NEC/Minutes/17th October 2011
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Contents |
Attendance
Phil Cooke (PC)
Andy Halsall (AH)
Loz Kaye (LK)
Miah Gregory (MG)
Apologies
Gavin Meredith (GM)
Ed Geraghty (EG)
Minutes
Minutes of 10th October were approved.
Matters arising
PC checked on membership in GL postcode for AH for a possible mail-out.
AH chased Finlay Archibald on upcoming Scottish by-elections and kept PC in the loop.
PC did follow up SO on matters relating to the conference, albeit late in the week and is awaiting a response.
Actions From this meeting
AH to put out existing policy positions.
LK to put out discussed policy positions from Wednesday.
LK to produce audio suggestion for policy platform
LK to contact OWS
LK to contact all NEC and relevant members to attend the NEC on the 24th.
PC to contact winner of the DC election to pass on meeting details and such.
AH would contact Jack Allnutt and request his presence at the next NEC.
Policy2011
AH reported the statistics relating to the Policy platform as of 17 Oct. AH also reported that it had been brought up that not all official policy positions were in the current manifesto and that they should be included in the process. AH would look for and place the old policy positions onto the policy platform, LK would add the existing policies that AH and LK had discussed in the run up to the process. AH also reported that the rate of new memberships had increased significantly since the launch of the membership process.
LK stated he wanted to hook the policy process into current events. AH suggested that people were already using current issues to suggest policy, with controls on lobbying and wider economic issues having been brought up already. AH suggest that taking the organic current event related policy positions from the platform and putting it out on twitter and LK stated he would do so.
LK stated that he was concerned about a potential narrowing of the agenda on the policy process, he stated that the process hadn't yet covered as many areas as he had hoped. LK would also produce an audio policy suggestion related to his Artists First suggestion.
Scotland
LK asked whether there was more information as to whether the party would stand in the by elections coming up in Scotland. AH stated at this point the party would not be standing as no candidate had been identified.
The NEC discussed whether the party needed to take any action with regard to its presence in Scotland. LK asked whether going forward, the party needed a Scottish leader, whether there needed to be a specific Scottish organisation. LK stated that he felt that the PPUK branding was unhelpful and that it put the party in same area as UKIP in Scotland. MG stated that he was against a separate Scottish leadership or organisation. PC stated that he felt the naming was already something that had been dealt with and that branding was important. AH stated that he felt the localisation would deal with many of these issues.
LK stated that it was important that practicality and a determination as to what was most effective should be used as a guide.
Data Controller
PC stated that the election for the Data Controller would close at 1800 on the 19th, the result would be available by the weekend of the 22nd. LK stated that would give us a chance to talk to whoeve was elected. LK was asked to speak to the elected member before the meeting on the 24th.
The NEC would like to thank MG for all his work and service to the party, from it's establishment to its current position and his efforts in moving the party forward. The NEC also hightlighted the fact that MG had been responsible for saving the party many times since it's establishment. His presence would be missed from the NEC.
Occupy
LK stated that he felt the issue was incredibly important, even if only when looking at the nature of protest in the UK. LK also felt that the occupy movement helped ask important questions. LK also felt that there was pressure on the party now to issue a statement on the issue.. AH stated that he felt that GM was the right person to deal with this. PC agreed, stated that the freedom of speach aspect was most important. LK stated that he had contact with Naomi, on the media team with OWS. LK was to contact OWS on behalf of the party to see if there were any mutually beneficial activity we could engage in.
Next Meeting
PC to contact vote winner of DC election to pass on what is expected. Miah happy to continue to provide mumble server. Action LK meeting will include all members for next meeting. AH to contact Jack. LK to contact Harry Percival.
AOB
PC - PC reported that an email from Ed regarding web team, specifically the appointment of a deputy had been put out. Steve wilson would be appointed as technical deputy. AH asked PC to get cover for Steve wilson too as he was likely to be busy in the not too distant future.