Draft minutes of the
meeting of Cardiff Green Party, 20th May, 2013
Embassy Café
Cathays Community Centre
Cathays Terrace
Cardiff CF24 4HX
Chair: John Mathews
Secretary: Sian Best
Apologies: Alan Armstrong, Elen Miles, Gerald Nowell, Phil Thomas,
Anthony Slaughter, Alice Taylor
Present: John Matthews (Chair), Ken Barker, Paul Atkins, Jack Parker,
Martin Siloret, Sian Best (Minutes), Chris von Ruhland
1. Minutes of the last
meeting –The April meeting was not quorate, so March minutes had to be considered.
They were accepted as a true record.
2. Matters arising – on
the agenda
3. Officers’ reports –
The Chair summarised the Wales Green Party Special Conference and the WGP
Council meeting, which followed it, in Cardiff on 11th May 2013.
Proceedings were rather fraught: there was a discussion of the contents of the
last two editions of the WGP members’ newsletter, which had generated several
complaints from members. The newsletter’s editor, Max Wallis, was asked to
justify his actions, and failed to do so. No decision could be taken, as the conference
was inquorate. Max was asked to attend the Council meeting which was held later
that afternoon, and was quorate. He did not attend, so was removed from office,
by a unanimous vote of all Council members, as his actions had brought the
Party in disrepute. Because of statements made by Max in the newsletter, the selection
process for WGP candidates for the European elections in 2014 has been
suspended. Hopefully, this means AS can now submit his application, which was
delayed first time around because of family problems.
Paul, as Press Officer, said that Western Mail had contacted him about a
negative article they published on re-tweets by Chris Were. He advised members
not to respond to emails from MW, as they may be leaked. JM added that the
Wales Council is to discuss this problem and decide on appropriate action, on
Thursday.
The Secretary had been checking local membership records against the
national online records, recently updated and, hopefully, more accurate. There
were 43 members on the local list who, according to national records, are no
longer paying subscriptions. She asked for advice on how to deal with these
‘ghost’ members. It was agreed that she would email them asking them to renew
and if they had no plans to rejoin if we could keep them on a supporters’ list.
Chris, as Treasurer reported that there is now about c£1800 in the CGP
budget.
4. Wales Green Party’s
proposed Health and Social welfare policy (emailed to all members) was
introduced by JM. It had been written by a doctor, specialising in mental
health, who is a member of Ceredigion GP.
Members are asked to bring any suggestions for amendments to the June
CGP meeting, for further discussion. They can then be passed to the WGP AGM in
November. KB will draft a list of amendments.
5. Euro elections 2014
- PA has put together a leaflet for Plasnewydd ward, focussing on the economic
potential value of community centres. Will send out leaflet, in a format that
other wards can adapt for use on their own turf. We should also invite people
to be ‘ward guardians’, who would guarantee to distribute a given number of
leaflets. Ed will be asked to arrange another ‘social’ for July. Paul will
email him. The Secretary will email all members about becoming ward guardians.
6. AOB PA reminded
everyone that Sam Coates (Cardiff GP’s Press Officer and Election Officer,
until his recent move to Oxford) was now Councillor for University Parks ward
in Oxford with 43% of the vote, in the May local elections. The Sec was asked
to email Sam with CGP’s congratulations.
JP said it had been suggested that CGP’s meeting day might be changed:
the university Greens meet on a Wednesday, and we all could meet up afterwards.
Jack will talk to next year’s committee, see what they think. Jack said that he
was moving to London in 2 weeks, as he has a new job organising conferences and
will be active in Camden GP. The Chair thanked him for all his work for CGP and
wished him well for the future. CR said he has put his name forward as deputy
Treasurer of WGP.
7. Date and place of
next meeting – Monday, 17th June at the Embassy Cafe
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