Unlock Democracy Management Board

Minutes
17
th
April 2012

Present
Vicky Seddon (VS) (Chair), Peter Hirst (PH), Mark Valladares (MV), Stuart Weir (SW),
Nan Sloane (NS), Phil Starr (PS)

Apologies
Tamsin James, Finola Kelly

In Attendance
Peter Facey (PF), Alex Runswick (AR), Jack Maizels (JM)

1 Minutes and Matters Arising

The minutes were approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

2 Finances, Staff, Admin

Management accounts

PF advised that the UD accounts were until the end of February and warned that there
had been substantial expenditure in March. He added that the organisation was
performing in line with the budget and an expected deficit of 15,000.

PF indicated that the Rodell accounts showed income lower than expected and
spending higher, with money being spent on renovating the building and the office
move. He reported that Cynthia Street now has new tenants, Click and Buy, who will
move in at the end of May and start paying rent at the beginning of September, after
their rent free period.

PF reported that the tenants in the basement of Grays Inn Road have handed in their
notice. Rental income can be expected to be greater next year, with income of 23.50
per square foot from Cynthia Street compared to around 13 per square foot that we
would have generated, had we found a tenant for floors 1 to 3 of Grays Inn Road.

VS enquired into physical repairs requested by Cynthia Streets new tennants and PF
advised that there had been fewer than expected. VS noted that Rodell was 33,000
down by the end of February, and PF stated that it would be 50,000 down by the end
of the year.

PF commented that the inter-company account was to be wiped out by a special
dividend. The advice from our new accountant was for Rodell to donate office space to
UD as a gift in kind, rather than UD paying rent to Rodell. This would allow the
opportunity cost to appear on the budget and the inter-company account to be
minimised. MV noted that this was both efficient and transparent. PF agreed, and
added that once 50% of the shares were transferred (30% have already been
transferred), consolidated accounts would have to be produced. This would have the
advantage of clearly showing the relationship between the two companies.

VS enquired as to the number of bank accounts currently running, and PF advised that
there are 8 or 9, as some still received standing order income, around 2,000 - 3,000,
from people who cannot be contacted.

The accounts were approved.

Staffing

PF advised that there was no change in staffing and that the staff were happy, working
well and adjusting to the new office, including adapting to working over 3 floors. He
also noted that the first day in Grays Inn Road was the day the Peter Cruddas story
broke. VS expressed her thanks to the staff for their hard work, perseverance and
resilience.

Health and Safety

PF reported that the issues arising from moving to a new office were being worked
through. VS enquired about the hand rail leading up to the first floor and whether there
were plans for a fire drill, to which AR responded that this is in hand but has been
delayed, as Office Manager Simon Howard, who is the responsible person, had been
on leave for the previous 2 weeks.

Fundraising

PF advised that there had been a successful bid to James Madison Trust, 2 EU grants
had been applied for, the results of which would be known in June, there had been no
response as of yet from the Amiel and Melburn Trust and the Nuffield bid had been
rejected. He also stated that a bid had just been sent to the JRCT for work on elected
Police Commissioners. The office was looking into sending this also to the Home
Office and other funders if it was not successful with JRCT

MV enquired as to what work would be done on elected Police Commissioners, to
which PF responded that it would involve producing voter education materials
specifically to provide information on the posts themselves, a pack enabling users to
run hustings and 41 Votematches. There was then a short discussion around the lack
of free post and spending limits in these elections, and the potential for low turn out.

PF went on to report that other trusts are being looked at for funding for work on e-
petitioning and the bid to the Esmee Fairbairn trust was successful but conditional
upon the government publishing the SCA regulations, which are currently delayed.

3 Rodell

PF advised that there needs to be a meeting of directors prior to July.

4 Membership

PF reported that no more free membership offers had been made, but that he was
open to any suggestions for organisations that could be approached.

Approval of members

PF circulated a list of potential members for approval. NS raised the issue of one
name on the list reading Youth Chair, Compass UK. PF advised that the name of
whoever holds this position would be found out, and recommended that this
membership not be approved until there is a name.

The new members were approved, with the above exception.

PF then reported that membership currently stands at 7990. There was then a
discussion on the merits of offering free membership to the 25,000 people whose
email addresses have been inherited from the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign. It was
agreed that the Yes to Fairer Votes supporters should be offered free membership but
it was delegated to staff to decide on the most effective way, and the appropriate
timing, of doing this.

5 Campaigns / Project

Voter registration

AR reported that there was an ongoing debate on whether fines should be kept for
failing to provide information to Electoral Registration Officers, with some arguing that,
whilst they are necessary to ensure the head of the household ensures everyone is
registered, they are inappropriate for individual registration.

AR advised that UD is arguing that providing registration information is a collective
responsibility, as it has an impact on others, for example, it is used for constituency
boundary changes and jury service, and that the government is currently consulting on
the matter. PF added that the government are considering making it a civil offence not
to register, which some say is the first step to compulsory voting.

SW enquired as to whether this is a pending campaign, to which AR responded that it
is not currently scheduled, but a close eye is being kept on it. A short discussion then
followed on the impact of registration on boundary changes, the danger of politicising
such changes and the merits and pitfalls of basing constituencies on population versus
registration.

Lords

PF advised that the Joint Committees report was due out on Monday 23

April at 10am,
and that recommendations for 80% elected, more than 300 members, 15 year terms,
elections by thirds and a referendum were expected, with the latter being a particularly
concerning issue. AR also advised that an opinion poll with YouGov had been
commissioned, the results of which would be released on Monday. There was then a
short discussion on the likelihood of a referendum, the danger of proposing a
compromised bill to the public and how referendums in general should be triggered.

Vote Match

PF reported that the London Mayoral Votematch, sponsored by confused.com, had
gone live. PF then went on to comment that the money from confused.com had just
covered the costs of the project, but there was potential for a long term deal with them.

VS then enquired as to the payments for the Student Union versions, to which AR
stated that the invoices had been sent out, and our payment terms had not yet been
reached. There was then a short discussion on other potential versions, including for
UDs internal elections, to which PF advised that there would be a conflict of interest
for staff to draw up and decide on questions, so a separate panel would be needed. It
was felt this would be time-consuming and awkward to administer.

SCA

PF stated that the question of delay in the regulations, which has lasted nearly a year,
is being pushed and a dossier of each time the government have said nearly there is
being produced, which will be shown to ministers. There was then a short discussion
on the difficulties of getting regulations down and whether there was the potential for a
judicial review. PF concluded by stating that the approach was being reviewed on a
weekly basis.

Party Funding

PF reported that, following the Peter Cruddas scandal, cross party talks have now
been planned and Ed Miliband has recommended a 5,000 cap with the trade union
political levy on an opt-out basis staying in place. PF stated that he believes the opt
out is not the crucial issue, rather, the problem lies with the lack of clarity in informing
members about the affiliation to Labour, with no mention of it on the membership
forms (with the exceptions of UNISON, ASDAW and the Musicians Union). He then
added that any deal would need to include deregulation on trade unions, for example,
getting rid of the need for a ballot on the political fund.

There was then a discussion on various aspects of reform, including the historical
background and the different options available.

Lobbying

AR reported that this had been a major piece of work for us and there were many
different strands of the campaign: a joint letter which 28 organisations have signed; a
similar letter for individuals which will be handed in alongside 38 degree with 73,000
signatures; a tool on the website for more detailed consultation, which has received
around 1,400 responses; and public meetings in Sheffield and Birmingham, with Mark
Harper MP speaking at the latter. AR went on to describe the Birmingham meeting as
very constructive, and VS commented that there were around 60 people at the
Sheffield meeting. There was then further discussion around different aspects of the
campaign.

CWI

AR advised that there was nothing substantial to report, the campaign was ongoing
and funding is being sought.

Devolution

PF reported that there was a successful bid to produce a pamphlet on devolution in
England and that the next JRRT bid would also include a proposal for work on the
English Question. There was then a discussion on local government structure, dealing
with variation and the powers devolved.

6 Update on internal elections

PF advised that he had spoken to the returning officer and that election addresses
would be posted on the website where questions can be asked, and that candidates
would be able to tweet the website. VS enquired as to whether the returning officer
had agreed with this, to which PF stated that he had, and they were currently working
on the best way of implementing this. MV asked to express his gratitude to the staff for
dealing with this issue.

7 A.O.B

AR commented that there were rumours circulating that the government would
introduce charges for Freedom of Information requests, something that she will be
looking very closely at.

NS gave her apologies for the next Council meeting.

The next meeting of the Management Board is Tuesday 29
th
May 2012.