THE SOCIALIST PARTY
MINUTES OF THE 11TH MEETING OF THE 102ND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
HELD AT HEAD OFFICE ON 5TH NOVEMBER, 2005, AT 2.20 PM
Present: Bissett (Gen Sec), Browne (Chair), Lambert (10 minutes late),
Lawrence, Parker, Scholey, Wigley.
Apologies: Carter (personal), Stair (Party meeting in Norwich), Thomas
(sickness).
1) Amendment and Adoption of Previous EC Minutes
1.1) Browne & Parker: "That the October Minutes be adopted as a
true record." Agreed: 6-0
2) Matters Arising from October EC Meeting
2.1) Re. item 1.2 of October EC Mins - Cde Miller staying at HO as from
January to carry out Party work and HOO and Treasurer having been asked
to contact Cde Miller to make arrangements. There was nothing to
present to the meeting, Cdes Stair and Thomas being absent from the
table. Meeting agreed that a further request be made of the HOO and
Treasurer.
2.2) Re. item 2.2 of October EC Minutes - Blogsite terms of reference.
The Gen Sec had had email communication with Cde Culbert of the
Internet Dept regarding the terms of reference and presented the
meeting with a terms of ref. he had prepared and put to the Internet
Dept, who had queried the numbers the department needed to function and
the number of members on the department needed to approve anything for
posting on the blogsite.
2.2.i) The suggested terms of reference were:
1. The
Blogsite Department be composed of 4 members with easy email/internet
access.
2. The
Blogsite Deparment produce socialist
comment/analysis on day to day events, or as often as is possible, and
at their own discretion.
3. That
the Blogsite be used also as a notice board for
Party events and news, providing also links to sites of interest to
socialists
4. Before
anything is posted on the Blogsite it should have
the approval of 3 members of the Department (communicating by
email/phone).
5. That
the Blogsite Department report bi-annually to the
EC, prior to Conference and ADM, providing a breakdown of material
posted and comments posted by visitors
2.2.ii) Discussion followed as to consensus and whether the department
would be deadlocked if the requisite number needed to agree on a
blogsite posting was not possible for one reason or another. It was
felt the blogsite was important, that it could be accessed by anyone
visiting our site via a link on the Party website and that it would be
producing perhaps daily comment on events as they happened along with
party news, hence the need for consensus within the department before
something was posted.
2.2.iii) Wigley & Parker: "In point 1, delete '4' and insert '3'.
In point 4, delete '3' and insert '2'".
2.2.iv) Lawrence and Bissett moved an amendment: " Delete '2' and
insert '3' in point 4".
2.2.v) Vote on the amendment. Agreed: For 4, against 1, Abstaining 2.
2.2.vi) Vote on the resolution as unamended. Lost: "For 0, Against 5,
Abstaining 2.
2.2.vii) Parker & Wigley: "This EC accepts the suggested terms of
reference for the Party Blogsite Department." Agreed: For 6, Against 0,
Abstaining 2.
2.2.viii) The terms of reference for the blogsite department are thus:
1. The
Blogsite Department be composed of 3 members with easy email/internet
access.
2. The
Blogsite Deparment produce socialist
comment/analysis on day to day events, or as often as is possible, and
at their own discretion.
3. That
the Blogsite be used also as a notice board for
party events and news, providing also links to sites of interest to
socialists
4. Before
anything is posted on the Blogsite it should have
the approval of 3 members of the Department (communicating by
email/phone).
5. That
the Blogsite Deparment report bi-annually to the
EC, prior to Conference and ADM, providing a breakdown of material
posted and comments posted by visitors.
2.2.ix) Debate then followed as to whether the Blogsite should be part
of the Internet Department or exist as a separate department. It was
felt that the department could exist separately, considering several
members had experience of creating their own blogsites on which they
posted Party-related material and that members could be trusted to
properly represent the interests of the Party on such a blogsite.
Members also debated when the Blogsite could be started.
2.2.x) Bissett & Browne: "That nominations for the Party Blogsite
Department be held over until the annual call for nominations is made
in December." Agreed: For 5, Against 0, Abstaining 2.
2.3) Re. 2.3.iii of October EC Minutes - WSPNZ and the "Clapham" link
to the SPGB (ourselves). The Gen Sec had emailed Bruce Grenville 6
weeks ago regarding the link, the email having been acknowledged, but
with Cde Grenville saying he would refer the matter to the WSPNZ. No
reply had been received from Bruce Grenville, actually a WSPNZ
sympathiser who ran the site, or the WSPNZ, regarding the removal of
the "Clapham" mention. [Gen Sec's note: the link is still there as of
8th November: http://www.worldsocialism.org/nz/nz-links.htm
Agreed to defer.
3. Floor Resolutions arising out of ADM
Three floor resolutions from ADM were before the EC.
3.1.) ADM Fl. Res. 1: Hart & Lawrence: "This ADM endorses the
proposals for regional branches as outlined in the Central Organiser's
report." Carried: 12-0.
3.1.i) Wigley & Browne: "That the matter be referred to the Central
Organiser, and that he be asked to submit a draft plan to the January
1906 EC meeting." Agreed: 6 For, 1 Against.
3.2) ADM Fl. Res. 2: Browne & Windle: "This ADM requests the Party
website be re-designed and be more integrated with the WSM website.
Carried: 5-1 (14 delegates sitting).
3.2.i) Wigley & Bissett: "That the matter be referred to the
Internet Department for implementation." Agreed 7-0.
3.3) Fl. Res. 2 Buick & Browne: "This ADM recommends that the
request of the comrades in Uganda be reconsidered by the EC." Carried:
7-4.
3.3.i) This resolution referred to previous correspondence between the
EC and the comrades in Kabale, Uganda, who had requested a grant to
purchase a photocopying machine to help with their local activity. The
exchange of correspondence had been going on for some time and at
length the EC declined to agree to the £800 grant. One comrade in
Kabale had resigned over the matter. The EC felt that the matter could
be better re-assessed if the Central Organiser contacted to the
comrades in Kabale for further information.
3.3.ii) Wigley & Parker: "That the matter be referred to the
Central Organiser, and that he be asked to report on the matter to the
December 05 EC meeting." Agreed: 7-0.
4. Accounts
4.1 No accounts to hand.
5. Forms A
5.1) Forms A for Mweni Elasmo (Zambia) and Alan Brady Smith (East
Anglia).
5.1.i) Parker & Lambert: "That the two Forms A be accepted".
Agreed: 7-0
6. Reports from Officers, Department and Sub-committees
6.1) Browne, Standing Orders Cttee verbally reported on the coming
December ballot for 10 EC vacancies and for Party Officers: Gen Sec,
Assist. Sec, Treasurer, Assist. Treasurer, 2 Auditors, 2 Trustees.
Bissett objected to any EC resolution calling for nominations as this
was already accounted for in the Party Rules and did not need EC
authority, and this generated discussion on the matter.
6.1.i) Wigley & Browne: "That the call for nominations be put out
for EC members and Party officers; returning date to be next month."
Agreed: For 3, Against 2, Abstaining 2.
7. Correspondence from Branches, Companion Parties and Members
7.1) Email from N Windle Lancaster Branch, dated 8th October, querying
why the Advertising Department had not been consulted prior to
production of the cards that advertised the DVD and referring to a
previous EC resolution that stated one delegate per branch is allowed
reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses when the usual
procedure was for 2 delegates to be allowed such reimbursement of
expenses.
7.1.i) Windle & Parker: "That the Secretary reply in accordance
with the facts." Agreed: 7-0.
7.2) WSPNZ Minutes for 8th September. Noted.
7.3) Email from Bigboy Musemwa, dated 24th October, requesting to
rejoin the Party.
7.3.i) Lawrence & Parker: "That the matter lie on the table."
7.4) SPC Newsletter for October (already posted on Spintcom). Noted.
7.5) Email from A Buick (Socialist Standard Dept.), dated, 3rd
November, requesting that the Party pay for a broadband connection for
one member of the SS layout team to facilitate the speedier production
of the Socialist Standard.
7.5.i) Wigley & Lambert: "That up to £20.00 per month be
approved
as expenditure for broadband from the SSPC budget, and that their
budget for 2006 be revised in light of this." Agreed: 7-0.
7.6) WSPUS Minutes for August and September. Noted.
8. Forms F
8.1) Forms F were received for Edna Beeson (W. London), lapsed; David
Steele (Glasgow), lapsed; Peter Owen (Central), lapsed; John Page
(Central), lapsed.
8.1.i) Wigley & Parker: "That the four forms F be accepted."
Agreed: 7-0
9. Any Other Business
9.1) Browne requested that item 3.2.ii of the October Minutes be
addressed under Matters Arising of the December 3rd Meeting. The
relevant item being: 'Browne & Thomas: "That this EC requests the
Publications Department to report further on their proposal to redraft
or combine SAAPA and FCTS." Agreed: 8 for, 1 against.'
9.2) Parker apologised in advance for not being able to attend the
December Meeting.
With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 4.25pm
Chair for next Meeting: Wigley
Date of next meeting: Saturday, 3rd December, 2pm at Head Office.
NOTICE
This is to let members/branches know that a call is made for
nominations for the Executive Committee (10 vacancies) and for the
following Party Officers posts: General Secretary, Assistant Secretary,
Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Central Organiser, 2 Auditors, 2
Trustees.
Closing date for nominations is Friday 2nd December. Nominations shall
be submitted on a Form B and a supporting statement is required for
anyone not having stood for that post before, optional for those who
have served in these posts before
A copy of the Form B will be sent to Branch Secretaries in due course.
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