Agenda item

MOTION A:    FAIRTRADE

Proposed by:               Cllr Robert Eggleston 

Seconded by:              Cllr Roger Cartwright

Mid Sussex District Council notes that: 

•       2019 marks 25 years since the FAIRTRADE Mark was launched in the UK.

•       Since 1994, consumer demand for Fairtrade has grown thanks to the efforts of grassroots campaigners and pioneering Fair Trade businesses.

•       There are now over 600 Fairtrade Communities in the UK and more than 2,000 globally and this includes Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Lindfield.West Sussex achieved Fairtrade County status in February 2018

•       As a result of Fairtrade commitments from mainstream brands and retailers, the UK Fairtrade market is now one of the biggest in the world.

•       Global Fairtrade sales last year generated £142 million in Fairtrade Premium. Farmers in 73 countries have invested this money in their communities, increasing business productivity and contributing to the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

•       Despite this positive news, exploitation remains rampant in global supply chains. More than 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery, including forced labour, and 152 million young people in child labour. Hundreds of millions more are earning less than a living income or wage.

This council believes that: 

•       Fairtrade and the wider fairtrade movement has a significant contribution to make towards ending exploitation in global supply chains and achieving the SDGs.

•       The recently agreed International Fair Trade Chartershould be welcomed, with its vision of transforming trade to work for people and planet.

•       The Fairtrade principles of paying a ‘premium’ that is wholly managed by farmers and workers themselves, and of minimum prices to protect producers from market volatility, are crucial to systemic change.

•       Public bodies, including local authorities, should support ethical procurement policies, using their purchasing power to support Fairtrade and ensure their supply chains, at home and abroad, are free of exploitation, including modern slavery.

•       Companies operating through global supply chains should go further and take steps to require the payment of living wages and achievement of living incomes for all.

This council resolves to:

•       Promote Fairtrade locally, by support for Fairtrade in the existing communities in Mid Sussex with Fairtrade Community status, in the media, including social media, and events, including during Fairtrade Fortnight.

•       Work towards Fairtrade status for Mid Sussex as a whole.

•       Celebrate and incentivise businesses championing Fairtrade products in the local community.

•       Review its procurement policy, including any catering offer, to ensure that Fairtrade produce is chosen wherever possible, and that Fair Trade considerations are included as a preference in any contracts going out to tender.

And this council further resolves to:

•       Establish a working group of officers and councillorsto produce an action plan setting out how the resolutions described above may be delivered, including a time-scale for their delivery.

The Chairman drew Members attention to the details of the motion listed in the agenda.

The Motion was proposed by Councillor Eggleston who acknowledged that there was also a tabled amendment proposed by Councillors Ellis and Bradbury. He confirmed acceptance of these amendments and was content for them to become the Motion as amended. He expressed a hope that in the future Mid Sussex may be able to seek Fair Trade status for the District as a whole. This was seconded by Councillor Cartwright.

Discussion was held around the  efficacy of Fair Trade in assisting the original crop producers. Some Members highlighted that there are other ethical trade organisations in existence and that some major retailers have ceased associating with Fair Trade in favour of an alternative.  Other Members noted that the aims of Fair Trade are laudable.

As proposer and seconder of the amendment to the original motion, Councillor Ellis and Councillor Bradbury spoke in support of Fair Trade but also noted that as 26% of the local economy is rural, local produce should also be promoted.  They also clarified they were content for their amendment to become the substantive motion.

The Chairman then took Members to a vote on the Motion as amended which was agreed.

RESOLVED

Mid Sussex District Council notes that:

•      2019 marks 25 years since the FAIRTRADE Mark was launched in the UK.

•      Since 1994, consumer demand for Fairtrade has grown thanks to the efforts of grassroots campaigners and pioneering Fair Trade businesses.

•      There are now over 600 Fairtrade Communities in the UK and more than 2,000 globally and this includes Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Lindfield. West Sussex achieved Fairtrade County status in February 2018

•      As a result of Fairtrade commitments from mainstream brands and retailers, the UK Fairtrade market is now one of the biggest in the world.

•      Global Fairtrade sales last year generated £142 million in Fairtrade Premium. Farmers in 73 countries have invested this money in their communities, increasing business productivity and contributing to the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

•      Despite this positive news, exploitation remains rampant in global supply chains. More than 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery, including forced labour, and 152 million young people in child labour. Hundreds of millions more are earning less than a living income or wage.

This council believes that:

•      Fairtrade and the wider fairtrade movement has a significant contribution to make towards ending exploitation in global supply chains and achieving the SDGs.

•      The recently agreed International Fair Trade Charter should be welcomed, with its vision of transforming trade to work for people and planet.

•      The Fairtrade principles of paying a ‘premium’ that is wholly managed by farmers and workers themselves, and of minimum prices to protect producers from market volatility, are crucial to systemic change.

•      Public bodies, including local authorities, should support ethical procurement policies, based on the principles set out in the social value legislation, which would include Fairtrade, and ensure their supply chains, at home and abroad, are free of exploitation, including modern slavery.

•      Companies operating through global supply chains should go further and take steps to require the payment of living wages and achievement of living incomes for all.

This council resolves to:

•      Support the decisions of Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Lindfield to achieve Fair Trade Community status, and notes that it is a matter for each community to decide whether to seek such status.

•      Continue to use social value principles in its procurement decisions, having regard to economic, social and environmental wellbeing in connection with any contracts.