community. It is worth noting on this latter point that Chester
link Fair Trade and local food promotion.

15     Of the Districts contacted about their Fair Trade steering groups, most seem
open and interested in the possibility of a Cheshire wide group. How this would work
in practice is more difficult to say, as clearly there is a requirement for each authority
to operate their own group under the Fair Trade Foundations criteria.

16     A substantial amount of work would still be needed to bring everything
together. As to the timescale, it is quite difficult to be precise. However if Members
were willing to support this activity fully, then it would not be unrealistic to set out to
achieve Fair Trade status for Cheshire by end of this year or next year‟s Fair Trade
fortnight.

RESOURCES

17      It is difficult to identify the resources required for achieving Fair Trade status
for Cheshire. Based on what the Districts have undertaken it approximates to one
officer who would need around one day a week to achieve and maintain Fair Trade
status for Cheshire (probably more initially).

RAISING AWARENESS

18     As an authority the Council has a range of means of promoting proposed
moves towards achieving wider uptake of Fair Trade products among staff within its
diverse services if the proposal secures County Council approval.

19    Updates on progress could feature in the monthly staff salary insert, „Our
Cheshire’, available ten issues a year ( excluding January and August) which
reaches a target audience of more than 22,000 full and part-time staff.

20    Similarly the County Council‟s quarterly publication „Your Cheshire’ offers
wide scope to deliver the message among a countywide circulation of 320,000
Cheshire households and businesses.
21     There could also be a News Release announcing the County Council decision
with relevant links on the website.

22    The acquisition for partnership use of the shared resource known as OSCARs
(One-Stop Community Access Roadshow) in which two mobile display units can be
used at chosen venues across the county to spread the word about the County
Council‟s and partner‟s initiatives might also offer further opportunities.


CONCLUSION

23   This paper sets out the approach which the Council could adopt if it were
minded to adopt the aims of the motion

POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIC PANEL

24    This report was considered by the Policy and Communications Strategic Panel
on 18 April 2006. The Panel agreed as follows:-

      “That the Executive be advised to request the Council to approve the Notice of
      Motion submitted in the name of Councillor E E Carter amended as follows:-

      The County Council, mindful of the need to help the poorest producers receive
      a fair return for their goods, restates its previous support for Fair Trade
      products, has reviewed the extent to which the use of Fair Trade producers
      can be accommodated under the Council’s existing Corporate Procurement
      and Food Provision Strategies and will use its best endeavours to achieve the
      objective of gaining Fair Trade Status within the overall context of those
      strategies.”

ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE

25     The Executive considered this matter at its meeting on 2 May 2006 and
endorsed the recommendations of the Policy and Communications Strategic Panel.
The Executive therefore, advises the Council to adopt the motion amended as set out
below.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Notice of Motion be adopted as amended to read as follows:-

      “The County Council, mindful of the need to help the poorest producers
      receive a fair return for their goods, restates its previous support for Fair
      Trade products, has reviewed the extent to which the use of Fair Trade
      producers can be accommodated under the Council’s existing
      Corporate Procurement and Food Provision Strategies and will use its
      best endeavours to achieve the objective of gaining Fair Trade Status
      within the overall context of those strategies.”


REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:

To respond to the Notice of Motion.
Local Member                  N/A

Background Documents          N/A

Available for Inspection at   N/A