Minutes of the 20th Meeting

Minutes of the 20th Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 9th June 2013The meeting started at 2.00pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Ed Mann, Jacqueline ShodekeVisitors: Hannah Dutton, Richard Harris (left 5.30pm)Apologies for absence: Mandy Bruce, Les Courtney, Glenn Morris1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Mann & Shodeke “That Cox be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 19th Meeting dated 19th May 2013 were before the meetingMotion 2. Cox & Mann “That the minutes be adopted”AGREED 5-0-0 (five members present)3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Contact with Wealden Progressive MovementEd reported that he had been in touch with Julian Wilson of the WPM but a further meeting had yet to be arranged.NOTEDii) Portable display standRob reported that the Velcro roll-up stand which was ordered had now arrived. It had not been possible to ascertain where the folding table at Head Office had been purchased but as it was thought that this design would be the most suitable for the branch's purposes it was AGREED that further efforts be made to obtain the necessary information.As suitable Party table banners were already available it was AGREED that we did not need to acquire another one for the foreseeable future.ii) Literature stall in Canterbury – May 25thIt was considered to be a successful afternoon and it was therefore AGREED that another stall would be held on Saturday, 22nd June – same time and place.iv) Branch motions to the June ECIn view of the fact that the branch's motions had been referred to the respective committees by the June EC is was AGREED to return to the subjects at our next meeting. 4. Notice of Business – “The functionality of the Party website”General discussion took place but one issue of particular concern was the advertising of opponent's events on the Party's website and elsewhere. No particular action was proposed except to monitor the situation closely.5. Report by comrade Perrin on Party InvestmentsDiscussion took place and it was AGREED to defer further consideration of the matter until the next meeting.6. Conference 2013 voting resultsA short discussion of the results ensued. One of our branch members had written on his ballot paper a note expressing concern that he might be lapsed if he didn't pay any dues.Motion 3. D.Chesham and Mann “That Rob write to the member in question offering reassurance over his membership and asking whether he would be able to recommend a venue in Burgess Hill at which he would be able to attend a meeting of the branch”AGREED 5-0-0 (five members present)7. EC minutes4th meeting –  6/4/135th meeting –  4/5/13NOTED8. Summer School – 12-14/7/13Motion 4. M.Chesham & Cox “That £50 be allocated from branch funds to assist members' attendance at Summer School this year”AGREED 3-0-0 (three members present)9. Kent Miners' Festival – 26/8/13As nothing had been heard from the organisers of this event regarding the branch's application for a stall the Secretary had emailed them again.NOTED10. Future Propaganda ActivitiesNone at present11. Any other businessThere followed a period of general discussion during which the question of advertising Party meetings and other events was raised.Motion 5. (to the EC) D.Chesham & Cox “This branch would like to see additional money spent on advertising Party activities including branch and public meetings and events such as Summer School”LOST 2-3-0 (five members present)Motion 6. (to the EC) Mann & M.Chesham “This branch is disappointed that upcoming Head Office events and Summer School have been insufficiently advertised”AGREED 5-0-0 (five members present)Meeting adjourned at 6.22pm********************************************************************************The next meeting of the branch will be on Sunday, 7th July at 2.00pm. Same venue.Please note that this will be the first Sunday in July