Hilltops Mayor Brian Ingram will be travelling to China to visit the city of Lanzhou. The combined cost to Hilltops Council is a budget of $10,000, which was resolved at the May monthly meeting.
Lanzhou, a highly built up area with a population of more than 3 million residents.
Hilltops Council has revolved to endorse a sister city friendship policy with Chinese city Lanzhou. Lanzhou has a population of 3,616,163 according to the 2010 census and its industries include heavy industry and the petrochemical industry, both in stark contrast to Hilltops which is more agriculturally based. Council has allocated a budget of $10,000 for a trip which may involve up to 5 attendees.
The minutes from the May Council meeting state “Allocate a budget of $10,000 towards travel expenses and per diem for Hilltops Council delegation to visit Sister Cities and or host Civic receptions.” According to the minutes the motion was moved by Councillors Flanery and Manchester with the motion carried unanimously.
The trip is planned for next month in July with Council endorsing the delegation of “the Mayor, Cr Horton and one other Councillor; and (d) Endorse the delegation to consist of Council’s mandarin speaking tourism officer. The motion was moved and seconded by Cllr O’Connor and Manchester.
The Council business paper states, “Hilltops Council currently engages with the former Young Shire Council Sister City Chinese City of Lanzhou which was established in 1997. In addition, the Former Harden Shire has Inter-Council Friendship with Sutherland Shire which was established in 2007. Hilltops Council has not yet formalised these relationships. However, have made contact advising of the new entity, Hilltops Council. These relationships are links between Hilltops Council and the above cities with a view to promote international exchange and cooperation including economic growth, cultural interests, environmental issues and increased tourism.
Clause 4.1 of the Sister City and Friendship City policy states – Definition For the purpose of this policy, a Sister City or Friendship City is a formal link between two cities to bring economic, social, arts and cultural benefit to each city. Sister City and Friendship City relationships allow communities to: Promote economic growth, Build reliable business and other contacts, Increase tourism, Exchange cultural and educational experiences and values, Exchange ideas, Gain valuable international, national, state or local government perspectives and increase the understanding of global, national, state and local government issues: and Generate harmony, tolerance and goodwill Agreements, allow both organisations to commit to working co-operatively together. There are opportunities for staff exchanges between Councils, allowing exposure to both the specialist skills and more rounded skills which are required in each different organisation.
Clause 5.1 states Council’s role: Council should maintain a facilitation role, facilitating relationships between companies, schools, educational institutions, arts/culture etc. in the case of trade, Council should aim to provide initial contact and then leave it to the businesses to conduct their trade.
It will be for the individual ratepayer to decide if they have received value for money based on their contribution of rates, fees and charges to Hilltops Council’s operating budget.
Councillors Horton and Stadtmiller did not attend the meeting.
