December EC Meeting Minutes

[Socialist Party Head Office]

MINUTES OF THE 12TH MEETING OF THE 108th EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF

THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN HELD ON 3 DECEMBER 2011

(Note: These minutes are not official until amendment and adoption by the EC.)

Present: Carter, Deutz, Buick, Thomas, Field, Poynton, Browne, Lambert and Wigley (9).

Apologies: Shodeke.

The meeting was called to order at 13.15 when the quorum was obtained

1. Election of Chair – Cde M Browne

2. Minutes of the previous meeting, business arising therefrom and the General Secretary’s raising of Notices of Motion and Business from previous meetings

 

(a) Adoption of the November 2011 minutes were agreed on the motion of Deutz and Poynton.

 

(b) Matters arising from the November 2011 meeting minutes

i. Re x6.b.ii (theft from Head Office), two e-mails from the Assistant Treasurer (20 and 21 November):

I reported the recent theft from HO to the police at Brixton Police Station yesterday. The PC that dealt with my report said that CCTV footage of HO area would be looked at. He was not very hopeful about our chances of recovery. I shall check our insurance cover. One never knows. . .For the record the Crime Number for this incident is: 1239053/11

***

I received a phone call today from a Damon Williams of the Met Police Crime Unit (020 8649 3478) regarding the recent theft of £120 from HO. Unfortunately the CCTV tapes for Clapham High Street have been wiped. In addition as it is not clear which of the two females responsible actually took the money the police will not be taking the matter further. I have yet to check with our insurance to see if we might be covered against this loss.

The EC also considered the following email which was received from Cde Fred Allen on this topic –

“To the EC,

I know comrade Thomas to be a dedicated member of our party, who has for many years worked very hard in the party interest. My comments have no reflection or apply to the comrade,and I wish him a speedy recovery after his recent fall. The suggestions I would like the EC to consider are :when there is no meeting or functions at h/o any visitors asking to come in to use the toilet are not allowed perhaps with the excuse that ‘waiting for plumber to come & fix’. would suffice. The two scam artists must have passed a bank/building society before arriving at h/o. and why would two females want such a large amount of change and think that they could get it at h/o, they have now however established at least to themselves that money is kept on the premises in large amounts of change, and I expect they will pass this information on to their like. It would surprise me that no attempts are made to enter h/o with the same pretence or another scam very soon, I hope not anyway. I would advise anyone working there to be extra vigilant and suspicious to visitors particularly over the next few weeks, Thank you”

Cde G Thomas reported that the insurance does not cover the Party against this loss. The two thieves were professional con artists, who would have seen where the money is kept. Cde M Browne advised that the money should be moved to a different location in the building. The police suggested that we check with other businesses in the area to find if they also have been approached by these con artists. Cde G Thomas felt that this was inappropriate as many of the surrounding businesses are bars and restaurants which they are unlikely to target. Cde P Deutz suggested that there should be at leastthree members present at Head Office before visitors are allowed on to the premises. Other EC members suggested a more flexible approach where greater care and vigilance are required.

Motion 1 – Wigley and Buick moved Cde F Allen’s comments be noted and that he be thanked for them. Agreed.

(c) Notices of Business

i. Browne: Campaigns and advertising

Campaigns –

Cde P Deutz reported on behalf of the ad hoc Campaigns Committee on the public meetings organised at Head Office. There are no meetings planned at Head Office for January and February. Despite a request made in the November EC meeting minutes for feedback from the existing meetings at Head Office and suggestions for topics for future meetings, none was received. The committee requires feedback in order to plan future meetings. Cde M Browne noted that no reports of the present meetings at HO were brought before the EC. Cde A Buick replied that reports of these meetings have been posted on Spintcom. The last meeting that took place on Sunday 27th November – Capitalism: An Unhealthy Option presented by Cde Richard Field – attracted 21 attendees. About 20 people have attended each meeting. Cde M Browne argued that we should keep the current format of the meetings. Cde A Buick was concerned that there were no planned meetings for January and February, and therefore no Head Office meetings could be advertised in the January 2012 issue of the Socialist Standard. He believed that Sunday was a better day to hold meetings, as the area around Clapham High Street is busy and noisy on Saturdays. Cde R Field preferred to hold meetings at a later time – at 6 pm. Cde A Buick replied that 6 pm was an inconvenient, as it was difficult for people to arrange an evening meal. Cde G Thomas found that the 4 pm start times were inconvenient. He preferred either a 2-3 pm or a 6-7 pm start. Suggested topics were the Occupy Movement and the Economic Crisis. It was agreed that members of the Committee, along with Cde A Buick, would meet after the EC meeting to discuss future public meetings at HO.

Advertising –

Cde G Thomas noted that we are spending a lot of money on adverts in the Big Issue, despite the misgiving of Party members as expressed at the recent Annual Delegate Meeting. Cde S Wigley suggested that we move all our advertising on to the internet. We should look at advertising in areas where people are politically conscious. Cde P Deutz said that we should not rule out advertising in media outlets other than the Internet. Cde D Poynton reported that an advert in Facebook costs £6-7. Cde D Lambert suggested that members should go on to Facebook and share Party literature with Facebook friends. Cde A Buick argued that we should not stop the ads in the Big Issue, but he agrees with Cde S Wigley that we should shift the emphasis on to Internet advertising. Cde Jim North already places adverts on internet sites such as Revleft. Advertising on the Party’s website has also achieved results – we have received many requests for the three free subscriptions. Cde M Browne suggested that we obtain costings from Cde J North on advertising on internet sites. Cde R Field said there is room to expand on the internet – go for it.

3. Forms A and F

(a) Form F for Desmond Vesey was received from the Central branch (deceased).

Motion 2 – Wigley and Lambert moved that the Form F be accepted. Agreed.

(b) Form A for Colin Skelly was received from the Membership Applications Department.

Motion 3 – Lambert and Buick moved that the Form A be accepted. Agreed.

(c) Form A for Robert Law was received from the Membership Applications Department.

Motion 4 – Wigley and Field moved that the Form A be accepted. Agreed.

(d) Form A for Francis Sturt was received from the Membership Applications Department.

Motion 5 – Wigley and Lambert moved that the Form A be accepted. Agreed.

The Membership Applications department also provided the following report –

“The Committee would also like to report to the EC that we have had a flurry of applications via the membership questionnaire which Comrade Darren Poynton has very usefully put on the website. We are currently unable to recommend any of these applicants for membership, but the Committee is engaging with them with a view to clarifying certain essential aspects of the Socialist case. “

Cde G Thomas, a member of the Membership Applications Department, clarified that there are three outstanding applications which the department are currently processing.

4. Accounts. No reports.

5. Reports of Party Officers, Party Appointees, Subcommittees, and Departments; discussion of campaigns and The Socialist Standard

(a) Party activity on Wednesday 30^th November Public Sector strike – Cde A Buick reported 10,000 leaflets for the 30^th November were delivered to Head Office. There are only about 1600 leaflets left. The distribution of the leaflets had gone well. Both Cdes R Field and D Lambert reported that about 1500 leaflets were given out at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Cde A Buick reported that there was a problem with the production of the leaflet. The Party member, who was originally assigned to produce the leaflet, had to back out. Another member, Cde Robert Whitfield, stepped in to complete it. But it was still a success. Cde S Wigley said there was more activity in the regions. We should attend meetings held by other organisations. Cde Browne reported twelve different unions were involved in the events in Lancaster.

(b) Report of the Audio-Visual Department

The A-V Department would like to request a grant for the purchase of a good quality High Definition Camcorder with an external microphone facility. This would enable us to obtain better quality recordings than at present; both in terms of picture and sound. Neither of the two current camcorders have an external microphone facility and we feel that a big improvement would be made. Having one would allow us to use the camcorder in conjunction with a Zoom where one can be plugged into it as an external microphone.
Apart from the above it will be great to have the above facility in respect of being able to properly record Party activity outside. We would be able to properly record Party member’s speaking at “Occupy” events or whatever comes along and at events of our own making. [We already have the other equipment needed for this now.] It would also allow us as a Party to have good facilities to record ourselves in other imaginative ways where channels like YouTube can be utilized to allow us to convey our ideas to a wider audience.
The Department has researched a suitable model (after receiving technical advice), and would like a covering grant of £600. It is unlikely that the full amount would be needed, as the model we have selected is currently available for £535.95 inclusive of VAT and delivery charges. A further ‘cashback’ deal of £50.00 from Panasonic on this model is able to be applied for through the manufacturer once purchased. The item is a Panasonic HDC-SD900, and can be viewed at the manufacturer’s site here:
http://tiny.cc/vo7a3
In general, the prices of camcorders are often lowest at this time of year in advance of potential range revamps. The site offering the best value for this model may also be offering further online discounts at the time of purchase.
If the EC is agreeable to this request it might be a good idea for the Party to pay for the item using our PayPal facility, if there are sufficient funds there/can be put in place. Although we are aware of there being a majority of good reports about the suggested supplier’s reliability and know that the company has been in existence for a number of years it would give the Party extra security to pay using PayPal in respect of PayPal invariably siding with the customer in cases of transactions not going smoothly.

Yours for Socialism,
Robert Whitfield, Stair, Darren Poynton

Motion 6– Lambert and Field moved that the request for £600 be granted. Carried (9 for, 0 against).

It was agreed that the balance on Paypal will be checked.

Motion 7– Wigley and Lambert moved that the report be approved. Carried (8 for, 1 abstain).

6. Correspondence

(a) Matters of urgency

(b) Correspondence from or concerning Branches, the Party in general, and members

i. Resolution from Kent & Sussex Regional Branch () “The EC be asked to explain, for the benefit of our branch, what the Identity leaflet is.” (Agreed, 4 members present)

Motion 8– Wigley and Field moved that a copy of the Identity leaflet be sent to the Kent & Sussex Regional branch. Agreed.

(c) Correspondence from Companion Parties and Groups

i. Socialist Party of Canada Secretary’s Report, November 2011 (available on spopen)

Motion 9– Wigley and Field moved that the report be noted. Agreed.

ii. World Socialist Party (New Zealand) Executive Committee minutes, October 2011

(available on spopen)

Motion 10 – Wigley and Field moved that the report be noted. Agreed.

iii. Letter from Cde Elbert, International Corresponding Secretary, World Socialist Party of the United States (14 November)

Motion 11 – Wigley and Field moved that Cde Elbert be thanked for the report and that it be noted and posted on Spintcom. Agreed.

(d) All other correspondence

7. Any other business

(a) Call for nominations for 2012 Departments, Committees, and Appointees to reach Head Office by the EC Meeting of 4th February 2012 .

(b) Call for reports to the 2012 Conference to cover activity for the year 2011 from existing Departments, Committees, Appointees and Party Officers to reach Head Office by the EC Meeting of 4th February 2012.

(c) Cde A Buick reported that he, as Central Organiser, and Oliver Bond, as Head Office Organiser, approved the request by Cde Mike Foster of West Midlands Regional Branch to stay at Head Office on the night of Wednesday 30^rd November. Cde Foster had assisted the London comrades in distributing leaflets at the Public Sector strike rally at Lincoln’s Inn Fields during the day on Wednesday 30^th November.

(d) It was agreed to include the completed minutes of the 2011 Annual delegate in the mail out of the results of the Party ballot for EC Members and Party Officers which will take place shortly after Saturday 17^th December.

(e) Cde O Bond (HOO/Assistant Secretary) reported that he may not be available for the period from the end of December and until the middle of January (which will include the January EC meeting). Cde Field also reported that he may not be available for the next EC meeting in January.

8. Nomination of Chair for the next meeting. It was agreed that this will be deferred until the January EC meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 14.41

[Socialist Party Head Office]

I forgot to include this item which is the last item under  7. Any other business -(f) It was noted that copies of the the new Questions and Answers about Socialism leaflet had arrived at Head Office on Friday 2nd December. Copies of the Identity leaflet are scheduled to arrive at Head Office on Monday 5th December.

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