Minutes of the 37th Meeting

Minutes of the 37th Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 14th December 2014The meeting started at 2.11 pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Dan Fabian, Ed Mann, Jacqueline ShodekeApologies for absence: Les Courtney, Hannah Dutton, Glenn Morris.1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Shodeke & D.Chesham “That Mann be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 36th Meeting dated 12th October 2014 and an unofficial meeting at Burgess Hill on 9th November 2014 were before the meetingAGREEDPostscript to the October minutes: Contrary to the original intention not to participate in by-election activity in the Rochester & Strood constituency, seven members and supporters had a literature stall in Rochester High Street on the Saturday preceding the by-election. In addition approximately 1200 leaflets were either handed out or distributed in neighbouring Strood.3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Report of Burgess Hill meeting – 9/11/14Not a large audience at the meeting (only three visitors) to hear Steve Clayton give an excellent talk on "Lessons of the First World War". However, it was followed by a useful discussion period; all of which was recorded and is now available to listen to online.http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/audio/lessons-first-world-warThe occasion also gave an opportunity for the oldest member of the branch, Les Courtney, born in 1926, to meet other members of the branch for the very first time, including the branch's latest and youngest recruit, Lewis. Latest, that is, until some of us had an informal branch meeting afterwards in the local Wetherspoons where we accepted yet another member into the Party by the name of Dan.ii) The Party's ImageFollowing the branch's submission of a logo to the EC for use in the first instance as a ballot paper emblem, it was realised that the original creative commons image used as the basis for the design required permission from the copyright owner. Contact with the owner revealed that its unlimited use by the party could be secured for a one-off payment of $25.However, in view of the time taken to secure the arrangement with the copyright owner and provision of the subsequent contract it was decided to look for an alternative public domain image. The search proved successful and the following motion to the EC was moved and seconded.Motion 2. (to the EC) Cox & D.Chesham "This branch is pleased to be able to re-submit to the EC the agreed emblem design (colour, greyscale and monochrome) using an alternative public domain image."AGREED 7-0-0 (seven members present)SEE FOOT OF THESE MINUTESiii) 2015 General ElectionFollowing deliberations of the Outreach Department meeting in November it was confirmed that the branch would not be contesting Chatham & Aylesford but would stand in the other four. This decision was subsequently ratified by the EC at its December 2014 meeting and the list of seats, with candidates, some of whom have to pass the Speakers' Test, is given below.Brighton Kemp Town – Howard PilottBrighton Pavilion – Jacqueline ShodekeCanterbury – Robert CoxFolkestone & Hythe – Andy ThomasRob Cox will be the Election Agent for Canterbury and Folkestone & Hythe and Dave Chesham the Election Agent for the two Brighton constituencies.iv) Day or Weekend School in 2015It was AGREED to defer this item until the next meeting.v) Notice of Business"The Party's attitude and members' responsibilities regarding referenda"It was AGREED to make this topic one of the branch's items for discussion to Conference 2015.vi) Money Free PartyIt was AGREED to defer this item until the next meeting.4. Election workshop evaluation formNOTED5. Motions and Amendments to Rule for 2015 ConferenceA number of motions and items for discussion were proposed and the full list will be published after the January branch meeting.6. Forms 'A' & 'F'The Secretary presented a Form 'F' for Paul Hope who emigrated to Gibraltar in 2012. No forwarding address was ever given and no replies received to emails or phone calls. Head Office has no record of any contact with Paul. It was reluctantly AGREED to accept the Form 'F'.7. Branch membership transfersThe Secretary reported that Kevin Parkin had transferred from K&SRB to South London branch and Howard Pilott had transferred to K&SRB from Central branch.NOTED8. EC minutes – 11th meeting – 1/11/14                              12th meeting – 6/12/14NOTEDMotion 3. (to the EC) Cox & Shodeke “This branch is of the opinion that the response of the EC to the report of the Assistant Treasurer on Head Office repairs (meeting of 6/12/14) is woefully inadequate.”AGREED 6-1-0 (seven members present)It was recommended, that in future, attachments containing EC minutes be perused in advance by members and that any issues contained therein should be brought to branch meetings. This will greatly reduce the actual time spent on EC minutes at branch meetings.9. Future propaganda activitiesMotion 4. Cox & Shodeke “That Julian Wilson be contacted with regard to his suggestion of a public meeting in Brighton during his union conference, and possible dates/venues”AGREED 7-0-0 (seven members present)10. Any other businessNONEMeeting adjourned at 6.17pmCollection taken: £21.00