THE SOCIALIST PARTY MINUTES OF THE 9TH MEETING OF THE 102ND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HELD AT HEAD OFFICE ON 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2005, AT 2.30 PM Present:  Bissett (Gen Sec), Browne, Carter, Lambert, Parker, Scholey (late), Stair (Chair), Thomas Chair:  Apologies received for Lawrence and Wigley. 1) Amendment and Adoption of Previous EC Minutes 1.1)  Parker & Lambert: "That the August EC Minutes be adopted as a true record." Agreed: 7-0. 2) Matters Arising from August 6th EC Meeting 2.1) Re. item 3.1.i of August Minutes - awaited reply from Ugandan comrades. Further to correspondence 2 months ago from comrades in Kabale, in which they expressed a desire to exist independently of the SPGB, the Gen Sec had written back enquiring if they sought companion party status. No reply had been received. 2.1.i) Thomas & Parker: "That the matter be deferred one month." Agreed: 7-0. 2.2) Re. items 9.2.i of June 26th Minutes and 3.5 of August Minutes - Internet Dept. and blogsite terms of reference.  The matter was addressed in the Internet  Dept. Report to ADM. 2.3) Re. items 8.1.ii of June 26th Minutes and 3.6 of August 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. No reply had been received and the matter had not been raised in recent copies of the WSPNZ Minutes received at HO. 2.3.i) Cde Thomas presented the EC with a draft letter to the WSPNZ. 2.3.ii) Lambert & Bissett: "That the letter drafted by Cde Thomas be sent to the WSPNZ as amended." Agreed: 7-0. 2.4)  DVD. The EC was shown a copy of the new DVD Capitalism and Other Kids' Stuff.  The general feeling was that the DVD was well produced and that the artwork looked very professional. Discussion focused on the postage and packing price of the DVD. May's EC meeting had agreed a cover price of £5.00. 2.4.i) Thomas & Carter: "That the retail price of the DVD be £5.00 and that the postage and packing price be £5.50." Agreed: 7-0. 3. Autumn Delegate Meeting 3.1 The meeting was presented with ADM reports from: General Secretary, Central Organiser, Treasurer, SSPC, Enquiries Department, Standing Orders, Ballot Committee, Internet Dept. Research Dept. 3.1.i)  Agreed to accept. 3.1.ii) Browne & Thomas: " That the Advertising Dept., Audio Visual Dept.,  Campaigns Dept., Head Office Organiser, Health and Safety Officer, Media Dept., Membership Dept., PFU, Premises Committee, Publications Dept., Research (books and library), Technology Officer, Ad Hoc Cttee to Improve the Front of HO and the  New Discussion Journal Committee be asked to submit their reports before the next EC Meeting." Agreed. 3.1.iii) Browne & Thomas:  "In view of the fact that the photocopier needs repairs and that several departments and sub-committees have not submitted their reports to ADM yet, this EC agrees that reports received so far and the items for discussion be sent out  as email and that the Final Agenda and EC and Party Officer's Report be mailed out to members next month." Agreed 7-0. (General Secreytary's note - the ADM Agenda and reports will be sent out around 3rd-4th October) 4. Accounts 4.1) The meeting briefly discussed the Treasurer's Report to ADM.  Further discussion focused on the problem of getting monthly statements from Alliance and Leicester, who insisted they are only sent out quarterly, without exception.  The Treasurer was still trying to get internet access to our accounts. 5. Forms A 5.1) No forms A were presented to the meeting. 5.2) Email from A Buick (Central Organiser), dated 18th August, stating that 2 members previously lapsed (Kevin O'Hara and S Maduna) had resurfaced and wished to stay in the Party. The Central Organiser asked for the annulation of the Forms F. 5.2.i) Thomas & Lambert: "That the members be reinstated."  Agreed: 8-0. 6. Reports from Party  Officers, Departments and Sub-Committees 6.1) Email from A Buick, SSPC, dated 27th August, re. distribution of The Socialist Standard. Our commercial distributors (COMAG) have got Borders to stock the Standard in stores in London, Brighton, Glasgow, Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol. 6.2) Email from A Buick, as Central Organiser, dated 23rd August.  The highest concentration of members who had responded to a circular was in Zambia (5). They had been asked to form a group in Kitwe with an appropriate name and to open a  PO Box there. They had replied requesting £150.00 to carry out the latter request. It further looked like a group near Calcutta, ex-members of B Sarkar's group, would be organising and setting up an email account to carry on communication with ourselves. 6.2.i) Lambert & Parker:  "That £150 be sent to the comrades in Zambia to facilitate the setting up of a PO Box number and an email address and that the Central Organiser and Treasurer be asked to liaise with the comrades." Agreed: 8-0. 6.3) Letter from J Lee, Enquiries Dept, re enquiries received from January to June. This to be added to the ADM Report. 6.3.i) Parker & Browne: "This does not include enquiries directed to the Party website and which Cde Stafford will be able to report on separately." Agreed: 8-0. 6.4) Campaigns Dept. and sample bookmark design. Further to the August Minutes the EC was presented with a design (front and back) for a bookmark that would advertise the Party. There was general approvement of the design, though the Campaigns Dept offered that there were still minor changes to be made. 6.5) Emails from Edinburgh Branch and the Election Department who had requested EC approval for Edinburgh Branch to contest the forthcoming by-election in Livingston, brought about by the death of Robin Cook MP. Cde Martin of the Election Dept. was in attendance and reported verbally on the suggested campaign. A draft election address was presented to the meeting - based on a previous election leaflet - as the election would take place before the next EC meeting and a tight time constraint meant the leaflet would have to be approved by Royal Mail and printed as quickly as possible. Cdes Gardner had been proposed as the candidate, with Cde Johnstone proposed as the agent. 6.5.i) Bissett & Thomas: "That Edinburgh Branch be allowed to contest the Livingstone by-election." Agreed:  7-1. 6.5.ii) Bissett & Thomas: "That the text for the proposed leaflet be accepted." Agreed: 6 for, 0 against, 2 abstaining 6.5.iii) Bissett & Parker: " That £2,250 be allocated for the election campaign." Agreed: 6 for, 0 against, 2 abstaining. 6.5.iv) Parker and Thomas: "This EC approves the appointment of Brian Gardner as Livingston candidate and Alan Johnstone as agent." 6.6) Internet Dept Report, also sent as ADM Report (posted on spintcom) - regarding Robert Baltrop's The Monument. 6.6.i) Parker & Bissett:  "This EC authorises a member to enter into discussion with Robert Baltrop about the publishing rights to The Momument." Agreed: 6 for, 2 against. Division called for. For: Bissett, Carter, Lambert, Parker, Stair Thomas. Against: Browne and Scholey. 6.6.ii) Browne & Lambert: "That the Internet Dept report be approved." Agreed: 8-0. 7. Correspondence from Branches, Companion Parties and Members 7.1) Three page email from Cde Tristan Miller - previously posted on Spintcom. Cde Miller, a research scientist and with specialist skills in various fields, proposed working at HO on various projects (creating an electronic library and index of the Party's entire publication history, Companion Party website design, typesetting  and editing new editions of Party publications, building electronic catalogue of the SPGB library). He would be able to work at HO from January until August, or until the work was completed, whatever was sooner. The EC was in agreement that this was an opportunity not to be missed, moreso because there was an extant Conference resolution with regards digitising party publications. 7.1.i)  Lambert & Parker:  "That this EC welcomes Comrade Miller's offer and requests the Central Organiser and HOO to liaise with Comrade Miller to work out the practicalities and report back to the October EC." Agreed: 7 for, 1 against. 7.2) WSPNZ Minutes for July and August. Noted. 7.3) SPC newsletter for 1st September. Noted. 7.4) Copy of email from Cde Suhuyini Nbangba (who compiles The African Socialist), explaining past difficulties in putting the journal together (lack of contributors) and problems getting a recent issue out (Cde Nbangba had a work placement hundreds of miles from his home near Banjul and could not access a pc). 8. Forms F 8.1) Two Forms F received for Cdes Andy Matthews (Central Branch) and Weijagye Jutsus (Kabale, Uganda), with accompanying resignation letters. 8.1.i)  Lambert & Browne: "That Cde Matthews Form F be accepted with regret." Agreed: 7 for, 1 abstaining. 8.1.ii) "Browne & Lambert:  "That Cde Justus' Form F be accepted with regret. Agreed: 8-0. 9. Any Other Business 9.1) Browne gave the EC notice of business for the next meeting: a) A new EC Standing Order and  B) Members living at HO. 9.2) Stair raised the issue of making decent CD copies of Party talks which now exist in CD format. If we were to produce top quality copies from the master CD, we needed a decent a fast and efficient CD to CD burner. The EC was presented with details of a top quality copier costing £199.00. 9.3) Lambert an Stair: "That the CD copier be purchased." Agreed 7 for, 1 abstaining. With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 500pm Chair for next Meeting: Carter Date of next meeting:  Saturday, October 1st , 2pm at Head Office.