NO members of Monmouth Town Council will be attending a reception for a Japanese delegation in their official capacity as Town Councillors, members were told on Monday night.
Cllr Mrs Sue Chivers asked if the Mayor could reassure her that no members of the Council were taking part as councillors in a reception organised by the Monmouth Ishikawa-machi Japanese Friendship Association for a party of three visitors from the district.
Cllr Dermot Downes said he would be attending as an individual, not as a councillor, and Cllr Mrs Eileen Goodrich said she would be attending as a member of the Friendship group committee.
Mayor Cllr Richard Bond said he would not be attending.
Cllr Charles Boase said he thought it was a great pity that the Mayor would not be attending in his official capacity.
Mr Bond said he thought to accept the invitation would create problems after the controversy caused last year when it was suggested that the town twin with Ishikawa-machi.
"It's better to let sleeping dogs lie," he said. "There was far too much hassle before." He said he had made the decision for the general peace of mind of the people of the town.
It was not an official twinning, it was a friendship group.