THE SOCIALIST PARTY
MINUTES OF THE 10TH MEETING OF THE 102ND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
HELD AT HEAD OFFICE ON 1ST OCTOBER, 2005, AT 2.15 PM
Present: Bissett (Gen Sec), Browne, Carter (Chair), Lawrence, Parker,
Scholey,
Stair, Thomas, Wigley.
Absent: Lambert.
Carter (Chair) informed EC she could only chair the meeting until 5pm,
when she
had to leave for another appointment.
1) Amendment and Adoption of Previous EC Minutes
1.1) Re. item 6.5.iv of the September EC Minutes: the vote on approving
the
appointment of Cde Gardner as candidate and Cde Johnstone as agent in
the
Livingston by-election (omitted from the September Minutes) was: 7 for
and 1
abstaining.
1.2 Re. item 7.1.i of September EC Minutes - Cde Miller working at head
office
as from January 2005. Members queried the costs involved and why they
had not
been mentioned in the minutes. It was pointed out that the resolution
did not
refer to costs and rather delegated the matter to the HOO and the
Treasurer, who
were asked to report back to the October meeting.
1.3) Browne & Parker: "That the September Minutes be adopted as
amended."
Agreed: 6 for, 1 abstaining.
2) Matters Arising from August 6th EC Meeting
2.1) Re. item 3.1.i of August Minutes and 2.1 of September Minutes-
awaited
reply from Ugandan comrades. Further to correspondence several months
ago from
comrades in Kabale, in which they expressed a desire to exist
independently of
the SPGB, and to which the Gen Sec had written back enquiring if they
sought
companion party status, an email was received dated 9th September from
Cde
Mugyenzi Ishmael, the Kabale group secretary. The email referred
chiefly to
previous financial requests, suggesting Cde Weijagye Justus might come
back to
the Party if the EC reconsidered earlier requests from the Kabale
group. Members
felt that as the matter referred to an item being raised on the ADM
agenda the
email be sent out to branch secretaries ahead of ADM.
2.1.i) Browne & Wigley: "That the reply from the WSM Uganda Group
Secretary be
copied to branch secretaries." Agreed: 9-0.
2.2) Re. items 9.2.i of June 26th Minutes and 3.5 of August Minutes and
2.2 of
September - Internet Dept. and blogsite terms of reference.
2.2.i) Thomas and Stair: "That the General Secretary issue a reminder
to the
Internet Department regarding the terms of reference for the blogsite."
2.3) Re. items 8.1.ii of June 26th Minutes and 3.6 of August Minutes
and 2.3 of
September Minutes- dubious links on the WSPNZ website. The Gen Sec had
written
to the WSPNZ at the end of June pointing out the EC's concern that
links to the
WSPI and the Socialist Studies Group were still on their site. A
further letter
had been sent out in September.
2.3.i) Two replies had since been received from Bruce Grenville (18th
September)
, a sympathiser, who managed the website, and Maurie Gribble of the
WSPNZ (19th
September). Cde Grenville said he had made the necessary changes to the
website
"following considerable pressure from the SPGB (Clapham)." Cde Gribble
wrote
clarifying the mater and pointing out that Cde Grenville's
communication implied
that the WSPNZ has reluctantly endorsed the changes. The WSPNZ comrades
agreed
it was inappropriate to mention the two groups on their site, although
the WSPNZ
"considered their platform as still being 'socialist'." Cde Gribble
continued:
"Their criticism was at the heart of our EC's decision, I believe, not
to have
the two groups mentioned on our website - not even as a mere link."
2.3.ii) The General Secretary informed the meeting that he had since
re-contacted Cde Grenville requesting that "(Clapham)", which appeared
after the
link to the SPGB (ourselves) also be removed.
2.3.iii) Thomas & Stair: "That the email be noted and the matter be
deferred
until receipt of the next WSPNZ Minutes." Agreed: 9-0
2.4) Notice of Business, as mentioned under Any Other Business in
September EC
Minutes. Members living at Head Office. Browne opened on the item.
2.4.i) Wigley requested EC permission to stay at head office a few
nights a week
while he settled into a new University course and secured more permanent
accommodation.
2.4.ii) Browne & Parker: "The EC grants permission for Cde Wigley
to stay at
Head Office for 2-3 nights a week for 2 weeks."
2.4.iii) Schloey & Thomas moved an amendment: "Replace "2 weeks"
with "one
month"
2.4.iv) The substantive motion was carried: 6 for, 2 against, 1
abstaining.
2.5) Notice of Business, as mentioned in Any Other Business in
September. New
EC Standing Order. Browne requested that the matter be deferred. Agreed.
2.6) Re. 9.3 of September Minutes - Purchase of CD copier. Stair
informed
meeting that the CD copier had been purchased and would be installed in
the main
office at HO, along with an amplifier and speakers Cde Thomas had
brought from
home.
3) Autumn Delegate Meeting
3.1) The meeting considered further departmental reports.
3.2.) Premises Cttee Report to ADM. Browne & Bissett: "The report
be accepted"
Agreed.
3.2.i) Publications Dept report to ADM. Members queried a reference to
the
proposed book on war. It was pointed out that the book had been
endorsed by a
previous ADM. Much of the discussion focused on the report's reference
to a
proposed new publication, being two previous pamphlets combined
(Socialism as a
Practical Alternative and From Capitalism to Socialism) into one book.
Members
queried to what extent the pamphlets needed updating, revising and how
much
overlap there would be. Members queried the department's remit to
propose new
publications and to what extent the EC could intervene. The General
Secretary
read out the department's terms of reference.
3.2.ii) 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.
3.2.iii) Browne & Parker: "That the report be accepted." Agreed.
3.3) Media Dept. report to ADM. Parker & Wigley: "That the report
be accepted."
Agreed.
3.4) Advertising Dept. report to ADM. Browne & Parker: "That the
words
'however' and 'only' be removed from the second sentence of the second
paragraph, and that the report be accepted." Agreed.
3.5) Browne, on behalf of the Advertising Department, presented the EC
with the
text for two proposed adverts. The department was split on which ad to
use and
were asking for an EC decision.
3.5.i) Parker and Stair: "This EC recommends the use of text 'A'."
Agreed: 8
for, 1 against, 1 abstaining.
3.6) Campaigns Dept. Report. Agreed to accept.
3.7) Report of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Front of Head Office.
Agreed to
accept.
3.8) Report of Technology Officer and health and Safety Officer. Agreed
to
accept.
3.9) Report of the Head Office Organiser. Agreed to accept.
3.10) Report of the Audio-Visual Department. Agreed to accept.
3.11) Lawrence made verbal reports on behalf of the Production for Use
Committee
and the Discussion Journal Committee. Verbal reports would be made at
Conference. A circular would be submitted to the next EC meeting.
3.12) Accommodation for members during ADM. Cheap accommodation was
available at
a hotel just near Clapham Common for £13.00 per night.
3.12.i) Thomas & Bissett: "This EC reissues its invitation to
delegates: to
reimburse one delegate per branch their travel and accommodation
expenses."
At this stage of the meeting, Carter left the Chair (see above) Agreed
that
Thomas take the chair.
3.12.ii) Lawrence & Browne: "That provision be made for 6 camp beds
at head
Office." Agreed: 6 for, 1 against, 1 abstaining.
4. Accounts
4.1) Treasurer presented the accounts for June. Members queried the
discrepancy
between income (£2,642) and expenditure (£4,908). This was
accounted for by
reference to several one-off payments during the month.
4.2) Browne & Wigley: "That the accounts be accepted". Agreed,
5) Forms A:
5.1) No Forms A were presented to meeting.
6) Reports of Officers, Departments and Sub-committees
6.1) Email from A Buick (as Central Organiser), dated 22nd September,
explaining
the 8 Forms F from The Gambia which were before the meeting. There were
still 4
members in The Gambia and others who had not joined the SPGB but the
World of
Free Access directly. Cde Buick also copied an email from Cde Suhuyini
Nbangba
which referred to the situation re. the WFA and a surge protector that
he needed
for his pc (which had been agreed at a previous EC Meeting). Agree to
note.
6.1.i) Wigley & Browne: "That the cost of the surge-protector be
paid as
previously agreed." Agreed: 8-0.
6.2) Letter from F Allen (Assistant Treasurer), dated 14th September,
regarding
the process he followed when sending out requests for dues and
accompanied with
a sample request slip. Noted with thanks.
6.3) Letter from F Allen, dated 26th September, regarding the question
of the
gully on the roof at Head Office, with diagram of work that was needed
to comply
with future insurance claims. Noted.
6.4) Results from Livingston by-election where the Socialist Party
fielded a
candidate: Lab -12,319, SNP -9,639, Lib Dem - 4,362, Cons -1,993, Green
-
5,229, SSP - 407, UKIP - 108, Ind - 55, Alliance for Change - 33, SPGB
- 32.
6.5) Report from A Buick (Socialist Standard Dept.), regarding Standard
sales at
Borders book shops. The Standard was being sold in London, Brighton,
Glasgow,
Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol on a trial basis. Borders had taken 50
copies of
which 21 had been sold.
7) Reports from Branches, Companion Parties and Members
7.1) Email from Lancaster Branch, dated 15th September, referring to the
Conference ruling on items appearing on the agenda for ADM minus
supporting
statements and observing that the preliminary mail out of the agenda
contained
items with no supporting statements. Noted.
7.2) WSPUS Minutes for July. Noted.
7.3) Email from Suhuyini Nbangba, dated 28th September, re
surge-protector.
Matter had been dealt with earlier in meeting (6.1.i above).
8) Forms F
8.1) 16 Forms F, 9 being for Gambian comrades. Gambian Forms F were: PA
Ousman
Joof, Fasnaya G Martin, KS Manneh, Modou L Jobe, Henry Ofuya, Fatou
Ceesay,
Adekomwi Adewunmi, Kabba Bob, Geoffrey Ashemuke (all lapsed, loss of
contact).
Forms F from UK: John Wright of Central Branch, (deceased), J Meakin of
Central Branch (lapsed), Eddie McCann of Central Branch (deceased). Two
Forms F
for Kenyan comrades who we have lost contact with: John Wandera and
Paul W
Khaoya, and two Forms A for lapsed Zambian comrades: W Mutenga and
Lemmy A
Shula.
8.1.i) Browne & Scholey: "That the 16 Forms F be accepted". Agreed:
8-0.
8.2) Email from Ron Cook (Birmingham Branch), dated 29th September,
informing EC
that the two Birmingham members who the EC had been informed were
resigning were
in fact remaining with the Party.
9. Any Other Busines
9.1) Letter from Chief Inspector of British Transport Police,
Hammersmith,
replying to letter from Gen Sec (posted on spintcom) about the
confiscated spoof
rail cards. The Chief inspector said he was asking for a report from the
officers concerned.
9.2) Fire escape onto roof. Gen Sec informed meeting that as a matter of
urgency the fire escape trap-door onto the roof needed attention. The
hinges
were warped and the bolts would not close. It appeared there had been
an attempt
at a forced entry.
9.2.i) Stair & Bowne: "That the Premises Committee deal with the
matter of the
fire escape door urgently by contacting outside contractors." Agreed.
9.3) Shower. The HOO presented the meeting with quotes he had sought
for the
installation of a shower unit in the basement (for members familiar
with the
layout at HO, this will be installed in the elongated room with the
toilet at
the end of it, and which has in recent weeks been re-plastered). Two
quotes had
been obtained: one from D Chesham (an ex-member with a plumbing
business). D
Chesham had quoted a figure of £1,959 for parts and labour and
the second quote
for the same work was £2,450.
9.3.i) Wigley & Stair: "That the quote from D Chesham be accepted."
Agreed: 6
for, 1 against, 1 abstaining. A division was called for. For: Browne,
Stair,
Bissett, Lawrence, Thomas, Wigley. Against: Scholey, Abstaining: Parker.
9.4) DVD advert cards. The Campaigns Dept presented the EC with a
sample design
for a card that advertised the DVD and based on the design of the DVD
jacket.
Discussion focused on the wording on the bottom portion of the front of
the
card. Members also discussed the amount of cards to order.
9.4.i) Parker and Wigley: "That the wording be accepted as it is."
Agreed: for
4, against 3, 1 abstaining. A division on the vote was called for. For:
Bissett, Wigley, Lawrence and Parker. Against: Stair, Browne, Scholey.
Abstaining: Thomas.
9.4.ii) Stair and Browne: "That 50,000 cards be ordered at a cost of
£870.00."
Agreed: for 5, Against 1, 1 absent from table.
9.5) Auditors for accounts. Gen Sec agreed to contact Cde H Moss (who
had
audited accounts in the past) asking if he could audit accounts in time
for ADM
and to liaise with the Treasurer.
With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 6.20pm
Chair for next Meeting: Browne
Date of next meeting: Saturday, 5th November, 2pm at Head Office. |