Agenda and minutes

            Resolved: That Councillor Kevin Small be appointed as Chair of the Town Twinning Network for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

            Resolved: That Councillor Derique Montaut be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Town Twinning Network for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th April 2017.

            Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th April 2017, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Network considered and noted a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services of twinning activities undertaken by the Town Twinning Associations and Links in and around Swindon.

Verbal reports were given from the following Town Twinning Associations and Links present at the meeting:

Swindon Torun Link

Mr Sarnowski reported on the following activities of the Swindon Torun Link:

·        the construction of a memorial, commissioned for Queens Park to commemorate the contribution of Polish people through the years towards the development and culture of Swindon, had now been given permission to be built.  He explained that various fundraising events would be held to fund the project.

·        Polish Olympics being held in Torun, Poland between 29^th July and 5^th August 2017. The invitation to attend the sporting event is open to any Polish national not living in Poland.  It was noted that Mr Sarnowski and three other Swindon residents would be attending the event.

Highworth Twinning Association

Mr Richardson reported on the following activities of the Highworth Twinning Association:

·      Recent trip to Pontoson, Normandy, France and a return visit to Highworth by the friends from Pontoson, expected in early December 2017. 

·      Visit by the Association to Wassenberg, Germany in October 2017.

·      How the Association functioned, membership numbers, age ranges and the importance of social media in the future development of Twinning Associations.

Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL)

Mrs Bennett reported on the following activities of SOL:

·        The future development of SOL would be considered at the next SOL meeting on 4^th July 2017. The Network was reminded that SOL is planning to amend its constitution to terminate its charitable status, due to issues around the administration required and, in particular, the time and effort in maintaining and developing a membership base.

·        Recent visits to Swindon from the Octotal Link and subsequent return visit from Swindon. 

Swindon/Salzgitter Twinning (Civic Visit)

The Chair reported on the planned Civic Visit by the Mayor of Swindon and a delegation of members to Salzgitter between 11^th – 16^th August 2017. There was also a possibility of a Swindon skittles team visiting Salzgitter in December 2017.

The Chair explained that he was still considering ways in which the Swindon Salzgitter Twinning Association could be re-established.

General Twinning Links

The Network considered ways to raise the profile of Twinning and international links in Swindon and projects that all the Associations and Links could contribute towards.  It was suggested that members of all the Associations and Links could participate in the following upcoming events:

·        Refugee Week - 19^th – 25^th June, 2017

·        Africa Community Day - 1^st July 2017

·        Swindon Literature Festival 2018.

·        The promotion of international friendship and understanding through ‘Host’, which arranges for international students at British universities to meet and experience the British way of life in UK residents homes.    

            Resolved – (1) That the Activities of the Twinning Associations and Links be noted.

(2) That Swindon Literature Festival organisers be asked to consider  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.