Fairtrade County Borough Status
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MERTHYR TYDFIL COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN Main Tel: 01685 725000 www.merthyr.gov.uk CABINET REPORT Date Written 12 th May 2011 Report Author Alyn Owen Service Area Customer Services Committee Division Cabinet Committee Date 12 th October 2011 To: Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen Fairtrade County Borough Status PURPOSE OF THE REPORT: To update Cabinet on progress in implementing the Fairtrade Initiative within the town centre and to seek approval to extend this to the wider County Borough area. The report also seeks approval to amend the current LA franking machine to include a postage mark reflecting Merthyr Tydfil’s Fair Trade status and to consider a request to only provide Fairtrade products for sale in all Council run outlets 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.1 On 28 th July 2008, Cabinet agreed to build on the successful Fairtrade Town campaign by approving the development of the Fairtrade County Borough Initiative. 2.0 IMPLEMENTATION 2.1 On 9 th November 2009, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough achieved Fairtrade County status. In achieving this status the Local Authority had implement five objectives developed by Fair Trade Wales in agreement with the Welsh Assembly Government, the Scottish Government, and the Scottish Fair Trade Forum in consultation with the Fairtrade Foundation. The status was renewed for a year on February 28 th 2011 2.2 The five objectives were: • The Council to pass a resolution to support Fairtrade, committing to serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings, offices and any food outlets. • A range of Fairtrade products is readily available in shops across the County Borough. Fairtrade products are served in local cafes/catering establishments • Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places • To attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign • A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade Town status. 3.0 FAIRTRADE COUNTY BOROUGH STATUS . 3.1 Achieving Fairtrade status has included the creation of a steering group involving the Council’s Regeneration service, the Town Centre Partnership Cytun (a group that represents the churches of Merthyr Tydfil) and local schools. Local stores throughout the county have also participated in the scheme and two local Primary Schools, Rhyd y Grug and Gellifaelog have achieved Fairtrade School Status. 3.2 The Council has taken the opportunity to demonstrate its support for the Fairtrade aim of tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from developing countries to get a better deal, through selling and promoting Fairtrade products through all Council controlled commercial outlets 3.3 Merthyr Tydfil gaining Fairtrade County status, has further enhanced Wales’ standing as a Fairtrade nation; over three quarters of counties in Wales are now Fairtrade 4.0 FAIRTRADE PRODUCTS OFFERED FOR SALE BY THE COUNCIL 4.1 Currently, the following Fair Trade items are stocked and offered for sale in the 4 cafeteria outlets managed by Leisure Services • Merthyr Leisure Centre: Tea, Coffee, & Chocolate Bars. • Cyfarthfa Tea Rooms: Tea & Coffee & Chocolate Bars. • Aberfan Leisure Centre: Tea, Coffee. • Civic Centre: Tea & Coffee (which are supplied for meetings) 4.2 The Fairtrade committee, supported by the Merthyr Tydfil County Town Centre Partnership has requested that the Authority only stock and offer Fairtrade products in Council run cafeteria outlets. This would also include products available from vending machines in Council owned offices and buildings. 4.3 Officers from Leisure Services, Business Change and Economic Development have worked together to consider this request. Although there is full support to both continue and extend support for the Fairtrade programme across Council run facilities, services and products offered by the Authority must take into account both financial implications and customer choice. 4.4 Limiting product range in catering outlets to any single brand would adversely affect customer choice and could reduce total income. 4.5 However, a compromise could be reached by expanding the range of Fairtrade products made available through the Authority. 5.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATION(S) 5.1 Implementation of the Fairtrade County Borough Initiative has limited financial implications and the provision of Fairtrade tea and coffee creates no overall cost difference. 5.2 Limiting product range in catering outlets to any single brand would adversely affect customer choice and could reduce total income 5.3 The costs associated with changing the current post mark on the franking machine to incorporate the “Fair Trade post mark” will be covered by the fair trade steering committee. 6.0 EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT 6.1 An Equality Impact Assessment has been undertaken and the following risks have been identified: 6.2 After the Council’s initial support for application for Fair Trade status, failure to give a further practical level of support will be received negatively. 6.3 The Fair Trade Committee is now self supporting, but will loose confidence if it is perceived that the Council no longer supports the introduction of Fair Trade products. 6.4 An assessment criteria for the award of Fair Trade Status to the Town was support by the Local Authority. If the Authority cannot evidence this ongoing support then the Fair Trade Status will be withdrawn. 7.0 RECOMMENDATION(S) that 7.1 A review of the range of products that are offered for sale in the three main catering outlets at Merthyr Leisure Village, Aberfan Community Centre, Cyfarthfa Park Visitors Centre and Cyfarthfa Tea Rooms be undertaken by the Economic Development team and the range of Fairtrade products made available increased as appropriate. 7.2 The Fairtrade logo be used on all correspondence sent through the Council franking machine thereby celebrating and promoting Merthyr Tydfil County Borough’s Fairtrade Status. GARY THOMAS DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICES BACKGROUND PAPERS Title of Document(s) Document(s) Date Document Location None Consultation has been undertaken with Executive Board in respect of each proposal(s) and recommendation(s) set out in this report. .