TAVISTOCK could become the first town in Devon to be officially recognised as a Fairtrade Town by the international Fairtrade Foundation, following a U-turn by the town council. Councillors voted by eight to three in favour of a proposal to support the Fairtrade movement, which aims to get a fair deal for disadvantaged producers in developing countries. The move overturns an earlier decision made by the council?s finance committee which had rejected the proposal. Now, Tavistock Town Council will offer Fairtrade food and drinks options internally, promote them in council-owned facilities such as the town hall and use its influence to urge local retailers and businesses to offer Fairtrade products to their staff and customers. Cllr Iain Andrews, who made the proposal, has agreed to be the council member responsible for progressing the initiative and will liaise with the town?s Fairtrade Group concerning support for the national, annual Fairtrade fortnight. Cllr Norma Woodcock told councillors at last week?s meeting that while she supported the Fairtrade movement personally, she felt it was outside the council?s remit to become further involved. ?Please let us be realistic about what we can and should do ? and what we can ask our staff to do. We have a very broad remit, is this realistically what we want or should be doing? I would say no,? she said. And Cllr Jane Ramsey said she felt very strongly that the town council?s remit had nothing to do with worldwide politics and policies. ?I think charity begins at home,? she said. But Cllr Alison Clish-Green said the council should be seen to be ?taking a lead? on the issue. ?There are other councils up and down the country that have done this ? we should be setting an example to the people of this area,? she said. Cllr Martin Taylor said Fairtrade was about giving everyone ?a fair crack of the whip? and the council should support it. Cllr Caroline Keane said the Fairtrade Foundation could have far-reaching influences globally and the town council had a responsibility to set a good example and back such an important movement. And Cllr Brian Trew said he was ?totally in favour? of backing the proposal. ?If I as an individual buy Fairtrade and make a very small bid in support of it, I don?t understand what is unrealistic about the council doing it,? he said. Geri Laithwaite, of Tavistock Fairtrade Group, said she was ?absolutely delighted? at the council?s decision. Ms Laithwaite, who convened the Tavistock group on behalf of WestDEN?s Communities in Action project, said: ?Hopefully, now we can become the first town in Devon to get recognition from the Fairtrade Foundation ? Plymouth and Exeter are already Fairtrade cities. ?We will be contacting every business and catering establishment, plus other businesses like hairdressers and estate agents, to see if they will take the initiative on board and offer Fairtrade products as a choice to their customers.? Ms Laithwaite said the group is also hoping to involves students at Tavistock College, by running a competition to design a special Tavistock Fairtrade logo. ?Then if a café offers Fairtrade products, they can have a special sticker to put in the window which is unique to Tavistock,? said Ms Laithwaite.
