Branch AGM 2021

The Annual General Meeting of the East Sussex Branch of the Co-operative Party,  will be held via Zoom, on Saturday 16th January 2021.  

Paid up members will have been emailed a link.  Please contact the secretary if you have not received this. 

A G E N D A

1. Apologies for Absence

 
2. Minutes of the 2019 AGM.

3. Reports:

• Chair,
• Vice Chair,
• Secretary/Treasurer (including annual accounts from August 2019)
• Constituency Labour Parties
• SE Regional Party

4. Elections:

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Any other officers
• Delegates to SE Regional Party (2) if still required
• Delegates (where a GC Structure operates) or nominated contacts (where an all-member meeting structure) to Constituency Labour Parties as required

5. Plan of Work for 2021 , to include confirmation of meeting dates for the year, arrangements for endorsing candidates for ESCC elections (and postponed borough council elections where applicable) and possible rescheduling of events cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions (day school and film showing events.)

To allow for advance notification, nominations for vacant posts are sought in advance of the meeting. Members may self-nominate, (and a formal proposer and seconder will be sought at the meeting) Please email nominations to the current Secretary.

End violence against Shop Workers

Every day, more than 250 retail workers face violence, just for doing their jobs. Six of those incidents will involve a knife, and two a gun. A lot of these shops sit in the heart of the community, and these instances impact on the workers and sense of safety in the community.

"Working in the pet industry we have the right to refuse sales to people who we think will not care for the animals correctly, this has led to several examples of threats and abuse.

We also regularly deal with anti-social behaviour from youth who’ve threatened me with knives and thrown things at my head for asking them to leave and stop destroying the shop. I’ve seen colleagues spat at, and abused, and other customers.

For minimum wage, it’s really not acceptable to have to deal with it."

From alcohol and cigarettes to knives and acid, there are now more than 50 types of products that are restricted by law. It’s staff on the shop floor who we expect to enforce those laws, and who all too often pay the price in the form of violence, threats and verbal and physical abuse from customers.

The Co-op movement is working to raise the profile of this issue through our politicians and affiliated trade unions, and co-op businesses are already taking practical action to work with staff and communities.

Find out how you can support the Co-op Party campaign here

Tackling Modern Slavery

13th September to 18th October is the Co-operative Party's Month of Action against Modern Slavery

Over the last year the Co-operative Party has been working with partners in the co-operative movement and others to highlight the scourge of modern slavery and to provide practical measures to ensure this country leads the world in tackling this heinous crime. To date 24 councils have agreed to implement the points in the Co-operative Party's Charter against Modern Slavery.

But it's not enough. Recent figures released by the Global Slavery Index suggest that there could be as many as 130,000 people trapped in modern slavery in the UK. Our Labour and Co-operative MPs have campaigned in Parliament to strengthen legislation, and locally our members have run dozens of local initiatives to raise the profile of modern slavery with the public. But we know we need to do more.

13th September to 18th October is the Co-operative Party's Month of Action against Modern Slavery. Click here to find out how you can get involved in the national campaign, and watch this site for local actions.  You can also read the Co-operative Party's detailed briefing on how local government can get involved, by clicking here

Promoting Co-Operative Fortnight in Eastbourne

#coopdifference

Members of the Branch met with the public in Eastbourne Town Centre today, to promote Co-operatives Fortnight.

Our street stall distributed a range of information about the vital role the co-operative economy has both in the UK and worldwide, and explained more about how co-operatives work, and the work of the Co-operative Party in developing this, and related policies.

A big thank you to Neil, Ros, Jane, Phil and Dave for their hard work.

You can find out more about Co-operatives Fortnight by clicking here.

Branch AGM: 14th July 2018

THE 2018 AGM OF THE EAST SUSSEX BRANCH OF THE CO-OPERATIVE PARTY  will be held in Eastbourne on Saturday 14th July, at 11.00am 

The meeting will elect officers for 2018-9 (Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary), delegates to the Sussex Co-op Party, and delegates to all of the Constituency Labour Parties in our Branch area (Lewes, Eastbourne, Wealden, Bexhill and Battle and Hastings.)

GUEST SPEAKER: ANDREW PAKES:
We are pleased to be welcoming our NEC member for the South East Region, Andrew Pakes to the meeting.  Andrew is a phenomenal campaigner who served as President of the National Union of Students in the 1990's,Chair of SERA- Labour's environmental campaign,  a Labour/Co-op councillor in Southwark, and was the  Labour and Co-operative Parliamentary candidate in Milton Keynes at the 2015 General Election.


THE MEETING WILL BE: at the RAF Association, Wish Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4NX (map) on Saturday 14th July starting at 11.00am (note slightly later start time than usual) 

The bar will be open after the meeting, and the club also serves excellent lunches (we all left the last meeting thoroughly well fed!) Please note there is a staircase to the meeting room. We look forward to seeing you there!

End so-called "Modern Slavery"

The Co-operative Party is proud to be leading the way in campaigning against so-called Modern Slavery.

The Charter opposite is designed for local councils to commit to action on this issue.  Already Labour councils in Islington, Waltham Forest, Stevenage, Lambeth and Oxford  have signed. 

Modern Slavery is one of the great evils of our time, and it's happening under our noses. In nail bars, car washes, farms, factories and restaurants, it is estimated that tens of thousands of people in the UK could be victims. 

Find out more about the issue, and how you can get involved in our campaign by clicking here. 

Labour and Co-operative MPs have been leading the campaign in Parliament.  View the video below to hear some of their contributions. 

Fairtrade Fortnight!

A big thank you to all who came along to our Fairtrade Coffee Morning with Bexhill Fairtrade on Saturday 10th March.

Join us for Fairtrade Coffee Morning !

The Co-operative Party East Sussex Branch and the Fairtrade Movement

invite you to a Coffee Morning on Saturday 27 February 2016 10.30-12.30 at St Luke's Church Parish Centre, Rattle Road ,Westham, Pevensey East Sussex BN24 5SL (By crossroads... map here)

Come and find out more about the Fairtrade movement and the Co-op Party on the eve of Fairtrade Fortnight. One of the Co-op Party's main commitments is to the Fairtrade movement but also campaigns on other people centred local issues. Find out how the two movements campaign and how you could get involved.

Entrance Free: Tea or Coffee and homemade cake £1

Come and try and buy a variety of Fairtrade products: Clothing,coffee, rice, bananas, chocolate and more !

Urgent- Use your vote for the Co-op Group AGM

After 98 years of changing Britain for the better, the Co-operative's voice in politics could be silenced.  You have the power to keep it.

Showing a grotesque ignorance of the history, values and strength of the Co-operative Movement,  Allan Leighton the new Chief Executive of the Co-Operative Group (Britain's largest co-operative, and a major supporter of the Co-operative Party) has said that "It's the apples not the activists that will transform the Co-op"

If you have received a Co-op AGM pack via post or email, the deadline to vote online is noon on Wednesday 13th May.

The Co-operative Party is at risk. Time is running out save it. Vote 'YES' to motions 9 and 10 to keep the link.

For more information visit http://keepit.coop/how_to_vote or watch the film below.

There's also a great article from Paul Routledge in the Mirror, where he exposes what he calls a "Trojan Horse" style plot to strip the progressive politics from the Co-op.

Keep it Co-op ! What's at Stake....

The very act of co-operation is political. 
For over 150 years, working people have been setting up co-operatives to defend themselves against the excesses of the market and working together to improve their lives. While some of the challenges we face today are different, the movement’s cause remains the same. Whether it’s a question of taking on the vested interests of the energy companies, the train operators, or even the payday lenders, co-operative and mutuals are providing a means through which people can help change corporate behaviour for the better. Since it was founded in 1917, the Co-operative Party has been a voice for a fundamental change in the way our country works.

The Co-operative Group is Britain’s largest co-operative
...making up about 85% of the co-operative retail sector - and one of the largest co-operatives in the world. Anyone can join the Co-operative and, as a co-operative, it is owned by its members rather than shareholders. The Group has around eight million members who have a right to vote to elect members of the National Membership Council and the Board and who earn a share of the profits of the business – known as the dividend or ‘divi’. The Co-operative Group aims to be the most socially responsible business in the UK, offering members and customers not only value, but values.

The Co-operative Party was founded in 1917 to represent and defend the co-op movement, though our roots go back all the way to 1844 and the Rochdale Pioneers, the founders of the modern day Co-operative Movement. The Party has had an electoral agreement with the Labour Party since 1927, which enables us to stand joint candidates in elections. While there is an ideological connection, this relationship is also a strategic decision made by the co-operative movement to maximise our ability to influence policy and legislation that is rooted in co-operative values.

Each year the Co-operative Group, along with other co-operative, pays a subscription (its membership fee) to support the Party’s work. In the run up to the May’s Annual General Meeting, the Group will ask its members whether to authorise the subscription and continue the nearly 100 year partnership with the Co-operative Party.

We believe the partnership with the Co-operative Party is vital if the Group wants to be at the heart of a co-operative resurgence. We provide strategic political leadership and support, driving forward policy solutions, opening up new areas for the movement to expand into.

The Co-operative Party is the guardian of the co-operative movement’s powerful values and inspiring vision, and a vital tool in achieving its profoundly political objectives.  Our aim is to deepen and enhance the link so the Group and its Members benefit, as well as society and our communities. We can create a stronger, more sustainable future together.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
Click here to find out how you can support the Keep it Co-op Campaign

Branch Meeting: Saturday 21st March

There will be a meeting of the East Sussex Branch of the Co-operative Party on Saturday 21st March, 2015, 10.30am at the Central Methodist Church, Langney Road, Eastbourne.

Our guest speaker will be Lis Telcs, National Executive Member, about the Keep it Co-op campaign.

Each year the Co-operative Group, along with other co-operative, pays a subscription (its membership fee) to support the Party’s work. In the run up to the May’s Annual General Meeting, the Group will ask its members whether to authorise the subscription and continue the nearly 100 year partnership with the Co-operative Party.

We believe the partnership with the Co-operative Party is vital if the Group wants to be at the heart of a co-operative resurgence. We provide strategic political leadership and support, driving forward policy solutions, opening up new areas for the movement to expand into.

The Co-operative Party is the guardian of the co-operative movement’s powerful values and inspiring vision, and a vital tool in achieving its profoundly political objectives.

Our aim is to deepen and enhance the link so the Group and its Members benefit, as well as society and our communities. We can create a stronger, more sustainable future together.

Members of the Labour Party are also invited to hear Lis, and participate in the discussion about the Keep it Co-op Campaign.


A G E N D A

1. Apologies for Absence
2. Minutes of the last ordinary meeting held November 2014
3. BRIEFLY: Matters Arising

4. BRIEF Reports:
a) Membership
b) Treasurer
c) Constituency Labour Parties
d) Sussex Co-operative Party Council
e) Any other Reports

5. KEEP IT CO-OP: with Lis Telcs- Co-op Party National Executive Committee Member. Update on the threats and challenges facing the Party, and the campaign to promote the political link and a genuine Co-operative movement !

6. Elections Update
7. Any Other Business Tea and Coffee will be available at the meeting.

 

Annual General Meeting

The East Sussex branch of the Co-operative Party will be holding its AGM on Saturday 18th May, 10.30am at the Central Methodist Church in Eastbourne.

This will elect new officers for the branch, delegates to local Labour Parties and decide on future campaigns and activities for the Party in East Sussex.

The AGM is a members-only meeting: why not join us by clicking here ?

Stop "Legal Loan Sharks"

The Co-operative Party is backing a campaign to regulate companies offering easy credit at exorbitant rates of interest.

Stella Creasy, who is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Walthamstow in East London spoke this week in Brighton at a TUC fringe meeting on this subject, alongside Owen Jones, the bestselling author of Chavs (which looks at the demonisation of the working class  in Britain)

Stella was joined in July by Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party, and by Tom Watson MP, in launching a campaign pack , in association with the Co-operative Party and others.

Stella writes:  "This Government has so far refused to act to tackle the high cost credit companies who are pushing families into crippling debt across Britain. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take measures to protect them and help make the case for a change in the law to cap the costs of credit. This pack is designed to help with ideas and actions you can take either on your own or together with others to stand up to these companies."

You can download the campaign pack here.

Incidentally, Eastbourne's Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd has opposed any action against these companies. You can click below to watch his speech last year attempting to justify this, here. If you don’t agree, then the campaign pack contains information to help you write to him, or other elected MPs urging action !