People throughout St Edmundsbury will have the chance to say whether they think it should become a Fairtrade Borough.
At a presentation to Cabinet earlier this year, a request was made that St Edmundsbury should support the idea by buying Fairtrade products for use within the council and supporting Fairtrade initiatives throughout the borough.
At yesterday's meeting (Tuesday) of St Edmundsbury Borough Council it was decided that the matter should be referred back to the Policy Development Committee for further study and consultation.
Cabinet member for Resources, Cllr Sara Mildmay White, said:
"I am delighted that we are considering this initiative following the excellent presentation to Cabinet and would now like to see the debate widened to those outside the Council Chamber. If we are going to try and become a Fairtrade Borough then I believe the driving force should come from the community. I am particularly keen to see young people getting involved in this debate."
Cllr Andrew Varley, Cabinet member for Culture, added:
"As councillors we should show a lead but we must also make sure people have a full understanding of what a Fairtrade Borough means. Our responsibility to the people of the borough needs to be allied to any commitment to Fairtrade. We should be supporting our own local economy, such as farmers' markets, where possible which is why I believe we should go through the scrutiny process."
The Council approved the move to refer the initiative to Policy Development Committee.
ENDS
Contact: Resources Portfolio Holder Cllr Sara Mildmay White, 01359270580.
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033 Fax 01284 757032 marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
