February 2018 EC minutes
- This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 2 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
MINUTES OF THE 2nd MEETING OF THE 115th EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN AT HEAD OFFICE ON SATURDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2018
[Note: These are draft minutes only and are not official until adopted by the EC]
Present: Cdes Chesham (chair), Foster (minutes), Kennedy, Tenner, Thomas (5).
Apologies: Cdes Dee, Kirk, Shannon (unable to connect through Skype), StevensThe meeting commenced at 1.05pm
1. Election of chair. Cde Chesham was elected as chair
2. (a) (b) Minutes of the two January meetings of the EC were AGREED
2. (c) Matters arising from the Standing Orders of the Executive Committee
MOTION 1 (Thomas & Tenner): “That cdes Cox and Soares Alvarenga be added to the three other existing signatories for all Party bank accounts” AGREED
(d) Matters arising from the June 2016 EC meeting minutes
Re. report of the auditors (30th December 2016) regarding procedures to be put in place to prevent incorrect payments.
There was some discussion about possible exceptions to a rule about a maximum amount for one-off payments to other organisations (stamps, Summer School costs etc), and views of more EC members would be preferred.MOTION 2 (Thomas & Chesham): “That the matter be deferred for one month, and that the attention of all EC members is drawn to the report, especially regarding the limits to one-off payments” AGREED
(e) Matters arising from the August 2017 EC meeting minutes
Re. report of the Organisational Structure of the Party Committee
Views of all members on the committee’s report are encouraged.
MOTION 3 (Tenner & Thomas): “That cde Buick be asked to distribute the Organisational Structure of the Party Committee’s report to all branches, the Standing Orders Committee (for inclusion on the conference agenda) and to survey respondents (by e-mail to those we have e-mail addresses for and to members who responded by post)” AGREED
(f) Matters arising from the December 2017 EC meeting minutes
i. Re. nominations for vacant EC and Party Officer positions
Cdes Dee and Thomas shouldn’t have been appointed to the EC at the last meeting as the deadline for nominations had not yet passed. When the deadline passed, the total number of nominations received did not exceed the maximum number of EC vacancies, so a vote is not needed (rules 12 and 19 refer). This means cdes Kennedy and Kirk can also be appointed to the EC.
MOTION 4 (Foster & Thomas): “That cdes Kennedy and Kirk be appointed to the EC, and that cde Soares Alvarenga be appointed as Assistant Treasurer, cde Cox be appointed as Treasurer and cde Tenner be appointed as a Trustee”
AGREEDii. Re. Nominations for committee posts
Nominations to committees are as follows. Cde Bond’s nominations were not included on the meeting’s agenda.
Name – position – nominator – vote
J Lee Advertising North London not given
J Cohen Archives North London not given
R Beat Ballot West London 5–0–0
J Helps Ballot West London 5–0–0
O Bond Ballot West London 5-0-0
M Culbert Blog West London 5–0–0
M Culbert Blog Kent & Sussex not given
A Johnstone Blog West London 5–0–0
A Johnstone Blog Kent & Sussex not given
R Stafford Blog West London 5–0–0
R Stafford Blog Kent & Sussex not given
M Foster Campaigns Kent & Sussex not given
T Kilgallon Central Branch Secretary Kent & Sussex not given
A Buick Election West London 5–0–0
J Lee Enquiries North London not given
A Walker Enquiries West London 5–0–0
K Parkin Head Office Organiser West London 5–0–0
M Culbert Internet West London 5–0–0
B Johnson Internet South Wales not given
N Kirk Internet Kent & Sussex not given
T Miller Internet West London 5–0–0
B Johnson Investment South Wales not given
D Perrin Investment West London 5–0–0
M Tenner Investment West London 5–0–0
A Thomas-Emans Media Kent & Sussex not given
Robin Cox Publications Kent & Sussex 5–0–0
A Fenn Publications Kent & Sussex 5–0–0
J Surman Publications Kent & Sussex 5–0–0
D Whitehead Publications West London 5–0–0
D Whitehead Publications Kent & Sussex 5–0–0
O Bond SSPC West London 5-0-0
A Buick SSPC West London 5–0–0
D Perrin SSPC West London 5–0–0
P Shannon SSPC West London 5–0–0
A Westley SSPC West London 5–0–0
T Kilgallon Standing Orders Kent & Sussex not given
S Kennedy University & College Kent & Sussex 5–0–0
N Murray University & College West London 5–0–0
D Whitehead University & College West London 5–0–0
MOTION 5 (Foster & Thomas): “That all nominees be accepted for their roles” AGREED
West London branch to contact cde Walker about the terms of reference for the Enquiries Committee.
Cde Thomas to contact cde Parkin about the terms of reference for the Head Office Organiser post.
The Standing Orders Committee to contact cde Kilgallon about their terms of reference.
A further call for nominations to be made for the following committees: Audio-Visual, Campaigns, Education, Election, Library, Media, Membership Applications, Premises, Standing Orders, General Secretary and EC.
(g) Matters arising from the January 2018 EC meeting minutes
i. Correspondence with the Electoral Commission
A. Re. Message from the Assistant Secretary (29th January 2018) about Standing Order 8 needing to be amended for Electoral Commission Returns to be a regular EC agenda item.
MOTION 6 (Thomas & Chesham): “That Standing Order 8 be amended to include item j – Electoral Commission Returns” AGREED
B. The memorandum outlining reporting obligations is still outstanding, and cde Thomas said it would be available for the March EC meeting.
C. Re. E-mail from cde Buick (18th January 2018) about him being unable to be registered as the Treasurer with the Electoral Commission as he is also the Registered Nominating Office according to their rules. Cde Cox was asked during the meeting if he is able to be the registered Treasurer with the Electoral Commission, and he will consider this.
D. Re. E-mail from the Electoral Commission acknowledging receipt of our Donations data for the 4th quarter of 2017 (19th January 2018). NOTED
E. Re. E-mail from cde Buick (29th January 2018) stating the Electoral Commission intend to fine us £10,000 (£7,500 for late delivery of quarterly reports, £2000 for late delivery of audited reports, £500 for late delivery of weekly report during general election period). Cde Tenner to send a letter appealing against all fines within 28 days of 24th January 2018.
ii. Cde Tenner has arranged the renewal of head office’s insurance, with a 60% reduction on last year’s premium
iii. Unison have refused to carry our leaflet inserts in their publication
100,000 inserts have been printed and shipped to The Guardian and will be in the edition for Saturday 3rd March 2018 in the London area.
Cde Shannon prepared an advert to go in the Glasgow Guardian student publication. The consensus at the meeting was that the wording of the advert wasn’t suitable, partly because it doesn’t include online contact details. Cde Tenner will liaise with the University and Colleges committee about adapting the insert instead, aiming for it to go in their March issue.
In future we could advertise in the I’s weekend edition.
Responses from adverts in other publications: New Statesman and New Scientist (106), Observer (56), William Morris Society journal (4). Figures could be understated due to erractic record-keeping. As well as enquiries, we have received donations and one new member has joined and ten respondents so far have taken out paid subscriptions to the Socialist Standard.
[see also item 7 a](h) Notices of Motion
None(i) Notices of Business
None(j) Matters outstanding from previous minutes
i. Head office staffing matters
Head office will be open Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays 10.30 – 3.30 and Mondays 12 – 2 during February.
ii. Party wall
This item no longer needs to be on the agenda, as it has been superseded by there being a new owner of 50 Clapham High Street.
[see also item 6 e i]iii. O’Gorman bequest.
The building will be auctioned around 13th February 2018. Our solicitor is continuing to liaise with the other solicitor about premium bonds.
3. Forms A and F
MOTION 7 Forms A for Marcos Colome, Richard Cox, Ben Pugh and Isaak Pfister were all ACCEPTED.
Cde Chesham to contact Membership Applications Committee about hard copies of the Forms A for MC and BP.MOTION 8 Forms F for the following were all ACCEPTED
S Gibson West London deceased
M Celebe-Thomas West London resigned
N Andrade Central resigned
L Hayward-Hopkins Kent & Sussex resigned
H Ward Kent & Sussex loss of contact
K Scott South London deceased
4. Treasurer
ASN Partnership have written (7th November 2017) with some recommendations following their audit.
MOTION 9 (Tenner & Foster) “That ASN’s report and the draft reply from cde Martin be forwarded to the Treasurer” AGREED
5. Reports of Party Officers, Party Appointees, Subcommittees and Departments
(a) Report of the Standing Orders Committee (Preliminary agenda for 2018 Conference).
Not received. [this was available later the same day].
A further call for reports to be made. Cde Chesham to liaise with the Standing Orders Committee about a deadline.
(b) Campaigns Committee report. NOTED
6. Correspondence
(a) Matters of urgency
None(b) Correspondence from or concerning branches, the Party in general and members
i. A motion was passed (5-0-1) by North London branch on 18th January 2018:
“That we contest Junction Ward in the London Borough Elections in May and that Bill Martin be our candidate”.There was some discussion about how useful elections are as activity.
MOTION 10 (Foster & Thomas): “The EC supports North London branch contesting Junction Ward in the London Borough Elections in May, and refers this to the Election Committee” CARRIED 3-2-0
ii. E-mail from cde Buick (28th January 2018) about a copy of World Socialist Party (India)’s pamphlet about the History of Universal Suffrage.
MOTION 11 (Foster & Chesham): “The EC agrees to 20 copies of the History of Universal Suffrage pamphlet being ordered and asks for cde Buick to arrange this and work out a cover price once we know what the costs would be to us”
AGREEDiii. E-mail from Cde Foster (28th January 2018) asking for the maximum subsidy for Summer School to remain.
MOTION 12 (Foster & Kennedy): “That the EC agrees for the maximum subsidy for Summer School to remain at £110 per attendee” CARRIED 4-0-1
iv. E-mail from Edinburgh branch (2nd February 2018) “Edinburgh Branch’s Thursday 1st February 2018 meeting. At the above meeting the Branch resolved to ask the EC if it would consider producing a short run pamphlet about the death of Rosa Luxemburg. Agreed 3-0 three members present. Cde Moir, EB Secretary/Treasurer”.
Cde Foster to liaise with the Publications Committee about possibly tying this in with Summer School, and also to consider previous recent ideas for the Summer School publication (see November 2017 EC meeting minutes) and cde Surman’s work on militarism and the environment (see October 2017 EC meeting minutes)
(c) Correspondence from Companion Parties and Groups
None(d) Socialist Party of Canada report (1st January 2018).
Noted(e) All other correspondence
i. Following the e-mail from Bradley Lomas (22nd January 2018), the new owner of 50 Clapham High Street, cde Chesham agreed to liaise with them on behalf of the party.
7. Any other business
(a) MOTION 13 (Tenner & Chesham): “That the Advertising Committee be requested to send copies of text used in recent adverts, and the publications in which they appear” AGREED
(b) Re. Cde Cox’s e-mail (25th January 2018) about amending the New Member’s Handbook. DEFERRED
Meeting adjourned at 4.40pm
Six Form F's. At this rate you will soon be able to take on the (Reconstituted) SPGB, who can be found at http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk, at five-a-side.
Bob Andrews wrote:Six Form F's. At this rate you will soon be able to take on the (Reconstituted) SPGB, who can be found at http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk, at five-a-side.When did the Socialist Studies Group last have a Form A? At least there were 4 Forms A this month in the case of the SPGB
robbo203 wrote:Bob Andrews wrote:Six Form F's. At this rate you will soon be able to take on the (Reconstituted) SPGB, who can be found at http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk, at five-a-side.When did the Socialist Studies Group last have a Form A? At least there were 4 Forms A this month in the case of the SPGB
And when did the 'Socialist' Studies outfit last have five members?
F!****g PFJ
This was just a light hearted 'tongue in cheek' comment which obviously offended someone enough to 'report' it. My apologies if it caused offence to anyone. It is from Monty Python for anyone who doesn't know it
I'd love to graw long hair (like the resident magpie) and beard … but our lass waddent letis.
Bob Andrews wrote:Six Form F's. At this rate, you will soon be able to take on the (Reconstituted) SPGB, who can be found at http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk, at five-a-side.But we got new members. and we are revitalizing our committees, the new questionnaire showed our weakness and errors, and where we must make improvements. I have not seen any other organization doing that, we have accepted our own critics, and one or two members who have left, they came backI cannot insert in my mind why members of the SPGB will leave in order to join a backward political organization or to provide support to reactionaries, recalcitrant, or leftwingers. If I leave one day it would be because I have found something better, or more advanced and in more than 45 years dealing with socialist ideas, I have not found anything else to replace it in my mind. With all the organizational problems, weakness, small membership, or whatever that we have I would prefer to stay inside and fight them inside. I won't quit boxing I will continue fighting, I don't give up
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.