1. Attendance –  Terry Scott, Anne – Marie Sanderson, Paul Mattson, Philip Wolmuth, Michael Preston, Tracy Howl, Matt Aslett, Guy Smallman, Larry Herman

Marc Vallee (observer)

2. Apologies –  Franc David (personal), Zarina Holmes (work), Jason Parkinson (leave of absence), Jess Hurd (?)

3. Absent –  Pete Maclaine, Ross Domoney, John Harris

4. Minutes ( 05 / 03 committee ) –  Agreed

5. Matters Arising -

a. Michael to contact Sarah Kavanagh to find out more details (costs, etc), as she asked whether we (together with another branch, I think) would like to set up a

Training the Trainers event, using an IFJ trainer to train volunteers to run local women’s safety training sessions.

6.  Assessment of 26 / 03 Branch meeting -

Very good.  Committee’s gratitude to Anne – Marie for her very positive and strong introduction to the discussion.

7. Future Branch meetings -

a.  April Branch discussion: New threats to our working combined with production order (Jason)possibly John Toner / Michelle / Roy   Should be: legal threats to out work from proposed changes to copyright law and to the rules regulating production orders. Guy to organise (including proposing the discussion title  and preparing website graphic)

b.  Guy to approach Jim Boumelha about including him in a future meeting about working abroad

c.  Guy to speak to Edmund Terakopian about a future meeting on new developments in DSLR video equipment and in alternatives to heavyweight DSLR stills cameras.

8. Health & Safety -

Possibly May Branch meeting, Paul and Matt to survey Branch membership and come back to May committee meeting with proposals

9. Copyright (discussed in 7 above)

10. Branch Red Cross Course -

Matt & Zarina to look at the available information and make a proposal to next committee meeting

11. Canon equipment demonstration -

It was agreed that rather than invite manufacturers to a branch meeting to promote their equipment, it would be more useful and appropriate to ask fellow professionals to discuss equipment options (7c above).

12.  Marios Lolos -  No new developments

13.  Motion -  Branch agrees to provide a link to NUJ Xtra on our website and Branch will invest in a very cheap phone for this purpose.

Remitted until explained what this is about from Pete

14.  David Hoffman -

Philip to speak to David regarding his letter. (14) It was agreed that Marc Vallee would make a list of branch members who wish to join a legal action to pursue the removal of any information about themselves wrongly held on the Domestic Extremist Register police database.

15.  Membership / Recruitment /  “T” shirts  -

Larry to discuss with Membership Secretary regarding recruitment

16.   Marc Vallee request to be co – opted onto committee

VOTE:  agreed to recommend to 30 April 2013 Branch meeting to co-opt onto Branch committee

17.  Reports -

a.   The Guardian

b.   BBC strike

c.    Rule Book change

18.    A.O.B. -

a). Jason’s resignation as Branch chair:  election for new Branch chair to be held at next Branch meeting on 30 April 2013. Nominations to Branch secretary ([email protected]) beforehand or, at Branch meeting: 6 pm,  30 April at Headland House.

Notice of forthcoming election to be put, immediately, up on all appropriate Branch sites.

b). agreed that the Thatcher post to the LPB Facebook site should be taken down.

c). agreed that Guy would look into organising a hustings for the Photographers Council election, in collaboration with other branches

d). agreed that Michael would look into organising attendance sheets for branch meetings, and ways of insuring all attendees sign up to them

Meeting ended: 7.55

Minute taker:  the secretary