Minutes of the 34th Meeting

Minutes of the 34th Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 10th August 2014The meeting started at 2.30 pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Jacqueline Shodeke (from 3.10pm)Apologies for absence: Alfie Adcock, Les Courtney, Hannah Dutton, Ed Mann, Glenn Morris, David Murphy, Kevin Parkin.Visitor: Dan Fabian (until 5.10pm)1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Cox & M.Chesham “That D.Chesham be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 33rd Meeting dated 13th July 2014 were before the meetingAGREED3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Les CourtneyJacqueline reported on her recent visit to see Les at his home in Burgess Hill. It was AGREED after some discussion to explore the possibility of arranging a meeting at which Les could meet more party members. Rob would make enquiries about suitable venues in the vicinity and the Secretary would email members and sympathisers to ascertain what support there might be for such a meeting.ii) Kent Miners' Festival – 25/8/14Final arrangments were made for the branch's literature stall at the Kent Miners' Festival.The Secretary reported that the branch's advertisement had finally appeared on the KMF website.iii) 'The Party's image'A number of designs based on the party's existing logos were presented by members and a sympathiser. Members had been asked to bring along ideas for a possible new party logo. Among the suggested guidelines was the removal of the strap line and the latitudinal and longitudinal lines.It was AGREED that some more work needs to be done on the favoured designs and further consultation between members would take place online prior to the following resolution being submitted to the EC.Motion 2. (to the EC) Cox & Bruce “This branch notes that on the ballot paper for the South East region of the European Elections this year there was one Party standing which had no logo appearing against its name – us.Further, this branch calls upon the Executive Committee to agree the attached design as our logo which is consistent both with the traditions of the Party and the design of the new Head Office sign.”AGREED 5-0-0 (five members present)iv) Day or Weekend School in 2015It was AGREED to defer this item until the September meeting..v) Literature Stall – 16/8/14Members were reminded about the branch's stall in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, 16th August from 12 noon.vi) 2015 General ElectionIt was AGREED that the branch contest five Parliamentary constituencies in the 2015 General Election, and those would be, subject to EC approval:  Brighton Pavilion, Brighton Kemptown, Canterbury, Chatham and Aylesford, and Folkestone and Hythe.The branch currently has the acceptance of four comrades prepared to stand as candidates, subject to them taking and passing the New Speakers' Test.vii) Opinions requested on sub-committee terms of referenceRob presented a document containing possible amendments to the sub-committee terms of reference. This was discussed in great detail and, as a result of suggested amendments, he would re-draft the document for eventual onward transmission to the EC.4. Items for Discussion for ADM 2014Two items were proposed which would be submitted to the Standing Orders Committee as soon as the supporting statements were to hand.i) "What are the responsibilities of Executive Committee membership?"ii) "Should the rule on filling EC vacancies be changed?"5. EC minutes – 8th meeting – 2/8/14NOTED6. New notices of businessNONE7. Future propaganda activitiesIt was AGREED to have the next literature stall in Canterbury on Saturday, 13th September from 12 noon. The stall would again be set up in The Parade pedestrian precinct.8. Any other businessNONEMembers were reminded that the next meeting of the branch would be on Sunday, 21st September (i.e. the 3rd Sunday instead of the usual 2nd Sunday in the month).  Same venue and time.Meeting adjourned at 7.15pmCollection taken: £14.50