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Strong commitment remains to twinning
Release date:
Thu, 09/02/2012
Bristol’s seven individual twinning associations will be able to bid directly for funds from the city council for the first time in proposals for twinning in future years.
Council leader Barbara Janke has written to members of twinning associations to explain the new focus of funding on generating international trade and investment, and the council’s firm commitment to twinning.
Barbara Janke said: “Our commitment to Bristol’s strong twinning ties will grow. Our main focus traditionally has been on promoting civic and cultural links. While these are important, the future of twinning in Bristol must also be about business and trade.
“Few people would disagree that in this economic climate we must do all we can to bring new jobs and investment into the city. Bristol has very strong historical links internationally and we must build on these, as well as in the longer term developing ties with the emerging economies.
“Our plan from next year will help develop a twinning programme that maintains the best of what we have already while creating new opportunities for jobs and growth.
“Other major UK cities are already forging ahead with similar agendas, so it is vital that we are not left behind. I would like us to explore ideas such as having trade ambassadors for the city involving well-regarded figures from the world of business, sport and the arts with a strong Bristol connection.”
The twinning budget - currently £41,000 - will over the next two years be re-directed away from funding the existing co-ordinating body, Bristol International Twinning Association. Instead it will:
· Allocate 50% of the budget to a new fund to provide additional financial support for the twinning associations in the city. The Global Catalyst Fund will be designed in partnership with the groups.
· The remaining 50% of the budget will support economic development activities with our twin cities, and in time extend this to new relationships with cities in emerging economies. The council will work more closely with external trade promotion organisations to deliver targeted trade activities in our twin cities.
· Through the Lord Mayor’s Office there will also be quarterly co-ordination meetings for the individual twinning associations.
It is proposed to provide a phased approach to withdrawing the funding from the Bristol International Twinning Association. The funding will be reduced by 50% in the year 2012/13 to ensure that consistency is provided throughout the transition period.
It is also proposed that the twinning budget is reduced by 7.5% for 2012/13 (from £41,000 to £37,925) as part of an overall reduction of £228,000 that Bristol Futures, the host council department, is seeking to make.
Bristol currently spends considerably more on twinning than most large cities in the UK, and is the only one to fund an external co-ordinating body like BITA.
