Knowle, Dorridge and Blythe Labour Party

Meeting 7.30 p.m., Wednesday 26th September 2017

Downing Hall, Knowle

Minutes

1. Chair’s welcome: Present: Simon Johnson (Chair), David Brittin, Ian Shearman, Jean Shearman, John Bragg, Alison Brookson, Joe Wood (visitor).

2. Apologies for absence: Received from Terry Mandrell, Martin Tolman, Jackie Law and Margaret Brittin.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 July 2017.

Agreed as a true record.

4. Matters arising: John Bragg reported that he was making good progress in contacting new members.

The Chair reported that he had been informed that the West Labour Party regional conference had been postponed until 3 March 2018 because of the likelihood of a general election being called in autumn 2017.

5. Correspondence:

None

6. Chair’s report: Simon Johnson said that this year’s annual party conference had been very united and he believed that it was one of the best held in recent years, in contrast to that of the Tories which was exactly the opposite.

He went on to say that Cllr Jeff Potts, who represents Knowle, had been suspended from the council’s Conservative group following his posting of tweets which called for the bulldozing of mosques and other anti-Moslem sentiments. After discussion it was agreed without dissent that the Chair should liaise with the constituency party over a press release calling for Cllr. Potts’ resignation from the council.

7. Treasurers’ report:

8. and Meriden CLP report:

In the absence of any executive committee members from the branch Joe Wood gave a brief report which delt mainly with the decision to increase the number of target seats in next May’s local elections.

9 .Speaker

Joe Wood, a member of Bickenhill and Meriden branch reported on his work as Meriden constituency campaign co-ordinator and then led a wide-ranging discussion on energy conservation and other green issues.

10. Future events:

A supper club was being held jointly with North CLP with Sir Keir Starmer MP., on 2 November. The next branch meeting would be held on Wednesday 22 November.

11. Any other business:

None. The meeting closed at 21.18