Sunday, November 26, 2006
Lib Dem Annual General Meeting
"A very successful year"
The Annual General Meeting of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats was held on Friday, 24th November from 8pm at North Chingford Methodist Church, Station Road, E4.
In his Chairman’s Report, Cllr.John Beanse looked back on a very successful year and thanked all who had contributed in any way. The 3 Council seats in Church End ward on the Redbridge side of the constituency had been held comfortably. In Waltham Forest there had been a dramatic and historic breakthrough with the three seats gained in Hale End & Highams Park ward.
John reflected on the work of the Council, referring particularly to the importance of Health Scrutiny at a critical time for the NHS, and spoke positively of the successful drive to push up recycling rates in the borough.
He reported that the local NHS campaign had already netted over 1000 signatures for the Lib Dem petition protesting at local NHS cut-backs and defending Whipps Cross Hospital. John also detailed the success of the Special Council meeting on Whipps Cross where it was the Lib Dem motion – with 2 additions from the other parties – that had been passed unanimously.
There were other reports, including one from Geoff Seeff and John Beanse on Lib Dem Conferences attended by delegates. The Autumn Conference in Brighton had been particularly successful for the local party, with part of Geoff Seeff’s speech on the Lebanon carried in the national media and John’s speech on taxes featuring on BBC TV’s “Newsnight” with Jeremy Paxman. In addition, John had instigated and introduced a special “Urgent Issue” debate on “The NHS in Crisis”.
A though-provoking speech from the Guest Speaker Cllr. Farooq Qureshi, Forest ward Councillor and current Lib Dem Mayor of Waltham Forest, was very well received by members and led to an interesting discussion.
The elections of Officers, Committee members, etc for 2007 included the following decisions:
President: Maureen Hoskins; Chair: Cllr.John Beanse; Vice-Chairs: Geoff Seeff and Afzal Malik; Secretary: Joan Carder; Treasurer: Cllr.Hugh Cleaver.
In his Chairman’s Report, Cllr.John Beanse looked back on a very successful year and thanked all who had contributed in any way. The 3 Council seats in Church End ward on the Redbridge side of the constituency had been held comfortably. In Waltham Forest there had been a dramatic and historic breakthrough with the three seats gained in Hale End & Highams Park ward.
John reflected on the work of the Council, referring particularly to the importance of Health Scrutiny at a critical time for the NHS, and spoke positively of the successful drive to push up recycling rates in the borough.
He reported that the local NHS campaign had already netted over 1000 signatures for the Lib Dem petition protesting at local NHS cut-backs and defending Whipps Cross Hospital. John also detailed the success of the Special Council meeting on Whipps Cross where it was the Lib Dem motion – with 2 additions from the other parties – that had been passed unanimously.
There were other reports, including one from Geoff Seeff and John Beanse on Lib Dem Conferences attended by delegates. The Autumn Conference in Brighton had been particularly successful for the local party, with part of Geoff Seeff’s speech on the Lebanon carried in the national media and John’s speech on taxes featuring on BBC TV’s “Newsnight” with Jeremy Paxman. In addition, John had instigated and introduced a special “Urgent Issue” debate on “The NHS in Crisis”.
A though-provoking speech from the Guest Speaker Cllr. Farooq Qureshi, Forest ward Councillor and current Lib Dem Mayor of Waltham Forest, was very well received by members and led to an interesting discussion.
The elections of Officers, Committee members, etc for 2007 included the following decisions:
President: Maureen Hoskins; Chair: Cllr.John Beanse; Vice-Chairs: Geoff Seeff and Afzal Malik; Secretary: Joan Carder; Treasurer: Cllr.Hugh Cleaver.
# posted by John Beanse @ 5:54 PM 
