A PROPOSAL to back the Fairtrade movement in Tavistock was shelved by town council members at their meeting last week, after councillors decided they needed more time to consider the implications of the move. A request to consider making Tavistock a ?Fairtrade town? was made by the newly formed Tavistock Fairtrade Group last month. Last Tuesday, Cllr Iain Andrews, chairman of the town?s properties committee, proposed the council strive to achieve Fairtrade status by backing a variety of measures. These included offering Fairtrade food and drinks at internal meetings, promote the Fairtrade mark at council-owned refreshments areas, including the town hall, and on communications, advertising and newsletters. He also proposed the council should use its influence to urge local retailers and businesses to stock Fairtrade products for customers and employees, give responsibility for the progression of the initiative to an elected member and support events and publicity during the annual national Fairtrade fortnight. Cllr Brian Trew said: ?I would certainly support this recommendation ? I think it?s hugely important this council takes a moral lead in the community and I think this is an ideal way of doing it.? Cllr Alison Clish-Green said: ?I do feel strongly we should be supporting this ? there are loads of other towns and cities that are saying they are promoting Fairtrade.? But Cllr Jane Ramsey disagreed. She said: ?I strongly oppose this ? I don?t think we should be seen to be backing anything which is involved in making money. ?I don?t think we should have to follow other councils, we should do as we see fair ? we are not here to back certain products to the exclusion of others, I don?t think we as a council should be promoting anything.? And Cllr Robin Pike felt a simple agreement in principle to support the Fairtrade movement was enough. ?It?s the word Fairtrade that upsets me,? he said. ?That?s anything from a market gardener in the Tamar Valley to a Dartmoor hill farmer.? Cllr Norma Woodcock said members needed more time to consider the points Cllr Andrews was asking the council to agree to. She proposed Cllr Andrew?s proposal was placed before the town?s finance and general purposes committee for further consideration. Cllr Andrews agreed to withdraw his proposal ? but urged the council not to delay for long in its deliberations over such an important issue.
