Minutes of the 22nd Meeting

Minutes of the 22nd Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 11th August 2013The meeting started at 2.16pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Jacqueline Shodeke (from 2.30pm)Visitor: Hannah Dutton (to 5.30pm)Apologies for absence: Mandy Bruce, Les Courtney, Ed Mann, Glenn Morris1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Cox & M.Chesham “That D.Chesham be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 21st Meeting dated 7th July 2013 were before the meetingMotion 2. M.Chesham & Cox “That the minutes be adopted”AGREED 3-0-0 (three members present)3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Contact with Wealden Progressive MovementIn view of Ed's absence it was AGREED to defer this item until the next meeting when it is hoped he will be able to be present.ii) Portable display stand, folding table and chairsRob reported that the folding table and the two chairs had now been purchased at slightly less cost than expected. In addition, as the table had been slightly damaged in transit Rob had negotiated a reduction of £10.There was praise for Rob for the amount of work he had put in regarding the acquisition of the items for the branch's propaganda efforts in Canterbury.iii) Literature stall in Canterbury – August 3rdIt was generally considered that the last stall had been one of the more successful. It was tentatively AGREED to have another stall in Canterbury on Saturday, September 21st. Same location and time.iv) Branch motions to the June ECa) Membership Applications Committee's report to the March ECThe branch was in receipt of the Committee's response to our motion to the June EC (see motion 7. KSRB – May meeting)Motion 3. (to the EC) Cox & Shodeke “This branch is perplexed by the interpretation made by some comrades that our motion of May 19th suggested applicants for membership be “spoon-fed” the answers, which we feel is not the case, as a re-reading of the second sentence of the original motion may make clear. Further, that the first suggestion regarding the prominence of the hyperlink to the D of P document appears not to have been addressed.”AGREED 4-0-0 (four members present)b) Report on the review of the principles and rules of the SP forumsThe reply received from the Internet Committee was NOTEDv) Report by comrade Perrin on Party InvestmentsIt was AGREED to defer consideration4. EC minutes7th meeting – 6/7/138th meeting – 3/8/13Arising from the August EC meeting: Motion 4Motion 4. (to the EC) Cox & Shodeke “That the Premises Committee be congratulated for making Party members aware that those present at Head Office on July 6th failed to follow the most basic security procedures and welcomes the initiative to add a more prominent sign to remind those 'last to leave' to act appropriately. Further, the branch sees no good reason for removing the Spintcom post in question which did not constitute a breach of security. This branch expects the EC to provide justification for any instruction to the Internet Committee to delete posts made by or on behalf of committees and departments.”AGREED 3-0-1 (four members present) Division – For: M.Chesham, Cox, Shodeke. Against: none. Abstained: D.Chesham5. Kent Miners' Festival – August 26thPlans for the branch's literature stall at this event were finalised. Offers of help had been received from a sympathiser in Dover and a member from another branch.It was AGREED to thank Rob for the preparation of material for use at the Kent Miners' Festival including the revamp of the Party's pamphlet “The Strike Weapon: Lessons of the Miners' Strike 1984-85” and two leaflets for branch use.6. ContactsThe Secretary produced correspondence with an enquirer from Chatham who had been communicating with the Membership Application Committee. In view of the content of the material it was AGREED that no useful purpose would be served by pursuing the matter.Information had been received about the activities of “revolutionary socialists” at the University of Sussex and of a facebook group with a similar description in Kent. The Secretary AGREED to attempt to make contact with the latter.7. Report of Summer SchoolAll those from the branch who attended reported favourably although there were some misgivings that contributors in discussion at the sessions did not always make themselves sufficiently audible to the rest of those present. There was concern that this issue could be reflected in the quality of recordings made of the sessions. Jacqueline AGREED to investigate the feasibility of roving microphones being employed in future.8. Items for Discussion for ADMAfter some deliberation the following items for discussion were proposed and AGREED for submission to ADM, subject to supporting statements being provided as agreed to the Branch Secretary in time to meet the submission timetable (i.e. as soon as possible):Item 1: Online Membership Applications“In order to ensure compliance with Rule 1 and to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, should the “form A” be incorporated into the on-line membership application form with a tick-box option for the applicant to signal their acceptance of the Object and Principles (e.g. as often used by trading companies on the web to get customer acceptance of their terms and conditions of sale)?”Supporting statement to be provided by comrade Cox.Item 2: Targeting Resources“Are there opportunities being missed to target resources at attracting supporters to the Party in areas where Branches are functioning at present and could benefit from increased membership/activity?”Supporting statement to be provided by comrade Cox.Item 3: Amendment to Rule"Should Rule 21 be augmented with the following?:Rule amendments which have not previously been submitted for discussion by a Branch or the ECto the preceding ADM shall fall unless, for reason of urgency, at least two thirds of delegates sitting agree otherwise.All other rule amendments shall be subject to scrutiny by the standing orders committee who may rule these to be out of order if they consider they are inconsistent with the item previously submitted to ADM. The proposing Branch may overturn this ruling subject to the agreement of at least two thirds of the delegates sitting.In all cases of delegates being asked to vote on issues relating to rule amendments, both the submitting Branch and standing orders committee be given at least five minutes to address Conference on the grounds relevant, before the vote be taken. Any further discussion shall be at the discretion of the Chair.”Supporting statement to be provided by comrade Cox.Item 4: Summer School“Does the Party value Summer School sufficiently?”Supporting statement to be provided by comrade Shodeke.Discussion on a further item relating to how the Party could most effectively mandate delegates elected to public office ended when the meeting became inquorate.Meeting adjourned 8.08pm