Arizona trip is 'business, not a jolly'

ANTRIM and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Economic Development Committee has rubber-stamped spending £30,000 to send four members of staff to the United States for 10 days as part of the ‘Sister City Staff Exchange Programme’.

Mayor Leah Kirkpatrick, an unnamed council officer and DUP Councillor Ben Mallon, the chair of the Economic Development Committee will also travel to Gilbert for a short Civic visit.

While the initial proposal was for the civic delegation to spend two or three days in Arizona ‘to further strengthen the partnership between our two regions’, committee members called for a longer spell.

A report before the Economic Development Committee last week said that the council has already benefited from the ‘long-standing relationship’ that began back in November 1998 when Newtownabbey signed a Twinning Agreement - a policy that had long been eschewed by t Antrim Council, which merged with their neighbour in 2015.

The committee heard that the link with Gilbert - a ‘town’ of almost 300,000 people - has been built on strategic economic and social connections.

And that has guided, they say, key innovations - including a new approach for leisure operations; a more joined up approach to Planning and Economic Development; renewed focus on advanced manufacturing; and a regeneration of town centres.

In July 2024 elected members noted the ‘success of the relationship’ following their most recent visit two months previously.

The four-strong team, who will be embedded for 10 days with their American counterparts, will be offered ‘an immersive and focused period of learning and observation’.

The Head of ICT, the Head of Organisational Development, the Local Development Plan and Enforcement Manager and the Organisation Development and Employee Engagement Manager are expected to jet out in early 2026.

Majella McAllister, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Economic Development and Planning said that the exchange would focus on more ‘joined-up’ working when it was not possible for annual trips.

Key areas of interest, she said, was focus on IT and the applications of Artificial Intelligence and how the council can digitise and improve their performance and ‘communicate that to public’.

There is also an interest in how Gilbert zones land and attracts investment and employee engagement and staff wellbeing.

Ms McAllister said that the staff would spend ten days in Gilbert with travel on either side and ‘embed’ with the staff in there, between January and March, and an inward visit from the USA in the next financial year, potentially the Autumn.

She said: “I believe this is a really good opportunity to establish a relationship on an ongoing basis, focusing on key elements.

“This (£30,000) is a high level estimate based on flights, accommodation and for the civic element of the trip and we will work up further details.”

Alliance Councillor Billy Webb said: “This is a fantastic opportunity, we have already seen the benefits to our borough from the Sister City relationship, from planning to leisure, I am happy to move the recommendation and propose that any additional members can participate by self-funding.”

DUP Councillor Mark Cooper said he was happy to second the proposal: “I had the opportunity as Mayor to attend and to go over at the last minute before I came out of my term and it was an eye- opener, from planning to leisure to waste and recycling, we have a lot to learn from each other, especially to do with AI, I was amazed at how advanced they are, even with CCTV, it was mind blowing.

“When I came back, I was really driving for a staff exchange so I am really pleased.

“They are really focused on staff wellbeing, and the workplace, there was a baby in the office and the morale that brings around staff is unbelievable, they have a light room so if a staff member is going through a bad day, they have on-site places where people can go and chill and take time out.

“On top of that, the accessibility and autism equipment that they had, I brought it back for staff to look at.

“Their leisure centres were mind blowing. What I would say is that of members have not yet had the opportunity to go they should, I do note that I think two to three days for the Chair and Mayor, I personally don’t believe that is enough.

“By the time you get over there and the time difference, this is not a jolly, folks, it is business, I was knackered, wrecked, I am happy to second, but give them a couple of days either side, maybe send the staff there first.”

The Vice Chair, UUP Alderman Mark Cosgrove agreed, adding: “I don’t think we need to make any change to the recommendation, the budgetary implication is minor for a couple of extra days, I remember Alderman Bradley was exhausted.

“I am pleased that this is being developed, there is a lot of talk sometimes around physical assets, but literally Gilbert’s intellectual property is now the standard leisure model in Northern Ireland, which we introduced and others copied us.

“Through maximising intellectual property transfer, our leadership and also under Gilbert's leadership, now is the time to do things, from a recycling perspective, they have a lot to learn from us, I am sure they would welcome it and we have developed even further, I am happy seconded a longer civic element, it is not possible to go for a couple of days, it is an 11 hour flight.”

Airport Councillor Maighréad Ní Chonghaile of Sinn Féin asked why ‘now is the time’.

“I am very intrigued why we might be moving on it to happen now, given that we are in a review of international relationships, there is nothing to suggest that the Sister Cities programme isn’t a very successful one, but why would be not be waiting until the review?

“We are setting a precedent, I take on board everything already that has been said, there are far more learnings and developments to happen, but this is a new precedent and a new aspect, why is now the time?”

Ms McAllister said that it was ‘a good question’ adding: “This was agreed 18 months ago, nearly two years ago, we agreed that before the international review was complete, no further partnerships would be established, but this was already agreed, it has just taken us longer to bring it forward.”