Minutes of the
9th Meeting of the Executive Committeeof the Socialist
Party of Great Britain, held at 52 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UNon
the 6th of September 2008

    


(These minutes are not official until ratified by the EC.)

Present: Buick (Chair), Carter, Deutz, Johnson, McEwan, Thomas, Wigley,
White.
Apologies: Roberts and Miller.

Motion 1 (Johnson/Thomas) “That Comrade Buick chair the meeting.” Agreed.

1 Minutes of the previous meeting.
(i)Correction to 2(e) report of the Fire Risk Assessment.
Should read “that no-one should sleep overnight on the top floor”.
(ii)Under Reports of Party Officers, Departments and Committees at 5(m),
the Video Department Report to ADM add, that Miller and Thomas moved the
appontment of Robert Whitfield to the Department, nominated by Lancaster
Branch. Agreed
Motion 2 (White/Deutz) “The minutes be accepted as amended”. Agreed

2 Matters Arising
(i) Premises Department letter 19/8/08. Noted
(ii) Premises Department letter 4/9/08.The department is having on-going
discussions with two firms of Architects about the front of the building
and will report back to the EC at the October. meeting. The EC were
concerned that there is no indication of what sort of plan the department
have in mind, or of estimated cost.
Motion 3 (Wigley/Johnson) “That the Premises Department be asked to submit
draft plans re. the front of HO to the October EC meeting.” Carried 5-1. 2
abstentions
A report on the negotiations with the Royal National Institute re. Deaf
Loop System should be with the October EC meeting.
(iii) Manchester Branch 20/8/08: “With regard to item 5b and motion 11, of
the August EC minutes the following resolution was carried 5-0 (5
present) “That the EC be asked whether Branches are now not allowed to
have guest speakers who are announced as such by the Chair of the
meeting.”
Motion 4 (McEwan/Deutz) “The EC confirms that Branches are allowed to have
guest speakers provided that there is also a speaker to present the party
case”. Carried 7-0 1 abstention
(iv) P.Newell 12/8/08. Motion 5 (Wigley/White) “Agreed to note the
letter.” Cd 6-2
(v) Reply from M. Turyasingura, 3/8/08. Motion 6 (Wigley/McEwan) “Noted”.
Agd.

3 Forms A and F
Form F for Allan Goldsmith, East Anglian Regional Branch, lapsed due to
non-payment of dues and no response to attempts to communicate. Agreed

4 Accounts
Accounts for April and May 2008.
Motion 7 (Wigley/Deutz) “That the accounts be accepted”. Agreed

(Comrade Wigley left the meeting at 1.30pm)

5 Party Officers Reports, Committees and Departments
(i) F.Allen, 6/8/08. Comrade Allen reports on the many books which have
been outstanding from the library in some cases for several years. (See
7(a) below).
Motion 8 (Deutz/McEwan) ”That the Library Department be asked to provide a
list of names of the most serious cases and branches of the members with
books to return to the library”. Carried 6-0
(ii )H.Roberts 3/9/08. Comrade Roberts experienced much stress after the
last EC meeting through missing her train. Since changing her address the
journey is much longer and so whilst attending the October and November EC
meetings, will not be able to attend the December meeting due to work
commitments. She self-nominated as Chair for the October meeting. Her
letter was noted with regret.
(iii) Campaigns September Update, 1/9/08 (As on Spintcom)
(a) On Film nights. Motion 9 “The EC authorises the Campaigns Department
to purchase an ‘umbrella’ public performance licence costing approximately
£150”. Carried 6-0 1 abstention
(b) On the forum with Ian Bone. The EC agreed to advertise the forum in
the New Statesman, the Big Issue and the Morning Star.
(c) On the Ecology Pamphlet. There was an objection to the use of the term
Ecology, rather it should be Environment and so the pamphlet should be
called ‘Socialism and the Environment’.
Motion 10 (Thomas/Johnson) “The title of the launching meeting should be
‘Profit versus the Planet’ and we advertise in the Big Issue, New
Statesman, Morning Star and the Green News” Agreed
(d) On the debate with Dr. Thomas Kealey. The date of the meeting is
22/11/08, 6pm. In the small hall at Conway Hall.The title to be ‘How
people evolved to make money’.
(e) On the debate with Germain Greer.
Motion 11 (Thomas/Carter) “The EC agrees that the Campaigns Committee
continue with their proposed approach to Germain Greer”. Carried 4-3
Motion 12 (Thomas/Johnson) “A call for nominations for two members to
serve on the Campaigns Department.” Carried 4-0 3 abstentions. Branches
please note.
(v) Comrade Johnson gave a Notice of Business: ‘That purchase of a Xerox
photocopier be discussed at the October meeting.’

The EC had a tea-break from 2.50 until 3.15pm.

5a Reports to the Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM)
1) Treasurer/Accounts. The statements from the bank do not yet include
June. Noted
2) Advertising Department Agreed
3) Audio and Audio/Visual Department both approved.
4) Ballot Committee report to ADM
Motion 13 (Johnson/McEwan) “That the ballot for the EC 2009 be declared on
spintcom on the 10th of January 2009.” Carried 6-1
Motion 14 (McEwan/Deutz) “The first meeting of the 2009 Executive
Committee takes place on Saturday the 17th of January 2009.”Agreed
The report adopted
5) Central Branch Secretary. Agreed
6) Central Organiser. Report noted
7) Membership. Agreed
8) Premises. Agreed
9) Production for Use. Agreed
10) Publication
Motion 15 (Deutz/Carter) “To delete the section on Membership Cards.”
Agreed. The amended report agreed
11) Standing Orders. Agreed
12) Ad hoc Committee on Branch Standing Orders. The report will go to ADM
with the branch comments.
13) The Pooley Committee. There has been no further developments
Motion 16 (Thomas/Deutz) “That all reports be incorporated into the report
to ADM

6 Correspondemce
(a) Form C from EARB.
(b) Comrade Gluck wrote that when minuting his request to hire a room to
stay in London for a month, it should have been noted that he would be
willing to pay a £100 a week. Noted
(c) Central London Branch Supporting Statement Passed to Standing Orders.
(d) Socialist Party of Canada September Newsletter. Noted

7 Any Other Business
(a) Comrade Allen reports, after going to library, that even today 25-30
books have been returned to the library. Though that still leaves 50-60
outstanding.
(b) Comrade Buick asked that the print-run for the Socialist Standard be
revised upwards to 1,250.
There was a question about the bar-code on the Standard, was it changed
when the price is changed. This will be investigated.
(c) Comrade White gave notice of absence from the October EC meeting.

8 The Chair for the October meeting will be Comrade Roberts
9 Date of the next meeting, 4/10/08
10 Meeting adjourned at 3.55pm



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