Issue - meetings
TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Meeting: 13/04/2011 - Council (Item 6)
6 TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PDF 49 KB
The questions which have been received from members of the public to be put at this meeting are set out in the attached report.
A maximum period of 20 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.
Decision:
6.1 Question from Mr. Glenn Power re: Fairtrade Status
The above question was put and was responded to by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
6.2 Question from Ms. Clare Harrisson re:use of unlicenced mini cabs in the borough
The above question and an oral supplementary question were put and were responded to by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor and Mayor Lutfur Rahman respectively.
6.3 Question from Ms. Seema Kapoor re:Family Play Project
The above question was withdrawn as a petition had been presented to the Council on the same matter earlier in the meeting (see 5.2 above).
6.4 Question from Mr. James King to the Mayor, Lutfur Rahman
The above question and an oral supplementary question were put and were responded to by Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
Minutes:
6.1 Question from Mr. Glenn Power
“Tower Hamlets achieved Fairtrade status in 2006. Volunteers on the steering group would like to know what measures the Council would consider taking to increase its support for fair trade. Could officers consult with other Fairtrade councils, such as Bristol and Newcastle, to learn from their best practice?”
Response (by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member, Resources)
I would like to thank members of the Fairtrade Steering Group for their continuous support and hard work. It helped the Council receive Fairtrade status in 2006. We are very proud of this and committed to improve upon this status.
The Council launched the ‘Fairtrade Caterers Scheme’ which gives local caterers the incentive to buy Fairtrade goods. This has now become a popular scheme and well received by the catering sector. The Sustainable Development Team will continue to promote this scheme. Moving forward, the Council will work with other sectors including local statutory, voluntary and faith organisations to promote Fairtrade within Tower Hamlets.
We will continue to raise awareness and promote Fairtrade and fairly traded products among staff and residents. The council will also work with other local authorities to learn from best practice.
No supplementary question was asked.
Change in order of business
At this point Councillor Rania Khan moved, and Councillor Bill Turner seconded, ‘that under Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to enable motion 12.3 concerning Fairtrade to be debated immediately.’
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Motion 12.3: Motion proposed by Councillor Rania Khan regarding Fairtrade
Councillor Rania Khan moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
Following debate the motion was put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes
· That fairly traded products guarantee stable, living wage prices to producers in poor countries around the world and fund community development projects including safe drinking water schemes, basic medical facilities and education.
· That Tower Hamlets was the first London borough to introduce the living wage when Mayor Lutfur Rahman was Leader of the Council.
This Council believes:
· That strengthening our commitment to Fairtrade entails exploring all opportunities for the Council to procure fairly traded products including giving clear guidelines to our procurement officers.
· That the Council should promote a culture of using and sourcing fairly traded products.
This Council resolves:
· To promote fairly traded products in Council’s catering services to schools, social services, Ideas Stores and Council offices with vending machines.
· To include fairly traded products as part of the tender specifications of future catering contracts.
· To ask existing contractors to source fairly traded products at no extra cost.
· To promote our commitment to fairly traded products to local statutory, voluntary and faith organisations.
· To encourage our residents to use fairly traded products by occasional Council publicity.
6.2 Question from Ms. Clare Harrisson
“What is the Mayor doing to prevent the use of unlicensed mini cabs in ... view the full minutes text for item 6