Minutes of the 54th meeting
Minutes of the 54th meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 8th May 2016 The meeting started at 2.20pm and was held at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, KentPresent: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham (Secretary) (from 3.40pm), Rob Cox (Treasurer), Dan Fabian, Jacqueline ShodekeApologies for absence: Marie Chesham, Hannah Dutton1. Election of Chair Motion 1. Cox & Shodeke “That Fabian be Chair” AGREED 2. Minutes of the 53rd Meeting held on 10th April 2016 were before the meeting Motion 2. Cox & Fabian “That the minutes be adopted” AGREED 3. Matters arising from previous minutes i) Video clips It was AGREED to defer this item again, pending a report on related EC deliberations.ii) Street StallsReports were given on stalls in Canterbury on 16 April and Folkestone on 30 April. Both visitors and sales were low at both stalls, due probably to competition from other political groups at Canterbury and a torrential rain storm in Folkestone. However, significant quantities of leaflets based on the EU referendum text as agreed by the EC were distributed at both. A visitor to the Branch email address (Will from Lydd) appeared at the stall and is expected to attend a future Party meeting.It was reported that the folding table being used in East Kent has developed a structural fault but there is a possibility of a repair. Meanwhile, Dave will supply the other Branch table as a replacement. Further dates for Folkestone stalls set for 28th May and 25th June.Jacqueline apologised that she may be unable to attend meetings and events between June and October due to other commitments.iii) Proposed Folkestone Discussion GroupSunday 5 June, at 2pm has been set for the first meeting, with five local members confirmed and some others expected to attend. Venue to be the public bar area of The Guildhall Pub, 42 The Bayle, Folkestone CT20 1SQiv) 'How do we respond to Corbyn?'Item held pending Dave’s arrival to report the outcome of last month’s decision ‘that the Secretary attempt to make contact with Corbyn via Twitter and Facebook’.(Later in the meeting the Secretary reported that there had been no response to any of the invitations extended to Corbyn.)v) 'Should the Party be more vocal about some issues?' This item arose from our Item for Discussion to Conference and had been deferred from the last meeting. Unfortunately, members failed to recall the reason for deferral.It was AGREED to ask the Secretary to highlight the issue in the Branch mailing before the next meeting and ask members to bring or submit suggestions for leaflets or campaigns for further discussion.Some ideas discussed (in addition to those in the Conference item) included having publications more accessible to a larger range of people, such as cartoon and tabloid-style formats. This may include educational materials on topics such as Marxian economics (e.g. Labour Theory of Value).vi) Branch bank accountThe Treasurer reported that since last month’s decision in principle to move our account to Santander (due to the costs of remaining with Unity Trust bank), it had stated that it was unable to prevent a single signatory authorising transactions. Also, he was informed that Unity was not part of the “Switching” scheme, and therefore existing standing orders could not move automatically to any new provider.As an alternative to Santander, the Treasurer reported on a number of other Banks which appeared to meet our needs without any charges for basic transactions..Motion 3. (Bruce & Shodeke) “That a current account be opened at National Westminster Bank (Deal Branch) with the Treasurer, Secretary and Dan Fabian as signatories and further: It was resolved that a banking relationship be maintained with National Westminster Bank Plc (the Bank) in accordance with this mandate and that: The individuals identified as authorised signatories may, in accordance with the signing rules, sign cheques and give instructions for Standing Orders, Direct Debits, Electronic Payments, Banker's Drafts and other payments on the accounts even if it causes an account to be overdrawn or exceed any limit. Any authorised signatory may give other instructions or requests for information to the Bank in relation to the accounts; opening accounts with the same signing rules and authorised signatories; closing accounts; or other banking services or products. The Bank may accept instructions that do not have an original written authorised signature provided the Bank is satisfied that the instruction is genuine and subject to any other agreement the Bank may require for those instructions. The Organisation will provide to the Bank a copy of its constitution (if it has one) and any amendment to the constitution, certified as correct by the Secretary. This mandate will continue until the Organisation gives the Bank a replacement mandate. The Bank may act on the instructions of: Any two authorised signatories for unlimited amounts”AGREEDThe Treasurer pointed out that direct debit voluntary contribution payments were still being received in the name of Glenn Morris despite the fact he had transferred to Swansea Branch some months ago. The Secretary said he would contact Glenn.vii) Resignations As there had been no response to either of the letters which had been sent to the two members who had tendered their resignations it was AGREED that the Forms ‘F’ for Leslie Courtney (resigned – loss of interest) and Edward Mann (resigned – disagreement) be forwarded to the Executive Committee.viii) Kent Miners' FestivalContrary to what had previously been understood the Secretary had now learnt that the festival is to be “rested this year” due to the development of the new Kent Mining Museum and visitor centre, which is presently being built at Betteshanger Country Park.It was AGREED that the Secretary make enquiries about any activities being arranged by the Robert Tressell Society.ix) July 2016 SS proposalAn email had been received from Darrell Whitehead seeking support to instruct the Executive Committee to produce a special issue of the Socialist Standard to celebrate the centenary of the WSPUS.The branch did not consider that the EC could be instructed and that in any case submissions would have had to be called much earlier considering the absolute deadline for articles would be the middle of June.However, it was reported that the EC had agreed, at its May meeting, that the Socialist Standard's July 2016 issue mark the WSPUS's centenary.x) Nomination for Party Assistant Secretary The Secretary had been in contact with Tristan Miller who said his personal circumstances had now changed sufficently for him to accept the branch’s outstanding nomination, if it still stood, for the position of Assistant Secretary.Motion 4. (Chesham & Shodeke) “That Tristan Miller be nominated for the Party’s Assistant Secretary” AGREED4. Complaint against North London BranchThere had been an exchange with the Secretary of North London Branch regarding a reference in its own minutes to the resignation of a Kent & Sussex member before the branch had either accepted the resignation or reported on the matter itself.NOTED 5. Forms 'A' & 'F' NONE other than those already mentioned.6. Branch membership transfers NONE7. EC minutesNONE TO HAND 8. Brighton Discussion Group – 10-5-16NOTED 9. Summer School – 22/24-7-16 It was reported that at least six members of the branch would be attending Summer School.10. Future propaganda activitiesNONE other than those already mentioned.11. Any other businessNONE Meeting adjourned at 6.40pm Collection taken: £15.00