The purpose of the report was to present the Ethical Investment Policy at Appendix A, for consideration. It was proposed that the Ethical Investment Policy would be incorporated into the 2024-25 Treasury Management Strategy, which would be presented to Council for approval in February/March 2024.

A Member welcomed the document and noted that it showed what a positive difference that could be made when councillors came together, shaped policies, and worked together with officers for the betterment of this authority. He asked if it would be a live document and was assured that was the case.

Another Member thanked and congratulated the team that drafted the document. He thought that net zero had been treated in a balanced way: it didn’t override other factors but formed a part of the Council’s approach.

Another Member welcomed the fact that certain categories of investment had not been excluded from the policy.   

RESOLVED:

The Governance and Audit Committee considered the Ethical Investment Policy and agreed its inclusion in future Treasury Management Strategies.