ecdec04

Minutes of the 12th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Socialist
Party of Great Britain, held at Head Office, 4th December 2004.

Meeting Commenced: 14:00hrs. Present: Bissett, Browne, Easton, Lambert, Wigley. Apologies: Arya [Personal], Parker [Holiday], Stair [Party business], Thomas [Sickness]

1) Election of Chair: Chair as agreed at previous meeting - Stair. Chair elected at Meeting - Wigley (Lambert & Bissett) - Agreed. 2) Amendment and adoption of previous minutes and matters arising: i) Divers spelling errors were noted in the previous minutes, these were attributed to the idleness of the secretary. ii) Adoption of the minutes: Bissett & Browne Agreed. iii) Deferred matter: PFU Terms of reference. (Letter from Cde. Easton & Resolution from South London Branch) Branch resolution (South London) Meeting of 1st November 2004. ""This Branch considers that the Terms of Reference of the PFU Committee are unnecessarily restrictive and would urge the EC to delete the words 'and with the approval of the EC' in clause 3." Comber & Simkins. Carried 6- 0" (Six members present). "This EC sees no reason to change the agreed terms of the PFU." Browne & Bissett. For: Bissett, Browne, Lambert, Wigley. Abstention: Easton. Motion Carried. 3) Accounts: 7 None to hand. 4) Forms A. 7 None to hand. 5) Reports from Party Officers, Departments and Committees. i) Assistant Secretary: Re: Delays in membership applications. "That the report be referred to the next EC" Bissett & Easton. 5 - 0 Carried. ii) Assistant Secretary: Responsibility and timing for EC report to ADM. The secretary reported that the report to ADM had only been sent out to branch secretaries. Browne reported for standing order that this was due to the report having been sent out later than rule indicated, and was the secretaries responsibility. "That the dispatch of the ADM report is the responsibility of the General Secretary and should be sent to all members individually." Bissett & Wigley Agreed. iii) Report from Socialist Standard Committee, indicating that the redesigned Standard would cost an extra #200.00 per month, and necessitate an increased budget to #2,400.00 p.a., including a reduced print run to 1,700 copies (#784.00 per month), saving Jan and Feb where 1,900 copies should be produced at #812.00 for publicity purposes. "That the report be approved and the SSPC be so informed." Browne & Easton. Agreed. iv) Oral report of the ballot committee. The following accepted nominations had been received (Nominating branch in brackets): General Secretary: J. Bissett (Central London). Treasurer - G. Thomas (South London). Central Organiser - A. Buick (West London) Trustee - B. Martin (Central London). Trustee - R. Headicar (Central London). Executive Committee: J. Bissett (Central London) P. Lawrence (South London) K. Scholey (Central London) Stair (South London) G. Thomas (South London) S. Wigley (Central London). The following posts will thus be vacant as of the start of 2005: Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, 2 Auditors, 4 EC members. "That Nominations are be called for vacant posts, to be returned by Sat. 8th January" Easton & Browne Agreed. 6) Correspondence from Companion Parties, and external bodies. i) Minutes of London Election Delegate Committee (LEDC). a) "That Central London, West London and South London branches be given permission to contest the Vauxhall constituency as per rule 28." Browne & Bissett 5 - 0 Carried. b) "That Cde. Lambert be appointed candidate, subject to him passing the Speakers' Test; the test to be administered by Cdes. Bissett, Easton, Martin & Wigley." Browne & Wigley 5 - 0 Carried. c) "That Cde. Martin be appointed election agent." Browne & Easton. 5 - 0 Carried. d) "That the Cdes. be wished every success in this election". Browne & Lambert. Unan. ii) Branch resolution: Central London. at meeting of 10th November 2004. "That the EC investigate the possibility of installing an induction loop or a PA system in the hall at head office." Wigley & White Passed 7-0 (7 present). "that the matter be referred to the Audio Visual Committee" Lambert & Browne. 5 - 0 Carried. iii) E-mail from T. Weijagye re: loss of contact. It was noted that Cde. O'Neil has replied already. Browne & Lambert Agreed. iv) Minutes from WSPNZ, Conf. 2004 report. Noted. Browne & Wigley. Agreed. v) Minutes from WSPNZ, October Minutes. Noted. Browne & Wigley. Agreed. 7) Forms F. 7 J. Davies Swansea. (Loss of contact) "That the Form F be returned to the branch and that they be asked to check is this is the same J. Davies for whom HO has a different address." Browne & Bissett. 5 - 0 Carried 8) Any Other Business. i) Branch resolution from S. London Branch (left off preliminary agenda by Secretary) Meeting 1st November "That the attention of the EC be drawn to the possibility of recording the proceedings of ADM/Conference on mini disk as an aide memoir for the Gen Sec to issue a written record of the proceedings." Lambert & Thomas. Agreed. (7 Members present) "That the matter be referred to the Audio Visual Committee" Browne & Lambert 5 - 0 Carried. ii) Call for nominations: "That all call for nominations be made for members of all departments and sub-committees, to be received by 8th January 2005." Browne & Wigley. 5 - 0 Carried. iii) The secretary observed regarding the sale of literature by the party, that rule 11 states "Branches, groups nor members shall neither publish nor or distribute any political literature in the name of the party...which has not been approved by the EC." iv) Notice of Business: "That the party should pursue webcasting opportunities" Bissett. 9) Date for next meeting. - Sat. 8th January Agreed. Next meeting Saturday 8th January. Meeting Adjourned 1550hrs.