Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1      Relevant Background Information

1.1 Background

Belfast Fairtrade Steering Group is a voluntary committee which was established in 2001 with the intention to promote the purchase of Fairtrade products in the city. Fairtrade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and the promotion of sustainable development. The Fairtrade Mark is not a brand or charity but a registered certification for products grown by producers in developing countries under certain ethical and sustainable development conditions.

The Fairtrade committee in Belfast is hosted by the City Council and includes members of local and foreign government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charities, black and minority ethnic (BME) community, supermarkets, educational institutions, business and private individuals.

1.2     Proposal

Belfast Fairtrade Committee have requested that Belfast Fairtrade city status be promoted by the erection of appropriate permanent road signage in the Belfast City Council area. The Fairtrade committee have proposed that the signage be erected next to the existing Welcome to Belfast signs on the motorways and arterial routes.

            2       Key Issues

2.1 Fairtrade City Status

Fairtrade City status is conferred by the Fairtrade Foundation on a biennial basis. It is awarded after the completion of a comprehensive audit of Fairtrade outlets in the city, and after undertaking considerable marketing and promotional activities by the voluntary committee. Belfast city was granted this city status in 2005 and each year since .The Fairtrade certificates awarded are displayed in the Lord Mayors office.

2.2     Marketing and promotion of Fairtrade

The marketing and promotion of Fairtrade activity in the city is key to retaining Fairtrade City status, to this end the Fairtrade Foundation recommend the display of one of the approved formats or logo’s for each Fairtrade Town, City or Borough that has achieved this accolade.

This is standard practice across the UK and Ireland and has been adopted in Northern Ireland by both Antrim Council (Fairtrade Borough) and North Down Council for Bangor (Fairtrade Town). Please see attached pictures in Appendix 1  showing the Bangor and Antrim signs, which have been erected at different sites, in calming areas and on main arterial routes, respectively.

2.3     The Belfast Fairtrade Committee has written to Belfast City Council requesting that BCC follow the example of other Councils and erect similar Fairtrade signage. The committee has also written to DRD, DOE and DFP Ministers seeking their endorsement on this issue. The DOE Minister has endorsed this proposal(letter attached Appendix 2) .DRD Roads Service who are responsible for the oversight of road signage have advised this is a Council decision as the signage is to be mounted on existing Council property. They did request to be consulted on the final format of the signage.

            3       Resource Implications

3.1     Asset and Other Implications

Fairtrade City signage erected in a prominent place recognises the City’s endeavours in promoting the global campaign of increasing Fairtrade products. This is essentially a charitable campaign supported by the City council who host the Fairtrade committee and Fairtrade Belfast website. However Members need to be aware that the Council does not have a policy on the erection of signage by such organisations and that that there is no provision in the current revenue estimates for these costs. Members must also be aware if the city looses the accolade of Fairtrade city, the signage must be removed

3.2 Financial costs.

The total costs for design, manufacture and erection for one sign on the motorway underneath the existing signage would be approximately £3500 and £1500 each for smaller signs on the arterial routes. The Fairtrade committee have requested that  the Council  consider funding  and erecting one sign for the MI  Motorway on way  into  Belfast and four smaller signs on the arterial  routes at a total  cost of  approximately £10 000.

3.3     Human Resources

Staff time will be required from Officers in the Property and Projects Department, Corporate Communications and Health and Environmental Services Department to undertake this request.

            4       Equality Implications

4.1     There are no equality implications.

            5       Recommendations

5.1     Members are invited to consider the request and consider the following options.

         Option 1

To  endorse the request and agree to  the erection  of the signage, with one large sign underneath  the current MI motorway Welcome to  Belfast sign and four smaller signs in arterial  routes at a cost of £10,000.

         Option 2

To defer the decision until the Council agree a position on such signage and reconsider it after implementation of Local Government Reform when boundary changes are confirmed and associated signage will be relocated.

         Option 3

To reject the request for signage on the basis that there is no policy or budget to cover this request.”

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to adopt option one.