Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
Yeovil Constituency Labour Party
Unity Hall, Central Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1JL
Annual General Meeting, meeting held 27/03/08, commencing at 7:30pm
Members Present at meeting:
Jill Bishop
Chris Chant
Colin Counter
Les Deacon
Andy Dowland
Liz George, Chair
Charlie George
Gordon Harcourt
Marjorie Harcourt
Alf Hill
Pauline Hill
David Kingdon
Tom McGee
Brian Knight
Lee Skevington, Secretary
Paul Smith
Brian Wadsworth
Helen Weeks
The Chair asked for a minute silence for members who have passed away in the past year. Yeovil CLP remembers Shaun Gillman and his work for the CLP.
1. Apologies for absence:
Joe Conway
Norman Campbell
Peter Joyce
2. Nominations
The Chair read the nominations received from branches and the unions.
There were no nominations for Women’s Officer, Political Education Officer or Youth and Student Officer.
Lee Skevington declined to serve again as Youth and Student Officer.
David Kingdon declined an invitation to serve as Trade Union Liaison.
The room agreed that two spaces should remain open for two more branch delegates to the EC in case anyone else became active later on.
3. Party Officer Selection
The composition of the CLP Executive Committee and General Committee is now as follows.
Chair: Joe Conway.
Vice Chair: Liz George
Vice Chair Membership: Helen Weeks
Secretary: Lee Skevington
Treasurer: Alf Hill
Youth and Student Officer: open
Women’s Officer: open
Political Education Officer: open
I.T Officer: Paul Smith
Campaign Coordinator: Colin Counter
Trade Union Liason: Andy Dowland
Printing and Publications: Colin Counter
Press Officer: Colin Counter
Auditor 1: Les Deacon
Auditor 2: Tom McGee
CLP Executive Committee Branch Delegates:
Pauline Hill
Colin Counter
Helen Weeks
David Kingdon
Andy Dowland
Paul Smith
Jill Bishop
Chris Chant
CLP EC Co-op Party Delegate: Tom McGee
CLP Annual Conference Delegate: Helen Weeks
4. Treasurer’s Report
Andy Dowland raised a dispute regarding the treasurer’s report, claiming it was innumerate.
As time was running out, the Secretary that this will be dealt with at the next meeting. The treasurer’s report was therefore passed by the members present.
CLP Meeting Minutes, meeting held 27/03/08, after the A.G.M.
1.Correspondence
The Secretary circulated copies of an update report from the NEC, copies of a postcard objecting to the House of Lords decision regarding Pleural Plaques and Asbestos related diseases as well as literature from party members seeking election to the NEC.
2.Officer Reports
The Information & Technology Officer, Paul Smith, gave verbal feedback on the popularity of the website, claiming that we have had over 1000 visitors since the website went live a few months ago.
No other officers had anything to report.
3.Branch Restructuring
As requested by the Chair of Yeovil CLP (Joe Conway) the CLP discussed potentially disbanding the branches in favor of an alternate model for CLP governance. The Secretary stated that the branches had been inactive for the past two years and were not effective.
Andy Dowland suggested it would be an admission of failure to disband them. He claimed that transport would be an issue for people in the more rural communities which are a part of the CLP. He suggested that instead of disbanding the branches we instead need to engage more effectively with the grassroots in smaller areas in order to build up our membership.
Mr Dowand went on to explain that disbanding the branch structure would not allow for the CLP to more effectively address local concerns for local people. It was suggested that it would be a better idea to reinvigorate our branch structure.
Mr Dowland suggested the CLP move away from the more organized branch structure in favor of just a group of people effectively campaigning in a local area with transferable membership between one branch and another.
Helen Weeks suggested that perhaps the Yeovil branches could be amalgamated into one branch.
Brian Wadsworth spoke in support of disbanding the branches as they are dead. Mr Wadsworth suggested that the CLP needs to find another way to move ahead and to engage with local people.
David Kingdon suggested that the motivation of the CLP was to simply get its hands of the money of the branches.
The room decided that the decision will be deferred till the next AGM.
3. Financing and fundraising
Alf Hill suggested a later meeting be held so that the CLP may get more ideas and input from members.
Andy Dowland commended Les Deacon’s dedication to running the tote.
Helen Weeks suggested having more social activities in order to raise money, she suggested having an annual dinner and quiz nights.
Gordon Harcourt mentioned that Yeovil Rural Branch had made money from the sale of Labour Party scratch-off lottery tickets. The room agreed that this was a good idea and would be a potential means of raising funds for the CLP.
The Secretary will obtain further details following the meeting.
4. Formation of a campaign committee
The Secretary suggested the formation of a campaign committee, as mentioned under Clause VI.5 of the Labour Party Rule Book.
The room agreed, therefore the Yeovil Constituency Labour Party will hereby form a campaign committee with the Campaign Coordinator as its Chair.
Colin counter stated that the CLP needs to get more people involved and to raise our profile. Colin Counter will be the chair of the campaign committee as the new Campaign Coordinator.
5. Any Other Business
Alf spoke about a recent council consultation; Les Deacon suggested forming a Labour committee to draft a response. Andy Dowland urged members to file a response to the consultation before the end date.
Paul Smith raised the issue of the local post-office closures. Alf Hill objected, stating that no resolution may be passed at the present meeting as it would need to be placed on the agenda as a resolution and circulated to all members prior to the meeting. Lee Skevington suggested that as the E.C. and G.C. were convened and a quorum was present a vote was possible. Les Deacon claimed such a vote was unconstitutional and would need to wait. Paul Smith was concerned that by the time another meeting was convened it would be too late. Action regarding post-office closures will be taken at a future meeting.
Meeting closed at 9pm.
Unity Hall, Central Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1JL
Annual General Meeting, meeting held 27/03/08, commencing at 7:30pm
Members Present at meeting:
Jill Bishop
Chris Chant
Colin Counter
Les Deacon
Andy Dowland
Liz George, Chair
Charlie George
Gordon Harcourt
Marjorie Harcourt
Alf Hill
Pauline Hill
David Kingdon
Tom McGee
Brian Knight
Lee Skevington, Secretary
Paul Smith
Brian Wadsworth
Helen Weeks
The Chair asked for a minute silence for members who have passed away in the past year. Yeovil CLP remembers Shaun Gillman and his work for the CLP.
1. Apologies for absence:
Joe Conway
Norman Campbell
Peter Joyce
2. Nominations
The Chair read the nominations received from branches and the unions.
There were no nominations for Women’s Officer, Political Education Officer or Youth and Student Officer.
Lee Skevington declined to serve again as Youth and Student Officer.
David Kingdon declined an invitation to serve as Trade Union Liaison.
The room agreed that two spaces should remain open for two more branch delegates to the EC in case anyone else became active later on.
3. Party Officer Selection
The composition of the CLP Executive Committee and General Committee is now as follows.
Chair: Joe Conway.
Vice Chair: Liz George
Vice Chair Membership: Helen Weeks
Secretary: Lee Skevington
Treasurer: Alf Hill
Youth and Student Officer: open
Women’s Officer: open
Political Education Officer: open
I.T Officer: Paul Smith
Campaign Coordinator: Colin Counter
Trade Union Liason: Andy Dowland
Printing and Publications: Colin Counter
Press Officer: Colin Counter
Auditor 1: Les Deacon
Auditor 2: Tom McGee
CLP Executive Committee Branch Delegates:
Pauline Hill
Colin Counter
Helen Weeks
David Kingdon
Andy Dowland
Paul Smith
Jill Bishop
Chris Chant
CLP EC Co-op Party Delegate: Tom McGee
CLP Annual Conference Delegate: Helen Weeks
4. Treasurer’s Report
Andy Dowland raised a dispute regarding the treasurer’s report, claiming it was innumerate.
As time was running out, the Secretary that this will be dealt with at the next meeting. The treasurer’s report was therefore passed by the members present.
CLP Meeting Minutes, meeting held 27/03/08, after the A.G.M.
1.Correspondence
The Secretary circulated copies of an update report from the NEC, copies of a postcard objecting to the House of Lords decision regarding Pleural Plaques and Asbestos related diseases as well as literature from party members seeking election to the NEC.
2.Officer Reports
The Information & Technology Officer, Paul Smith, gave verbal feedback on the popularity of the website, claiming that we have had over 1000 visitors since the website went live a few months ago.
No other officers had anything to report.
3.Branch Restructuring
As requested by the Chair of Yeovil CLP (Joe Conway) the CLP discussed potentially disbanding the branches in favor of an alternate model for CLP governance. The Secretary stated that the branches had been inactive for the past two years and were not effective.
Andy Dowland suggested it would be an admission of failure to disband them. He claimed that transport would be an issue for people in the more rural communities which are a part of the CLP. He suggested that instead of disbanding the branches we instead need to engage more effectively with the grassroots in smaller areas in order to build up our membership.
Mr Dowand went on to explain that disbanding the branch structure would not allow for the CLP to more effectively address local concerns for local people. It was suggested that it would be a better idea to reinvigorate our branch structure.
Mr Dowland suggested the CLP move away from the more organized branch structure in favor of just a group of people effectively campaigning in a local area with transferable membership between one branch and another.
Helen Weeks suggested that perhaps the Yeovil branches could be amalgamated into one branch.
Brian Wadsworth spoke in support of disbanding the branches as they are dead. Mr Wadsworth suggested that the CLP needs to find another way to move ahead and to engage with local people.
David Kingdon suggested that the motivation of the CLP was to simply get its hands of the money of the branches.
The room decided that the decision will be deferred till the next AGM.
3. Financing and fundraising
Alf Hill suggested a later meeting be held so that the CLP may get more ideas and input from members.
Andy Dowland commended Les Deacon’s dedication to running the tote.
Helen Weeks suggested having more social activities in order to raise money, she suggested having an annual dinner and quiz nights.
Gordon Harcourt mentioned that Yeovil Rural Branch had made money from the sale of Labour Party scratch-off lottery tickets. The room agreed that this was a good idea and would be a potential means of raising funds for the CLP.
The Secretary will obtain further details following the meeting.
4. Formation of a campaign committee
The Secretary suggested the formation of a campaign committee, as mentioned under Clause VI.5 of the Labour Party Rule Book.
The room agreed, therefore the Yeovil Constituency Labour Party will hereby form a campaign committee with the Campaign Coordinator as its Chair.
Colin counter stated that the CLP needs to get more people involved and to raise our profile. Colin Counter will be the chair of the campaign committee as the new Campaign Coordinator.
5. Any Other Business
Alf spoke about a recent council consultation; Les Deacon suggested forming a Labour committee to draft a response. Andy Dowland urged members to file a response to the consultation before the end date.
Paul Smith raised the issue of the local post-office closures. Alf Hill objected, stating that no resolution may be passed at the present meeting as it would need to be placed on the agenda as a resolution and circulated to all members prior to the meeting. Lee Skevington suggested that as the E.C. and G.C. were convened and a quorum was present a vote was possible. Les Deacon claimed such a vote was unconstitutional and would need to wait. Paul Smith was concerned that by the time another meeting was convened it would be too late. Action regarding post-office closures will be taken at a future meeting.
Meeting closed at 9pm.
posted by Lee Skevington at
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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