A very rough PDF version of these minutes is available here

Present: Browne, Bissett (Gen. Sec.), D Chesham, Deutz, Easton, Helps (Chair), Miller (Asst. Sec.), Stair, White.

Apologies: Carter

Others present: S Arya, M Chesham, D Deutz, P Hart, D Lambert, J Lawrie, S Parker, A B Smith, L Stevens.

Chair: Helps

1. Amendment and Adoption of  Previous Minutes
a)  Miller & Bissett moved three amendments to the 31st March Minutes:
i) In item 6.a. replace “the registered Party name was” with “one of our registered alternative Party names is”. Agreed
ii) In item 7.f.v. insert “that too many items were being added to the agenda after the preliminary agenda had already been mailed out,” after “sometimes 40 pages of reports,”  Agreed.
iii) In item 10.a. add “The HOO also reported that someone had deleted an email sent to the Party concerning Cde. Smith. There was some discussion concerning the content of the email, which indicated that Cde. Smith may have been supporting an Iranian nationalist party.”
b)  Miller & Stair moved to add the names of others present at the meeting of 31st March: A B Smith, L Stevens. Agreed
c) Deutz & Miller: moved to replace the second sentence with “Stair was concerned about HO security and informed the meeting that he had retained the key and sought EC approval.” Agreed.
d) Agreed to change ”would be meeting” to “might be meeting” at item 2.g.i. of March 31st Minutes.
e) Agreed to change  “still in the pipeline” to “under consideration” at item 6.b, and to add “the 1978 English version of” before “Socialist Principles Explained”.
f) Browne & Miller: “That the Minutes be adopted as a true record.” Agreed.
2. Matters Arising
a)  Stair & Deutz: “That the EC proceed with items 2.c.i and 2.c.ii now” (This listing on the agenda at hand referred to item 2.a. of the March 31st Meeting, being the Notice of Motion, moved and seconded by Browne & Carter: “That at the next meeting of the EC I will move to revoke the acceptance of the Form A from D Chesham.”) Carried: 5 for, 1 against, 2 abstaining.
i) Browne argued that he believed he was strictly adhering to party rules, that there had appeared to be suspicious circumstances surrounding the submission of the Form A in question and that a precedent had been set for revoking a Form A.  Deutz informed meeting that she had a meeting with Cde. Chesham to discuss the matter and that she was happy he was back. Chesham stated that to his knowledge he had done nothing wrong in the past, that his actions had not contravened the D of P, and that he would apologise if it could be shown that he did wrong.  Browne withdrew his Notice of Motion.
 
ii) Following lengthy debate on the matter, Miller and Stair moved: “BIRT the EC understands there to be three methods for applying for Party membership; namely, application to a Branch, application to the Membership Department, and for members rejoining the Party and whose political views are known, application to the EC. BIFRT the forms A for D and M Chesham, considered at the 3rd March meeting, therefore came through a proper channel and did not bypass normal mechanisms.”  Carried: 7 for, 1 against. Division called for. Browne voted against.

iii)  Browne & Easton: “That Cde.. Chesham be accepted on to the EC under Rule 12.” Carried: 8-0

iv) The following correspondence was submitted regarding the aforementioned matter, but in light of the previous two motions, it was not considered.

A) A letter from the previous Chair (Miller), claiming that the Notice of Motion was out of order.
B ) Resolution from South London Branch (2nd April): “That the Branch Secretary write to the EC informing them that Cde. Browne’s Notice of Motion on revoking Cde. Chesham’s Form A would be out of order as not in line with Party Rules.” (5-0).
C) Conference floor resolution from Buick (W London) and Johnstone (Edinburgh): “This Conference reasserts that the EC has not the power to revoke a member’s Form A once it has been accepted.” Carried 11-0.
D) Resolution from Central London Branch (11th April): “BIRT that Central London Branch hopes that Cde. Browne will withdraw his Notice of Motion, but if he does not, it urges the EC to rule it out of order.” (6-0).
E) Email from former Gen Sec Paul Hope, dated 13th April.
F) Original documents concerning the resignation of Cde.. Chesham, located by the Central organiser.
G) Letter form Janet Carter, concerning D Chesham, dated 1st May.

b) Re. Fred Allen and the Socialist Studies group (items 2.c of the March Minutes and 7.a.i of the April Minutes). Cde. Allen had sent a letter of apology (9th April).

i) Browne & Deutz: “Agree to note.” Carried: 8-1.

c) Re. the motion from the 31st March meeting from White & Stair: That Cde. Brady Smith be asked to give his plans regarding his future accommodation in writing.”

i) The meeting considered a letter from Cde. Brady Smith, dated 12th April. A lengthy debate followed, during which the meeting was informed that Cde. Brady Smith was seeking employment and accommodation and would soon be vacating HO.

ii) White & Browne  “The EC notes Cde. Brady Smith’s letter and reminds him that he is to vacate HO by the end of May 2007.” Agreed.

d) Re. item 5.d of the March 3rd Minutes and 2.c of the March 31st Minutes. Nominations to the General Purposes Committee. None received.

i) Miler & Easton: “That a further call for nominations be made.” Agreed.

e) Re. item 10.b of March 31st Minutes being the deferred email from Cde. A Cox. Cde. Cox had written with ideas pertaining to a “Socialist Wikipedia” and video conferencing.

i) Easton & Miler: “That the matter be referred to the Internet Department.” Carried 9-0.

f) Re. items 10.d of the March Minutes and 2.e of the April Minutes, being consideration of the overdue grant to Zambia. 

i) The meeting received a letter from the Cde. Thomas, Treasurer, dated 24th April, pointing out that the matter of the outstanding grant of £150.00 had been finalised, that the money had been transferred via his personal account – the Western Union Agents having closed down – and requesting reimbursement.

ii) Miller & Easton: “BIRT Cde Thomas be granted £171.00 for expenses relating to the transfer of funds to Kephas Mulenga.” Carried: 9-0.

g) An item of urgency was raised by D Chesham and pertaining to a member’s alleged breach of security at HO on 24th April.

i) Miller & Easton: “BIRT the EC takes the matter of the security of HO very seriously and believes it to be within its remit to bar from HO until further notice those members who egregiously compromise the security of HO.” Carried: 6 for, 2 against, 1 abstaining.

ii) Miller & Bissett: “BIRT the Assistant Secretary contact the member in question to confirm whether the EC’s understanding of the recent breach in HO security is correct, and if so, that the Assistant Secretary write to the member in question drawing attention to the previous resolution and to the fact that future security breaches will result in them being barred from HO.” Carried: 9-0.

h) Re. item 2.g.ii of the March 31st Minutes, being the resolution from Stair & Miller: “That Cde. Comber be invited to self-nominate to be a member of the Public Access Committee.” A self-nomination had been received from Cde. Comber.

i) Browne & Bissett: “Agree to accept.” Carried: 7-2.

i) Re. item 5.b of the previous Minutes – Auditor’s Report to Conference. Not yet received.

i)  Agreed the Gen Sec would contact the Party Auditor.


3. Forms A. None received


4. Accounts

a) Accounts received for January and February.

i) Miller & Easton: “Defer until next meeting.” Carried: 6 for, 3 abstaining. 


5.  Reports from Party Officers, Departments and Sub-Committees

a) Report on Actions Taken Pursuant to the 1995 Conference Resolution Concerning the Protection of the Party’s Identity and Funds, dated 25th April.  The Asst. Sec. reported that he had taken no further action to implement the 1995 resolution. The report aggregated reports received from other members and departments, Speaking verbally, the Asst. Sec. reported that the Socialist Studies journal continued to use the SPGB name.

i) Resolution from Central London Branch from their meeting of 11th April: “BIRT in light of the discussion at Conference, Central London Branch urges the EC to reappoint the Assistant Secretary, or to appoint another member, to continue to implement the 1995 Conference resolution regarding the protection of the Party’s identity and funds.” (5-0-1).

ii) Chesham & Easton: “The Asst. Secretary be requested to undertake periodic surveillance of the Socialist Studies website and publications where this organisation advertises.” Carried: 6 for, 3 abstaining. Division called for. Abstaining: Deutz, Miller and Stair.

iii) Browne & Deutz: “That the resolution from Central London Branch be noted.” Carried:  5 for, 4 against. Division called for. Against: Chesham, Easton, Miller & Stair.

iv) Miller & Easton: “BIRT. That the General/Assistant Secretary write to all Branches asking whether they support continued implementation of the 1995 Conference Resolution respecting the protection of the Party’s identity and funds.” Lost: 3 for, 4 against. 2 abstaining. 

b) Report from the Assistant Secretary, dated 27th April. The Asst. Sec. Reported that Sue Donnelly of the LSE would be back in touch within a week re. scanning of the Socialist Standard. The HO window display had been purchased and would soon be installed. Signage would be produced using OpenOffice.org Impress Software. Members could submit slides to enter the rotation, subject to the approval of the Officer/Cttee charged with the display’s management. For further information on how to prepare and submit slides, contact Cde Miller at tristan.miler@worldsocialism.org. The Asst. Sec. further recommended that the EC appoint someone/some group to ascertain what material should appear on the display.

i) Chesham & Bissett: “That the Internet Department be tasked with managing the display.” Agreed.

c) Report of the Election Department, dated 27th April. The report informed the meeting that the Socialist Studies group had officially registered with the electoral commission as a political party. Cde.s Buick (as the Party’s registered treasurer with the Electoral Commission and  Cde. Thomas (Party Treasurer) had met with reps. Of the Commission re. the presentation of the Party’s accounts.  The department further queried Party candidates for political office citing their personal blogsites on the election manifesto. Agreed to accept the report.

d) Report from the Internet Department, dated 27th April. The department reported that a dedicated email address had been set up for the Marxist Education group of Zambia: zambia@worldsocialism.org. Info on enquirers and web server statistics would in future not be presented to the EC, but would continue to appear in reports to ADM and Conference.  

e) Report of the Publications Department, dated 30th April. The six-page report referred to the issue of copyright of the John Keracher pamphlets. The following pamphlets were being typeset and given new covers, the meeting being presented with a selection of cover designs:  Africa – A Marxian Analysis; From Capitalism to Socialism – How We Live and How We Could Live;  How the Gods Were Made; Marxism Revisited; Marxism and Darwinism; Les Principes du Socialisme Expliques; The Right to be Lazy and other Articles; Some Aspects of Marxian Economics. A final draft of the new pamphlet Red and Green was presented to the meeting, though there was disagreement within the Publications Department over the title, one view being that it should be called An Inconvenient Question. A proposed budget of £556.64 was presented and the meeting was further informed that a new publications catalogue was envisaged. The department also sought direction from the meeting with regards the proposed publication of the Keracher pamphlet vis-à-vis the issue of copyright. A lengthy discussion focused on the issue of the Keracher pamphlet copyright and the title of the new ecology pamphlet.

i) Browne & Chesham: “That the title of the proposed pamphlet be: An Inconvenient Question.” Carried: 6 for, 3 abstaining. 

ii) The meeting agreed to a Publications Dept. budget of £656.00, inclusive of the book  A Guide to Indexing. 

iii) Agreed to defer further consideration of the report. 

f) Stair reported verbally on the purchase of new letterheaded paper. As the cost was in excess of £250.00, the outlay needed EC approval. Approval was thus sought for 5000 sheets of letter headed paper and 5000 small compliment slips.

i) Browne & Easton: “That the request be approved.” Agreed.

g) Browne reported verbally on behalf of the Standing Orders Committee.  In reference to Browne’s response to the proposed Central Branch mailout (re. a call for nominations CB delegates to ADM), it was agreed to strike everything after “discussion”. The date of ADM would be 20-21 October.

h) Agreed to defer the oral report from the Campaigns Dept.

6.  Correspondence from Branches, Companion Parties and Member

a) Agreed to defer the Conference Floor Resolution from Lawrie (Central London) and Johnson (Swansea): “This Conference urges the EC to organise as speaker’s class” Carried: 7-4.

b) Agreed to defer a letter from Cde. F Allen, re. Conference 2007, dated 9th April.

c) Resolution from Central London Branch from their meeting of 11th April: “BIRT that the Branch nominates Jim Lawrie to the Standing Orders Cttee.” (5-0-1).

i) Miller & Chesham: “That the nomination be accepted.” Agreed

d) Self nominations from B Johnson for the Ballot and Premises Cttees.,, dated 26th April. Agreed to defer.

e) Agreed to defer all other correspondence, the time being 8.15 pm, namely: WSPNZ Minutes for March and April and SPC Newsletters for April and May.

7.  Forms  F

a) Forms F received from Central Branch Secretary: Henry Cook (Central), loss of contact; Darren O’Neil (Central), transferring to the WSPUS; Cenred Elworthy (Central), resigning due to disagreement; Ken Partington (Central), resigning. 

i) Miller & Browne: That the CBS write to Cde. Partington to dissuade him from resigning.” Carried: 5 for, 3 abstaining.

ii) Miller & Browne: “That the remaining Forms F be accepted.” Agreed

Meeting adjourned at 8.20 pm

Date of next meeting:  2nd June              Chair for next meeting: Carter