co-operative partyLondon councilJenni Boswell-Jones • Mick Loates • Ismail Saray

Since the AGM of the Co-operative

Party London Regional Council in March

2011 TH Co-op Party delegates have

attended all the bi-monthly Council

meetings that were held either in

Portcullis House or in Rooms in the

"Palace of Westminster".

Printed reports from all the meetings

have been presented at the TH Co-op

Party's monthly meetings. Key events

during the year were the Co-op Party's

Annual Conference (9 - 11 September) -

attended by Ismail Saray and Jenni

Boswell-Jones but, unfortunately, with-

out delegate status. This affected our

ability to vote on the 'big issue' of

increases in annual membership sub-

scription rates. However the London Co-

op Party delegation put forward a strong

argument against - but conference

decided on an initial subs increase to

£20 followed by review. (it would seem

that the other Co-operative regions are

not short of cash). We also participated

in a number of policy meetings to devel-

op co-op policy on key issues in Ken

Livingstone's London Mayoral mani-

festo. This past year the Party Council

have managed to resolve many of the

problems that occurred during the merg-

er of North and South London Coop

councils and benefitted from having both

an efficient secretary, Timothy Godfrey,

and treasurer, Tom Searle. We ended

the year celebrating the UN declaring

2012 as International year of Co-ops. So

lots to look forward to.

JennI BoSweLL-JoneS

chair’s ReportJaMeS GRaySon

It is interesting to survey the year. 2011 was the firstfull year of the unelected coalition, led by a party withfar less than 50% of the vote. Politics went onto the

streets again in a number of senses. A number ofdemonstrations took place, essentially againsteconomic policies and violence on the street forreasons which are probably more difficult to ascertain.Prepared for every eventuality we commissioned abanner and have kindly been supplied with a variety offlags. Should you have an unused fishing rod we canmake good use of it.

In Tower Hamlets the Executive Mayor proceeds withdefections to his cause principally from the LabourParty. Council tax was held constant. 2011 was the year of the 75th Anniversaryof the Battle of Cable Street, led by one Beattie! We had a stall at thecommunity festival behind the town hall where the mural was re-dedicated.

We continue to collect books for our sales so please remember us should youhave a surplus. Our educational function continues with speakers coveringtopics ranging from republicanism to mental health.

Preparations are moving on for the GLA elections in 2012 which is also year ofCo-operatives and, should you have not noticed, a London based Olympicgames which we continue to fail to achieve tickets for after years of disruption.There are concerns about the planned focus of the campaign. Membership ofthe party has grown slightly.

l the annual conference was held in Londonl the co-op party council seems now to have achieved a London focusl London co-op council’s logo adopted by London and regional branchesl tower hamlets co-op party website developing alongside one for London

May I thank colleagues for their support throughout our endeavours?

JaMeS GRaySon n

Royal college of art Society

AGM 2012Tower

Hamlets

Co-op Partyco-op paRty • the political wing of the British co-operative Movement

Secretary’s ReportStephen Beckett

Democracy, participation and accountabilityOur local branch met eleven times throughout 2011 this is more than most

local branch Labour Parties managed making our local Co-operative branch

the most regularly convened party political grouping in the Borough. Local

branch attendance has increased averaging out at twelve members per

meeting. Our branch continues to invite speakers, last year Mike Davis

spoke to us about migration (February) and education (July). Cllr Rabina

Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, addressed our meeting in March.

Stuart Madewell led a debate on AV in April, Tim Gopsill, NUJ, gave a

review of the Wapping Dispute and the current Mudoch crisis (September).

Steve Freeman spoke to us about riots and republicanism (October) and

Dinah Morley addressed concerns about mental health services at our

November meeting. Our branch delegates to the London Co-operative Party

Council have been in regular attendance and reported back upon the

decisions taken at PC meetings. Our branch continues to play a part in the

life of the local Labour Party and last year we submitted ten resolutions to

their GC for consideration (three more than last year). Most of our delegates

have attended GC meetings and regularly reported back to the branch.

Solidarity activitiesThe branch commissioned a new branch banner which was available in

time for the TUC anti-cuts demonstration (March) and for the anti-EDL

demonstration (September), in October for the 75th anniversary of the Battle

of Cable Street and in June and November in solidarity with striking public

sector workers defending their pensions. July saw the Co-operative Party

flag fly over the Town Hall at Mulberry Place.

the year aheadThe New Year shows no sign that the Tory-led government intend to make

life easier for ordinary people. Their intention is to continue the austerity

measures and make ordinary people pay for the collapse of casino

capitalism. Once again the Council is facing a difficult budget as it seeks to

reconcile the demand for services with a further cut in Government funding.

Let’s hope that 2012 will see opportunities for us to unite with the

progressive forces of Tower Hamlets to defend ordinary working people

against the continuing ideological cuts agenda.

2012 is the International Year of Co-operatives. We should take this

opportunity to spell out co-operative ideas and values and to explain how

the Tory-led government is exploiting co-operation and mutuality for their

own agenda. Finally I would like to thank fellow members, officers and

delegates for all their help, support and co-operation throughout the year

and I look forward to working with you all in the future.

Stephen Beckett n

Gareth thomas Mp co-operative party chair

aGenDa IteMS1 attendance

2 Minutes of the last aGM (19/1/2011)

3 Matters arising

4 officers annual reports

5 Delegates annual reports

6 eLectIon oF oFFIceRS

chair • Vice chair • Secretary •treasurer •

Membership

7 eLectIon oF DeLeGateS

party council (1 delegate)

tower hamlets Borough Labour party

8 any other Business (aoB)

(An ordinary meeting (urgent business only) will follow - time permitting)

we welCoMe you To THe AGM of

TH BrAnCHCo-oP PArTy19 January 2012 7.30pm

venue LABOUR PARTY ROOMS349 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9RA

Tower Hamlets Branch Co-operative Party - the political wing of the British Co-operative Movement

AGM

chaIRJames Grayson

58 Dinmont HousePritchards Road, E2 9BW

Tel: 020 7729 1180e: jgrayson58@aol.com

SecRetaRyStephen Beckett

14 Chapman HouseBigland Street, E1 2NG

Tel: 020 7790 1479m: 07984 193 679

e: sjbeckett14@aol.com

tReaSUReR & MeMBeRShIpJenny Fisher

39 Talia HouseManchester Road, E14 3HB

Tel: 020 7272 5896e: jennyfisher@phonecoop.coop

VIce chaIRBelle harris

1 Rochester Court, Wilmot St E2 Tel: 020 7613 0640

poLItIcaL eDUcatIonMike Davis

co-opeRatIVe paRtytoweR haMLetS BRanch

DeLeGateS

th BoRoUGh

LaBoUR paRty

Lil collinsMike Davis 020 7488 3774

Brian StanleyBelle harris 020 7613 0640

Mick Loates 020 7791 2946

co-opeRatIVe paRty

LonDon coUncILJenni Boswell-Jones

Mick LoatesIsmail Saray

LaBoUR paRty LonDon

coUncILJames Grayson

2012

Tower HAMleTsCo-oPerATive PArTy

officers 2011

the above members are the outgoing officers and delegates for the year 2011. putyour names forward for these positions or nominate somebody you know who

would like to be an officer or delegate for 2012.

published by: th co-operative party, 349 cambridge heath Rd, e2 9Ra • Design-print: artzoneco-op@artzone.org.uk©2012

ReSoLUtIonS RepoRtThe Tower Hamlets Co-operative Party Branch carried ten resolutions at meetings heldduring 2011, see full text below. Most, but not all, were later carried at THBLP GC.DeManD FoR a FULL InVeStIGatIon By the LaBoUR paRty nec • This GCnotes the circumstances surrounding the recent Mayoral election in Tower Hamlets...toRy pLanS FoR oUR nhS (February 2011) • This GC calls on the Labour leader-ship to resist and reject the Coalition’s plan for the NHS...conDUct oF Gc MeetInGS (March 2011) • This Co-op/GC notes the list of issuesconcerning the 2011 AGM raised by TH Co-op Party and asks CLP officers to ensurethat meetings...hoUSInG (March 2011) • This Co-op/GC notes that LBTH liaises with RSLs with stockin the Borough and with tenants of social landlords...paRty MeetInGS (april 2011) • This Co-op / GC notes the list of issues concerningthe THBLP (2011) raised by the Tower Hamlets Co-operative Party and asks THBLP...natIonaL heaLth SeRVIce (april 2011) • This GC calls upon the ParliamentaryLabour Party to reaffirm the Labour Party’s 1997 General Election Manifesto which said...tRIDent RenewaL (May 2011) • This GC opposes a renewal of the Trident NuclearProgramme. Such an action directly constitutes a breach of Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty which states...caMpaIGnInG aGaInSt acaDeMIeS (June 2011) • Tower Hamlets Co-op/GC notesthat the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government is pushing ahead withturning schools into Academies...“too FaR, too FaSt” (June 2011) • The slogan “too far, too fast” does not provide aviable alternative to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government’s policiesthat aim at destroying our Welfare State....UnIte to eLect a LaBoUR LonDon MayoR (July 2011) • This GC notes...paLeStIne (contemporary motion, September 2011) • Support the UN recognition...

Stephen Beckett n

treasurer & Membership ReportThe Financial Report will be tabled at our AGM and members can access the

accounts on request. I have recently audited the Branch membership for

2011. The number of Branch members has increased by 26% from 70 to 88

members which puts us in the “top ten” of London Branches. This coming

year the annual membership subscription will increase to £20, however there

are discussions on subs levels for low income categories. Through events

around International Year of Co-ops and the London Mayoral election

campaigning there is opportunity to increase our membership.

Jenny FISheR n

political educationPolitical education is the lifeblood of any organisation. Lively discussionsanimated meetings and events. Rabina kahn lead Cabinet memeber forHousing spoke passionately about housing benefit cuts and their impact onTower Hamlet’s tenants. She outlined the Mayor's housing policy which soughtto develop more social housing and keep rents as low as possible. TH hasa big problem of overcrowing which government policy was making worse.At the following meeting we were inspired by Steve Freeman who spoke on“Republicanism” and the importance why British England needs to address itsdemocratic deficit and national identity. He illustrated this with a symbolic flag- a red, purple and green tricolour.In September tim Gopsill of the Campaign for Press and BroadcastingFreedom spoke to us in ‘The Dundee’ pub on the 25th anniversary of theWapping dispute. He spoke eloquently about the iniquities of Murdoch's NewsInternational, and it's long-standing anti-union crusade, the long saga ofphone hacking and corruption in news gathering and the culture of elitism andjobs for the boys and girls.Mike Davis our PEO spoke about education and reflected on his 40 yearcareer as a secondary school teacher in Hackney and education adviser inHaringey. He had been one of almost 40 made redundant from a SchoolImprovement Team of 55 staff. These cuts were happening around the countryto school support services. He spoke of the achievements made in the statesector of education measured by the higher numbers of students passingGCSEs and A Levels and getting to university or further education. Much of thisadvance was now under threat with the huge public spending cuts, theacademies and free school programme which was removing democraticoversight from schools and centralising control. More money was not going tostate schools and the prospect of larger classes, less support for special needspupils and schools dividing rather than uniting communities was in prospect.Dinah Morley spoke at our November meeting about mental health andservices in Tower Hamlets. In times of crisis mental illness gets worse asfamilies, youth and older people struggle to cope with unemployment andlower living standards. One in four of us are likely to experience mental healthproblems. Again these services are under threat. She spoke Again theseservices are under threat. She spoke about government policy--No Healthwithout Mental Health, and the difficulties in funding comprehensive mentalhealth services in current circumstances. She flagged up local consultation onthe development of dementia services across East London and encouragedeveryone to become members of the East London (NHS) Trust.

MIke DaVIS n

Co-operative Party