Note: These minutes are not official until ratified by the EC.

Present: Buick, Carter (Gen. Sec.), Deutz, Johnson, Miller, Roberts, Thomas, White, Wigley. Apologies: P. McEwen

Meeting commenced at 2.10pm.

1. Election of the Chair. MOTION 1 ( Johnson & Wigley) “That Comrade P. Deutz be in the Chair”. Agreed

2. Standing Orders for the 105 Executive Committee MOTION 2 (Johnson & Roberts ) “In Part 6 amend to read “and aim to end at or before 5p.m.”. Carried 7-1-1 abstention Gen. Sec. To correct various typing errors.

MOTION 3 (Johnson & Thomas) “Agreed Acceptance”.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting.

6 (b) Johnson (Campaigns) suggested that the reference to a mosaic was actually the Premises Dept. MOTION 4 (Thomas & White) “Next business” Agreed nem con

MOTION 5 (White & Miller) “Agreed Adoption”

4 Matters arising from previous minutes. (a1) Images in the Socialist Standard. Assistant Secretary,s Report (31/12/07) Socialist Standard Images. Next business, Agreed.

(a2) Letter from H. Moss (Trustee) to the Socialist Standard Dept., copied to the EC. “Images in the Socialist Standard”. Deferred. (b) Roof Hatch Security

MOTION 6 (Miller & Wigley) “The matter be deferred pending a written report from the Premises Committee by the next EC.”. Agreed nem con. (c) Video Camera.

MOTION 7 (Miller & Wigley) “That the matter be deferred pending a written report from the Video Committee by the next EC.”. Agreed nem. con. (d) Speakers Class Run on the Internet.

MOTION 8 (Thomas & Johnson) “That the Project reported on be discontinued”. Lost 3-5

MOTION 9 (Thomas & Miller) “That Comrade Buick be asked to come with proposals to continue the Speakers Class but in a different format and to report to the next EC. Carried 8-0

(e) Standing Orders for Online Branch Activities. No report yet received from Comrades Buick, McEwen and Miller. Deferred until the next EC. Meeting. Agreed (f) Letter from D. Porter (Membership) (18/12/07). Resignation from Membership Department.

MOTION 10 (Wigley & Roberts) “That Comrade Porter be thanked for his work in the Department. Carried 7-1-1 abstenstion. (g) Correspondence with Central Branch Members. 1 Comrade Johnson gave an oral report. He has e-mailed Cmd Mulenga three times with no reply. A letter will be sent off after this EC. meeting.

2 Thirty letters have been sent to members Agreed the report be noted.

3 Draft Central Branch Standing Orders.

MOTION 11 (White & Miller) “The EC. Suggests that Central Branch Secretary re-submit the matter to Conference.” Agreed nem con.

(h) Contents Insurance for Head Office. Deferred till the next EC. Motion 12 (Johnson & White) "That a Building valuation be taken on the Building for Insurance Purposes". Carried 7-0-2 abstentions

(i) Michelle Martin Ex-Charge. West London Branch mailed (11/12/07) that they will inform the EC.once they have dealt with the matter. MOTION 13 (Miller & Deutz) . "Note". Agreed.

5 Election of Party Officers and Executive Committee.

A. Report from the Ballot Committee Comrade Browne completed the count with the assistance of Comrades Allen and Vein 342 papers were issued, 147 returned, 43% Branch returns were: Central London 7; EARB. 8; East Midlands 6; Edinburgh 4; E&H 4; Glasgow 10; Lancaster 7; Manchester 14; Sth.. London 10; Swansea 9; West Regional 4; Central 45; West London 16.

Party Officers Votes cast were; J. Carter (Gen. Sec.) 133-3; T. Miller (Asst. Sec.) 115-18; G. Thomas (Treasurer) 135-1; H. Moss (Trustee) 135-1; S. Wilcox (Trustee) 131-2;

Central Organiser: A.Buick 112, D. Chesham 21. A.Buick elected.

Executive Committee. A.Buick 121; J.Carter 114; B.Johnson 114; P.Deutz 110; H.Roberts 106; P.McEwen 104; G.Thomas 102; T.Miller 80; N.White 76. S.Wigley 76. Not elected were; D.Chesham 65; S.Stevens 60; Stair 60; M.Chesham 55; J.Helps 54.

MOTION 14. (Thomas & Miller) “The Ballot Committee be instructed not to overwrite figures showing the voting cast. Alterations should be crossed through and the correction shown and initialled”. Carried 4-0-5 abstentions. The results of the ballot noted. Agreed.

Motion 15 (Wigley & Thomas) “The Report be adopted”. Agreed.

B Section 2 Asst. Sec. Report re: Ballot Box Slot

MOTION 16 (Thomas & White) ”That the Ballot Committee be instructed to investigate the possibility of buying an adequate ballot box and report to the next EC. Carried nem con.

C. Electronic Voting. MOTION 17 (Wigley & Johnson) “That an e-mail account be established for the Ballot Committee with a Password known only to the Ballot Committee members and Overseas Comrades wishing to vote by e-mail should be instructed to send their e-mails to this address only”.

MOTION deferred until the next meeting. D. Ballot Secrecy Violation.

MOTION 18. (Thomas & White) “The EC. Deplores Comrade Buick,s action as recorded in Item 2.3 of the Asst. Sec. Report and that all Party Members be reminded of the need for secrecy in Party Ballots”. Amendment: (Roberts & Carter) “Delete all before “that all Party Members”. Carried 4-3 Amended resolution: Carried 7-0

Meeting adjourned at 4pm. for 20 minutes.

6 WSPI. Repproachment. Oral report from Central Organiser that Binay Sarkar proposes reconcilliation Between “the two SPGBs“.

MOTION 20. (Wigley & Thomas) “Note Central Organisers report”. Agreed. 7 Nominations for Departments, Committees and Appointees. a) Appointeees. Two candidates for the position of Head Office Organiser. Comrades B.Johnson and Stair.

MOTION 20 (Miller & White) “That both candidates be invited to address the meeting and to answer questions. Carried 6-0 The Chair reminded the EC. Of the Terms of Reference for the position.

MOTION 21 (Wigley & Thomas) “That Comrade Johnson step away from the table and that both candidates leave the room”. Agreed. After discussing the situation and the candidates the EC. Voted by a show of hands. Johnson 5, Stair 3. The EC. consulted with the Comrades and discussed the changeover without a satisfactory outcome.

MOTION 22 (Wigley & Thomas) “That Comrade Johnson takes over with with immediate effect”. Carried 6-0 ai) Cheques and Signatories.

MOTION 23 (Wigley & Roberts) “Accept signatures as given by the Treasurer”. Carried nem. con.

b) Committees and Departments. Membership Department. G.Thomas. A call for nominations for the Department is made.

c) Production for Use Committee. G.Taylor, B.Gardner.

MOTION 24 (Wigley & Thomas) “The two names be accepted. In view of fact that she has been nominated by EARB., P.Deutz be nominated”. Carried 8-0

d) Publications Department. T.Miller and Stair.

MOTION 25 (Johnson & Wigley) Agreed

e) Socialist Standard Department

MOTION 26 (Johnson & Miller) “That Comrades Buick, Perrin and Wigley be appointed to the Editorial, Comrade Bond be appointed to Distribution, Comrades Windle and Shannon be appointed to Layout”. Carried 7-0 In favour: Thomas, Roberts, Buick, Deutz, Miller, White, Carter.

f) Ad Hoc Committee on Decision Making.: Buick Gardner, McEwen, Miller Nominated.

MOTION 27 (Thomas & White) “That the members nominated be appointed”. Agreed

g) Ad Hoc Committee Pooley Estate: P.McEwen, G.Thomas, D.Lambert.

MOTION 28 (Miller & Wigley) “That the members be appointed”. Agreed

h)Advertising Department. J.Lee, M.Browne, J.Vein.

MOTION 29 (Wigley & Miller) “That the members be appointed”. Agreed

i)Archives Department: K.Scholey, H.Comber.

MOTION 30 (Wigley & Thomas) “That members be appointed”. Agreed

j) Audio Department. S.Easton, Stair,, G.Thomas.

MOTION 31 (White & Miller) “That members be appointed”. Agreed

k) Ballot Committee. M.Browne, K.Scholey, B.Johnson.

MOTION 32 (Thomas & Miller) “That the members be appointed”. Agreed

l) Blog. Department. G.Taylor, R.Stafford.

MOTION 33 (Miller & Roberts) “That the members be appointed”. Agreed m) Campaigns Department. B.Gardner, B.Johnson, M.Chesham.

MOTION 34 (White & Thomas) “That the members be appointed”. Agreed

n) Elections Department A.Buick, A.Gluck.

MOTION 35 (Roberts & Wigley) “That the members be appointed”. Agreed

o) Enquiries Department. J. Lee. MOTION 36 (Miller & Thomas) “Member be appointed”. Agreed

A call for more nominations for the department is made..

p) Internet Department. M.Culbert, D.Chesham, R.Stafford, T.Miller.

MOTION 37 (Wigley & Thomas) “ Members be appointed”. Agreed

q) Library Department.R.Beat, N.White.

MOTION 38 (Miller & Wigley) “Members be appointed”. Agreed

r) Premises Committee. H.Comber, Stair, Lambert.

MOTION 39 (Johnson & Wigley) “Members be appointed”. Carried 5-2

s) Public Access Committee. J.Helps, Stair, S.Easton.

MOTION 40 (Miller & Buick) “That members be appointed”. Agreed

t) Standing Orders Committee. K.Scholey 3, Wigley 5, M,Browne 5, P.Deutz 5, L.Stevens 2,

The EC. Agreed to appoint the three nominees with the highest vote from the EC.

MOTION 41 ( ? ) “That Comrades Deutz, Wigley and Browne be Appointed”. Agreed

u) Video Production Department. D.Chesham.

MOTION 42 (Johnson & Thomas) “That the member be appointed”. Agreed A call for further nominations is made. Comrade Roberts left the meeting at 6pm.

8 a) (Johnson& Carter) . Notice of Motion for February Meeting. Posting of EC. Minutes.

b) (N.White) . Notice of Business for February Meeting. Public Access to Head Office.

9 Accounts Comrade Thomas made an oral report that due to sickness the report is delayed, there will be one in February

10 Reports from Party Officers, Committees and Departments.

a) MOTION 43 (Miller & Johnson) “Agreed to defer Campaigns until next month” Agreed

b) Last Section of Asst. Sec. Report. Theft at Head Office.

MOTION 44 (Thomas & Wigley) “That Comrade Miller be compensated £200 for the loss of the Lap-top which was through no fault of his own”. Carried 7-0

c) Renewal of Registration as a Political Party. Comrade Buick reports that this the Electoral Commission now send an automatic reminder.d) Oral Report from Central Branch Secrtary, Central Organiser, Assistant Secretary, Internet Department regarding Overseas Contacts and discussion of the Socialist Standard deferred. Agreed

e) MOTION 45 (Miller & Wigley) Defer all remaining items on the agenda except 7hi. Agreed

11 Correspondence Concerning P.Lancaster.

a) Resolution from South London Branch concerning P.Lancaster who is in Central Branch. “South London Branch notes with distaste and alarm the large number of public Internet posts from Comrade Phil Lancaster over the last few months (see enclosed) , many of which demonstrate an appalling lack of under- standing or disagreement with the Party case. The Branch further notes that Cmd Lancaster has carried over this activity to the EC table by sending the Party and some members legal threats. These actions have brought the Party into disrepute and obstructed its proper functioning by causing emotional distress to active volunteers and wasting administrative resources. Because Cmd Lancaster is in Central Branch, a Rule 29 charge poses a number of problems: Central Branch does not hold meetings, and so it may be unable to comply with the requirement to hold a specially summoned meeting; and even if it did hold such a meeting, it is unlikely that a repre- sentative sample of the Branch,s 150+ members could attend. Furthermore the Central Branch Secretary has already tried and failed to remedy Cde Lancaster,s personal and political issues through mentorship. South London Branch therefore calls upon the EC. To consider charging Cde Lancaster with action detrimental so that the membership at large may decide how best to deal with him”. Carried 5-0. 5 members present. 4th December 2007

b) E-mail from Lancaster Branch. “At its meeting of 17h December 2007, Lancaster resolved as follows: “That we support the South london resolution to ask the EC to consider charging Cde Lancaster, for the reasons stated in the resolution”. Carried 4-0

c) Letter from P.Lancaster 26/12/07

d) Cde B. Johnson suggests an Ad Hoc Committee made up of H.Moss, P.Deutz and J.Carter to meet with Cmd Lancaster on the 25/1/08 at H.O. MOTION 46 (Wigley & Thomas) “The EC approves the formation of this Ad Hoc Committee formed by H.Moss, P.Deutz and J.Carter and the meeting at the date specified and report to the next EC”. Carried 5-2

Division: For: J.Carter, G.Thomas, S.Wigley, B.Johnson, A.Buick A gainst: N.White, T.Miller. Abstained: P.Deutz.

Agreed the Chair for next meeting G.Thomas.

Date of next meeting 2nd February 2008 at 1pm.