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 [The following is posted on behalf of the Minute taker]Minutes of 66th meeting of Kent & Sussex Regional BranchSunday, 14th May, 2017This meeting constitutes (rule 21), the specially summoned meeting following Conference 2017.The meeting started at 2:30pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer) and Dan Fabian.1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Cox & Bruce “That D. Chesham be Chair”. AGREEDCde Bruce agreed to take notes for the minutes. The meeting proceeded on the basis of the circulated agenda.2. Apologies for absence: Marie Chesham and Hannah Dutton.3. Confirmation of agenda items (discussion period)Noted for later discussion4. Minutes of the 65th meeting held on 9th April 2017 were before the meetingMotion 2. Fabian & Chesham “That the minutes be adopted”. AGREEDa) Branch Secretary – Vacancy.No nominations have been received. D Chesham agreed to continue branch actions in an unofficial capacity. R. Cox agreed to make a call for nominations again at some point in the future. R. Cox enquired about using the branch email address for sending messages and D. Chesham volunteered to ask T. Miller if this would be possible.b) Membership matters (Questionnaire & Folkestone meetings)A. Adcock has moved to Folkestone and may be able to take part in the Folkestone Discussion Group. R. Cox discussed sending info and notifications of party activities to non members already on branch mailing lists. It was discussed that it may be a good idea to change the venue for future Folkestone Discussion Groups. It was agreed to try and organise the next discussion group meeting for 18th, or 25th June. R. Cox to contact prospective attendees in the area.c) T-Shirts (further information on procurement). Hannah Dutton had visited the Chatham printing company to inspect the printed garment samples and found that the quality was good, although there was a better quality option for an extra 50p, taking the cost to £9.50 each. R.Cox had met a party sympathiser at head office who is able to supply screen printed t shirts for £5.00 each. He had brought samples of her work which all found to be very impressive. He also showed a sample of a printed cotton bag which was felt would also be a good promotional vehicle for the party branding. M. Bruce agreed to contact T. Miller regarding a discrepancy with the web address on the t-shirts.Motion 3. Cox & Chesham “This Branch suggests that the EC commissioning of a batch of Party logo t-shirts for sale to members and supporters, would be an excellent opportunity to promote the Party. The Branch has received a quote for screen printed t-shirts at around £5 and canvas bags for £1 each (quantity of 50 bags). If the EC is agreeable the Branch is willing to arrange the order and delivery of an initial order of t-shirts (e.g. two dozen) and canvas bags [i.e. £170] for sale via Head Office at cost price plus P&P.” AGREED 4-0-0Branch thanks Hannah for her efforts in investigating t-shirt quality in Chatham5. Annual Party Conference – 29th-30th April 2017Members present filled out ballot papers.6. May 2017 Council Elections – ReportKent & Sussex Regional Branch stood three candidates in the recent County Council elections. In Folkestone, Kent our two candidates received 71 votes between them, out of 7,381 votes cast.This is a small number, but a significant increase compared to 2015, when for the parliamentary seat we received 68 of over 55,000 votes cast. Some of this will be due to the absence of Green or Leninist candidates, but this year we were also standing against Corbynist Labour candidates. In Lewes, East Sussex we stood for the first time, getting 19 votes in a much smaller area. About 22,000 Party election leaflets were distributed in the three seats, which also advertised the Socialist Standard.R. Cox reported of the problems with the election leaflet printing and distribution. Cde. Chesham thanked cde. Cox for his considerable efforts to overcome these issues to good effect; Bruce and Fabian agreed. The Treasurer announced that the election expenses have come in slightly above budget.Motion 4. Bruce & Fabian “The Branch believes the EC has wrongly interpreted Rule 28. In our view the EC has made an error in failing to authorise standing one or more candidates in Kent and Sussex region.” CARRIED 3-1-07. Street Stalls.Folkestone street stall is to go ahead on 20th May with an extra stall organised for 27th May at Canterbury. The date of the July stall was changed to Saturday 15th.8. Brighton GroupNo further activity is planned. A. Pruden has expressed a willingness to take the speakers’ test.9. Forms 'A' & 'F' and Branch membership transfersK. Luetchford has left the party. R. Cox has raised a form F and Luetchford’s resignation accepted with regret. It was reported that Central Branch member N. Murry is to move to Brighton later in the year.18.30 D. Chesham leaves meeting. M. Bruce & D. Fabian agree for R. Cox to take over chair.10. EC minutes. Noted.11. Future propaganda activities.Kent Miners Festival 28th August Betteshanger: R. Cox to make enquiries regarding booking a stall.12. Any other business.M. Bruce has yet to contact M. Hess regarding taking part in branch meetings via facebook and agrees to do so in near future.13. Collection.Collection taken: £10.50Literature sales: £3.00Part Two: Discussion Items (as previously agreed)Item 1: Questionnaire – Free Text SuggestionsR. Cox to contact members from Folkestone as suggested in Free text suggetions in questionnaire, regarding discussion group. Other free text issues deferred to June.Item 2: “Employment of staff at Head Office”Deferred to June meeting.Item 3: Paper received from Cde Howard Pilott, and a response made jointly by Cde D. Chesham and Cde Cox.Deferred to July meeting, when more information may become available.Adjournment 7pm