One way of working off the mince pies post-Christmas for me has been preparing for local Labour Party branch Annual General Meetings. My predecessor as secretary for the Cities of London and Westminster Constituency Labour Party, Jason Thomas Williams left an excellent set of ideas in his files to assist his counterparts at the branch level. It includes times, deadlines, posts to be filled to share out the work,'job descriptions' and a set of the standing orders to help ensure the business is conducted systematically - or at least that's the theory. I have just amended them for 2009 and despatched them to my counterparts and the chairs of branches, including a reminder to branches to prepare audited accounts if they are raising/spending and holding money.
It became fashionable under our previous Labour Party leader to scorn these routines. Checks and balances are a vital part of our society, not just our democracy. Having seen the banking system come close to collapse worldwide, my wish for 2009 is that our new Labour Party leader will make clear his appreciation of the role of branch officers, including those who account for the money. We need lots more people in local communities who understand the importance of these functions. Many used to gain their apprenticeships as chairs, secretaries, organisers and treasurers in trade union and Labour Party branches.
Let's consign sofa government to the dustbin of history in 2009.