Present:  Bissett (Gen Sec), Browne, Carter, Lawrence (Chair), 
Stair
Apologies: Thomas.

1. Report of the Ballot Committee
1.1) The 
following Party Officers were elected: Bissett (General Secretary) 108-2; Thomas 
(Treasurer) 109-1; Buick (Central Organiser) 108-1.
1.2) The following were 
elected to the Executive Committee: Bissett 111-2; Browne 109-1; Carter 108-1; 
Lawrence 109-1; Stair 109-1; Thomas 111-1.
1.3) 373 ballot papers were sent 
out and 114 returned.
1.4) Stair & Carter: "That the report of the Ballot 
Committee be adopted." Agreed.

A further call is made for: 4 EC members, 
Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, 2 Trustees.
Any nominations for 
these vacancies  to be made to the EC by 12 noon on Saturday 4th 
February.

2) Amendment and Adoption of Previous EC Minutes
2.1) Browne 
& Lawrence: "That the Minutes for December be adopted as a true record." 
Agreed.

3) Amendment of EC Standing Orders
3.1.i) Browne & 
Bissett: "When an item is before the EC, the Chair should have discretion to 
allow a general discussion before accepting a motion." Agreed.
3.1.ii) Agreed 
that this be the new standing order number 10.
3.1.iii) Stair & Browne: 
"That the Standing Orders be adopted as amended".

4) Matters Arising from 
December EC Meeting
4.1) Letter from Chief Inspector of British Transport 
police. The police had investigated the matter of the confiscated cards. The 
letter indicated that the spoof rail cards had been confiscated because the 
officer in question believed they were being used in fraud. As the police were 
now of the opinion that their was no criminal offence committed they would be 
returning the 700 confiscated cards.
4.2) Re. item 17 of December Minutes - 
the "letter from Indymedia". The Secretary informed the meeting that the 
"letter" in question was actually a print out of a web page from Indymedia that 
carried the Secretary's advert for the video. It had been distributed to the EC 
in anticipation the EC might question the WSPUS Minutes reference to the advert 
on the Indymedia site.
4.3) Re. item 6 of December Minutes - report from the 
Publications Dept. on the proposed merger of two pamphlets. The Department had 
not yet met to discuss the proposed pamphlet prior to making a report to the EC. 

4.3i) Browne & Carter: "Defer further consideration of the proposal to 
merge the two pamphlets until a report is received from the Publications 
Dept."

5) Nominations for Departments and Sub-Committees
5.1) Swansea 
Branch nominated H Moss as Party Auditor.
5. 1.i) Browne & Stair: That 
Cde Moss be appointed as Party Auditor and that apologies be made for leaving 
the name of the ballot paper." Agreed 5-0.
5.2) The following nominations 
were received by the EC:
5.2.i) M Browne self-nominated for the Ballot 
Committee and Standing Orders. 
5.1.ii) Enfield and Haringey Branch nominated 
J Lee for Enquiries and Advertising  Dept.
5.1.iii) West London Branch 
nominated Cdes A Buick, P Bennett and D Perrin for the Socialist Standard 
Editorial Committee, K Scholey for the Research Dept and A Buick for the 
Election Department.
5.1.iv) B Martin self-nominated for the Audio Dept, 
Election Dept and the Library Committee.
5.1.v) Stair self-nominated for the 
Premises Committee, Publications, Campaigns and Audio Departments.
5.1.vi) 
Bissett self-nominated for the Video Production Department and the Publications 
Department.
5.1.vii) Carter & Lawrence: "That the members nominated be 
appointed." Agreed: 5-0.
5.2) Stair self-nominated as the Head Office 
Organiser.
5.2.i) "Browne & Bissett: "That Cde Stair be appointed as 
HOO." Agreed: 4 for, 1 abstaining.

A further call is made for nominations 
to  Party Departments and EC Sub-committees. 
The full list of Departments 
and Sub Committees are: Ad Hoc Cttee. on the Front of HO, Advertising Dept., 
African Socialist Cttee., Audio Dept., Ballot Cttee., Party Blogsite Department, 
Campaigns Dept., Election Dept., Estates/Legacies Dept., General Purposes Ctte., 
Internet Dept., Media Dept., Membership Dept., Overseas Contacts Dept., Overseas 
Group Secretary, Premises Dept., Production For Use Cttee, Publications Dept., 
Research Dept., SSPC., Standing Orders Cttee., Video Production Dept., World 
Socialist Correspondence Club.,

6. Conference 2006
6.1) Browne, 
Standing Orders, issued a second call for Motions and Amendments to Rule for the 
Preliminary Agenda of Conference 2006. Could all members note that the last date 
for returning Motions and Amendments to Rule will be the Friday 27th January 
2006. Conference will be held on 14th & 15th April 2006.
6.2) General 
discussion on ways to improve attendance at Conference. Nothing was agreed upon 
- though suggestions included holding a social or a an evening debate on a 
contentious subject - and the EC would appreciate feedback on this matter from 
members.

7. Accounts
No accounts were available.

8. Forms 
A
None to hand.

9. Reports from Party Officers, Departments and 
Sub-committees
9.1) Email from Election Dept. dated 4th January.  South 
London Branch have agreed to contest a ward in Lambeth, West London in Hounslow 
(or Kingston or Richmond) and Central London are considering contesting Camden 
or Islington the London Borough Elections in may. So that the campaign could 
start now the department asked the EC, on behalf of branches, to grant 
permission under Rule 28 to contest. This item was taken with a Resolution from 
West London Branch, dated 30th December 2005. "That the branch asks the EC for 
permission to contest a ward in Hounslow or Kingston in the May 201 local 
elections."
9.1.i) Lawrence & Browne: "This EC endorses the request of 
the Election Department to contest the London Borough Elections in may." Agreed: 
5-0.
9.2) Socialist Banner. Secretary informed the meeting that Socialist 
Banner issue 1 (previously known as African Socialist) was now ready to go to 
press.
9.2.i) Stair & Bissett: "That the print run of Socialist Banner be 
250 copies." Agreed: 5-0.

10. Correspondence from Branches, Companion 
Parties and Members
10.1) SPC Newletter/Report for January 1st.
10.1i) 
Browne & Carter: "This EC notes the newsletter from the SPC and sends 
fraternal greetings for the New Year."
10.2) Manchester Branch Resolution, 
dated 13th December 2005: "That the EC be informed that any discussion on 
whether or not to have a Party logo should be taken by Conference resolution, 
not just by the EC."
10.2.i) Browne & Stair: "This EC notes the 
resolution and endorses the procedure suggested by Manchester Branch."
10.3) 
WSPUS Conferenec Minutes and WSPUS Minutes for 29/11.05.
10.3.i) Bissett 
&Stair:  "This EC notes the Conference report and WSPUS Minutes and sends 
fraternal greetings for the new Year."
10.4) Letter from D Perrin, dated 5th 
December 2005. Cde Perrin wrote with regard the proposed merger of two pamphlets 
into one - From Capitalism to Socialism and Socialism as a Practical Alternative 
and suggested a newly edited, glossy version  of the FCTS pamphlet. Cde perrin 
said the SAAPA pamphlet was a specialist pamphlet, not generally for initial 
enquirers but a text for those at the next stage of interest and thus different 
in style and tone from FCTS. Any pamphlet for enquirers had to be short and with 
a coherent text, a pamphlet not a book, and not a "cut and paste" job, which was 
being proposed. The idea of merging these pamphlets was ill-thought out. Cde 
Perrin asked the EC to recommend that the Publications Dept desist in their 
venture and instead work on editing the existing pamphlets and offered to edit 
the FCTS pamphlet himself. 
10.4.i) The EC thanked Cde Perrin for his letter, 
but decided to defer further consideration of the matter until the requested 
report on the merger of the two pamphlets has been received from the 
Publications Department.
10.5) Email received from Mugyenzi Ishmael (Kabale, 
Uganda), dated 24th December, on behalf of six Ugandan comrades, who were 
applying to form a Branch of the Party in Kabale under Rule 7.
10.5.i) This 
issue generated lengthy discussion. The EC really felt they had their hands tied 
over this matter as the precedent is yet to be set for the EC to agree to the 
formation of an SPGB branch outside of Britain, and the EC did not feel it their 
position to make policy on the matter, this being a decision for Conference. 
Neither did Party rules take account of such a scenario. Only rule 3 bears on 
overseas members and this EC members referred to. It was suggested at the 
meeting that members present could ask their branches to put the matter on the 
Conference agenda. The Gen Sec offered  to report on the issue to Conferenec in 
the General Secretary's Report. 
10.5.ii) Browne & Carter: "This EC notes 
the email from the 6 comrades in Uganda requesting EC sanction to form a branch, 
but also notes Rule 3, vis: 'An overseas group be established for members 
joining from other countries until they can form companion parties of their 
own.' Therefore, we feel unable to sanction the request as it appears to 
conflict with the rule. Our General Secretary will report on the matter to 
Conference." Carried 5-0.
10.6.) Email from Mugyenzi Ishmael, Kabale, dated 
2nd January pointing out that the promised grant to purchased a photocopier was 
yet to arrive.
10.6.i) Agreed to refer the matter to the Treasurer for urgent 
attention.
10.7) Email from Joseph Bulikuddembe (Kampala), dated 21st 
December 2006, requesting permission and support in contusing a seat in the 
Ugandan elections as a Party candidate.
10.7.i) In considering this request 
the EC was made aware of  Party Rules 27 and 28 which bore on electoral 
activity. Rule 27 and 28, for instance, asserted that members had to act on the 
instructions of a branch locally and the EC nationally having first obtained 
permission from the EC and that the candidate must have passed the Party 
Speakers Test.
10.7.ii) Stair & Carter: "That the matter be referred to 
the Election Department for a report in light of Rules 27 & 28." Agreed: 
5-0

11) Forms F
11.1) No forms F were presented to the meeting. 

11.2) The EC considered a resignation letter from Euan Duthie 
11.2.i) As 
the letter was accompanied by no Form F it was agreed to defer further 
consideration until the February meeting.

12. Any Other Business
12.1) 
The EC considered a short letter presented to the meeting from Cde Jim Worker 
(who had been in attendance throughout the meeting). Cde Worker had burned many 
CDs (of Party talks) to hand out free at demos and at his own expense, but now 
needed a new CD/DVD burner for his pc and requested £100.00 to buy one. 
Discussion focused on the content and quality of the CDs being handed out and to 
the cost of a CD/DVD burner
12.1.i) Bissett & Stair: "That Cde Worker be 
reimbursed the cost of a CD/DVD burner (to be repaired at HO) and that in future 
all CDs/DVDs that are to be produced on behalf of the Party are first of all 
authorised by the recognised departments, being checked for quality and 
content."
12.2) Stair reported than an unemployed active sympathiser, who 
attended HO regularly to help out, needed help with travelling expenses to Head 
Office.
12.2.i) Browne & Carter: "The daily fares for an active 
sympathiser working at Head Office be paid." Agreed: 5-0
12.3) Stair informed 
meeting that the ground floor at HO would need cleaning and waxing in time for 
Conference, a job that would take 2 days. Cde Roy Beat had offered to do the 
work.
12.3.i) Stair & Carter: "That Cde Roy beat be authorised to wax the 
Head Office floor prior to conference for up to £100.00." Agreed: 5-0.
12.4)  
With a large number of surplus books at HO, many by Marx, it was suggested that 
Head Office hold a book sale every 2 months. Cde Beat had donated several 
hundred audio cassettes to HO (country and folk) and these were currently being 
sold for £1 - £2, with the proceeds going to the Party. It was further suggested 
that a combined book and tape sale be held. Members could even bring along old 
books when attending the sale. The EC were aware that many members could not 
attend sucha  sale and would prefer that any book/tape sale be held at 
Conference.
12.5) Browne & Carter: "That the matter be referred to the 
General Secretary and the Head Office Organiser for further report to the EC." 
Lost:  2 for, 2 against, 1 abstaining.


With no further business to 
discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6.00pm


Date of next Meeting: 2pm, 
Saturday 4th February 2006

Chair for next meeting: 
Thomas



PLEASE NOTE

1. A further call is made for: 4 EC 
members, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, 2 Trustees.
Any 
nominations for these vacancies  to be made to the EC by 12 noon on Saturday 4th 
February.

2. A further call is made for nominations to Party Departments 
and EC Sub-committees. 
The full list of Departments and Sub Committees are: 
Ad Hoc Cttee. on the Front of HO, Advertising Dept., African Socialist Cttee., 
Audio Dept., Ballot Cttee., Party Blogsite Department, Campaigns Dept., Election 
Dept., Estates/Legacies Dept., General Purposes Ctte., Internet Dept., Media 
Dept., Membership Dept., Overseas Contacts Dept., Overseas Group Secretary, 
Premises Dept., Production For Use Cttee, Publications Dept., Research Dept., 
SSPC., Standing Orders Cttee., Video Production Dept., World Socialist 
Correspondence Club.,