Council group to head for Arizona

A group made up of elected and non-elected representatives is set to embark on a council trip to the United States, it's been revealed.
Mossley Mill.Mossley Mill.
Mossley Mill.

Details for the visit to Gilbert in Arizona were agreed at the August meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

The decision to send members to the USA was taken after an invitation to send a delegation to Gilbert, Arizona from November 16-19 was received.

The group will take part in a number of meetings relating to civic leadership, governance and working relationships with central government; best practice discussion on planning and community planning; and economic development and regeneration.

The following members have been invited to attend, however the availability of these members is yet to be confirmed. They are the Mayor and Mayoress - Cllr Scott and Mrs Scott, the Deputy Mayor - Cllr McClelland, the council partnership panel representative - Ald Cosgrove, chair and vice-chair of the Planning Committee - Ald Agnew, Cllr Webb, and the chair and vice-chair of the Community Planning and Regeneration Committee -Cllr Brett and Cllr Logue.

A council spokesperson said: “The trip will cost approximately £1,000 per person, which includes travel and accommodation. This will be the first time that members from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will have visited America in their capacity as an elected representative. The trip is being paid for from council budgets.”

The council agreed to renew legacy partnership arrangements with three international partners. Partnership agreements were exchanged in December 2015 between the council and Dorsten in Germany and Rybnik in Poland.

An event will also be held during the visit to formally exchange a new partnership agreement. The partnership with Gilbert originally commenced in 1995.