Subject: Plymouth Sutton & Devonport AGM and Branch Quorums
From: Phil Gaskin <[email-masked]>
To: Mary Aspinall; [email-masked]'
Cc: Tommy Sprague

Dear All,

I have copied everyone on this email who has been in communication with me =
in respect of this issue over the past few weeks. I am also taking the oppo=
rtunity of replying on the Branch Quorums issue, which also seems to be gen=
erating an unusually high amount of interest and debate within the CLP.

CLP AGM;
>From all of the emails, correspondence etc I have received over the past fe=
w weeks it seems to me that we are effectively in a situation where there a=
re two differing interpretations of what was agreed at the Plymouth Sutton =
& Devonport CLP AGM for 2016 (as below).

Following consultation with the branches the EC puts the following proposal
That this CLP=92s ordinary General Committee (GC) becomes a members meeting=
 with the aim of increasing member=92s participation in Party activity and =
debate. Delegates to the said body will no longer be required, all members =
will be advised of the forward programme, to encourage involvement.
The Executive Committee (EC) will remain a delegated body, with members (ge=
nder balanced) from each branch and affiliate body, including Young Labour.=
 The Executive to be the decision-making body on behalf of the CLP.

The interpretations, as I understand them are as follows;

a)      That the 2016 CLP AGM determined that all future CLP General Meetin=
gs would be held/organised on an All Member basis, including future CLP AGM=
=92s.

b)      That the 2016 CLP AGM determined that all future CLP General Meetin=
gs would be held/organised on an All Member basis, other than the CLP AGM w=
hich would continue to be organised as a traditional GC Delegate structure,=
 particularly for the purposes of electing the CLP Executive Committee.

It is disappointing that members and officers of the CLP have allowed this =
situation to develop to the point where Regional Officers (and a member of =
the National Executive Committee) have been approached and asked to make a =
ruling/decision on two differing interpretations on a decision made at a CL=
P AGM, which took place over a year ago, and at which they were not present=
.

I have therefore decided (and I have informed Ann Black of my decision) to =
pass this matter back to the CLP for further consideration. Plymouth Sutton=
 & Devonport CLP Executive Committee should hold a Special Meeting (at a da=
te/time to be determined by the EC, in advance of the postponed CLP AGM) to=
 consider this item only.

Important to note that the Special Meeting MUST be conducted on the same de=
legate basis/entitlement as applied at the 2016 CLP AGM, both for Party Uni=
ts and Affiliates. (The delegates who were entitled to attend the 2016 AGM =
shall be entitled to attend the Special Meeting).

Clearly the CLP AGM will need to be organised and notified (in the normal w=
ay) once a decision has been reached by the Special Meeting of the CLP Gene=
ral Committee.

Branch Quorums;
I have received a number of queries on this matter, and it does seem to be =
a general recurring theme. Please find attached the NEC Guidance on Quorums=
, which shall apply here. I am happy to agree a quorum for branch meetings =
of Plymouth Sutton & Devonport CLP. I completely acknowledge that increased=
 membership numbers at all levels (CLP and Branch) does mean that 25% is la=
rgely unachievable and would not allow branches to conduct business in a re=
asonable way. However, I would be concerned if permission were sought to ag=
ree a quorum which was so low that it made no allowance or recognition for =
the increase in membership within the branch.

Summary

1.       Plymouth Sutton & Devonport Executive Committee to organise and ho=
ld a Special Meeting of the General Committee (at a date and time to be agr=
eed by the Executive Committee) to determine if the CLP be structured as a =
delegate based CLP, or an All Member basis. My recommendation is that this =
Special Meeting be held at the very earliest possible opportunity.

2.       THE CLP AGM should be held, organised and notified in the normal w=
ay, as swiftly as possible following the Special Meeting.

3.       Branch Quorums (where agreement is required) to be agreed with the=
 Regional Director, and in accordance with the NEC Quorums Guidance.

I hope that once all of the above has been set in place and respective deci=
sions have been taken, that Plymouth Sutton & Devonport CLP can move on fro=
m these matters. The recent General Election result in the constituency was=
 an outstanding success, and there are incredibly important Local Governmen=
t Elections taking place in Plymouth in May 2018. Hopefully once the intern=
al party matters (as above) have been resolved, more time and energy can be=
 focused on building on recent successes and the CLP can campaign for Labou=
r to regain control of the city council next May.

regards

Phil Gaskin
Labour South West Regional Director
4 Emery Road
Brislington, Bristol
BS4 5PF
Telephone 07834098707

Sent by email from the Labour Party, promoted by Iain McNicol on behalf of =
The Labour Party, both at Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT =
Website: www.labour.org.uk to join or renew call 0345 092 2299.

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<p>The Regional Director has made a ruling in relation to the 2017 CLP AGM =
in PSD.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<br>
<br>
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<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" co=
lor=3D"#000000" style=3D"font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> Phil Gaskin &lt;phil_=
[email-masked]&gt;<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 15 August 2017 14:56<br>
<b>To:</b> Mary Aspinall; [email-masked]'; Kevin Neil; David=
 Millar ([email-masked])<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Tommy Sprague<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Plymouth Sutton &amp; Devonport AGM and Branch Quorums</fon=
t>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class=3D"WordSection1">
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Dear All,</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I have copied everyone on this email who has been in=
 communication with me in respect of this issue over the past few weeks. I =
am also taking the opportunity of replying on the Branch Quorums issue, whi=
ch also seems to be generating an
 unusually high amount of interest and debate within the CLP.</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>CLP AGM;</b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">From all of the emails, correspondence etc I have re=
ceived over the past few weeks it seems to me that we are effectively in a =
situation where there are two differing interpretations of what was agreed =
at the Plymouth Sutton &amp; Devonport
 CLP AGM for 2016 (as below).</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:14.0pt">Following consultat=
ion with the branches the EC puts the following proposal</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:14.0pt">That this CLP=92s o=
rdinary General Committee (GC) becomes a members meeting with the aim of in=
creasing member=92s participation in Party activity and debate. Delegates t=
o the said body will no longer be required,
 all members will be advised of the forward programme, to encourage involve=
ment. </span>
</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:14.0pt">The Executive Commi=
ttee (EC) will remain a delegated body, with members (gender balanced) from=
 each branch and affiliate body, including Young Labour. The Executive to b=
e the decision-making body on behalf
 of the CLP.</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">The interpretations, as I understand them are as fol=
lows;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoListParagraph" style=3D"text-indent:-18.0pt"><span style=3D"=
">a)<span style=3D"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></span>That the 2016 CLP AGM determined that all future CLP General =
Meetings would be held/organised on an All Member basis, including future C=
LP AGM=92s.</p>
<p class=3D"MsoListParagraph" style=3D"text-indent:-18.0pt"><span style=3D"=
">b)<span style=3D"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></span>That the 2016 CLP AGM determined that all future CLP General =
Meetings would be held/organised on an All Member basis, other than the CLP=
 AGM which would continue to be organised as a traditional GC Delegate stru=
cture, particularly for the purposes
 of electing the CLP Executive Committee.</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">It is disappointing that members and officers of the=
 CLP have allowed this situation to develop to the point where Regional Off=
icers (and a member of the National Executive Committee) have been approach=
ed and asked to make a ruling/decision
 on two differing interpretations on a decision made at a CLP AGM, which to=
ok place over a year ago, and at which they were not present.</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I have therefore decided (and I have informed Ann Bl=
ack of my decision) to pass this matter back to the CLP for further conside=
ration.
<b><i>Plymouth Sutton &amp; Devonport CLP Executive Committee should hold a=
 Special Meeting (at a date/time to be determined by the EC, in advance of =
the postponed CLP AGM) to consider this item only.</i></b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>Important to note that the Special Meeting <u>MUS=
T</u> be conducted on the same delegate basis/entitlement as applied at the=
 2016 CLP AGM, both for Party Units and Affiliates. (The delegates who were=
 entitled to attend the 2016 AGM shall
 be entitled to attend the Special Meeting).</b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Clearly the CLP AGM will need to be organised and no=
tified (in the normal way) once a decision has been reached by the Special =
Meeting of the CLP General Committee.
</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>Branch Quorums;</b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I have received a number of queries on this matter, =
and it does seem to be a general recurring theme. Please find attached the =
NEC Guidance on Quorums, which shall apply here. I am happy to agree a quor=
um for branch meetings of Plymouth
 Sutton &amp; Devonport CLP. I completely acknowledge that increased member=
ship numbers at all levels (CLP and Branch) does mean that 25% is largely u=
nachievable and would not allow branches to conduct business in a reasonabl=
e way. However, I would be concerned
 if permission were sought to agree a quorum which was so low that it made =
no allowance or recognition for the increase in membership within the branc=
h.
</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>Summary</b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoListParagraph" style=3D"text-indent:-18.0pt"><b><span style=
=3D"">1.<span style=3D"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></span></b><b>Plymouth Sutton &amp; Devonport Executive Committee to=
 organise and hold a Special Meeting of the General Committee (at a date an=
d time to be agreed by the Executive Committee) to determine if the CLP be =
structured as a delegate based CLP,
 or an All Member basis. My recommendation is that this Special Meeting be =
held at the
<i>very earliest</i> possible opportunity.</b></p>
<p class=3D"MsoListParagraph" style=3D"text-indent:-18.0pt"><b><span style=
=3D"">2.<span style=3D"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></span></b><b>THE CLP AGM should be held, organised and notified in =
the normal way, as swiftly as possible following the Special Meeting.</b></=
p>
<p class=3D"MsoListParagraph" style=3D"text-indent:-18.0pt"><span style=3D"=
">3.<span style=3D"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></span><b>Branch Quorums (where agreement is required) to be agreed =
with the Regional Director, and in accordance with the NEC Quorums Guidance=
</b>.</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I hope that once all of the above has been set in pl=
ace and respective decisions have been taken, that Plymouth Sutton &amp; De=
vonport CLP can move on from these matters. The recent General Election res=
ult in the constituency was an outstanding
 success, and there are incredibly important Local Government Elections tak=
ing place in Plymouth in May 2018. Hopefully once the internal party matter=
s (as above) have been resolved, more time and energy can be focused on bui=
lding on recent successes and the
 CLP can campaign for Labour to regain control of the city council next May=
.</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">regards</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"">Phil Gaskin</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"">Labour South West Regional Director=
</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"">4 Emery Road</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"">Brislington, Bristol</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"">BS4 5PF</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"">Telephone 07834098707</span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
</div>
Sent by email from the Labour Party, promoted by Iain McNicol on behalf of =
The Labour Party, both at Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT =
Website: www.labour.org.uk to join or renew call 0345 092 2299.
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