Present: Browne, Bissett
(Gen. Sec.), Carter, Deutz, (Chair), Helps, Miller
(Asst. Sec.), Stair, White.
Apologies received for: Easton.
1. The meeting received a letter from Cde Scholey in which he tendered
his
resignation from the EC. As Cde Scholey was to chair the present
meeting,
Cde Deutz was elected chair.
2. Report of Ballot Committee on the Ballot for EC Vacancies.
a) Votes were: Bissett - 97, Miller - 71, Wigley - 42. Bissett and
Miller
were elected to the EC
b) Browne & Carter: "That nominations for the EC vacancy be in by
the next
EC meeting". Agreed.
3. Amendment and Adoption of EC Standing Orders
a) Miller & White: "BIRT Standing Orders be amended so that (e)
Forms A are
considered immediately following (b) the Minutes of the previous
meeting."
Carried: 5 for, 3 abstaining.
b) Bissett & Browne: "That any EC member who has a financial
interest in any
matters before the EC shall declare that interest." Carried: 5 for, 2
against, 1 abstaining.
4. Amendment and Adoption of Previous Minutes
a) Re. item 3.a of February Minutes. It was felt the Treasurer did not
need
to contact Mr Briggs. We did not owe him anything. Agreed.
b) Re. item 11.b - Stair and Browne: "Add, in the first line, with a
derogatory reference to a member." Carried: 5, for, 1 against, 3
abstaining.
c) Re. item 11.b - Browne & White: "Delete second sentence on 11.b."
Carried: 5 for, 1 against, 3 abstaining.
d) Bissett said that the following approved departmental nominations
were
inadvertently omitted from the previous minutes: J Lee and M Browne
(Ads.
Dept.), A Buick (Election Dept.), J Bissett and P Shannon (VPD). Agreed.
e) Re.item 3.g - Stair pointed out that he had also been nominated for
the
HOO post by West London Branch. Agreed.
f) Re. item 3.g - Reference was made to the use of the word
"previously",
namely in the line "Bissett.pointed out that previously, when there had
been
two candidates." It was argued that there had only been two candidates
for
the HOO post on one occasion in the past and that the correct wording
should
have been "on a previous occasion". Browne & Carter: "replace
'previously'
on line 4, insert 'on a previous occasion'". Carried: 6 for, I against,
1
abstaining.
g) Re. item 3.g - Browne & Helps: "Add 'Cde Browne spoke as to why
we didn't
need 2 members to be appointed to HOO and that he (for one) was
satisfied
with the present arrangements.'" Carried: 3 for, 1 against, 4
abstaining.
h) Re. item 8.b: agreed to change '5 for, 2 abstaining' to '5 for 2
against'.
i) Browne & Stair: "That the amended Minutes be adopted as a true
record."
Agreed.
5. Matters Arising from Previous Minutes
a) Report on the Voting of the Annual Ballot: Browne had been asked for
a
breakdown of branch voting figures for the next meeting. The meeting was
presented with the returns for the last two ballots, the one announced
at
the commencement of the present meeting and the one reported in January
were
(January figure first): Birmingham (3 and 2), Central Branch (46 and
42),
Central London (5 and 3), EARB (8 and 7), Edinburgh (1 and 2), Enfield
and
Haringey (3 and 3), Glasgow (8 and 5), Manchester (8 and 10), Lancaster
(4
and 3), South London (12 and 10), Swansea (11 and 10), West London 12
and
12). Totals (121 and 109).
i) Stair & Browne: "That the report be adopted and the result
declared."
Agreed.
b) Re. Cde Brady-Smith staying at HO. The December EC meeting agreed Cde
Brady-Smith could stay as further two months at HO. Letters arguing
that the
stay should be extended were received from Cdes Brady-Smith, dated
13/2/07,
and Cde Johnson, dated 23/2/07. An amended letter was further submitted
by
Cde Johnson.
i) The meeting was referred to item 6.e.i of the November 2006 Minutes:
Carter & Lambert: "The EC is clear that comrades living at HO need
to be
carrying out specific work for the Party. It agrees to an extension of
Cde
Smith's stay for a further 2 months to enable him to find somewhere to
live." Agreed: 6 for, 1 against, 1 abstaining.
ii) Miller declared an interest in the present discussion as he was in a
similar situation.
iii) Browne & Carter: "That Comrade Smith be allowed to stay for
one more
month."
iv) Bissett & Helps: "Replace one month with three months."
v) Vote on the amendment - Carried: 3 for, 5 abstaining. A division was
called - For: Bissett, Browne and Helps.
vi) Vote on the resolution as amended - Carried: 4 for, 1 against, 3
abstaining. A division was called - For: Bissett, Browne, Deutz and
Helps.
Against: White.
vii) White & Stair: "That Cde Smith be asked to give his plans
regarding his
future accommodation to the EC in writing." Carried: 3 for, 2 against. 3
abstaining.
d) Re. item 3.h of February Minutes - consideration of the General
Purposes
Committee. Agreed to call for nominations to be in by the next EC
meeting.
e) Re. item 5.l.i of February Minutes - this being the EC resolution,
at the
March meeting, to reconsider the storage of Party documents.
i) White & Miller: "The Treasurer and Trustees be asked to arrange
storage
of the deeds with a bank or a building society deed storage department."
Carried: 8-0.
f) Re.item 5.a.ii of February Minutes - this being the EC resolution
asking
the Treasurer to seek a valuation of HO for insurance purposes. Cde
Allen,
the Assistant Treasurer, who was present at the meeting, informed the
meeting that such a valuation could be sourced free of charge.
i) Agreed that the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer liaise on the
matter.
g) Re. 11.a of February Minutes - pertaining to the role of the Central
Branch Organiser with regards Conference and ADM. The item was
considered
with a letter from Cde Johnson, the Central Branch Secretary, dated 6th
February and a circular Cde Browne, Ballot Committee, dated 3rd March,
had
drafted re. a call for nominations for a Central Branch Organiser.
i) Agreed that the circular be sent out to all members.
ii) Miller & Stair: "That the CBS be referred to the Ballot
Committee's
letter of 3rd March." Carried: 8-0.
h) Re. the second call for nominations for sub-committees and
departments.
Nominations were received from S Wigley (Blog Dept. and Library
Cttee.), N
Windle (VPD), G Taylor (Blog Dept.), S Colborn (Blog Dept.) H Comber
(Premises Cttee., Archives Cttee., Library Cttee, Ad-Hoc Cttee for the
Second Hand Book Shop), M Culbert (Internet Dept.), J Lawrie (Campaigns
Dept.), P Lancaster (Campaigns Dept.).
i) Miller & Browne: "That the nominations be accepted, except for
the
nomination from Cde Comber for the Ad-Hoc Cttee." Agreed.
i) Central Branch Secretary's terms of reference. The EC had previously
asked the Central Organiser, Central Branch Secretary and the General
Secretary to liaise on new terms of reference for the CBS. The EC
considered
Cde Johnson's proposed terms of reference along with a suggested change
submitted by Cde Buick, the Central Organiser. The CO had written
stating
his objection to bullet point two, being: "Where appropriate liaise
with the
membership committee on those applications from overseas, to join the
Party,
before such applications are ratified by the EC.
i) Browne & Miller: "Delete bullet point 2 of the proposed terms of
reference for the CBS." Carried: 8-0.
ii) Browne & Miller: "BIRT the CBS terms of reference as amended be
adopted.
Carried: 8-0.
iii) The Central Branch Secretary's terms of reference are now:
1. Maintain an up-to-date list of the Central Branch membership.
2. Collect dues and ensure any payments are passed to the Assistant
Treasurer.
3. Under Rule 2, where a request is made for the waiving of dues,
examine all requests in conjunction with the Treasurer and General
Secretary
before approving.
4. Ensure a Party questionnaire is sent out to each new member of
Central Branch.
5. In conjunction with the Central Organiser, and where appropriate,
organise the setting up of Regional Branches.
6. Under Rule 4, every half-year report to the EC the numerical
strength of the Brach and the financial standing of each member.
7. Act as secretary of the Overseas Group, provided under Rule 3.
8. In compliance with Rule 2, complete a Form F for ratification by
the EC.
j) Re. 11.c of the February Minutes - the opening of the mail box at
HO. The
meeting considered a letter from the Assistant Secretary, dated 28th
February, pertaining to the HOO's terms of reference, namely in the HOO
being responsible for the security of the HO mailbox. The letter
pointed out
that in practice other members who frequented HO performed the task
with the
HOO's permission. The Asst.Sec. suggested a list of members be posted
with
standing authority to handle the mail. Noted.
6. Conference Reports
a) Further reports for Conference were considered by the meeting:
i) Central Branch Secretary. Agreed to adopt.
ii) Internet Department. Agreed to adopt.
iii) Membership Department. Agreed to adopt.
iv) Actions Taken Pursuant..1995 Conference Resolution.Agreed to adopt.
[Note: This was later incorporated into the Assistant Secretary's
report. -TM]
v) Ad-Hoc Committee..Alternative Models of Party Decision-making.
Agreed to
adopt.
vi) Blog Department. Agreed to adopt.
vii) Campaigns Department. Agreed to adopt.
viii) Video Production Department. Agreed to adopt.
ix) Ballot Committee. Agreed to adopt.
x) Standing Orders. Agreed to adopt.
xi) Advertising Department. Agreed to adopt.
xii) The meeting considered a report with regards item 3.b.i of the
February
Minutes - Browne & Easton: "That Sandy Easton, John Helps and Stair
form an
Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out the Floor Resolution called at ADM 2006."
Carried: 6 for, 1 abstaining. Much of the ensuing discussion focused on
the
type of new books that could be sold via such a venture. The new Ad-Hoc
committee expressed a desire to be called the 'Public Access Committee'.
xiii) Browne & Bissett: "That the Ad-Hoc Committee be renamed 'The
Public
Access Committee', that the three members be asked if they wish to stay
on
the committee, and that they be granted a provisional budget of
£250.00 to
start off." Carried: 4 for, 3 against, 1 abstaining.
xiv) Miller & Carter: "BIRT the PAC solicit opinions at Conference
on which
books should be stocked at HO." Carried: 8-0.
7. Forms A
a) Form A received for: Saeed Arya (came into contact via brother),
joining
South London Branch.
i) Browne & Miller: "Agree to accept." Carried: 8-0.
b) Two Forms A received for Dave Chesham and Marie Chesham (ex-members
rejoining).
i) Miller & Stair: "BIRT the Forms A for D and M Chesham be
accepted, and
that the Cheshams be instructed to join a Branch." Carried: 7 for, 1
abstaining.
8. Accounts
a) No accounts presented to he meeting.
9. Reports from Party Officers, Department and Sub-Committees
a) Report of the Assistant Secretary with addendum, dated 25th February
and
2nd March respectively, pertaining to scanning hardware, a scanning
service,
HO front and computer repairs. Debate centred on the display as
mentioned in
the February Minutes (item 3.d.i), the Asst. Sec. querying what further
info
was required. Members queried just what would be displayed in the front
window at HO.
i) Stair & Browne: "That £1200.00 be granted to buy a monitor
and
accessories to serve as a multi-function Party tool." Carried: 5 for, 3
abstaining.
b) Report from the Premises Cttee., dated 24th February, with appendix
(Ch.
28 Health Act 2006).
i) Agreed to send to Conference for consideration.
c) Report from the Assistant Secretary on Actions Taken.Party's
Identity and
Funds, dated 23rd February. This report was considered with a further
report
from the Assistant Secretary re. Socialist Studies (dated 26th
February),
along with attachments, and in conjunction with a letter from Cde Allen,
dated (26th February) with an attached copy of page 17 of issue No.62 of
Socialist Studies. The Asst. Sec outlined his dealings with the issue,
but
felt that recent events created the appearance of a conflict of
interest,
which made it difficult for him to operate as the Party's
representative in
the matter. The Asst. Sec, therefore, asked the meeting to considerer
his
recusal from further actions against the Socialist Studies group,
though he
was willing to remain active in a consultative role. The Asst. Sec
cautioned
against continuing to pursue the matter, but also against dropping the
matter altogether, without consulting the membership. His letter
strongly
recommended that the EC consult a solicitor regarding the costs and
consequences for each possible course of action (or inaction), and then
conduct a Party poll. Cde Allen, present, expressed his concern that
police
officers were called to a meeting of the Socialist Studies group on
November
19th. He argued that the group were socialists, that they propagated the
same ideas as ourselves, but that the situation was escalating and
needed
mediation. EC Members and other members in attendance offered opinions.
i) Browne & Bissett: "That the EC accepts Cde. Miller's recusal
from the
matter regarding the Socialist Studies group." Agreed.
c) Email from Video Production Department, dated 28th February,
requesting a
grant of £200.00 to purchase a high resolution video camera from
Carol
Taylor. Agreed the grant request be accepted.
d) Email from Election Department, dated 2nd March, requesting
permission
for Cdes Bissett and Colborn to contest seats in the May local
elections in
Hebburn and Seaham respectively.
i) Browne & Stair: "That permission to contest the seats be
granted."
Carried: 6 for, 2 abstaining.
e) Letter from Gen. Sec., dated 26th February, re. advertising in The
Journalist, the journal of the National Union of Journalists. Agreed to
defer until April meeting.
10. Correspondence from Branches, Companion Parties and Members
a) Two Resolutions from Central London Branch, dated 18th February, and
arising from a meeting held on 14th February:
i)" BIRT the Branch expresses its disappointment that the Executive
Committee moved urgency in the matter of Cde Grant, as we do not believe
that the matter was indeed urgent, and would like to have been consulted
before any action was taken." (Passed 3-0 at the meeting of 10th
January and
endorsed 4-0 at the meeting of 14th February).
ii) "BIRT this Branch is disappointed with the Executive Committee's
refusal
to hear both applicants for the Head Office Organiser position, as it is
incumbent on the EC to make decisions on the basis of all available
information, in the best interests of the Party, and in fairness to
individual members." (From the 14th February meeting, carried 4-0).
iii) Browne & Stair: "That the resolutions be noted." Agreed.
b) Email from A Cox, dated 1st March, re. two suggestions. Agreed to
defer.
c) Email from B Chikezie, Nigeria, dated 2nd March, re attending ADM.
Agreed
Gen. Secretary would deal with the matter.
d) Undated letter from K Mulenga, Zambia. Cde Mulenga informed the
meeting
that in 2005 the EC has moved to send a grant to cover various
Party-related
costs and that it had no been received. Agreed to defer until the Gen.
Secretary had found the relevant resolution.
e) SPC Newsletter for March. Noted.
f) WSPUS EC Minutes for 27/12/06 and 14/2/07. Noted.
11. Outside Correspondence
a) Email from Sri Lanka Socialist Party, dated 18th February, re. their
recent conference. Noted.
b) Letter from Newman Davis Solicitors, dated 8th Feb, re. buying HO.
Noted.
12. Forms F.
a) Four Forms F received for: George Taylor (Central), lapsed; Elsie
Stovold (Central), no longer active; Jim Worker (Central London),
lapsed;
Stan Johnson (North East), resigned.
13. AOB
a) Asst. Sec. asked if he should compile the Conference Report as he
did the
ADM Report. Cde Bowne informed the meeting he would be producing the
agenda
himself.
With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 7.30 pm
Date of next Meeting: 31st March, 2.00 pm Chair:
Miller
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