Town Twinning Committe - 28th April 2005
TOWN TWINNING COMMITTEE
MINUTES of a meeting held on 28th April 2005.
PRESENT: The Chairman (Councillor M.E.J. Birch); The Town Mayor (Councillor J.M. Penn); Councillors D.F. Clapham, C.J.S. Curran, N.J. Gibbs, M. Kelly Owen, G.H. Roberts and M.R. Wilson.
ALSO PRESENT: Councillors R.M. Birch and J.F. Fraser.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs D. Jones.
427. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
These were received from Councillors W. Davies and K.E. Jones and Mrs J. Wightman.
428. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 30th September 2004
were signed.
429. POTENTIAL FRIENDSHIP LINKS
(a) Kosovo
The Town Clerk informed the Committee that unfortunately, Mr. Nick Osborne who had been scheduled to talk to the Committee on a possible link, had sent his apologies as he was out of the country on holiday.
(b) Lesotho
Mr. Jeremy Dix gave a presentation to the Committee in relation to the history of the current links between Lesotho and Penarth which had been forged originally by Penarth Cytun. The presentation encompassed details of the local environment, economy, population and culture and drew attention to the long established link between Wales and Lesotho. At a local level links had developed between Penarth and Teyateyaneng involving Stanwell, Victoria and Evenlode schools together with Ysgol Pen-y-Garth with some teachers having made visits. All Saints Church and Stanwell Baptist Church had established links also as well as Penarth Cytun. In conclusion Mr. Dix asked the Committee to consider forming more formal twinning links or a friendship link with Lesotho.
The Committee considered ways in which to develop the current relationship but decided that a formal twinning link would not be appropriate on the grounds of cost. However, it was felt that the opportunity should be taken to explore the possibility of a friendship link.
RECOMMENDED :
THAT the Town Council writes to Teyateyateng in the name of the Town Mayor and Committee Chairman endorsing and supporting the existing links which have developed and seeking to establish ways in which the Council might be able to assist in strengthening the links.
(c) Lithuania
Mr. Anthony Packer, a local resident and Honorary Consul to Lithuania, addressed the meeting on the whereabouts of Lithuania, its economy, environment and its people. In particular, he referred to Pagegiai which was smaller than Penarth and rural in character. Its relevance was its relationship to Jubarkas which had a friendship agreement with the Vale of Glamorgan Council. He highlighted the type of links that could be forged with the country, the economy being the most important with arts and culture forming the icing on the cake. If the Town Council were interested in exploring the possibility of a friendship link, he was able to provide an e-mail address to which an exploratory letter could be forwarded.
RECOMMENDED :
THAT the Town Council writes to Pagagiai in Lithuania offering the hand of friendship and asking the Lithuanians how they see the friendship being developed.
430. DANCE GALA, SAINT POL DE LEON – 25TH JUNE 2005
It was reported that the Centre D’Education Musicale et Artisitique had invited the Jayne Clarke School of Dance to take part in the annual dance gala and it was anticipated that a party of approximately 10 children and 2 or 3 adults would be travelling to France to perform. The Committee was asked to consider the possibility of financial assistance.
RECOMMENDED :
THAT financial assistance equal to £15 per pupil resident in Penarth be granted to the Jayne Clarke School of Dance to assist with the cost of travelling to St Pol de Leon.
431. COMENIUS PROJECT
The Chairman reported that she and Councillor N.J. Gibbs had attended a reception earlier in the week, hosted by the Town Mayor, to welcome teachers from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Hungary and Poland to Penarth under the auspices of the Comenius Project. Mr. Maurice Flynn, the Headteacher of St. Joseph’s R.C. Primary School, had been responsible for inviting the teachers to Penarth and although he had previously attempted to include teachers from St. Pol de Leon in the Project, he had not been successful.
RECOMMENDED :
THAT a letter of congratulations be sent to Mr. Flynn for organising and hosting such a successful visit.
432. TWINNING ASSOCIATION
Mrs D. Jones reported that no further meetings of the Twinning Association had been held but it was hoped that a meeting would be arranged in the near future.
RECOMMENDED :
THAT Mrs Jones’ report be noted.
433. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next meeting was scheduled to be held on 14th July 2005.
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