..
ii) Re. The resolution at 6.b.i - agreed to remove the word 'for'. Resolution to read: "BIRT, the EC write to Cde Balikuddembe indicating that he is welcome to stay at HO, but recommending that due to the bureaucracy and expenses he would incur, it may be more efficient for him carry out his discussions in writing."
iii) Thomas & Miller: "That the Minutes be adopted as amended." Agreed.

3. Matters Arising

a) Re. 8.k of previous Minutes - Cde Bissett's Notice of Business regarding the Research Department. Cde Bissett requested the business be held over until the next meeting. Agreed.

4. Report of the Ballot Committee on 2007 EC/Party Officers Nominations.

a) Nominations received for the EC are: Mike Browne, Janet Carter, Pat Deutz, Sandy Easton, John Helps. Keith Scholey, Stair, Nick White.

b) Nominations for Party Officers: John Bissett (General Secretary), Tristan Miller (Assistant Secretary), Gwynn Thomas (Treasurer), Assistant Treasurer (Fred Allen), Sid Wilcox (Trustee), Auditor (Howard Moss).

c) The Ballot would be sent out asap and the return date will be Friday, 5th January 2007.

d) Nominations were still needed for the following vacancies: Two EC members, one more Trustee and one more Auditor.

4. Accounts

a) No accounts presented to the meeting. The Treasurer cited numerous recent obstacles to the production of a report to the EC.

b) The meeting was informed of a £48,000 legacy and of a generous donation of £30,000.

5. Forms A

a) One Form A received for Anthony Scott (who came in touch with the party via the Socialist Standard).

i) Browne & Lambert: "That we decline to accept the Form A due to replies to questions 3 and 10, and ask the Membership Department to communicate further with Mr A Scott." Carried: 6 for, I abstaining.

6. Reports from Officers, Departments and Sub-Committees

a) Report from Asst. General Secretary on 'Action Taken Pursuant to the 1995 Conference Resolution Concerning the Protection of the Party's Identity and Funds' The Assist. Sec. had requested a copy of the transcript of the Britannia Building Society case. BT had been contacted less the SSG attempted to get a SPGB listing. New Statesman magazine had declined to pursue our investigation, but would do so upon receipt of a letter from the police or a solicitor. New Humanist would not run any further ads from the SSG. The Publications Dept. had written to the JB Priestly Library, the TUC Library and the Templeman Library at the University of Kent - all of which stock the journal Socialist Studies and have it catalogued under our name - and informing them that Socialist Studies was not one of our publications.
i) Thomas & Bissett: "That the Assistant General Secretary be authorised to purchase a transcript of the hearing in the Britannia Building Society case." Carried: 6 for, 1 abstaining.

b) Report from Campaigns Dept. Cde Martin informed the EC of the department's intention to send out a questionnaire and covering letter to the entire membership, the object of which was to ascertain what skills and abilities members possessed (i.e. web page design, desk top publishing) and whether these skills could be used in the service of socialism. Cde Martin also intended to write to libraries in the UK that stocked the Socialist Standard, asking if they would stock the "Kids Stuff" DVD. Noted.

7) Correspondence from Branches, Companion Parties and Members.

a) Resolution from Swansea Branch (from their meeting of 13th November): "Swansea Branch wishes to inform the EC that it is our opinion that it be reaffirmed the principle that no member serving on a committee shall receive money associated with work done for that committee." (5-0, 5 members present).
i) The meeting considered the resolution at length, as it asked for the EC to "reaffirm the principle" and no member present was aware of any extant principle (EC Resolution/Conference Resolution) that applied to the matter in hand.
ii) Thomas & Carter: "That Swansea Branch be asked precisely where the principle they refer to in their resolution of 13th November is to be found." Carried: 6 for, 1 abstaining.
b) Minutes of WSPNZ Meeting of 12th October. Noted

c) SPC Newsletter of 1st December. Noted

d) Letter from Cde Eva Goodman re. processing the Form F for Cde Grant. Cde Goodman expressed heartfelt disapproval of the lapsing of a member who hade made a lifetime contribution to the socialist cause. (see also 2.b.i above).
i) Thomas & Browne: "That Cde Miller be asked to respond to the letter." Agreed.

e) Letter from Cde A Brady-Smith, dated 5th November. Cde Brady-Smith asked the EC to reconsider its position re. his stay at Head Office (see item 6.e.i of November EC Minutes).
i) Browne & Bissett: "That further to last month's resolution, Cde Brady-Smith be granted another two months to stay at HO." Carried: 5 for, 2 abstaining.

f) Report from Cde Brian Johnson, dated 27th November, on a meeting with J Edward, a Sri-Lankan sympathiser, who had attended ADM and who wished to propagate the Socialist case upon his return to Sri-Lanka. Cde Johnson suggested leaflets could be produced at HO and sent over to Sri-Laka for distribution.
i) Thomas & Lambert: "That Cde Johnson be informed that without further dialogue with contact 'Edward', the EC is not at the moment in favour of supporting their propaganda efforts."

g) Letter from Frank Simkins, dated 30th November, offering apologies for being unable to attend and referring to points raised in Cde Miller's report to the November EC re. the Socialist Studies group. Noted.

8. Outside Correspondence

a) Letter from World Socialist Group (India), dated 28th October along with an email dated 22nd November, with notes from Gen Sec. A new group in India had formed (inclusive of 4 ex- members of the one-time WSP India who, a couple of years ago, left the WSM and joined up with the Socialist Studies group) and wished to affiliate to the WSM. The initial letter had been posted on spintcom. The recent email was to inform us the group would be meeting again in January. The meeting welcomed the correspondence, but agreed to defer further consideration until news of the next meeting of the WSM (India) had been received.

b) Email from a new group in Sri-Lanka, dated 18th November. The email had come via J Edward (mentioned at 7b above). A group of 9 former USP members (sister party to Militant Tendency in the UK) had met on 14th November and decided to reform as the Socialist Party, and to "study WSM principles translated into Sinhalese and Tamil and to undertake to abide by these principles." One member ran a newspaper which he decided to rename "The Socialist" and which would be published in December. The group would be meeting again on 26th November. No news had been received since the 18th November. The Gen Sec had been in correspondence and the Sri-Lankan group had agreed to forward any literature they published in the name of the Socialist Party. Noted.

9. Forms F

a) No Forms F presented to the meeting.

10. Any other Business

a) Notice of Business for next meeting from Cde Thomas: "At the next EC meeting (5th January 2007) I will raise the matter of the Terms of Reference for the Party Trustee. In particular the safekeeping of title deeds and insurance policies for Head Office needs to be regularised and any costs of so doing to be met from Party funds. I will submit a memo in the meantime."

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 5.15pm and members were addressed by Mr Ben Peri regarding his forthcoming book.

Chair for next meeting on 6th January 2007: Cde Browne

Please Note

Attention Branch Secretaries: This is a call for nominations from Branches for 2 EC Vacancies, one more Auditor and one more Trustee. Closing date: 5th January 2007.

From the Standing Orders Committee: This is the first call for branches to submit motions and amendments to rule for the preliminary agenda of conference 2007. All such items to be at Head Office by Friday, 19th January 2007. The preliminary agenda should be sent out within a week. Please note that items submitted must be accompanied by a supporting statement unless the item is self-explanatory. The date for returning any branch amendments to the preliminary agenda items, and the final date for branch items for discussion, is 23rd February 2007.

Our Annual Conference will be held on 6th & 7th April 2007.