Minutes of the 45th meeting

Minutes of the 45th meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 9th August, 2015The meeting started at 2.03pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Jacqueline ShodekeApologies for absence: Mandy Bruce, Les Courtney, Hannah Dutton, Dan Fabian, Glenn Morris1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Shodeke & D.Chesham “That Cox be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 44th Meeting held on 12th July 2015 were before the meetingMotion 2. M.Chesham & Shodeke “That the minutes be adopted”AGREED3. Matters arising from previous minutesi) Street StallsAnother good few hours in Canterbury on 18 July. Comrades sold £12 of literature, including 4 Standards. One new contact for the branch list.Had some useful conversations, including with someone from Swale who used to listen to our outdoor speakers in London. Another had seen the BBC website report about the party's financies and had visited the party's stalls at Tolpuddle.The next stalls would be in Canterbury on Saturday, 22 August and Saturday, 26 September.ii) Brighton Introductory Meeting – 21-7-15A mildly anti-climactic evening following the successful introductory meeting in June. Only 12 present – 7 visitors and 5 members, 4 of whom were not from the Brighton area.There was no real enthusiasm for further discussion meetings at the moment and a decision was taken not to meet in August for a variety of reasons.More work is needed to secure greater support from local members – ironically there is more interest being shown by some non-members at the prospect of organising outreach activities. The two who attended Summer School appeared genuinely elated by the end of the weekend.4. Branch financial reportThe Treasurer gave a comprehensive report of the branch's financial affairs up to the end of July 2015. The figures showed an income of £702.11 for the seven months and an expenditure of £507.56 leaving a surplus of income over expenditure of £194.55. This amount, added to the balance at year ended 31/12/14, gave current assets of £485.94.Motion 3. D.Chesham & Shodeke “That the report be adopted and the Treasurer thanked and that he be asked to contact those members who are not currently making voluntary financial contributions to ask them if they would consider so doing”AGREED5. Autumn Delegate Meeting – Items for DiscussionMembers presented a number of items which were discussed and approved for submission to the Standing Orders committee. Supportings statements would be written for the five agreed items.i) Other than providing clear terms of reference and (where stated) role descriptions, can more be done to ensure that those members who have been appointed or elected to party sub-committees or party office actually undertake their full responsibilities?ii) Which reasons, other than non-acceptance of the party's object or contravention of the declaration of principles, may be deemed action detrimental to the interests of the party?iii) How can we encourage members who join the party online via the Membership Applications Committee to become more directly involved in party activity?iv) Should Head Office be posting a printed copy of the ADM agenda and EC report to every member (in addition to every member of Central branch, as required by the terms of the 1997 Conference resolution)?v) Did the party make a mistake in abolishing dues in favour of voluntary contributions?6. Email from Election Committee re: Local Elections – 2016NOTED7. Call for nominations to Campaigns and Universities & Colleges CommitteesMotion 4. D.Chesham & Shodeke “That Eddie Craggs and Mike Foster be nominated for the Campaigns Committee”AGREED8. Email from Universities & Colleges Committee re: Fresher FairsNOTED9. Forms 'A' & 'F'NONE10. Branch Membership TransfersNONE11. EC minutes – July meeting – 4-7-15                           August meeting – 1-8-15NOTED12. Branch motions to the EC (see branch minutes for April and May)i) Party emblemNOTEDii) Video clipsIt was AGREED to defer this item to the September branch meeting.13. Kent Miners' Festival – Betteshanger Community Park – 31-8-15The Secretary had now received confirmation of our booking from the organisers. We have been allocated a space in the heritage marquee. Weather permitting we will have second stall located outside as well.14. Future propaganda activitiesNONE other than those already mentioned.15. Any other businessA member requested part reimbursement of travel costs.The request was AGREEDMeeting adjourned at 5.30pmCollection taken: £13.00