WALLED TOWNS FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE CIRCLE

HELD AT VERONA, ITALY – 14 SEPTEMBER 2006

PRESENT:

Apologies

Apologies were submitted from Peter Osbourne (Tenby) – Life President, Vojka Stular (Piran) – Deputy President, Franz Tades (Drosendorf), Terry Ralph (Chester) Csaba Pozarko (Pecs), Frances Tabone (Valletta), William Petitt (Canterbury), Xi’an delegates, Jose Carlos Marin ( Arabarri) and Nada Zajc (Piran).

PRESIDENT'S WELCOME

The President of the Circle, Councillor John Price MBE from Chester thanked Verona for staging this 16^th Circle Symposium.

He gave particular thanks to Arnaldo Vecchietti, Diego De Carlo and their team for their hard work and friendliness in delivering the content of the symposium.

PRESENTATION OF "ELVAS" STONE

The President reported that the “Elvas Stone” had been brought from ‘s-Hertogenbosch to Verona and he presented the Stone to the representatives of Verona for safekeeping until the next symposium which would be held in Plasencia, Spain.

AGM MINUTES

It was agreed to approve the Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands on 3 June 2005.

FINANCIAL REPORTS

The Circle's Treasurer Medwyn Jones submitted his reports including the formally audited report of the Circle as at 31 December 2005 and details of the income and expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2005 would show a surplus of £4,438.82 (€8,293.19).  He reported that although there had been an increase in subscriptions received some towns still had not sent their subscriptions to him which meant lost income and he urged those who were still to do so to complete the transaction at the earliest opportunity.

“ARCHWAY” UPDATE

The Secretary General and Project Leader of Archway brought members up to date on the progress of the Project being carried out on behalf of the Circle by 10 of its member towns working in partnership.  The Project was now in the last of its three year life and three of the five Good Practice guides being produced were nearing completion.  All five will be completed in readiness for the final legacy conference to be held in the partner town Chester during the last week of June 2007.

It was agreed to note the good progress being made with the Project and the excellent working relationship developing with the partners in the Project.

FUTURE SYMPOSIUM

It was confirmed that the Circle's next symposia would be held at

Plasencia, Spain – April 2007

Canterbury, England - Sept  2008

Malta Five Towns  - ?     2009

Xian or an Eastern European Member (?) – 2010

Pecs - ? 2011

NEXT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

It was confirmed that the Circle's next Executive Committee meetings be held at

Ohrid, Macedonia -, September 2007

Carrickfergus, -  ? 2008

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

It was agreed to approve the minutes of the Executive Committee held on 11 September 2006 in Verona, Italy.

Arising thereon

Hieronymus Bosch Innovation Award

The President reported that two entries had been received from Verona and Lagos to contest the award and that after due consideration by the judging panel the award had been to the town of Lagos in Portugal.

It was confirmed that congratulations to the winner and arrangements be made by ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the President to travel to Lagos in December 2007 to present the award.

“Sleeping” Members

The Secretary General reported on the progress being made in circulating members in each country with a list of other Circle members in the country who were still to pay their membership subscriptions.

The process was ongoing but it was agreed that a list of those member towns involved in the process be circulated at the earliest possible convenience.

Future Direction of the Circle

The President reported on the intention by Professor Gianni Perbelinni of Verona sponsored by “Europa Nostra” to initiate a Mediterranean based organisation with similar aims to the Circle.  He reminded members that discussions had already been carried out with the Professor to point out to him the dangers of having too many organisations all trying to do the same thing, but he remains unconvinced.

It was agreed to confirm that representations be made to the sponsors Europa Nostra pointing out the dangers of their continuing support of organisations such as this and that John Sciberras of Malta be authorised to attend the new organisation's first meeting in November in Sicily to represent the Circle and its view that this new organisation is unnecessary and potentially damaging and Europa Nostra insists that it continue then it should work within the influence of the Circle.

Establishment of a Circle Technical Network/University

It was agreed that the new technical network circle once established consider the suggested by Maud Arkesteijn van Willigen of the establishment of a Circle University.

Election of President, Treasurer and Associate Members representatives

The Secretary General reported that as no additional nominations had been made for the election of the official Circle offices for the year 2006/7, the present office holders be re-elected for the requisite periods unopposed.  They are:

President: Councillor John Price MBE (Chester, England)

Treasurer: Medwyn Jones (Denbigh)

Associate Members' representatives: Individual – Luigi Rossetto (Soave)

Company/organisation: - John Sciberras (Malta)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Secretary General tabled a copy of the revised Business Development Plan which had been brought up to date following acceptance by the Circle of a number of new initiatives plus a new amendment to the Business Plan amending Article 1.4 by the replacement of Part 1 with the words;

"the Circle has been requested on a number of occasions to reconsider the word "friendship" remaining in the title of the organisation.  The Circle has however always resisted any change.  This underlines and demonstrates the importance the Circle attaches to retaining its friendship roots which remains a basis for many of the current members involvement.  However this issue needs to be kept in mind in connection with future development."

The addition of a new Part 2 to read

 "one of the prime opportunities the Circle has to open itself to the outside world is its annual symposia.  The symposia has been held each year since the Circle was formed in different member towns recommended by the President.  It is a time for members to come together to strengthen bonds and to discuss pertinent issues.  It is an ideal showcase to display what the Circle has to offer to new and potential members.

These vital platforms for the Circle's development must be structured with care, to achieve a blend of continuity, structure and pertinent content and yet allow some freedom for the host town to inject its personality.  Meetings are held in the months leading up to each symposium between the host's city representatives and the Circle's President and Secretary General.

They ensure that the following criteria are applied to each symposia by the Circle as follows:-

·                     symposia delegates are accommodated if possible in the same hotel close to and within easy access to the conference venue

·                     the subjects of this symposia to be in line with the Circle's Business Plan/activities

·                     symposia to last for no more than five days;

-          day one – registration, welcome and meeting of Executive Committee

-          day two – registration/work sessions/study tours

-          day three – work sessions, study tours

-          day four – work sessions/Annual General Meeting/presentation by next host town/handover of Circle flags to next host/friendship dinner

-          day five – optional study tours visits.

·                     symposia fees charged by the host town remain relatively stable and consistent

·                     an accompanying persons programme is organised and synchronised with the main programme and appropriate fees charged

·                     all income remains the property of the host town

·                     symposia speakers fees and accommodation are paid for from symposia income

·                     symposia programmes have provision for:-

-          delegates to meet separately on associated issues

-          partner exchanges

-          partner project meetings

These criteria while being updated as necessary and appropriate must be observed"

and Parts 2, 3 and 4 be renumbered Parts 3, 4 and 5.

It was agreed that the amendments be approved.

WORLD WALLED TOWN OF THE YEAR AWARD

The President reported that the jury to make the award had been selected and that Brian Smith, Secretary General of the European organisation of Towns and Regions had agreed to sit on the jury, that ‘s-Hertogenbosch had agreed to continue as World Walled Town of the Year for 2007 and that the jury meet in the year 2007 to select a candidate for 2008.  The Circle's Academic Advisor David Bruce reported on his recent activities including accompanying students from China to Piran, work associated with Archway and all associated separate articles making mention of the Circle.  He added that his university had granted him leave of absence to concentrate on his work on Walled Towns until February 2007.

It was agreed to note and thank David for his work.

RETIREMENT OF SECRETARY GENERAL

It was agreed that the present Secretary General Chris Lines, who had been the Circle's first Secretary General, elected by the President in 2000, be thanked sincerely for all his work during the past six years and he be wished every good fortune for the future in his retirement.