Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director Finance & Resources proposing the adoption of an International Partnering Protocol (IPP) and reviewing a proposed arrangement with Nablus, in accordance with the protocol.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) to introduce the final report on the agenda from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources.  In introducing the item, Councillor Muhammed Butt advised that the report outlined the work undertaken to review and develop an International Partnering Protocol (IPP) for adoption by the Council designed to recognise Brents role as a diverse, dynamic and globally connected borough and as a basis for building partnerships with communities around the world.  As such, he advised the IPP had been designed to provide a clear framework for developing future international partnership arrangements including appropriate review periods.  The report also included, as has been agreed following the motion approved by the Council in November 2024, a review of a proposed twinning arrangement with Nablus, which had been subject to assessment in accordance with the protocol.

Referring to the proposed twinning arrangement with Nablus, Councillor Muhammed Butt advised members that the proposal had been subject to detailed review and, as set out within the report, was now felt to have met the threshold to take forward based on the criteria within the protocol and level of support identified and the partnership representing an opportunity to share and learn through a programme of community led active engagement.  As such the proposal was felt to reflect the diverse nature of the borough whilst also celebrating the contributions made by the many different communities across the borough in seeking to foster and encourage a spirit of respect and understanding and the recommendations moved on that basis.

With the report having been moved, the Mayor then opened the debate inviting other members to speak on the report, with the following contributions made.

In opening the debate Councillor Kansagra, having taken the opportunity to thank Councillor Dar for his time as Mayor and ongoing service to the local community and to congratulate Councillor Hack on his appointment as Mayor for which he wished him very success, whilst not objecting to the spirt of the International Partnership Protocol felt there was a need to reflect on the process and priority relating to the proposed arrangements with Nablus. Whilst recognising the value of global exchange, he advised the Conservative Group believed that any partnership arrangements needed to be approached with transparency, balance and most importantly local consent.  Reflecting on Brent’s status as a proudly diverse borough with a range of long standing and well-established communities from nations across the world who all had made an important contribution to the boroughs identity, he felt there was a need to carefully reflect about the basis on which any future twinning or partnership arrangements was proposed and selected.  Reminding members of the borough’s longstanding twinning arrangement with South Dublin as a partnership grounded in significant cultural and historic links, he queried the basis on which Nablus had been selected as a further partnership.  Whilst recognising the proposal would resonate with sections of the local community, he also highlighted the nature of other familiar cultural and community links with cities and regions across the world which he felt also needed to be considered as part of the process.

Whilst advising that the Conservative Group were not opposed to adoption of the protocol, Councillor Kansagra felt that was a need to ensure that any partnership arrangements coming forward were as inclusive, locally driven and representative as possible having been shaped and developed through local communities and based on international links forged through culture, education and exchange rather than more costly, civic delegation or top down symbolic gestures.

In highlighting the Conservative Groups support for more locally driven solutions and any international partnerships to be built from the ground up, Councillor Kansagra ended by advising it was his view that in order for any arrangement to be meaningful and bring clear benefits and value to the boroughs residents it would need to be community led in order to reflect the full spectrum of Brent's identity.

Having also congratulated the Mayor on his appointment, Councillor Maurice then spoke to raise a number of concerns in relation to the proposed twinning arrangement with Nablus.  Highlighting that the Conservative Group had sought to move an amendment to the motion approved at the November 2024 Council meeting on the proposed twinning arrangement with Nablus, he reminded members of the alternative suggestion made that consideration be given to twinning with a town incorporating a broader mix of population and that was outside of an immediate conflict zone in order to better reflect the borough’s diversity and local community links.  Specific concerns were also raised in relation to the current governance arrangements within Nablus along with advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office about the need for extreme caution for anyone considering travel to Nablus at the current time and current restrictions in being able to access the region. As a result, Councillor Maurice felt there was a need for careful reflection on any decision to proceed with the proposed twinning arrangement given the potential consequences and reputational damage associated with what he regarded as the divisive and discriminatory nature of the current proposal on certain sections of the community in Brent.  As a final issue in concluding his contribution, Councillor Maurice also highlighted concerns relating to the financial costs in supporting any twinning arrangements given the challenging nature of the Council’s current financial position.

As a further contribution to the debate Councillor Mistry, having also congratulated Councillor Hack on his appointment as Mayor, advised that she also echoed the concerns raised in relation to the proposed twinning arrangement with Nablus.  Whilst not seeking to reject the spirit of the proposal she also supported the need identified for careful reflection about the basis of the proposed arrangement with Nablus, having considered the accompanying protocol and views previously expressed relating to the diverse range of other communities within Brent which, it was felt, appeared not to have been identified for consideration in offering potential alternative twinning or partnership opportunities despite other regions across the world to which they were linked facing similar challenges in relation to conflict, poverty, education and climate. Highlighting reservations which Councillor Mistry advised had been raised by members of other communities across Brent regarding the safety of potential exchange visits being undertaken to Nablus at the current time, she felt there were opportunities to apply the principles within the protocol to potential twinning arrangements in other parts of the world that would also recognise the diverse nature of other well established communities across the borough and be better able to provide a more stable and secure basis for the range of engagement activity included as part of any partnership arrangement.  In ending, Councillor Mistry advised that she would be keen to ensure a process of wider engagement with the local community prior to any final decision of the way forward being made.

Councillor Afzal, speaking in support of the proposed twinning arrangement with Nablus felt it was important, in rejecting the concerns identified relating to the governance of Nablus, to highlight the momentous nature of the decision for which approval was being sought in seeking to take forward the twinning arrangement between Brent and Nablus as a mean of confirming the boroughs commitment to solidarity, shared values and unity across borders and legacy in the journey that would follow.  Recognising the Irish heritage of the new Mayor and existing twinning arrangement with South Dublin, Councillor Afzal reflected that the Irish and Palestinian stories shared a strong connection with the arrangement with Nablus designed to support the sharing of culture and history through a process of collaboration and exchange involving knowledge, skills and experience focussed around young people and local communities across the borough and to provide shared opportunities to grow together in building a strong and lasting partnership.  As such, he felt the twinning process represented an opportunity to provide those growing up and living under the challenges faced in the region with a brighter future and one of freedom.  Highlighting that the proposal had been supported by nearly 2,000 residents and several grassroots Brent organisations, Councillor Afzal concluded by pointing out that in his view twinning was about more than symbolism and represented a commitment to shared values, mutual understanding, and global solidarity.  At a time when he was concerned so many were looking away, Councillor Afzal highlighted his pride that Brent was seeking to stand up and show what it meant to build peace and cooperation from the ground up in the name of peace, equality and solidarity.

Speaking next, Councillor Kennelly took the opportunity to commend the detailed nature of the report and protocol which had been developed given the appetite identified to develop further twinning arrangements and international partnerships that reflected the level of diversity, equality and inclusion offered by Brent for promotion elsewhere.  At the same time, however, he highlighted a need to ensure that any arrangements were designed to safeguard the rights of all groups moving forward, including the LGBTQ community to ensure they were truly reflective of the borough’s inclusive values.  Recognising concerns raised in relation to the stance of the Palestinian authorities in this respect, he felt it important to ensure these issues were addressed and the necessary assurance provided in relation to the safeguarding of these values, particularly in relation to the LGBTQ community.

As a final contribution, Councillor Lorber thanked Councillor Kennelly for the comments raised which he also felt was an issue that needed to be addressed.  Expressing concern at the way in which the protocol had been developed following the initial decision to seek a partnership arrangement with Nablus rather than in advance of the process, he felt this highlighted a need for lessons to be learnt moving forward to ensure a meaningful partnership was established recognising the lack of twinning activity associated with the current arrangement involving South Dublin.  In terms of the protocol developed he felt it important to ensure that all communities across the borough, as opposed to those with political backing, were given the opportunity to contribute towards the identification of any future twinning proposals with a clear limit set on the number of arrangements the borough would consider entering into to avoid devaluing the process.  The concerns raised in relation to safeguarding the rights of all groups living in the area covered under the arrangement, including the LGBTQ community, were also shared with the need identified to ensure, in advance of any agreement being signed, that the rights of every citizen irrespective of their race, faith or sexual orientation would be valued and protected and undertakings therefore sought regarding the stance of the governing authorities in Nablus in respect of the Council’s wider EDI objectives.  Subject to these being obtained, Councillor Lorber ended by advising the Liberal Democrats would not object to pursuing the arrangement but, if not, he advised they would have no option but to oppose the proposal.

As no other members had indicated they wished to speak the Mayor thanked those who had participated in the debate for their contributions and then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt to exercise his right of reply in relation to the comments made on the report.

In summing up, Councillor Muhammed Butt felt it important to highlight that the protocol detailed within the report included a clear framework governing establishment of the proposed and any future twinning arrangements, including a limit on the number of twinning arrangements permitted to come forward under each Administration and clear requirements relating to the community and equality impact assessments that would be required in support of any proposal.  In recognising the contributions made by all communities across Brent, members were assured of the opportunities available for representations to be made regarding any future twinning arrangements, once again highlighting the support which had been expressed for the proposal relating to Nablus as a community driven initiative involving a range of partner organisations across the borough.  Referring to the extent of work undertaken to assess the proposal, Councillor Muhammed Butt ended by once again highlighting the rigorous nature of the process which he assured members had been designed to ensure the arrangements reflected the Council priorities and would not place any strain on Council resources.  As such he commended the report to members for approval.

Having thanked the Leader for his closing remarks the Mayor then moved on to put the recommendations in the report to the vote which were declared CARRIED

It was therefore RESOLVED to:

(1)       Adopt the International Partnering Protocol as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)       Note and endorse the Community and Equalities Assessment contained in Appendix 2 and 3 of the report.

(3)       On the basis of (1) & (2) above to agree that a Twinning Agreement be established with the city of Nablus.