May 2018 EC minutes

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    Anonymous
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    MINUTES OF THE 5th MEETING OF THE 115th EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF

    THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN

    Head Office, Saturday 5 May 2018 at 1.10pm

     

    [Note: These are draft minutes only and are not official until adopted by the EC]

    Present: D Chesham, C Dee, M Foster, L Stevens (from 1.25pm), M Tenner, G Thomas.

    Apologies: N Kirk, P Shannon. A visitor attended for half of the meeting.

    1. It was Agreed that Cde Dee take the chair and Cde Tenner the minutes.

    2. Minutes of the previous meeting

    Adoption was Agreed after the following amendments:

    i) (Assistant Secretary):

    E: Forms F names:

    Hugh Armstrong (deceased, Glasgow Branch);
    David Basden (loss of contact, Central Branch);
    Paul Dennett (resigned 2013, Central Branch);
    Pat Kilgallon (deceased, North East Branch);
    Tyson Newell (resigned 2016, Central Branch);
    John Wheeler (resigned, Yorkshire Branch).

    ii) (Tenner):

    J: May Local Elections minute to read: ‘Although South London Branch has not formally advised the EC of its intention to contest, 2,000 manifestos had been requested and Cde Tenner would be arranging an adaptation of our existing Party insert for all three London wards, bringing the print run to 8,000 at an estimated cost of £350, funding of which was requested centrally’. It was Agreed 5-0-0 that the additional print and artwork costs of £68 be authorised, bringing the total cost to £418.

    iii) Request from the Assistant Secretary concerning minute-taking.

    Resolution: Tenner and Chesham: ‘That Cde Miller’s request be noted and that minute-takers be asked to preserve the numbering scheme of EC agendas, so far as is possible.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    iv) (Cde Cox): B1) Treasurer’s remarks concerning Electoral Commission work to read: ‘Cde Cox expressed some concerns with the way his contribution to discussion of Item 2 (Electoral Commission) had been recorded. He stated that in order for the Party to meet the requirements of statutory reporting, we need to keep a record of all donations over £500 in cash or kind (with name and address of donor) and make regular reports, which may be weekly during a general election campaign. The EC needs to be aware of this and that he might need help during busy periods.’

    Resolution: Thomas and Foster: ‘That Cde Cox’s proposed wording be recorded in the minutes.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    6d) Correspondence: Planning application for 50 Clapham High Street

    Since a representative of the new owners intended to visit at 3pm, it was agreed to bring this item forward. The East London Pub Company had lodged a planning application with Lambeth Council, with comments and objections required by yesterday. Works proposed were extensive: the demolition and replacement of the single-storey front extension; replacement of the rear extension with a part 4 part 1 rear extension including basement; change of use of first floor from residential to Class 4 use; erection of a mansard roof with front and rear dormer windows and associated works. Cde Chesham sought approval for his action in securing the services of Malcolm Thorburn, the surveyor who represented us previously on Party Wall matters.

    Resolution: Thomas and Tenner: ‘That the appointment of Malcolm Thorburn as our surveyor be approved and Party Trustees be told to record dissent in acknowledgement of Party Wall and Excavation notices.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    Cde Tenner offered to update Party Trustee names recorded with HM Land Registry, whose records were those from the 1950s.

    2b) Matters arising from EC Standing Orders i) Review of Department and Subcommittee Terms of Reference.

    Resolution: Tenner and Dee: ‘That Cde Chesham be asked to propose to the EC any changes to ToR which he deems strictly necessary.’ Agreed 5-0-1.

    ii) Head Office Organiser draft Terms of Reference. Following consultation with Cde Parkin, it was Agreed (6-0-0) that Cde Tenner redraft Cde Thomas’s text, taking account of matters arising from discussion, for consideration at June’s EC meeting.

    2c) Matters arising from March’s EC minutes

    i) 7 (v): Cde Buick reported on three members who had volunteered for Party work, for which he had thanked them. Cde Cesco Sartor lives in the Netherlands and may be able to help coordinate overseas members; Cde Anton Pruden lives in Brighton and would help out when he shortly retires; Cde Jon Brown lives in Peterborough and would be prepared to do work at Head Office as and when required.

    Resolution: Dee and Tenner: ‘That Cde Buick be thanked for his report.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    2d) Matters arising from April’s EC minutes

    i) B2 (report of the Auditors): Cde Foster provided approximate costings for this year’s Summer School, in the event that expenditure could exceed agreed limits for one-off payments.

    Resolution: Chesham and Stevens: ‘That Cde Foster be thanked for his comprehensive report.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    ii) Resolution F: Synopsis of Publications Committee proposals. The Committee provided summaries of content of their proposed pamphlets.

    Resolution: Tenner and Thomas: ‘That the Publications Committee be thanked for their report, which the EC endorses. We consider that, where possible, the Membership Applications Committee’s advice of issues which proved to be stumbling blocks for applicants be given priority. EC agreement before the writing of a text is the normal practice and will not inhibit the Committee’s work.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    Cde Foster offered to liaise with the Committee between EC meetings.

    a) The Committee expressed disappointment that no explanation had been given for rejection of ‘World Military and the Global Environment’.

    Resolution: Tenner and Thomas: ‘In the EC’s view, the text is overly concentrated on the American military and virtually ignores other states’ contribution to environmental damage, perhaps because the content is drawn from anti-American publications. (Ramsey Clark was Defense Attorney of Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Miloševi.) There are too many bald assertions rather than close argument backed up by facts, and much of what is said can be found in left-wing magazines; our unique political position is not even referred to. We suggest that the draft is sent to the SSPC, who may at least be able to publish the useful material on the waste of armaments.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    5a) Cde Whitehead, on behalf of the Publications Committee, proposed that the Party joins Amazon Advantage, at a cost of £23.50 per annum, which would stock and market our publications and take 60 per cent of sales generated. They suggested that 100 copies of ‘Socialism or Your Money Back’ and ‘Centenary of the Russian Revolution’ be supplied, as well as any other Party publications the EC chose.

    Resolution: Foster and Tenner: ‘That the Committee’s proposal be endorsed.’ Lost 3-3-0.

    It was agreed to defer further consideration to June’s meeting.

    e) Matters arising from Conference 2018 i) Item 1 (General Secretary): Cde Browne of the Standing Orders submitted that there were no supporting statements for members appointed to the EC. Noted.

    ii) Item 9 (Advertising Report): ‘That ads in ‘The Big Issue’ be resumed.’ Noted.

    Resolution: Tenner and Chesham: ‘That wording of the ads change on a regular basis.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    iii) Item 20 (Internet Committee Report): Proposal for an SPGB app.

    Resolution: Thomas and Foster: ‘That the Internet Committee and Cde Murray’s attention be drawn to the floor resolution.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    iv) Item 25 (Campaigns Report): Members needed to join the Campaigns Committee, particularly in London.

    Resolution: Chesham and Tenner: ‘That a further call be made for Campaign Committee members.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    Cde Dee immediately volunteered.

    v) Item 22: (Kent & Sussex): That the EC look into the Party producing regular podcasts.

    Resolution: Thomas and Chesham: ‘That the matter be referred to Kent & Sussex Branch.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    vi) Item 23 (Audio-Visual Committee): Why is there no Audio-Visual Committee?

    Resolution: Chesham and Thomas: ‘That a further call for nominations be made.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    vii) (Report by Committee on the Organisational Structure of the Party): That the first day of ADM be set aside to discuss the Ad-Hoc Committee’s report.

    Resolution: Tenner and Chesham: ‘That the matter be referred to the Standing Orders Committee.’ Agreed 6-0-0.

    viii) (Floor resolution): Recommendation that the EC creates a ‘buddy’ system.

    Resolution: Tenner and Thomas: ‘That Cde Buick be asked whether he can suggest members who might perform this task in different regions of the country.’ Agreed 5-0-1.

    Cde Stevens left the meeting.

    h) Matters outstanding from previous minutes

    i) Head Office staffing.

    No alterations from last month.

    ii) O’Gorman bequest.

    Charwyl’ was sold at auction in May for £252,000 (£2,000 above reserve). An invoice letter from our solicitor, John Briggs, was received, expressing embarrassment at the ‘Cherwyl’-associated cost of his services.

    Resolution: Tenner and Thomas: ‘That Tinklin Springall’s invoice for £12,433.70 be paid.’ Agreed 5-0-0.

    Resolution: Thomas and Chesham: ‘That we accept the cheque for £4,150.11 [being principally proceeds from Premium Bond sales] in final settlement of the O’Gorman bequest.’ Agreed 5-0-0.

    Resolution: Tenner and Chesham: ‘That John Briggs be asked to advise us of his firm’s outstanding charges relating to dealings with Hart, Scales & Hodges, and that he be asked not to pursue any matters further until so advised. Changes to recorded HM Land Registry Trustees of Head Office to be made by Cde Tenner.’ Agreed 5-0-0.

    Bradley Lomas of the East London Pub Company arrived, outlined their plans, and offered us assurances that disruption in the course of building works would be kept to a minimum and 20 per cent discount on wining and dining.
     

    3. Forms A and F

    Form A for Mark Hutton (previously a member); South London Branch. Agreed to accept.

    4. Treasurer

    i) The £10,000 Electoral Commission fine had been paid, deadlines for submission of 2017 accounts and quarterly donation reports had been met, and our change of ‘Leader’ had been advised. It was Agreed that the Assistant General Secretary be asked again to include Cde Cox in his circulation of EC agendas.

    ii) Tax Return. Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017 show reserves of £1,579,996. The HMRC deadline for returns was 31 December 2018 (or 31 January 2019 if submitted online) and not the end of April 2018.

    iii) Bank signatories. Solicitors had been approached to certify himself and Cde Alvarenga as signatories on our Santander account (£40 cost).

    Resolution: Tenner and Thomas: ‘That Cde Cox be thanked for his comprehensive report and commended on the professionalism of the accounts; and that Cde Alvarenga be added to signatories on all of our accounts.’ Agreed 5-0-0.

    iv) Energy prices. Our electricity costs will increase from April and our gas contract expires in June. The EC accepted Cde Tenner’s offer to investigate alternative suppliers and report to June’s EC.

    v) The Treasurer will advise members who make purchases or payments of our newly-agreed procedures.

    Cde Foster left the meeting, making it inquorate.

    5. Reports of Party Officers & Subcommittees, advertising & the Socialist Standard

    b) The Ballot Committee reported the agreed timetable for Conference voting on resolutions:

    Thursday 3 May – dispatch of ballot papers
    Wednesday 27 June by 6pm – return of papers
    Thursday 28 June – count of papers

    Rule 21 states that branches must hold at least one specially summoned meeting to discuss resolutions within five weeks of Conference. The Committee’s report was Noted.

    c) The SSPC requested an additional £25 to ensure that the new Socialist Standard was delivered to Head Office on the morning of the agreed day, members on more than one occasion having had to leave well before the time of its arrival.

    Resolution: Tenner and Dee: ‘That the additional cost be authorised.’ Agreed 4-0-0.

    The Treasurer raised the issue of a cheque for a subscription being made out to the Socialist Standard rather than the SPGB and sought guidance. It was Agreed 3-1-0 that the cheque should be returned to the sender for correction.

    d) Promotional inserts. Cde Tenner suggested that our current insert be re-headed: MONEY, MONEY, MONEY: Is there an Alternative?, which was Agreed. The following proposals were made: a) the i newspaper (circulation 250,000), now owned by Johnson Press rather than The Independent; no firm costings were yet to hand; The Week (circulation 146,000) at £37 per thousand (we could select, say, London, Wales and Scotland (21,000) for £932; The Scotsman (30,000) at £30 per thousand (£1,040); New Statesman again (19,000) at £638; the Midlands’ Express and Star (50,000) or the Manchester Evening News (42,000). A contact with the GMB union would also be approached. Online responses to our coded Glasgow Guardian advert had not been assessed; Glasgow Branch had been unable to arrange a support meeting.

    It was Agreed to defer consideration of further promotions to a quorate EC.

    6. Correspondence

    b) i E-mail from Lancaster Branch proposing that every year the EC contact members of all Subcommittees advising them of their Terms of Reference and putting them in touch with all members of previous Subcommittees, who would seek to clarify their Terms of Reference for them.

    Resolution: Tenner and Chesham: ‘That Sub-committees be asked to inform the EC if they do not understand their Terms of Reference.’ Agreed 4-0-0.

    ii) A, B & C. Disbanding of Yorkshire Branch. E-mails received from the Secretary of the Branch (25/6 February) reporting closure due to lack of support and the forwarding of monies to Head Office; and from the Central Organiser (30 March) advising that two of their members have transferred (back) to Manchester Branch; that one has resigned; and nine will go into Central Branch, two of them in the Overseas section. Noted.

    iii) Cde Whitehead requested ‘. . . that the EC agree to ask the Internet Committee to arrange for the website to automatically redirect http traffic to our existing http secure site by default . . . [thus reducing] the risk of malicious interceptions.’

    Resolution: Chesham and Dee ‘That the matter be referred to the Internet Committee for their comments.’ Agreed 4-0-0.

    iv) Health and Safety. A: E-mail from Cde Chesham advising that two new First Aid boxes at Head Office are located on the balcony and in the kitchen. Noted.

    B: Cde Thomas drew the EC’s attention to the need for review both of Fire Risk Assessment (last carried out in 2008) and a 7-page ‘General Health and Safety Statement of Policy of the SPGB’ (dated 2003).

    It was Agreed that consideration of both matters be deferred to our next meeting.

    iv) General Data Protection Regulation. A & B: Cde Kirk was not able to attend today but had prepared a short brief on the intricacies of implementation of the new legislation, which comes into force on 25 May.

    Cde Tenner made suggestions based on his experience of compliance and offered, in the first instance, to register the Party with the Information Commissioner’s Office, which was Agreed.

    Discussion of further measures was deferred.

    c) Correspondence from Companion Parties & Groups. Noted.

    d) Other correspondence South London Branch Resolution (28 April, 5-0, 5 present): ‘That the EC consider purchasing a new computer to replace “Zorilla”, which is time-consuming to operate and inefficient.’

    There was brief discussion of the Party’s general IT needs, following which Cde Tenner offered to ask his own computer wizard to attend Head Office, recommend upgrades and oversee installation, which was Agreed.

    7. Any other business. Thankfully, not.

    8) Nomination of Chair for next meeting: G Thomas; Minutes: D Chesham.

    Meeting closed at 5.47pm

    #132818
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    vi) Item 23 (Audio-Visual Committee): Why is there no Audio-Visual Committee? No mention of the keen member who resigned? And why?

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