Minutes of the 2nd Meeting of the 105th Executive Committee of The Socialist Party of Great Britain on the 2nd February 2008

These minutes are not official until ratified by the EC. Present: A.Buick, J.Carter, P.Deutz, B.Johnson, P.McEwan, T.Miller, H.Roberts, G.Thomas, N.White, S.Wigley. Chair: G.Thomas 1. EC. Standing Orders for 2008 Executive. Some spelling errors yet to be corrected. Otherwise correct. 2. Minutes of the previous meeting. In MOTION 11, (Wigley and Roberts) "Delete Secretary". Carried 7-1 2 abstentions Correct the spelling of Cde. McEwan's name. (Buick and Johnson) "Minutes adopted". Agreed 3A Matters arising from previous minutes a) 7ai. Cheques and Signatories MOTION 1 (Miller and White) "That John Bissett be removed from the list of signatories from any and all Party bank accounts" MOTION 2 (Wigley and Miller) Amend to read, "Delete" John Bissett" and insert "non-members" and after "bank accounts", and that the Treasurer be asked to supervise this and report to the EC as appropriate". Carried 9-0. Note: There are other non-members. b) Letter from H.Moss re: Images in the Socialist Standard. Deferred. c) Roof Hatch Security. Deferred one month. d) Video Camera. Gen. Sec. was reminded to write to all relevant people). Deferred another month. e) Speakers Classes. Cde. Buick reported that Cde. Lew Higgins is prepared to hold the classes, but in Birmingham. One suggestion was to hold the classes, around the Summer School. The list of Party Speakers has reduced. MOTION 3 (Buick and Wigley) "That Comrade Higgens be asked to be Education Organiser". Carried nem. con. MOTION 4 (McEwan and Wigley) "That the Gen. Sec. writes to Cde Higgins, thanking him for offer to organise Speakers Classes in Bham, but noting that this would not be practical for many members and would suggest that instead he prepares an Information Pack to distribute to branches so that classes can be organised locally". Carried 9-0 1 abstention. f) Standing Orders for On-line Branch Activity. Deferred one month g) Contents Insurance for Head Office. At present we are only covered for the building not contents or public liability. The Treasurer has obtained quotes, contents insurance would be £1.556.39. Full insurance would be £2.856.86. MOTION 5 (Johnson and McEwan) "That the EC. takes the full insurance" MOTION 6 (Buick and Deutz) "Delete "full" and insert "buildings and public liability" Lost 3-5 1 abstention. Motion 5 carried 7-1 2 abs h) Building Valuation. Cde .F.Allen reported that in his opinion there is no need for a professional valuation which would cost about £1.500, if the building did go we would still have the value of the land. i) Ballot Box. Cde. Johnson reports that Cde. John Helps will make a larger ballot box and the size of the posting slot will be increased.. MOTION 7 (Deutz and Wigley) "Moved adoption of the verbal report". Agreed j) Electronic Voting Motion 17 which was deferred from the previous meeting because Cde. Miller suggested that the security of the secret ballot could not be guaranteed. MOTION 8 (Wigley and Miller) "That the matter be referred to the Internet Dept. in liaison with the Ballot Committee, and that they report back to the March EC.". Carried 9-0 1 abs. k) Review of Cde. Miller's stay at HO. Item 2.2.3 of December 2007 minutes. Cde. Miller moved from HO. on the 11/1/08 and thanks various Comrades for help with the move. He has appreciated the time to live and work with Socialists. l) Asst. Secretary re: HOO. Cde. Miller reports that 6 people had made complaints to him about Cde. Johnson, s behaviour. He was asked who the six were and named six Comrades. MOTION 9 (McEwan and White) "That the Chair allows Comrade D. Chesham to make a point of information". Carried 4-3 1 abs. Comrade Chesham said that neither he nor Comrade M.Chesham should be on the list as they had not complained. MOTION 10 (Miller and McEwan) "The HOO. be thanked for his work to date and that he be reminded that the extent of his duties are spelled out in the Terms of Reference, and that he be mindful of encroaching upon the duties of other elected and appointed positions". Lost 3-6 1 abs. Division: For: N.White, P.McEwan, T.Miller. Against: P.Deutz, A.Buick, H.Roberts, S.Wigley, . J.Carter, G.Thomas. Abs: B.Johnson. A tea break was held from 2.45 until 3.05 3B Responses to call for nominations i) MOTION 11 (Deutz and White) "That Comrades P.Bennett and G.Thomas be appointed to Membership Committee". Agreed 9-0 1 abs. ii) MOTION 12 (Wigley and Thomas) "That a further call be made for nominations for the Enquiries Department". Agreed iii) MOTION 13 (Wigley and Thomas) "That a further call be made for nominations for the Video Production Department". Agreed iv) MOTION 14 (Wigley and Thomas) "That Comrade Suhuyini Nbang-Ba be appointed to the Socialist Banner Editorial Committee". Agreed v) MOTION 15 (Johnson and Wigley) "That Comrade N.McCullough be appointed to the Publications Department". Agreed 3C Notice of Motion. (Johnson and Carter) "The posting of EC. Minutes". a) MOTION 16 (Wigley and Johnson) "That the General Secretary contact the Branch Secretaries and individual members currently receiving hard copies of the EC Minutes to determine whether they wish to continue receiving them by post, or whether they can access them by e-mail". Carried 10-0 b) Notice of Business (N.White) "Access to Head Office". MOTION 17 (Roberts and Miller) "Moved next business". Carried 10-0 4. Forms A and F a) Form A ( 1). Application for membership by Lyla Byrne through the Membership Committee. MOTION 18 Wigley and Buick) "That the Form A be accepted". Agreed. The new member will be referred to SWRB. MOTION 19 (Miller and White) "That in future the General Secretary make available to the EC. the membership questionnaire of applications received through the Membership Application Dept.". Lost 3-5 2 abs. Division: For; T.Miller, N.White, P.McEwan. Against; G.Thomas, S.Wigley, B.Johnson, H.Roberts, A.Buick. Abstained; P.Deutz, J.Carter. b) Form A (3) MOTION 20 (Buick and Johnson) "That the applications from Kabale, Uganda be deferred pending an investigation of the situation there". Agreed 10-0 MOTION 21 (Buick and Johnson) "That the matter be referred to the Membership Department in liaison with the Central Organiser and Central branch Secretary". Carried 10-0 c) Forms F. (17) Edmund Grant, West London, deceased. James Keohane, Central, deceased. Michelle Martin, West London, resigned. The following names have all ceased membership of Central Branch by reason of loss of contact. Stephen Egbeocha, Dominic Chege, Adongo Aidan Avugma, Sunmbo Akinbo, Michael M. Nyondo Stephen Nuwagira, Michael Muchwshi, Silas Murimbechi, Skhumbuzo Maduna,John Thuku Kihanya, John Maina Kavvitv, Hesbon Kagali, Innocent Ezeibolo, Mweni Elasmo. All these Forms F agreed. d) Form F for Fatou Ceesay, Central, deferred. . e) Forms F for Comrades Phil and Pat Bentley again came under consideration MOTION 22 (Deutz and White) "That the matter of the Forms F for Cde. Phil and Pat Bentley be referred to Manchester Branch and Central Branch Secretary for clarification". Carried 9-0 1 abs. 5 Accounts a) The Treasurer presented an abridged account for the period of July, August and September. b) Cde. Thomas reports on the difficulty of working in the General office, but the planned move to the small room on the top floor should help the situation. c) The signatures for the HSBC account have been arranged. d) MOTION 23 (Wigley and Buick) "That the Treasurer be authorised to pay the Big Issue in advance". Carried 8-0 1 abs. One absentee. f) HOO. Payments and Expenses. MOTION 24 (Deutz and Buick) "That the Treasurer continue the present arrangements with regard to expenses incurred by HOO, and look again at the meal allowance". Carried 9-0 1 abs. 6 Reports from Party Officers, Departments and Committee a) Asst. Sec. On Party Identity/Spurious Publication. Noted b) Central Branch Report to Conference. c) Election Department re: London Elections on 1 May. MOTION 25 (White and Roberts) "This EC authorises the Election Dept. to contest the constituency of Lambeth and Southwark, and that Cde. Lambert be the candidate". Carried 7-0 2 abs MOTION 26 (Wigley and McEwan) "That the Election Dept. obtain quotes 20,000 glossy A5 2-sided leaflets, black and white, and full colour and report to the March EC.". Carried 9-0 One absentee. d) Election draft report to Conference e) Campaigns report to the EC plus two pictures. Day school on climate change planned for 5 April. It was agreed that the April EC. Meeting be on the 29/3/08. MOTION 27 (White and Wigley) "Move that Campaigns Dept. investigate a suitable Central London venue for the April day school". Carried 9- 0 MOTION 28 (Johnson and Deutz) "That the cost of a display advert be itemised by the next EC Meeting by the Campaigns Dept.". Carried 10-0 (Cde. Roberts left the meeting at 5.50pm.) f) Premises report to Conference. g) Socialist Standard report to Conference. h) Public Access report to Conference. i) Publications Dept. report to Conference. j) Audio Dept report to Conference k) Enquiries Dept. report to Conference l) All reports to Conference agreed and will go out as accepted. Those which we do have yet, the EC. asks for them to be sent in by the 8/2/08 to go out in draft with preliminary Conference agenda. m) Cde. McEwan asked permission to borrow the Pooley file. MOTION 29 (Buick and Thomas) "Agreed". n) HOO report to the EC. deferred to the next meeting (Cde McEwan left the meeting) 7 Correspondence a) EARB 28/2/08. Four resolutions ai) "This branch resolves that in future EC Minutes record the visitors attending the meeting". Carried 4-2 (6 present) MOTION 30 (Buick and Deutz) "Noted". Carried 5-2 One absentee aii) "The members of this branch who were in attendance at January's EC would like it to be recorded that the members and visitors to the January EC were L.Stevens, F.Allen, , M.Chesham, J.Helps, Stair, P.Hart, J.Shodeke, D.Chesham, S.Parker" Carried 3-2-3 (8 present) MOTION 31 (Miller and Deutz) "Noted" Carried 7-0 One absentee aiii) "This branch notes that Pat Deutz was approached by Brian Johnson before the January 2008 EC meeting to be on the ad-hoc committee to investigate the possibility of bringing a charge against Phil Lancaster" Carried 4-0-4 (8 present) MOTION 32 (Miller and Wigley) "Noted" Carried 8-0 aiv) "That the ad-hoc committee formed to interview P.Lancaster on 9th Feb. should be abolished and P.Lancaster should be charged by the EC for political transgressions and personal abuse which we deem detrimental to the Party". Carried 6-0-3 (9 present) MOTION 33 (Buick and Wigley) "Noted" Carried 6-2 Division: For G.Thomas, P.Deutz, A.Buick, B.Johnson, S.Wigley, J.Carter. Against: T.Miller, N.White. b) Central London Branch 1/2/08. Two resolutions "Please be advised of the following resolutions from Central London Branch's meeting of 9th January 2008 (four members present) which we would like the EC to note. My apologies for not sending them earlier". bi) "Be it resolved that Central London Branch voice its dismay with the EC's decision not to appoint Cde Stair as Head Office Organiser, even in some sort of job-sharing arrangement, and with the minutes for not noting the arguments presented therefor. Agreed bii) "Be it resolved that Central London Branch support South London's resolution regarding Cde Lancaster". Agreed" Both resolutions Noted. c) SWRB 15/1/08 One resolution "South West Regional branch wishes to express support for the decision of the EC to set up an ad-hoc committee to meet with Phil Lancaster and report back, rather than proceeding with a charge at this juncture. We feel that a charge in such cases should only be used as a last resort when all other avenues have failed". Carried 6-0 (6 present) MOTION 34 (Miller and White) "In the light of the AHC's failure to report to the EC as requested, that SWRB be informed that all other avenues have indeed failed, that this EC disbands the AHC and charges Cde Lancaster under Rule 31" Lost 2-5 Division: For: T.Miller, N.White. Against: B.Johnson, A.Buick, S.Wigley, G.Thomas, P.Deutz, J.Carter.. (In relation to this last item, the Gen. Sec. should apologise for not putting the fact that the ADC had not been able to meet yet due to fitting in with Cde. Moss and his visits to London, as an item under Matters Arising From Previous Minutes. Meeting now rescheduled for 9 February). d) Lancaster Branch 1/2/08 One Resolution "Ref: Item 11, Motion 46: Lancaster Branch notes Item 11(d). If the report from this ad-hoc committee is inconclusive or the EC feels that further meetings are necessary, we suggest the EC co-opt onto this committee Cde Douglas McLellan, who has personal understanding of mental health issues." Carried 4-0 4 present. MOTION 35 (Buick and Wigley) "That Cde McLellan be co-opted to the AHC meeting on the 9/2/08 7-0. 1 absent. e) Letter from Joseph Balikuddembe 28/12/07 MOTION 36 (Buick and Miller) "That Cde. Balikuddembe be thanked for his letter and offer, and he be asked for more details of what he has in mind, including dates". Carried nem. con. f) E-mails from Jimmy Mwebaze. MOTION 36 (Deutz and Carter) "That the action of the Asst. Sec. be endorsed". Agreed 8 Any Other Business a) Notice of business (T.Miller) 1. Access to the Party's Membership Database and 2.Access to the Party's E-mail Account. b) Notice of Business (A.Buick) 1. SP Dialogue and Amendment of the Party forums Charter. c) Notice of Business (G.Thomas) 1. New edition of the Party Rule book, 2 Binding of the EC Minutes and 3 Binding of the Socialist Standard. c) Notice of Business (B.Johnson) That the EC. considers the Terms of Reference of all depts and committees. 9 Chair for the next meeting; S.Wigley 10 Date of the next meeting 1/3/08 11 Time of adjournment 18.35 A call is hereby made for further nominations to the Enquiries and Video Departments.