Minutes of the 27th Meeting
Minutes of the 27th Meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 12th January 2014The meeting started at 2.17pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (Secretary), Marie Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer), Ed Mann, Jacqueline Shodeke (until 7.30pm)Apologies for absence: Les Courtney, Hannah Dutton, Richard Harris, Glenn Morris, Kevin Parkin1. Election of ChairMotion 1. Mann & Shodeke “That Ed Mann be Chair”AGREED2. Minutes of the 26th Meeting dated 8th December 2013 were before the meetingMotion 2. M.Chesham & Cox “That the minutes be adopted”AGREED3. Matters arising from the previous minutesi) Les CourtneyRob read a long and interesting letter from Les. It was AGREED that Mandy would visit Les at a mutually agreed time.ii) Contact with the Wealden Progressive MovementThere was nothing to report as yet but Ed would contact them again regarding the upcoming Euroelections.AGREEDiii) Motions to the ECa) European elections 2014i) Euroelection candidatesMotion 3. D.Chesham and Mann “That the branch ask Les Courtney if he would be prepared to stand as one of the candidates in the Euroelections on the understanding he would not be required to actively participate”AGREED 3-0-3 (six members present)b) Discussion item for December 2013 Executive Committee concerning rejection of membership applicantsNOTEDc) A Media and ICT StrategyIt was AGREED that this item would be one of the branch's motions to Conference 2014iv) Nominations for 2014 EC sub-committeesThe following additional nominations were AGREED by the branchBallot Committee – Roy Beat, John Lee and Julian VeinAudio-Visual Committee – Ed Mann and Darrell WhiteheadHead Office Organiser – Jacqueline ShodekeInternet Committee – Darren Poynton, Robert Stafford and Robert WhitfieldLibrary Committee – Roy BeatSocialist Standard Production Committee (Editorial) Paddy Shannon and Darrell WhiteheadSocialist Standard Produiction Committee (Layout) Paddy Shannon, Darrell Whitehead and Neil Windlev) Notice of Business (Ed Mann) 'The branch's meeting venue'It was AGREED to defer this item to the next meetingvi) Election Communications SurveyIt was AGREED that those involved with the survey (Hannah, Jacqueline and Rob) would communicate further with each other and report back to the next meeting.4. Branch Form 'C'The Treasurer presented the Branch's Form 'C' which had been audited by Dave and Ed.Motion 4. Shodeke & D.Chesham “That the Form 'C' be adopted and the Treasurer thanked”AGREED 6-0-0 (six members present)5. Submission of motions and rule amendments to Conference 2014It was AGREED to submit the following six motions for consideration at Conference and that members of the Branch would write supporting statements.i) "A Media and ICT Strategy:-The Party must not waste opportunities to spread its message and achieve growth.To this end the EC shall be responsible for overseeing and reviewing annually a media and ICT strategy based on the following facts:1) That the media can offer opportunities for the widespread dissemination of information, to mass or discrete populations;2) Effective use of ICT has the potential to maximise the effectiveness of Party resources.Aim of this strategyTo ensure that the SPGB becomes the source of choice for the media, educators and researchers, seeking information on 'Socialism', 'Socialist Views' or a Marxian analysis of society.The first phase of implementing this strategy shall be to develop an “Open for Business” approach involving: (a) Media enquiries. A list of members willing and able to respond to media enquiries and discussions (e.g. interviews or ‘phone-ins’, etc.) should be maintained and made available to the Media Committee. Eventually, the Media Committee shall maintain a “duty roster” of media speakers. The Outreach Department shall make plans to recruit, train and support members on this list, liaising with SPGB branches (including Central), which could involve overseas WSM groups and Companion Parties. Progress shall be reported to the EC quarterly.(b) ICT Resources. The EC shall commission a review of the availability, features and costs of “open for business” solutions at times when Head Office is not open to receive enquiries. This to be combined with opportunities for remote working systems for Officers/Committees. An initial report be made available to discuss at ADM 2014.The EC shall report to ADM and consult Branches on its plans to further implement the Media and ICT strategy."ii) "A full review of committees terms of reference be brought forward to 2014"iii) "Conference is of the opinion that Autumn Delegate Meeting shall have the same authority as Conference. The EC be instructed to draft amendments to the appropriate rules and to give effect to this arrangement a Party Poll be called to adopt such amendments"iv) "Conference is of the opinion that rule amendments shall usually be subject to prior discussion at Conference/ADM allowing for urgency to be provided for. The EC be instructed to draft amendments to the appropriate rules and to give effect to this arrangement a Party Poll be called to adopt such amendments"v) "Conference instructs the EC to implement Rule 9 in full"vi) "In furtherance of the resolution of Conference 2008 this Conference resolves that the full name of the Party be included on the HO fascia"6. EC minutes – 12th meeting – 2/11/13 1st meeting – 4/1/14NOTED7. Future propaganda activitiesNone other than those already proposed8. Any other businessNotice of Business (Rob Cox) “Revised Branch Budget”Meeting adjourned at 7.57pmCollection taken: £7.00