TABALINK is an English / Romanian Twinning Association promoting the sharing of friendship, interests and cultures. Our aim is to promote a real, two-way, linking of equals.

Report of the Twinning Visit (Thurs 8 - Tues. 13 April '99) of a Party from Babadag in Tulcea, Romania to Tansley near Matlock in Derbyshire, England.

- report prepared for submission to the EC in accordance with the regulations relating to their Grant awarded under Article A - 3210 of the budget.

- this report has been jointly prepared by those representing the Twinning Associations in both Tansley and Babadag; and the signatures at the foot of the document bear witness to this.

- it is requested that these two Twinning Associations from the recipient communities be permitted to distribute copies of this report, or excerpts from it, to any interested parties who may request them; it being mentioned that the European Commission were the main sponsor of the event.

INTRODUCTION

In order to provide a context for this report, the reader is directed to the timetable in Appendix A. As with any such event, time was set aside for the Hosts and Guests to meet socially. This report - which is written to compliment the one already submitted from Mr. Nani of the Cultural Centre in Babadag - however, concentrates its focus on two main elements:-

• the introductory, scene-setting Meeting with the Councillors, and with representatives from the Peak National Park Authority on the Friday morning; and
• the Industrial Conference on the Monday morning and afternoon.

Both as part of the Conference Day, and on other occasions indicated on the timetable, various visits were planned for the whole group, or, as optional small group visits after which the opportunity to feed back information to the whole group was given. Those offered:-

• A and M Paper Mill, Chesterfield;
• Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell;
• Carsington Water Information Centre;
• Caudwell's Mill, Rowsley;
• Graham Neville's Farm, Tansley;
• Jackson (Builders) Ltd. , Darley Dale nr Matlock; and
• The French Wine People, Matlock.

CONTENTS

1. Meeting at Matlock Town Hall on Friday morning 9th April
2. Visits to Bakewell (Friday 9th) & to Carsington Reservoir(Saturday 10th)
3. Day Conference on Business held on Monday 12th April
4. Appendices -
   1. Timetable for the Visit
   2. Briefing Sheet for Hosts
   3. Bakewell Project - timetable & information sheets
   4. Conference Programme

The Meeting at Matlock Town Hall on the morning of Friday 9th April

The Chair to the Derbyshire Dales District Council, Mr. Alun Thomas, first greeted each of the visitors with a handshake; and then went on to address them. Using maps, he explained the location of the District he represented within Derbyshire and within Britain; and ultimately, within Europe. He explained that Matlock was unique within Derbyshire in that three layers of government were housed in the town. He provided a brief overview of the responsibilities carried by each of these different layers, and indicated some of the other different agencies that were currently in place to support local businesses and trades-people. The level of interest in what he had introduced was demonstrated by the 30-40 minutes of questions from the floor that followed. Sirma Caraman, General Manager at the Tulcea District Council then replied on behalf of the visitors, thanking the DDDC Chair for his kind welcome and his informative talk.

Following the introductory input by Alun Thomas, a video entitled 'Water on Stone' was shown, the sound track being translated into Romanian. This provided information about the role that water had played in the region's growth - its medicinal use in spa towns such as Matlock, and its use as a source of power in driving Mill wheels. It was indicated how useful limestone had been as a construction material; and established industries like lead mining were mentioned. A number of Villages were visited, and a few shots of the stately home of Chatsworth included: thus various forms of farming - sheep, cattle,wheat and trees - were indicated as one of the area's established sources of employment; and it was emphasized that developments were controlled so as to sustain the rural nature of the Dales. Towards the close of the video, pursuits such as Walking, Fishing and Horse-riding were shown and the importance of the Leisure Industry mentioned. This was further expanded by our final speaker.

The final section of the morning was an illustrated talk by the Chief Ranger for the Peak National Park (PNP) Ranger Service, Mr. Sean Prendergast. The PNP is 44,000 hectares in size, and has been awarded the highest grade of environmental protection: it is termed a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI). Aside from being a place where many thousands of people live and work each day, it is also a place that is visited by those from the neighbouring cities of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Mr. Prendergast took time to explain how a National Park functioned; balancing its management in order to both cater for those who visit for a day or two, and for those who reside permanently within it. The term Ranger, as used in both Derbyshire and Tulcea were summarily compared. It was suggested that a possible 'motto' for the PNP Rangers could be 'Caring for a Living Landscape', one of their key roles being the Education of the Public. As with the introductory session, those from Romania took full advantage of the opportunity to pose questions so as to better understand what they were being told, considering the relevance of what they had heard to their own situation, which is also highly rural and includes access to the unique ecological site, the Danube Delta.

Although it had not been possible for him to join the group during the morning sessions, Mr David Wheatcroft, Chief Executive to the District Council joined the group across the lunch break. This provided the opportunity for him to speak to those in the group, and to provide extra background information on the roles fulfilled by the District Council: he agreed to provide an additional and much needed input at the Business Conference Day on Monday.

The Visits to Bakewell (Friday) & to Carsington Resevoir(Saturday)

Following Lunch, the group were taken to visit 'The Agricultural Business Centre' at Bakewell. This is a major part of 'The Bakewell Project' (for more details, see The Timetable of Works, and the general information sheet included as Appendix C). Bakewell is an established Market Town for the area, but with new European Regulations, the Cattle Market was needing major upgrading. The solution that was agreed, and supported by the DDDC, was its transference to a new site; together with the obvious upgrading of its facilities. In addition to a new market, the Business Centre now includes a Cafe/Restaurant and small shop facilities, together with a business support unit and conference facilities. The visit was of obvious interest to the farmers in the party, but also to the Council officers and business people generally. The afternoon concluded with a guided tour of the town centre which showed the current redevelopment in the context of the broader project. It also provided an introduction for the visitors as to the way a British shopping centre caters for both the domestic needs of the locals, and the wants of those who were passing through as tourists. Many of the group called in at the Bakewell Tourist Information Centre.

On the Saturday, there was a second opportunity to visit an Information Centre alongside the newly built Carsington Water Reservoir: this encorporporates a specialized Exhibition Centre. The Water Authority responsible - Severn Trent Water - provided a Guide so that the visitors were able to both tour the Information / Exhibition Centre, and ask questions about its operation.

The Day Conference on Business held in Tansey on Monday 12th April

INTRODUCTION

As stated in the Programme, this was based at the Tansley Community Hall, with the mid-day meal provided at the nearby Methodist Church. The Programme issued was in English, but had a half sheet folded into it giving details of the timetable in Romanian. A copy of these is included with this Report as Appendix D.

[NOTE: On the front cover of the Programme, it was stated that the sponsoring of this event and other of the events during this weekend, in large part, have been made possible by the awarding of a Grant from the European Commission.]

The day proceded largely according to the arranged Programme, although enthusiasm for the material offered caused the Scene Setting session by Mr. David Wheatcroft to over-run. Lunch was therefore a shortened affair from about 12.50 to 1.30pm., Mr. Wheatcroft and Mr. Price using this extra time to cover their topics, not least to answer questions from the visitors. At 4.00pm., Mr. Wheatcroft kindly returned, in response to a request from a particular small group.

All those expected to provide inputs into the programme attended as planned, with the exception of Mr. Forrester whose apologies were presented: he had been unfortunately delayed on a business trip in France

VISITS

All groups returned enthusiastically from their trips. The largest group was that in the care of a local builder, Mr. Jackson. They visited premises in construction, so as to demonstrate some of the building techniques used in the region. One of those driving the guests, Mr. Williams, was able to add further to the input because of his specialist knowledge of the National House Building Federation. There was also the opportunity to briefly visit the small quarry that has been mined for building materials by Mr. Jackson for many years.

A second group visited the Caudwell Mill: they were treated to an abbreviated trip around this working Mill which is run as a Tourist attraction. They were also shown around some of the local Craft workshops, and it was explained that Peak Products operates as a means of promoting and selling a range of local Craft items. This trip provided a background to discussions later, both in relation to the Leisure Industry and regarding the promotion of small scale, specialist Craft products.

The third group was the smallest, this trip having been arranged to accommodate a request from the Wine Manufacturer, Mr. Tarara. The French Wine People are a local importer based in Matlock; and, as their name implies, their specialist area is French wines. However, various wines were tasted, and as a result of the visit, Mr. Tarara was given some background as to how he might further market his product, but, perhaps more importantly, he was given an idea of what particular type of wines appeal to the British / English palate.

SCENE SETTING

Mr. Wheatcroft started by amplifying some of the information introduced by Mr. Thomas (Chair of the District Council) at the introductory session on Friday morning: he emphasized the unique situation in Matlock where we find the bases for County, District and Town Councils. He detailed briefly the particular specialist areas under the control of these Councils; and the way the elected representatives and the appointed officers operate together to deliver these. The Commitee structure of the Derbyshire Dales District Council, and the specialist focii of its four main Committees, was explained in detail, copious questions then being posed from the floor.

Mr. Price provided information from his specialism of Economic Development Officer; and again the visitors showed their interest in the material covered by asking many questions.

INPUTS

The panel briefly introduced themselves and their specialist involvements.

• Although Mr. Powley is a member of TABALINK Association, this was the first opportunity there had been for him to speak to the whole group about his work: he outlined some of the factors that he felt had helped make the A and M Paper Mill a success.These he listed as:
  1. Innovation;
  2. Willing to take risks;
  3. Excellent Customer Service;
  4. Highly motivated team of engineers, managers and sales staff;
  5. A workforce that operates a structure where everyone knows their right to make decisions;
  6. Always using good quality machinery;
  7. Always using good quality raw materials;
  8. As a small company, having borrowed money, always repaid the debts on time.
  In summary, it is important to think always of the Product (which must be of a consistent quality, appropriate for the particular market niche) and the Market. Price must be competitive. The product and services must be innovative, and ready to be changed if this is dictated. Business costs must be less than one's competitors.
• Mr. Strange told about his electrical business, from which he had recently retired, and his current work in monitoring installations. He emphasized the absolute requirement to apply the regulations dictated by Britain and by Europe. He answered a range of questions, including the voltages carried by parts of the National Grid, and the step-downs achieved at sub-stations. When these became too specialized for the rest of the group, the one or two who wished to pursue the topic adjourned for an animated session in a small nearby room, communicating in large part through sketching on a flipchart, supported by the second interpreter.
• Mr. Fellows is one of a small group of people who run a Consultant Company which specializes in supporting the work of small businesses throughout the world. As a food technologist, he focusses on food processing as found in small dairies, bakeries or fruit and vegetable producer units. Possible forms of help that they might be able to provide directly to a small business include: improving the quality of, or diversifying a product; improving machinery or packaging; or looking for new markets. Alternatively, if working with those who support small businesses, his Company could offer to help with: the development of strategies; training packages; training for the trainers or links to other organizations. In response to a question, he explained that the usual way they worked was to develop a proposal for funding: payment for his organization's fees could then be met from within any grant awarded.
• This was the second time that Mr. Prendergast had met the group: he had addressed them in their opening session in the Town Hall on the Friday morning. In reintroducing himself, and what he hoped they might gain from contact with the Derbyshire Peak National Park Ranger Service, he suggested that they should try to imitate the 'Magpie'. In other words, they should not listen to what they hear in England, expecting to adopt everything as a total package. Instead, they should be selective, only adopting those things that - to them - shine out as being appropriate to their situation. He mentioned conservation and economic growth, and the need to achieve a balance between these; thus in promoting ecotourism, it must be sustainable. (as the briefest of explanations regarding 'sustainable', he suggested that it again meant balanced, and also continuable). Tree farming was discussed and the group were told of the role in Britain of the Forestry Commission: as in other areas, sustainability of forests was important. Amenity forestry and economic / commercial forestry was distinguished, and the way that , in certain areas, the growing of certain types of tree were promoted / controlled by the selective provision of grants.

General Discussion - a far ranging discussion developed although many of the avenues explored (eg: Leisure Tourism; Nature reserves; Craft industry) seemed to flounder because of the uncertainty of how financing might be achieved. Tea was taken without a break in the conversations; and this led directly into the final session considering 'What Next'.....

THE FUTURE

• After brief discussion, Mr. Nani proposed that Mr. Powley ask his firm to carry out a feasibility study into setting up a Paper Mill in the Babadag area. Mr. Nani pointed out that the old Sugar Beet Factory, although in a poor state of repair, could probably be brought back into use. There was an established rail access, water supply and other services. In response, Mr. Powley said that he felt there was a need to talk this out further, away from this current forum; but that the need for paper in Romania would grow, and at present he understood, there were only 4 or 5 five established Mills in the Country. Earlier, it had been mentioned that timber from Romania was being purchased in Britain because it was cheaper than the British product: this would obviously be better used in its native country.

Although acknowledging the usefulness of such single initiatives, the Chair moved the discussion to a more general consideration of developments in the Babadag / Tulcea area, and possible ways that TABALINK might play a part within the promotion of these....

• It was suggested that a group of Derbyshire business people should be invited to visit the district and see for themselves the potential of the area.
• The United Kingdom's 'Environmental Know How Fund' (EKHF) was mentioned as a possible source of funding. The fund (part of the Overseas Development Agency) exists to help promote exchange of knowledge and skills; and pay for experts to go to Europe for scoping projects, consultancy, training or development.
• A 'Babadag Plan' needs to be constructed to fit the funding rules of eg the Overseas Development Agency. It would be relevant to emphasise:
  • sustainable development;
  • reactivation of derelict machinery and workplaces;
  • local community involvement ("in local sustainable developments eg tourism")

If appropriate, include reference to training, consultancy (eg how to sort out the old Sugar Beet factory premises; or how to expand the focus of a tourist 'Honey Pot'; or how the production or marketing of a particular foodstuff might be refined) The Mayor of Babadag agreed he would oversee this process

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