Minutes of the 26th Meeting

Minutes of the 26th Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 8th December 2013The meeting started at 2.10pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Hannah Dutton (until 4.00pm), Rob Cox (Treasurer), Jacqueline Shodeke (until 7.30pm)Apologies for absence: Les Courtney, Ed Mann (holiday), Glenn Morris, Kevin Parkin1. Election of ChairMotion 1. D.Chesham & Cox “That Dave Chesham be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 25th Meeting dated 10th November 2013 were before the meetingMotion 2. M.Chesham & Cox “That the minutes be adopted”AGREED3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Les CourtneyRob had written to Les and he in turn had phoned Rob to say he would like to have a visitor from the branch.ii) Contact with the Weadlen Progressive MovementIt was AGREED to defer consideration until the January meeting.iii) Motions to the ECa) European elections 2014Approval had been received from the Election Committee for the branch to stand two candidates in the South East Region of the 2014 European elections. Rob reported that Max Hess, who lives in Kent, but is not a member of the branch, is also prepared to allow his name to go forward as another candidate for the Party in the same region.It was AGREED that the Executive Committee be so apprised.Discussion then followed on the value of conducting an Election Communications Survey in order to ascertain the effectiveness of various forms of electoral activity. This small survey of, say, 20 individuals, would be undertaken by three members/sympathisers. Typical questions might include some or all of the following:1. Do you read leaflets delivered by the Royal Mail? Mainly prompted by a member's experience of receiving them in bulk and whether that means that they (mainly) will get separated from actual mail then binned.2. Which leaflet from the Royal Mail can you remember reading? An attempt to find out what makes a leaflet stand out enough to get read.3. Billboard advertising. A question to get some idea of how effective these may be as an alternative to just leaflets.It was AGREED that further consideration of this item takes place at the January meeting.b) Discussion item for December 2013 Executive Committee concerning rejection of membership applicantsThe minutes of this EC meeting were not yet available but Rob, an EC member, provided an extensive account of the discussion which took place.The branch members considered the matter in great detail and it was AGREED to continue discussion at the January meeting.iv) Nominations for 2014 EC sub-committeesMotion 3. M.Chesham & Cox “That D.Chesham be nominated for the Campaigns Committee”AGREED 4-0-1 (five members present)Motion 4. Shodeke & M.Chesham “That D.Chesham be nominated for the Premises Committee”AGREED 4-0-1 (five members present)v) Discussion item for December 2013 Executive Committee concerning funding of Summer SchoolNOTEDvi) Notice of Business (Rob Cox) 'The Media Committee terms of reference'Rob presented the following document:“A Media and ICT StrategyThe Party must not waste opportunities to spread its message and achieve growth. To this end the EC shall be responsible for overseeing and reviewing annually a media and ICT strategy based on the following facts:1) That the media can offer opportunities for the widespread dissemination of information, to mass or discrete populations;2) Effective use of ICT has the potential to maximise the effectiveness of Party resources.Aim of this strategyTo ensure that the SPGB becomes the source of choice for the media, educators and researchers, seeking information on ‘Socialism’, ‘Socialist Views’ or a Marxian analysis of society.The first phase of implementing this strategy shall be to develop an “Open for Business” approach involving:(a) Media enquiries. A list of members willing and able to respond to media enquiries and discussions (e.g. interviews or ‘phone-ins’ etc) should be maintained and made available to the Media Committee. Eventually, the M.C. shall maintain a “duty roster” of media speakers. The Outreach Department shall make plans to recruit, train and support members on this list, liaising with SPGB branches (including Central), which could involve overseas WSM groups and Companion Parties. Progress shall be reported to the EC quarterly.(b) ICT Resources. The EC shall commission a review of the availability, features and costs of “open for business” solutions at times when Head Office is not open to receive enquiries. This to be combined with opportunities for remote working systems for Officers/Committees. An initial report be made available to discuss at ADM 2014.The EC shall report to ADM and consult Branches on its plans to further implement the Media and ICT strategy.”Motion 5. Cox & Shodeke “That the document be forwarded to the Executive Committee for its consideration”AGREED 5-0-0 (five members present)4. Branch Form 'C' and draft budgetThe Treasurer presented the 2014 draft budget document. It was AGREED to audit the branch's Form 'C' at the January meeting.Motion 6. Shodeke & D.Chesham “That the draft budget be accepted and the Treasurer thanked”AGREED5. EC minutes — 11th meeting – 2/11/13NOTED6. New Notice of Business (Ed Mann) 'The branch's meeting venue'It was AGREED to defer this item pending Ed's attendance.7. New Notice of Business (Rob Cox) 'Review of branch position on remitting dues to Head Office'Rob explained the reasons why he had raised this notice of business:“I suggest that the Branch reconsider a decision made in July 2013: that based on a change to Rule2 arising from Conference 2013, the Branch did not need to remit to Head Office any of the payments collected from members (dues/voluntary amounts) under Rule 2 .The obvious rationale was that as the amendment to rule had abolished dues, this obligation on the Branch thus fell. I have since reconsidered this decision, which I now consider was flawed. I don’t think the rule change was intended or effected to abolish dues, but to leave it open to members to decide the amount of dues to pay. It may be argued that the Branch hasnot acted in accordance with Conference voting decisions.The EC clearly took this view too, as subsequent to Conference it wrote to Branches to ask they continue to remit 80% of rule 2 payments, but in doing so made allowance to ensure that Branches were able to remit that 80% and no more from ‘dues’ rather than donations.I am therefore proposing the following motion":Motion 7. Cox & D.Chesham “That pending further clarification by vote of the Membership, motion 5 of the 21st Meeting of the branch held on 7th July 2013 is rescinded.”AGREED 4-0-0 (four members present)8. Future propaganda activitiesNone other than those already proposed.9. Any other businessNoneMeeting adjourned at 8.11pmCollection taken: £10.73