Minutes of the AC Meeting – Sunday 25th January 2009

Present: Chairman, Martin Reynolds, Bob Bailey, Michaela Mackenzie, Peter Mullins, Lance Stewart, Andy McBride, Brian Mahoney, Jennie Noble, Geoff Dickens, David Hannam, Mark Collett, Emma Colgate, Eddy Butler

Apologies: Gary Raikes, Adrian Marsden, Mike Howson

Reports:

Membership Department reported the following breakdown of the percentages of membership categories:

Gold memberships 13.02%
Family memberships 16.15%
Standard memberships 39.68%
Senor Citizen memberships 18.96%
Unwaged memberships 10.02%
Student memberships 0.01%

Standing order and direct debit facilities for membership payments/renewals will be available soon.

Cost implications allowing, loyalty badges for 10, 15 and 20 year plus, may be available in the future.

The Branch Dividend Scheme is half way through its trial period. The new database will be able to identify renewals directly attributable to action in the regions.

Scottish Office reported that the restructuring of the party in Scotland was now complete and that the 6 Euro list candidates, all living in Scotland, had been identified.

Treasury continues to consolidate its financial position having made £40,000 in economies to date and by reallocating substantial sums for more effective use. This has been made possible by using far more advanced accountancy and management systems than were previously available to us. There is concern over the looming recession as we operate entirely on voluntary donations. The Board of Trustees has now been appointed and the legalities are in the final phase of completion. A properly constructed budget has been drawn up for 2009 and monthly accounts will be compiled against budget. This year, if all goes to plan, when we expect to have a turnover of £1m.

1. Data Protection Guidelines.
Guidelines explaining the implications of the data protection principles and their relevance to the Party will be circulated shortly. Action: Michaela Mackenzie

2. Unit Finances
Previously, new units were charged for publications before they had begun to accrue revenue, and as a result had fallen in to debt. From now new units will have three months grace to hold meetings and begin banking funds with which to pay for their publications. If, after 3 months, units are not banking sufficient to pay for their publications order, no further credit will be allowed. Where units fail leaving debts, those debts will be charged to the region. Action: Deputy Treasurer

3. MEP Selection Procedure
Interview panels have been set up and venues and dates for candidate interviews are being organised. Any MEPs elected must be prepared to serve 4 years of the 5 year term and then stand down in favour of the second list candidate to allow him/her to gain experience before the next Euro Elections. In addition to this they will agree to pay a 10% tithe of their salaries to their region, and to submit their expense claims for full Party audit.

4. Elections ‘Cabinet’
It was agreed that an ‘inner cabinet’ of AC members should meet more frequently than the full Advisory Council over the next 5 months in order to maintain control and focus on the complexities of the Euro campaign, The cabinet will consist of the Chairman, National Elections Officer, Head of Publicity, Treasurer, Admin. Support Officer, Press Officer, Councillor Representative and Midas Consultant Jim Dowson.
The first ‘cabinet’ meeting will take place on February 6th.

5. Leaflets & main election address
In order to avoid any repetition of the error which resulted in 700,000 Euro warm up leaflets being printed without an official imprint, all national publications must now be approved by the Chairman, National Elections Officer, National Proofreader and Marketing Consultant.
The Head of Publicity apologised for the error and offered his resignation which was declined. Overlay stickers bearing the imprint will now be sourced at minimum cost and units which have already taken delivery will be offered two options:
a) The provision of free stickers to adhere to leaflets themselves and a 33% discount on the cost of their original order.
b) A replacement order of new leaflets (with the imprint) with no discount off the original purchase price.
Units should advise Head of Publicity of their preferred option.

6. Broadcasts
The main Euro election broadcast is currently in production. The crew will also be collecting footage at the same time to publicise all the good work BNP councillors are doing to improve life in their communities, for use in the County Council elections if if TV broadcasts are granted to parties.

7. Blogsites
All local BNP blogs must change their names and operate instead as a local community website. Use of the BNP logo must be discontinued. It is impossible to control and oversee local websites centrally for legality of content and this measure protects the Party from any potentially costly legal challenges. Action: National Organiser

8. E.mail addresses
Members and officers whose personal e.mail addresses include ‘bnp’ should remove this reference for security reasons. Any officers who have an @aol address must switch to another service provider since AOL have blocked customers from receiving e.mails from @bnp.org. uk senders.

9. Operation ‘Fightback’
Actions taken must be subtle but need to deal effectively with the hostility directed at the Party and several examples of previously successful action were cited. The e.bulletins currently being circulated which identify these individuals and organisations will be monitored and supervised.
Action: Eddy Butler

10. Communication
The issue of poor communication was raised by one of the ROs who urged all officers and staff to deal promptly with e.mail and telephone requests for information.

11. Excalibur
The Excalibur merchandising operation will now be run privately by Arthur Kemp under an annually renewable licence from the Party. This is a saving to the Party in terms of storage costs and postage. Arthur will continue to work on the website, write the Party’s Education and Training manuals and will be overseeing Radio RWB.

12. Regional Data Collection
It is essential that all regional data be collected using the same formula :

1. Title
2. Full forename
3. Full Surname
4. Street name and number
5. Area (if applicable)
6. Town or city
7. County
8. Postcode
9. Telephone number
10. Date of birth.

In addition to this a jpg. of the enquiry coupon designed to maximise response will be circulated to all units and must be used on all locally produced leaflets. Action: Mark Collett

13. Identity
Identity celebrates its 100th edition in the March issue. Thereafter it will change format to become a perfect bound quarterly publication of 64 pages which will be posted free to all members of the Party. Approximately one third of the content will comprise hard core political comment with the remainder being made up of shorter, more easily digestible articles. Non members will be able to subscribe at £5 per issue.