Decision details

The Council resolved:-

(i)           to note the current Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with international partner cities that are supported by the Council;

(ii)          to note the support provided to international trade activity led by Scottish Development International (SDI) and the Department for International Trade (DIT);

(iii)         to note the submission of the H2 Twin Cities application under the US Government Clean Energy Ministerial with the city of Kobe in May 2022;

(iv)         to approve international travel as detailed below and subject to the maximum expenditure as detailed in paragraph 4.2 of the report:-

(1)      two officers to attend ONS event in Stavanger, Norway, between 29 August - 1 September 2022;

(2)      the Lord Provost and one officer to attend WECP Annual General Meeting in Esbjerg, Denmark, between 5 - 8 October 2022; and

(3)      up to two officers to attend CERA Week Conference in Houston, USA, between 6 - 10 March 2023;

(v)          to delegate authority to the Chief Officer - City Growth to authorise necessary and appropriate travel documentation and associated expenditure for the travel noted in (iv) above, provided the cost thereof does not exceed the budget referred to in section 4 of the report, and note that all international travel is in line with current Council travel policies and international travel and Covid-19 guidance;

(vi)         to agree that additional international travel will be discussed with the Council Co-Leaders and a report brought to the appropriate committee if a decision to travel is required; and

(vii)       to agree that an annual service update be circulated to members reporting on the outcomes of all the overseas activity proposed in the report.