Minutes of the 2nd Meeting
of the 107th Executive Committee
of the Socialist Party of Great Britain
6 February 2010
Note: These minutes are not official until amendment and adoption by
the EC.
Present: M Chesham, Deutz, Carter, Allen, Browne, Buick, Shodeke,
Byrne, Thomas, D Chesham,
Miller (General Secretary)
Visitors: H Comber, S Wicks, N White, S Parker
The meeting was called to order at 13:08.
1. Election of Chair
Agreed at previous meeting: Allen
2. Minutes of the previous meeting, business arising therefrom and the
General Secretary’s
rising of Notices of Motion and Business from previous meetings
(a) Amendment and adoption of the January 2010 meeting minutes
The following amendments were agreed:
i. In x8, add Stair to the list of Internet Department appointees
ii. In x7 change “cash flow” to “cash float”
iii. Replace “Shodoeke” with “Shodeke” throughout
iv. In x7, Head Office Organiser Terms of Reference, change “large” to
“larger”
v. In x7, note that Shodeke offered to read the gas and electricity
consumption meter
readings
Motion 1 (D Chesham & Thomas) That the minutes be adopted as
amended.
Carried 10–0
(b) Matters arising from the November 2009 meeting minutes
i. Re x6(e) (draft General Election manifestos), three drafts received
in total
It was agreed to vote on the best draft manifesto. The first received
no votes; the
second, six votes; and the third, three votes. The meeting then
discussed and carried
a large number of amendments to the second manifesto, which were
recorded by
Buick for the Election Department.
Motion 2 (Browne & Carter) That the manifesto as amended be adopted.
Agreed
It was noted that a Trotskyist party is planning to contest Vauxhall,
the same electoral
district the Party was thinking of contesting.
Motion 3 (Browne & Deutz) That the Party contest Vauxhall in the
forthcoming
general election.
Carried 10–0
Motion 4 (Shodeke & D Chesham) That the Party contest the election
under the
name “World Socialist Movement”.
Failed 0–10
Motion 5 (Browne & Deutz) That the Party contest the election under
the name
“The Socialist Party of Great Britain”.
For: Browne, Deutz, Allen, Carter. Against: M Chesham, D Chesham,
Thomas, Buick,
Shodeke, Byrne. Abstaining: none.
Failed 4–6
Motion 6 (Buick & Browne) That the Party contest the election under
the name
“The Socialist Party (GB)”, as in previous elections.
Carried 10–0
(c) Matters arising from the December 2009 meeting
i. Re year-end call for nominations for Departments, Lancaster Branch
nominated
Cde Shannon to the Socialist Standard Department (editorial).
It was noted that this nomination had been received in time for the
December 2009
meeting, but was not put before the EC as it had been misfiled. It was
further
noted that the Department’s editorial board was already fully staffed,
but that the
Department has the power to co-opt members.
Motion 7 (Browne & M Chesham) That the EC recommends the Socialist
Standard
Department co-opt Cde Shannon in accordance with {6 of the 1990
Conference
Resolution on the SSPC.
Carried 9–0–1
It was agreed to fix or remove the automatic e-mail filter which caused
the misfiling.
(d) Matters arising from the January 2010 meeting minutes
i. Re x4 (Firetecnics letter), the 2009 General Secretary sent
apologies for having neglected
to contact Firetecnics as requested by the EC. The current General
Secretary
confirmed that he has since contacted Firetecnics. The Head Office
Organiser
reported that the manual had subsequently arrived and that two members
(Cdes R Lambert and Kelly, according to Thomas) have been trained on
testing the
alarm. Browne confirmed that the commissioning certificate is included
in the manual.
Motion 8 (Buick & Thomas) That the report from the Head Office
Organiser be
forwarded to the Premises Committee.
Carried 10–0
ii. Re x5 (Party Officers)
Thomas reported that he would today be meeting with Cde Wicks, who had
been
nominated for Assistant Treasurer. No further information regarding
nominations
for Treasurer.
Motion 9 (Browne & Buick) That Cde Wicks be appointed Assistant
Treasurer.
For: Allen,MCesham, Thomas, Shodeke, D Chesham, Buick, Browne, Bryne.
Against: Deutz,
Carter. Abstaining: none.
Carried 8–2
iii. Re x8 (Motion “That consideration of the appointment of the
Publications Department
be deferred pending a letter to each nominee regarding the alleged
breakdown
of relations in the 2009 Department”, the e-mail considered responses
from Cdes Mc-
Cullough, Stevens, and Stair. Stair also sent 47 pages of printed
documents which
the Chair summarized for the meeting.
Motion 10 (D Chesham & Byrne) That the EC appoint Cdes Stair and
Stevens to
the Publications Department, and call for further nominations.
Carried 5–0–5
iv. Re x12a (Glasgow Branch resolution), the following resolution was
received from
West London Branch: “That this branch fully endorses Glasgow Branch’s
resolution
(item 12a, January EC minutes) on the present impracticality of
employing a fulltime
Head Office Organiser.” (Carried 5–0)
Motion 11 (Browne & Deutz) That the resolution from West London
Branch be
noted.
Carried 10–0
v. Re x8 (nominations to Departments and Committees), South London
Branch has
nominated Cdes Shodeke, Gardner, and Deutz to the Production for Use
Committee;
and Deutz and Shodeke have given written acceptance
Motion 12 (Browne & Buick) That Shodeke and Deutz be appointed to
the Production
for Use Committee.
Agreed
(e) Notices of Motion and Business
i. Notice of Business by Thomas: The question of the Party having an
accredited
Health and Safety Officer
Thomas noted that it is a legal requirement for us to have a Health and
Safety
Officer, and that the Party has had one in the past. Browne said it may
not be a legal
requirement for non-employers such as the Party.
It was agreed that the General Secretary would investigate whether we
are required
to have a Health and Safety Officer, and how to get someone qualified
for the position.
3. Forms A and F
(a) Form A for Glenn Morris (Central London Branch)
Motion 13 (Buick & Thomas) The Form A for Glenn Morris be accepted.
Agreed
(b) Form F for Victor Brain (Swansea Branch, deceased)
Motion 14 (Browne & Thomas) The Form F for Victor Brain be accepted.
Agreed
(c) Form F for Cyril Evans (South London Branch, deceased)
Motion 15 (Buick & Thomas) The Form F for Cyril Evans be accepted.
Agreed
(d) Form A for Christine Namara (Central Branch, via Membership
Applications Department)
The application was dated 10 September 2007. It was unclear whether it
had previously
come before the EC, and if so, whether the EC had made any decision on
it.
Motion 16 (D Chesham & Browne) The Form A for Christine Namara be
accepted.
Carried 10–0
4. Accounts
(a) Bank statement from Butterfield, credit £31 675.91
(b) Three invoices for Socialist Standard printing from BD&H, for
£930, £930, and £940
(c) Two invoices for Private Eye advertising, £107.61 and £126.44
(d) Invoice for Camden New Journal advertising, £235
(e) Invoice for office supplies from Lyreco, £349.42
(f) Invoice for building insurance, £2793.03
(g) Travel expenses claims for Byrne and Wicks, and travel advance for
Byrne
(h) Invoice from Kingseal Windows for shop front 50% deposit, £6184.61
(i) Expenses from D Chesham for various Departments for £164.59
(j) Invoice for postage stamps, £1750
Byrne left at this point.
Motion 17 (Browne & Deutz) That all the invoices and expenses be
paid.
Carried 9–0
5. Reports of Party Officers, Party Appointees, Subcommittees, and
Departments; discussion of
campaigns and The Socialist Standard
(a) Library Department Report to Conference
(b) Premises Committee Report to Conference
(c) Socialist Standard Department Report to Conference
(d) Election Department Report to Conference
(e) Audio-visual Department Report to Conference
(f) Campaigns Department Report to Conference
(g) Ballot Committee Report to Conference
(h) Blog Department Report to Conference
(i) Internet Department Report to Conference
(j) Standing Orders Committee Report to Conference
Motion 18 (Deutz & Browne) That the reports be adopted.
Agreed
Motion 19 (Buick & Browne) That Advertising Department, Archives
Department, Education
Department, Enquiries Department, Head Office Organiser, Membership
Applications
Department, Publications Department, and Party Officers be asked to
send in their reports
to Conference by Friday 19 February.
Agreed
6. Correspondence
(a) Matters of urgency
i. Call for Branch poll from Central London Branch:
That Central London Branch:
A. calls a Branch Poll under Rule 16 [sic; actually 26] (addendum)
with the
wording:
This poll advises the EC to establish a General Purposes Subcommittee
for day to day payment of bills and general administration.
B. votes in the affirmative on the poll.
C. resolves to disseminate the polled motion via spintcom and spopen
urging
other branches to support it as a matter of urgency.
Noted.
(b) Correspondence from or concerning Branches, the Party in general,
and members
i. Letter from Socialist Green Unity Coalition
The SCUG includes the “Socialist Party” [sic], the Alliance for Green
Socialism,
the Alliance for Workers Liberty, the Democratic Labour Party, the
United Socialist
Party, the Socialist Alliance, and others, and cooperates amongst its
partners to
ensure that there is no overlap in electoral contests. They request a
meeting to discuss
avoiding or minimising any clashes between us at the 2010 general
election and
the local elections in May 2010.
Motion 20 (Buick & Shodeke) That the Socialist Green Unity
Coalition be informed
that the Socialist Party of Great Britain is contesting the Vauxhall
constituency in
the coming general election, and that the General Secretary reply in
accordance with
our Principles.
Amendment (D Chesham & Thomas) Delete “the Vauxhall constituency
in”.
Failed 3–6
Vote on substantive motion:
Carried 9–0
ii. Forms F for Central Branch
A. Letter from Fred Allen asking why two of the three Forms F he
requested had
not been issued.
B. Letter from Central Branch Secretary clarifying that two of the
three Forms F
had actually been accepted by the EC. The remaining Form F is for an
active
member who she feels should not be lapsed.
Noted.
iii. Note from Head Office Organiser that the Rule Book will likely be
completed by the
end of next week. Noted.
(c) Correspondence from Companion Parties and Groups
i. SPC newsletter for January 2010. Noted.
(d) All other correspondence
7. Any other business
(a) Michael Moore film leaflet
“Branch polls may be called by the EC or any Branch, suggesting a
wording for a resolution. If an absolute majority of
Branches pass the resolution, the EC shall consider it as if it were a
floor resolution.”
The WSP(US) has prepared a leaflet concerning the forthcoming Michael
Moore film,
Capitalism: A Love Story. The leaflet will be adapted for distribution
in Britain.
Branches and members interested in distributing these leaflets outside
cinemas should
contact Head Office.
(b) Campaigns Department suggestion that the 27 March forum, “The Road
to Socialism:
Kropotkin, Morris, and Marx” be advertised in Time Out.
Motion 21 (Thomas & Deutz) That the Campaigns Department be allowed
to spend
£156.86 on advertisements for the 27 March forum.
Carried 9–0
(c) Thomas noted that the Northern Line may be subject to closures from
July for eighteen
months, possibly including weekend closures, and that this would
disrupt travel to Head
Office.
8. Nomination of Chair for the next meeting
Motion 22 (Deutz & M Chesham) That D Chesham chair the next meeting.
Agreed
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 18:01.