Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made.

(Mr M Dobson has been nominated)

RESOLVED:  That Mr M Dobson be appointed as Chairman of the Twinning Committee for the current municipal year.

(Councillor P Homewood and Mr D Still have been nominated)

RESOLVED:  That Councillor P Homewood and Mr D Still be appointed as Vice-Chairmen of the Twinning Committee for the current municipal year. 

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of Twinning Committee held on Thursday, 28 November 2013

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Twinning Committee held on 28 November 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

The Senior Leisure Services Officer, Ms L Bennett, presented the twinning officer’s report on recent and forthcoming activity with Heusenstamm and Le Puy-en-Velay and made particular reference to the forthcoming celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the twinning between Tonbridge and Malling and Heusenstamm on 12/15 September 2014.  The Committee noted that events over the weekend included visits to local places of historic interest, a ‘Variety Night’ and concert performances by the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Concert Band and members of the Stadtkapelle Heusenstamm and the Tonbridge Dragon Boat Event.  The twinning officer offered to circulate details of the weekend to committee members and advise which events they could be involved in.  In response to a comment from Mr D Still regarding the Heusenstamm Friendship Wood at Haysden Country Park, the Leisure Services Manager (Development) offered to investigate whether this could be ‘tidied up’ in advance of the anniversary celebrations. 

In the absence of Mr Buck a written report provided by the Circle was circulated at the meeting. 

Annex – Nachrichten January – April 2014 attached

In the absence of Mr Packer a written report provided by the Circle was circulated at the meeting as an addition to the copies of ‘Nachrichten’ distributed with the agenda. 

Although Mr Bisson was unable to attend the meeting and had submitted his apologies, his written report was submitted by the twinning officer.  The Committee was saddened to note that the formal twinning between Malling and Auchel would end with a celebratory weekend on 20/21 September 2014 after just over thirty years of activity and exchanges.

In the absence of Mr Hickmott, no report was submitted.

In the absence of Mr Young, no report was submitted.  The committee noted that, in submitting his apologies Mr Young had advised that the twinning between Burham and L’Epine remained dormant. 

In the absence of Mr Atkinson no report was submitted.

In the absence of Mr Street, Councillor H Rogers gave an update on twinning Activities between East Peckham and Cherang.  The Committee was advised that a group of residents from East Peckham would be visiting Cherang during the celebration of the Battle of Bourne which included a re-enactment event and a carnival. 

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

No matters were considered in private.