Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that at the start of the meeting they should declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and also during the meeting if it becomes apparent that they have an interest in the matters being discussed.

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.  No declarations were made.

See explanatory note below.  Please phone the Committee Officer whose name and number appears at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance.

            No public questions were received during the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th March 2008.

            Resolved – That, subject to the amendments listed below, the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th March 2008, be confirmed as a correct record:

(a)   That Councillor David Glaholm he included in the attendance list.

(b)   That, under minute no. 12 (Highworth – Pontorson Twinning Association) – the second line be amended to read “the visit to Wassenberg was now arranged for the 1^st to 4^th of May to celebrate both the 40^th anniversary of the Wassenberg/Pontorson twinning and Europe Day.  A visit to Pontorson will take place on the weekend of 23^rd to 26^th May.”

Matters Arising

Minute 11 – involvement of young people in the network.  The Chair reported that she would write to the Group Director, Children, to ask for support in encouraging young people to become actively involved in the Town Twinning Network.  It was also agreed that the Chair should ask the Head of Youth Services to attend a future meeting to discuss this issue further.

Minute 12 – Swindon Salzgitter Association.  Member of the Network asked for feedback on the Civic Official visit to Salzgitter as well as the Association’s own visit.  This information would be sent out to members as soon as possible.

Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL)

Mary Creffield reported upon the following activities for SOL:

• A doctor from Great Western Hospital had visited Ocotal for three weeks in April to work in their hospital.
• The quiz night due to be held on 4^th April had been postponed and re-scheduled for 3^rd October.
• Currently, six people would be travelling to Ocotal in October – this visit was open to anyone at a cost of £900.
• A curry night would be held at the Bombay Lounge, Peatmoor, on July 14^th.
• The next meeting of SOL would be held on 1^st July at 7.30pm at 53 Elmore, Eldene.

Wroughton – St Germain les Corbeil

Mike Ide reported that, following elections in France, the Mayor of St Germain les Corbeil for the last 5 years had been re-elected and he was very supportive of twinning activities.   They had been invited to go over in Spring but this had been too short a notice and they were therefore planning the next visit for Spring 2009.  Visitors from St Germain les Corbeil would be visiting their twin town in Germany in Autumn.  They were currently in the process of organising an event for Bastille Day with neighbouring twinning associations.

Highworth-Pontorson Twinning Association

Dr Worsnip outlined the activities of the Association as follows:

• 42 people had attended a safari lunch on 17^th April.
• 10 people from Highworth had visited Wassenberg at the beginning of May, along with 90 visitors from Pontorson.
• A group visited Pontorson at the end of May, with one couple remaining behind for the Highworth Cup that has been given as a prize for a trotting race since the early 1990’s.
• Visitors from Pontorson would be coming for Highworth Festival and bringing goods over to sell.
• The Highworth Floral Society would go over to decorate the Church in Pontorson in 2009 – this was done every year following the Highworth Festival.
• A visit to Pontorson was being planned for December 2009.
• Events celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the Twinning Association would take place during 2010.

Chattanooga Friendship Agreement

The Chair reported that Andy Lane was currently pursuing initiatives between the two towns and would report back on progress at the next Town Twinning Network meeting.

Lechlade Twinning Assocation

Dr Colley reported that there would be a visit to La Chappelle during the August Bank Holiday weekend and that a three-way visit with the German Twin Town, Kalchreuth, would take place over the May Bank Holiday in 2009.  A jam festival was being beld in 20^th September and visitors from Lechlade would be making jam and marmalade to sell over there.

One young member would be going over to La Chappelle to work for two weeks and two young French students would be coming over to Lechlade for work.

There had been some interest from people in La Chappelle to participate in the Swindon half-marathon, but, as yet, there was no interest from people in Lechlade.  Other activities included  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The Chair informed members of the network that the Chamber of Commerce now had a new Chair, Joanne Stagg, and it was agreed that the clerk would write to Ms Stagg to invite her, or a representative, to attend future meetings.

A list of twinning and link contacts and activities was distributed to members of the Network.  This followed a request from Dr Worsnip asking for information on all twinning/link activities within the Borough of Swindon.

Dr Worsnip asked what the current budget was for Town Twinning grants.  This information would be sent out to all members following this meeting.