Minutes of the 63rd meeting

Minutes of the 63rd meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 12th February 2017 The meeting started at 2.17pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, 8 High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (Secretary), Rob Cox (Treasurer), Dan FabianApologies for absence: Marie Chesham, Hannah Dutton, Karl Luetchford, Jacqueline Shodeke, Sam Wicks1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Fabian & Bruce “That Chesham be Chair” AGREED2. Minutes of the 62nd meeting held on 8th January 2017 were before the meeting Motion 2. Cox & Fabian “That the minutes be adopted”AGREED3. Matters arising from previous minutesi) Membership mattersRob reported that 60% of the branch membership had responded to the questionnaire. One of the main issues is the sheer size of the geographical area the branch covers. Since the branch’s inception five years ago only one member living in Sussex has been able to attend branch meetings in Maidstone. The emphasis then surely is to attempt to form a branch in the Brighton area where seven of the branch’s members reside, although one of those is currently living abroad.As far as Kent is concerned one of the suggestions put forward was that the branch could meet alternately in Maidstone and Folkestone. However, the experience of the short-lived Folkestone Discussion Group does not provide encouragement that branch meetings would be any better supported. In fact, the contrary could prove to be the case as at least two of the current regular attendees at Maidstone would not be prepared or able to make the journey to Folkestone.It was felt there was no short term solution but nevertheless it was AGREED to return to the matter at our next branch meeting.ii) Further call for nominations for 2017 Party OfficersNONEiii) Further call for nominations for 2017 sub-committees It was AGREED 4-0 (four members present) to nominate the following members for these respective sub-committees.Blog – Alan Johnstone, Matt CulbertCampaigns – Fraser AndersonElection – Keith ScholeyInternet – Brian Johnson, Alan Johnstone, Tristan Miller, Darren Poynton, Robert StaffordLibrary – Roy BeatMembership Applications Committee – Paul Bennett, Richard Botterill, Howard MossPremises – John Helpsiv) T-Shirts It was AGREED to return to the subject again at our next meeting.4. Conference 2017i) Preliminary agendaAn amendment to Motion 6 was proposed by Rob & Dan but consideration deferred to the March meeting.ii) Items for DiscussionThe following Item for Discussion was AGREED 4-0 (four members present)“Should the Party ditch all the Yahoo! forums and transfer the files and all internal communications (i.e Spintcom/Spopen) to the website forum?”5. Branch Form ‘C’Rob presented several documents relating to the branch’s finances and activities spanning 2016. The accounts had been audited by Dave & Mandy.Motion 3. Fabian & Chesham “That the branch’s Form ‘C’ be adopted”AGREED 4-0 (four members present)6. May 2017 County Council ElectionsIt was proposed that in May the branch contest the two Electoral Divisions in Kent – Folkestone North East and Folkestone South and that our candidates be Andy Thomas and Max Hess respectively. Rob Cox will be the agent for each division.It is likely that the branch will use the method of paid distribution of leaflets which is estimated will cost in the region of £40 per 1000 leaflets. £500 should cover the total cost of distribution although the cost of printing the leaflets would be additional. It was AGREED to ask the Executive Committee for a grant of £1000.There is a slight possibility that Brighton comrades might be able to contest one or two Electoral Divisions in Sussex, namely Lewes and/or Chailey.It was AGREED that Sam be asked if he would be willing to accept nomination as a candidate in Maidstone.7. Street StallsA new season of street stalls was arranged with the first taking place in Canterbury on Saturday, 25 March, followed by one in Folkestone on Saturday, 22 April. Both will commence at 12 noon.8. Brighton GroupThree comrades, Anton, Howard & Jessica, attended an NHS Rally in Brighton on Saturday, 21 January. They were there for about an hour and gave out loads of leaflets and some Standards. Quite a few people seemed genuinely interested in the Party.They’re planning to make more contact with the Sussex Marxist society too; Jessica is going to another meeting and will see about doing a joint evening of talks or something similar.It is hoped some of the comrades will be attending a joint Left Unity and United and Different event in Brighton (Clock Tower) on Monday, 20 February from 2pm onwards.The branch’s second lightweight folding literature table and corresponding banner will soon be taking up residence with one of the Brighton comrades. 9. Forms 'A' & 'F'NONE10. Branch membership transfersNONE 11. EC minutes – January meeting – 7-1-17NOTED12. Future propaganda activities NONE other than those already mentioned13. Any other businessNONEMeeting adjourned at 5.30pmCollection taken: £12.00Literature sales: £3.00