Annual General Meeting, 21 January 2008

European Movement Sussex branch
Minutes of Annual General Meeting
held at Adastra Hall, Hassocks
Monday 4 December 2006

1.	Present: Chris and Mary Bintcliffe, Grace Blaker, Bob Booth, Peris Coventry, Kate Evans, Ernie Gillians, Oliver and Illa Hayward, Chris Jones, Sarah Leigh (Chairman), Max Nielsen, Geoffrey Pullen, Stephen Quigley, Michael Rider, Martin Toomey, Jenny Toomey, Margaret Tuccori, Martin Vasey, Betty Whittome.
2.	Apologies: Pat Whicher.
3.	Minutes of the previous AGM The minutes of the previous AGM on 7 December 2005 were approved.
4.	Chairman’s Report Sarah Leigh said that most of her time had been taken up with the reorganisation of the European Movement following Lord Sainsbury’s decision to withdraw his financial support. It was the Sussex Branch which had gathered the 100 signatures required to call a special general meeting in May 2006. This led to the decision to set up a task force (for which she had acted as coordinator) to draft a new constitution, which had been approved at the general meeting on 25 November with only one dissenting voice. As far as the branch was concerned, the committee had met eight times and there had been a number of events (two dinners, the annual Brinsbury seminar, a study day on the enlargement of the EU). In the coming year five members of the committee would take part in the annual West Sussex Schools Council in December, there would be a study day on Turkey in February, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome would be celebrated in March (see below) and there would be a debate on a European theme at the Brighton Festival in memory of François Duchêne. She concluded by paying tribute to Chris Jones for his work on the branch’s website, and to Michael Rider, who was retiring from the committee. Oliver Hayward and Michael Rider paid tribute to Sarah Leigh for her drive and tireless efforts without which the reorganisation of the Movement would not have been brought to a successful conclusion.
5.	Treasurer’s Report Chris Jones presented the accounts for the year 1 November 2005 – 31 October 2006. These had not yet been audited since not all the bank statements were yet available. He drew the meeting’s attention to the fact that the withdrawal of Lord Sainsbury’s subsidy was liable to have financial consequences for the branches. At present subscriptions were paid to HQ which returned 40% to the branches, but it was not clear whether this would continue to be the case. Sarah Leigh pointed out that the Movement’s finances were such that it could no longer afford to finance the activities of the branches except possibly basic administrative costs. In reply to a question Chris Jones said that the Sussex Branch had financial reserves to cover two years’ expenditure. The accounts were approved.
6.	Election of officers and members of the Committee 2006-2007 The existing officers and members of the Committee were elected unopposed with the exception of Michael Rider who had decided to retire. Geoffrey Pullen was elected also unopposed as a new member. The new Committee is composed as follows: Chairman: Sarah Leigh Secretary: Martin Toomey Treasurer: Chris Jones Members: Kate Evans, Illa Hayward, Oliver Hayward, Geoffrey Pullen, Margaret Tuccori, Martin Vasey
7.	Appointment of the auditor Marilyn Dodd was appointed auditor to replace John Fox, who retired.
8.	Any other business Stephen Quigley asked for meetings to rotate between East and West Sussex.
REPORTS
I.	Regional links between Southern England and Northern France Rory Curran, East Sussex officer for Europe, gave a talk on the INTERREG Programme set up by the EU to encourage cross-border projects between the public and private sectors and voluntary organisations. Over the period 2000-2008 INTERREG III was expected to provide 100 million Euros for some 200 joint projects between Kent and East Sussex on the one hand, Nord-Pas de Calais, the Somme and Seine Maritime on the other. INTERREG IV, currently under discussion, would be broadened to cover the whole of the English coast from Norfolk to Cornwall as well as the Flemish and Dutch coastal areas on the other side of the Channel. The focus would be on achieving the objectives of the Lisbon and Copenhagen Declarations (employment and sustainable development respectively).
II.	The EM Special General Meeting on 25 November 2006 Sarah Leigh briefed the meeting on the new constitution. The aim was threefold: to devise a structure suited to a volunteer organisation, to give the branches more authority and to provide a workable rule-book. There would be a National Council to make policy composed of representatives of the branches and directly elected members, a small working executive (as opposed the present unwieldy Executive Committee) and a forum for branch chairmen (who would also be responsible for looking after failing branches). The Movement would be run by a working chairman with a national figurehead as president who would chair general meetings, both being chosen by the national council.
III.	The EU 50 celebrations in March 2007 Stephen Quigley, Chairman of the Steering Group, said that two events were planned. There would be a meeting at Chatham House on 22 March with top names which would focus on the main achievements and future challenges, while the meeting at Goodwood House on 28 March would have a more regional and local content.