Minutes of the 19th Meeting

Minutes of the 19th Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 19th May 2013The meeting started at 2.13pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Ed Mann, Jacqueline ShodekeVisitor: Hannah DuttonApologies for absence: Mandy Bruce, Les Courtney, Richard Harris, Glenn Morris1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Mann & Shodeke “That D.Chesham be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 18th Meeting dated 14th April 2013 were before the meetingMotion 2. Cox & Mann “That the minutes be adopted and that the decision to change the date of the branch's literature stall in Canterbury to May 25th (item 9) be ratified ”AGREED 5-0 (five members present)3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Contact with Wealden Progressive MovementDespite the fact that Ed had sent emails to AFED, SOLFED, THE COMMUNE and a TZM contact in Maidstone no replies had been received. Neither had there been any further contact with WPM.Motion 3. Mann & M.Chesham “That Ed continue to pursue the Wealden Progressive Movement and arrange a meeting with Julian Wilson in the first instance”AGREED 5-0 (five members present)ii) Portable display standRob explained that since the last meeting there had been second thoughts about the branch's decision to purchase the Xib-it Medium Pole & Panel display stand because of the potential problems with its storage and transport. Rob had investigated several alternatives including a Velcro roll-up stand.Motion 4. Mann & Shodeke “That the April motion be rescinded and we now purchase the Velcro roll-up stand to be stored at Head Office and call for a nomination from the branch to handle the purchase”Amendment  Shodeke & Cox “That reference to “Head Office” be removed”CARRIED 4-1-0 (five members present)Substantive motion as amended “That the April motion be rescinded and we now purchase the Velcro roll-up stand and call for a nomination from the branch to handle the purchase”AGREED 5-0 (five members present)Motion 5. Mann & Shodeke “That Rob be nominated to handle the purchase”AGREED 4-0-1 (five members present)It was also AGREED to make enquiries about a suitable folding table and banneriii) Literature stall in Canterbury – May 25thA branch member requested travelling expenses to CanterburyMotion 6. Mann & Cox “That the expenses be agreed”AGREED 4-0-1 (five members present)iv) Specially summoned email meetingAs we were required by rule 21 to hold at least one specially summoned meeting within five weeks of Conference prior to voting on the final agenda items and that most branch members had other commitments which would have prevented them attending a further physical meeting within the required time-frame it was AGREED at the previous branch meeting to hold online consultations.This took the form of an email meeting which commenced on April 27th and continued until May 6th.4. Membership Applications Department's report to the March ECMotion 7. (to the EC) Cox & Mann “This branch welcomes the report and requests the EC to ask the department to consider:1) Increasing the prominency of the hyperlink to the Object and Declaration of Principles document at the start of the membership application (both a textual reference and a more prominent hyperlink).2) With the aim of increasing successful membership applications there may be added alongside each 'question' a hyperlink to a further 'study guide' to assist applicants' understanding of the party case and the level of understanding expected of successful applicants.”AGREED 5-0 (Five members present)5. Report by comrade Perrin on Party InvestmentsIt was AGREED to defer consideration until the June meeting6. Open letter on the crisis in the SWPNOTED7. Report on the review of the principles and rules of the SP forumsFollowing discussion of this report the following motion was moved and seconded:Motion 8. (to the EC) Cox & Mann“1) TimingThis Branch considers there should be proper consultation with Branches before the EC agrees matters of procedure with widespread effect within the Party unless urgency is justified. This should allow a majority of Branches to be adequately consulted. In pursuance of such the Branch urges the EC to extend by a further 28 days consultation on the Field and Miller report.2) The draft guidelinesThis Branch proposes that the moderators' guidelines should place a responsibility on the Internet Department to publish the user name and contact details of the 'duty' moderator on each forum and a statement where to direct complaints.3) Cross-postingGiven the importance placed on providing a clear definition of cross-posting we find the definition provided lacking clarity. Cross-posting is not just 'same or similar' posts but continuing debate, discussion or argument across multiple threads. In this way it is related to being off-topic, but not the same. To this extent this Branch finds that using 'same or similar' is insufficient.4) Deletion of postsPosts which do not threaten the Party in a legal aspect should not be 'hard' deleted. They should instead be moved to the rubbish bin. This would allow comrades to access such posts at a later date if needed whereas deleting such posts is an irreversible decision. We do not need to tie our own hands over such matters.”AGREED 5-0 (Five members present)Following discussion of this report it was AGREED lay down a notice of business for consideration at the next branch meeting:“The functionality of the Party website”8. EC minutes4th meeting – 6/4/135th meeting – 4/5/13It was AGREED to defer consideration until the June meeting.9. Branch July meeting (clash with Summer School)Motion 9. M.Chesham & Mann “In view of the fact that the branch's July meeting clashes with the Party's Summer School the date of that meeting be changed to the first Sunday, i.e July 7th”AGREED 5-0 (Five members present)10. Summer School – 12-14/7/13Four branch members and two supporters have already booked for Summer School with the possibility that two further members and one supporter may also decide to go.11. Kent Miners' Festival – 26/8/13As nothing further had been heard concerning our application for a stall at this event it was AGREED that the Secretary contact the organisers again.12. Future propaganda activitiesNONE13. Any other businessNONEMeeting adjourned at 7.40pm********************************************************************************************************The next meeting of the branch will be on Sunday, 9th June at 2.00pm. Same venue.