[The following is posted on
[The following is posted on behalf of the Minute taker]Minutes of the 69th meeting of the Kent & Sussex Regional Branch of The Socialist Party of Great Britain held on 13th August 2017The meeting started at 2:30pm at the Muggleton Inn, High Street, Maidstone, Kent (First floor)Present: Mandy Bruce, Dave Chesham, Rob Cox (Treasurer) and Dan Fabian.Part One: Business01. Election of ChairMotion 1. Chesham/Bruce that Cox be made chair. AGREED.02. Apologies for absenceMarie Chesham and Hannah Dutton.03. Confirmation of agenda items (discussion period)Confirmed.04. Adoption of minutes of meeting of 9th July 2017 (as circulated)Chesham has spotted an error and has changed the minutes on the forum to reflect that the minutes adopted in item 4 where for the 67th meeting, held on 11th June. Bruce agrees to amend the minutes on file. Motion 2. Chesham moves to adopt amended minutes. AGREED 4-0-0.05. Matters arising from the minutes of previous meetinga) Branch Email address.Deferred, pending the return of T. Miller from holiday.b) Membership matters – Folkestone meetings (Lime Bar Cafe)i. Sales of The Standard. Cox reports that ten copies had been sold and three returned (of 15 supplied in August). The proprietor insisted that the party should have the full cover price.ii. Meetings/Socials. Awaiting Cde Thomas to confirm availability for a meeting. Bruce agrees to compile a report of forthcoming events for future meetings using the Lime Bar Facebook page.c) Membership matters – Facebook meetingsi. Facebook video.Bruce has not found time to pursue Facebook video meeting participation following interest from A. Pruden.Chesham has received communication from J. Shodeke and it was read out.ii. Jitsi Meet app – web link: https://jitsi.org/jitsi-meet/Cox and Chesham report that the Jitsi app is freely available and would be suitable for video meeting participation.d) T-Shirt Orderi. First run of shirts and bagsThe order received was not suitable to supply to Head Office (therefore some had been sold at Summer School). Further orders deferred, pending further information from cde Alvarenga. Cox suggests putting these bags and T shirts on sale through Branch at the forthcoming Miners’ Festival etc. Agreed. Cox to compile inventory of T shirts and bags sold so far. It is agreed to sell these T shirts and bags for £3 each.Motion 3. Chesham/Bruce that Comrade Cox be reimbursed £200 for the purchase of T-shirts and bags. 3-0-1ii. Postal bags.Deferred until item 5.d)i. is resolved.e) The next General ElectionChesham/Cox report that the E.C. has not had any further progress or info from the election committee.f) Kent Miners Festival 2017Cox confirms the booking of a stall and has produced a leaflet for the event and has run off 300 copies for handing out on the day.g) London Comic Convention(s) – Suggested SPGB StallCox reports that the October event at Olympia looked to be a trade event. It was felt that it would be expensive and an unsuitable location for a party stall. Cox suggests looking into the July 2018 event.06. ADM 2017 – Discussion itemsRule amendment (Bruce): Bruce has not had time to compose the discussion item;Party branding/name (Cox): Cox has circulated wording for the discussion item regarding party branding. Cox also suggests a pared down version of the “Questions and Answers” pamphlet as a basis for an election manifesto.Fabian proposes changes to the party web page to promote socialism more positively, rather than the anti-capitalist Standard links currently in use as he feels these may be off putting for first time visitors.Fabian agrees to compose discussion item based on this view.Items AGREED subject to subsequent email consideration of wording and supporting statements (seeaddendum).07. Branch Financial ReportThe Treasurer hands out copies of the current financial report with accumulated fund at 31st July of £649.81. This was discussed in detail.Motion 4. Chesham moves to accept the report and thank the treasurer for compiling it. Carried 3-0-108. Street Stalls: July Report & Arrangements for Saturday 19th AugustCox reports that the Canterbury stall went ahead on 15th July with Bruce in attendance. 3 Standards were sold and many leaflets handed out.09. Brighton GroupNothing to report.10. Forms 'A' & 'F' and Branch membership transfers.Email from cde Hayward-Hopkins 12/07/2017. Cde communicated his desire to leave the party, partly due to living outside the U.K. Matter deferred as Cox agrees to contact him again.11. EC minutes: June and JulyNoted.12. Future propaganda activities.a) Advertising SPGB in areas where we have active members and branches (Cox); Cox to produce item for ADM based on this item and supply supporting statement. AGREED.b) Other items. Cox has been contacted about younger branch members attending a South London branch meeting at H.O. which coincides with KSRB meeting on 8th October. Fabian may be invited to speak at the meeting in which case it may be possible to re-schedule the branch meeting.13. Any other businessCox proposes using the “End of Rationing” leaflet as a handout and having more printed for that purpose. AGREED to suggest to E.C.14. CollectionCollection-£18.00 Standard sales-£3.00Part Two: Discussion Items (as previously agreed)Item 1: Questionnaire – Free Text Suggestions (outstanding items deferred from July meeting).Regarding production of a quarterly digest of branch activity, it is felt that no one has the time to produce one. A party newsletter might be a good way to encourage participation.Item 2: Paper received from Howard Pilott, and a response made jointly by cde D. Chesham and cde Cox (deferred from July meeting). Discussed.Adjournment 7.40pm