Minutes of the 6th Meeting of

Minutes of the 6th Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The SocialistParty of Great Britain held on 15th April 2012The meeting started at 3.00pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Dave Chesham (Literature Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Ed Mann (Chair)Apologies: Hannah Dutton, Paul Hope, Glenn Morris, DH.1. Emigration of branch secretaryMotion 1. Cox & Mann “That D.Chesham be appointed branch secretary pro tem and that Paul Hope be contacted and thanked for his past services as branch secretary”CARRIED 3-0-12. Minutes of the 5th Meeting dated 11th March 2012 were before the meetingRob Cox presented an amendment to Motion 5 “That as our appointed auditors comrades Mann and D.Chesham have checked the branch records and signed the completed Form ‘C’, it be adopted for submission to Head Office”Motion 2. D.Chesham & Mann “That the minutes, as amended above, be adopted”AGREED3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Future of Branch  There was a proposal from a branch member not present to change the date of the monthly meetingMotion 3.  D.Chesham & Mann “That the branch meet on the first Sunday of the month until further notice and that the next meeting be held on May 6th; same venue and time”AGREEDii) Head Office party sign  –  response from EC                                            NOTED  Motion 4.  (to the EC)  Cox & Mann “We welcome the quotes that comrade D.Lambert has obtained and request that the artwork for the proposed new sign be uploaded onto the website forum together with examples of the different types of signs being quoted for in order to facilitate feedback from branches.”AGREEDiii) Branch financial affairs  All members dues are now accounted for      NOTED iv) Gillingham Stall   A report was given of the literature stall in Gillingham High Street on March 24 & 31.  Some copies of the Socialist Standard and a couple of pamphlets were sold.  Back numbers of the SS and leaflets were given away.  Contact was made with two members from SPEWRob Cox volunteered to make a reconnaissance of suitable areas in Canterbury where a literature stall may be sited and to report back to the next branch meetingNOTED4. EC minutes of the 4th Meeting, 31st March 2012                                  NOTED5. SS monthly order from HOMotion 5. D.Chesham & Mann “That the branch’s monthly SS order be reduced to 10 copies”AGREED6. New members in SussexIt was brought to the branch’s attention that there had recently been two new members to the party who reside in Sussex.  In the first case it appears that the member concerned was given a choice of joining either Kent and Sussex Regional branch or Central branch.  The member chose the latter. In the second case it appears that the member concerned was allocated to Kent & Sussex without being offered a choice.  Both members live about 40 miles from the venue where K&S meet.Motion 6.  (to the EC)  Cox & Mann “This branch welcomes the discussion that took place at Conference regarding the processing of membership applications via HO and the method of allocation of new members to branches.  We look forward to more and earlier consultation with branches regarding individual applications.  If choice is offered to new members regarding the branch they be allocated to, that such choice be an informed one”AGREED7. Future propaganda activitiesFollowing our encounter with two members of SPEW in Gillingham Ed Mann agreed to approach the organisation with a view to arranging a possible debate.  He also volunteered to contact various anarchist groups.  Rob Cox said he would enquire about meeting rooms at the University of Kent in Canterbury. There then followed a general discussion about possible other activities.8. Head Office propaganda meetingsFor your information the following meetings will take place at The Socialist Party of Great Britain’s premises at 52 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UN over the next couple of months.Saturday 28 April, 4.00pmGLA ELECTION RALLYCome and meet and question our candidates to the Greater London AssemblySunday 13 May, 3.00pmMARXISM, PHYSICS AND PHILOSOPHYSpeaker: Mike FosterSunday 27 May, 3.00pmBRITISH TROTSKYISM: SONS OF THE PROPHETSpeaker: Keith ScholeySunday 10 June, 3.00pmWAR: ITS CAUSE AND CURESpeaker: Gwynn ThomasSunday 24 June, 3.00pmTHE SECRETS OF THE INCAS: HOW THEY RELATE TO TODAY’S PROBLEMSSpeaker: Bill MartinPlease note the day and earlier starting time for the May and June meetings9. Conference report and votingIt was agreed that the next branch meeting on May 6th be deemed a specially summoned meeting to discuss Conference items for discussion and amendments to rules prior to voting on sameAGREED10. Summer SchoolIt was reported that three branch members and one supporter had booked for the Summer School in Birmingham this year; the theme being ‘Protest’.NOTED11. Any other businessNotice of motion regarding members’ dues – Rob CoxSupporting Statement for the motion below:-                                                                                                                                                                                                                             “It came to the notice of branch officers in the last few weeks that an amendment of rule concerning the remittance of dues to Head Office had been made early in 2011.  Although intended to change the proportion of dues to be remitted from 80% to 100%, due to the wording of the amendment, the effect was to remove from the rules any automatic obligation on branches to emit any dues to Head Office,  Subsequently, the EC asked branches to (continue) to remit 80%, and a motion was tabled at this year’s Conference which, if carried, will formalise that. If the latter is voted down there will be continued uncertainty.  It is my opinion that unless either Conference, ADM or the EC suggest otherwise, we should agree to what I consider to be the reasonable suggestion of the EC that 80% be remitted, and should the remaining funds available to the branch be insufficient to meet our agreed activities, we ask the EC for assistance.”MOTION 7. Cox & D.Chesham”That, irrespective of the vote on 2012 Conference motion 21, until further consideration the branch Treasurer shall remit 80% of all dues collected to Head Office, in accordance with the suggestion of the Executive Committee (motion 14, 2 July 2011)”AGREEDMeeting adjourned at 6.00pm