7.00pm Thursday 8th January 2015 at the Railway P.H., Derwen Road, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan CF31 1LH (one minute from train station and 2 mins from bus station)

ALL WELCOME (Especially new members!)

AGENDA:

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Minutes and matters arising
4. Officers Reports – including membership update
5. Councillor feedback
6. Campaigns Update- fracking/bedroom tax
7. Elections – General Election candidates for Bridgend and Ogmore
8. Bridgend Green Party AGM
9. AOB – incl National Conference
10. DoNM

REMINDER – If anyone needs a lift to any of our meetings, let Andy know (andy.chyba) and we will organise it for you.

N.B.
Re Agenda item 7: I am considering my future with the Green Party at the moment and as such have decided to withdraw my candidacy as Bridgend’s PPC for the General Election. Wales Green Party’s aim remains to stand in as many constituencies as possible, and there are rumours of candidates being ‘parachuted’ in if we do not find candidates from among our ranks. Personally, I think this should happen if the Bridgend membership are happy for it to happen. There are other places these ‘volunteer’ candidates could stand if we did not want to contest our constituency, for whatever reason. I have no strong feelings over this at all, one way to the other. GE selection rules attached.

2014 GE selection rules-1.doc

Re Agenda item 8: The AGM will take place on Thursday 5th February – venue to be confirmed. This is going to be a ‘make or break’ AGM for Bridgend Green Party.
I am no longer going to be effectively running the party as chairman, irrespective of whether I remain a member or not. I will, however, be happy enough to advise and assist whoever takes over.
The Elections Officer role has been John Evans’ domain until he resigned his national membership earlier this year and reverted to being just a local member. He is not therefore eligible to continue in this role, which has to be taken by a full national member.
The Treasurers role has been undertaken by Neil Rogers for the last 4 years. I will ascertain whether he is happy to continue, or not, at January’s meeting.
If these roles are not filled at the AGM, the Local Party becomes unconstituted and should be wound up, or merged with another local party. I will be submitting a provisional motion to the AGM to cover this eventuality. Bridgend Local party Constitution attached:

Bridgend Local Party constitution.doc

AGM Provisional Agenda:

• (1) Welcome, Election of chair,
• (2) Minutes,
• (3) Reports from officers and councillor,
• (4) Election of officers,
• (5) Review of year (including campaigning activity and Conference feedback),
• (6) Report on Election campaigns and situation re target wards,
• (7) Motions and BGP constitutional amendments (if any),
• (8) Dates and venues for next 12 months
• (9) A.O.B.

Notes:
OFFICERS
We run on a skeleton executive of three officers at present in order to satisfy National Party and legal requirements.
These consist of:

1. Chairman – acting also as Local Party Contact (and PPERA Second Officer)
2. Elections Officer – acting as Election Agent and Nominating Officer
3. Treasurer

On top of this, there is a need for a Minuting Secretary (currently being done by the Elections Officer) and Blog/Website Officer (currently being done by the Chair). In an ideal world, we also need a Membership Secretary (sort of done by the Chair currently); and, ideally, a Fundraising Co-ordinator.

MOTIONS and/or BGP Constitutional Amendments
If any body wants to propose any, then please do so by email or post by 20th January, so that they can can be distributed for consideration before the AGM itself. They will need proposing and seconding by full members (either at the AGM or via email/post in advance) before they can be put to a vote at the AGM.