Minutes of the 50th meeting

Minutes of the 50th meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 10th January 2016 The meeting started at 2.30pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (Secretary), Rob Cox (Treasurer), Jacqueline ShodekeApologies for absence: Marie Chesham, Les Courtney, Hannah Dutton, Robert H1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Shodeke & D.Chesham “That Bruce be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 49th Meeting held on 13th December 2015 were before the meeting Motion 2. Shodeke & Bruce “That the minutes be adopted but that the text of the two Conference motions and the one Item for Discussion, which were the outcome of members' online discussion between 14 December, 2015 and 2 January 2016 be added.”AGREED 3. Matters arising from previous minutes i) Brighton public meeting – 13-1-16 Next meeting of the Brighton Discussion Group will be on Wednesday, 13 January, again at The Brighthelm Centre, but this time in the Pelham room on the first floor – 7.30pm to 9.30pm.There'll be a talk on 'The Ecology and Socialism' by guest speaker Brian Morris.ii) Video clipsIt was AGREED to defer this item another monthiii) Investment Committee – Proposed terms of reference – EC motionRefer to the decisions made by the January 2016 Executive Committee – most of the Branch's recommendations had been accepted.iv) Motions and Item for Discussion already submitted for Conference agendaThe texts and supporting statements for the branch's two motions and one item for discussion, which resulted from online deliberations betweeen 14-12-15 and 2-1-16, were formally adopted.4. Election of Branch AuditorsJacqueline and Dave volunteered to be the Branch auditors for the forthcoming year.AGREED 5. Annual Conference 2016 – further Items for Discussioni) “Officers [ToRs] -Is the Head Office administrative structure fit for the 21st Century? Is it time to review the Officer posts, their terms of reference agreed in 1976, and our ways of working?” ii) “Fracking and other issues -Should the Party be more vocal about some issues?; for instance: The environment (e.g. fracking, climate change); Trade Union rights.” These two Items for Discussion were AGREED and that Rob and Mandy would write the supporting statements.6. Nominations to 2016 sub-committees It was AGREED to nominate the following comrades for the respective sub-committees.Advertising – Michael Browne, Carla Dee, John Lee Archives – Keith Scholey Audio-Visual – Vincent MarattyBlog – Alan JohnstoneCampaigns – Eddie Craggs, Mike FosterHead Office Organiser – Keith Scholey Internet – Dan Fabian Library – Roy Beat Media – Rob Cox, Max Hess, Andy Thomas Premises – John Helps, Jacqueline Shodeke Publications – Mandy Bruce Socialist Standard Production Committee – Alan Johnstone University & College – Ed Mann, Darrell Whitehead7. Branch Discussion items (deferred from previous meeting)i) 'How do we produce leaflets at short notice?' (proposed motion to the EC)Motion 3. (to the EC) Cox and D.Chesham “Leaflets: It be suggested to the EC that further to the discussions at the workshop at Head Office on 25/10/15 and also to deal with the problem which has occurred on several recent occasions, where we have struggled to get a supply of a suitable good quality leaflets ready for specific events (including the march at the Tory conference in October and on climate change in November); 1. The Publications Committee be asked if they are in a position to make contingency plans to be able to produce a good quality leaflet at short notice. If not the EC should consider the matter further; 2. The Publications Committee be asked if they could make available a leaflet ‘template’ which could be easily adapted/populated with topical text and laid out so it can be easily reproduced (double-sided) using A4 paper, both in full A4 size and either cut or folded down to A5. This could be done both by providing a hard copy template which could be over-printed or have text pasted onto it, and having electronic versions which could be edited.  The latter would need to be available in software format(s) that are relatively easily accessible. If not the EC should consider the matter further; 3. The EC to draw up a list of subjects which are most likely to warrant a stock of pre-prepared leaflets and take steps to procure them." AGREED 4-0-0 (four members present)ii) 'How do we respond to Corbyn?' It was AGREED to defer this item to the next meeting.8. Forms 'A' & 'F'NONE 9. Branch membership transferThe Secretary reported that branch member Glenn Morris was in the process of transferring to Swansea branch. NOTED 10. EC minutes – November meeting – 7-11-15                              December meeting – 5-12-15NOTED 11. Future propaganda activitiesNONE other than those already mentioned.12. Any other businessi) Street StallsIt was AGREED to resume our street stalls in Canterbury with the first one on Saturday, 19 March from 12 noon.Rob will investigate the possibility of holding street stalls in Folkestone.ii) Folkestone Discussion GroupIt was AGREED to ascertain what support there might be for the formation of a discussion group in Folkestone.Meeting adjourned at 6.40pm Collection taken: £10.00