Notes

from Steering Group Meeting

12th November 2014

Attending: Helen Couchman, Paul Couchman, Will Hemmings, Subhi Al-
Zuhairi, Leanne Robertson, Thelma Snelgrove, Howard Kaye, Chris Wight,
Sheila Wright, Louise Irvine, Ginny Eaton.

Apologies received from: Mick Dawson, Fred Greaves and Robert Evans.

Paul Couchman went through the minutes of the last meeting (our AGM) and gave a brief history and
explanation about SOSiS for those who had not attended before.

1) Save Our Elderly Care Homes Campaign Paul explained the history and basically what Surrey County
Council are proposing. This will be the closure of the last six elderly care homes directly owned and run by
the council. For more information about the homes and the proposals and campaign updates go to
www.sosis.org.uk.

It was reported that a petition has been launched, which can be signed here:
http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/SaveCareHomes/ and a page has been set up on the regional UNISON
website where people can write directly to the relevant councilors and MPs etc. This can be found here:
http://www.unisonsoutheast.org.uk/surreycarehomes?recruiter_id=1827. Campaigners for Park Hall have
set up a Facebook Group (now expanded to cover all the homes) here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/806584889380498/

The consultation closes officially on 12th December and the Cabinet will decide upon its recommended
option in February. We agreed:

To organize a lobby of the council in February.
To promote the petition and the campaign website and the Facebook page.
To support the organizing of public meetings and campaigning activities by staff, residents, families
and the general public through financial support, printing resources, supplying a speaker etc.
To organize at least one SOSiS public meeting, in Farnham on 4th Dec from 7-9pm, around the
Cobgates home. Hopward Kaye and Louise Irvine (as local PPCs will organize this).
To produce at least 5,000 postcards (for sending to David Hodge) or flyers outlining the various
action points and make these available to campaigners. Advertise any organized public meetings on
these.
To try to compile quotes from residents and families Louise.

Surrey County Council have organized drop-in sessions for anyone witrh questions or comments about the
proposed closures:

Cobgates 10am 4pm, 20th November, Farnham Maltings - Cellar Bar, Bridge Square, Farnham GU9 7QR
Brockhurst 10am 4pm, 21st November, Ottershaw Village Hall - The Runnymede Room, Brox Road,
Ottershaw KT16 0HG
Pinehurst, 10am 4pm, 25th November, High Cross Church, 1 Knoll Rd, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3SY
Park Hall, 10am 4pm, 26th November, Reigate Park Church - Park Room, Park Lane East, Reigate RH2 8BD
Dormers, 11.45am 5.15pm, 5th December, The Douglas Brunton Centre, Wellbeing centre, Park Rd,
Caterham, CR3 5TA
Longfield, 10am 4pm, 8th December, Cranleigh Arts Centre (back entrance), 1 High Street, Cranleigh GU6
8AS

2) New Banner We agreed to purchase a new banner for SOSiS. Paul to liaise with Sian (PCS) about this.

3) SOSiS and the 2015 elections Paul introduced a very wide ranging and interesting discussion about the
need for SOSis to have a clear position in the run up to the council and parliamentary elections in May next
year. We agreed:

To host an elections page on our website with a 10-point charter which we would ask all candidates
to sign. We would advertise our support for those who sign.
To encourage the holding of anti-cuts hustings or question-time style meetings for left-of-centre
and progressive candidates to debate in front of trade unionists and the general public.
To advertise our support for Paul Couchman (our SOSiS Secretary) standing in the council and
parliamentary elections in Spelthorne as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
To commit no financial resources to any political candidate.

4) Next meeting it was agreed to hold the next steering committee meeting on Thursday 15th January
2015 from 7pm in the same venue. To receive updates on the Care Homes and any other anti-cuts
campaigns and to agree our 10-point Charter for the elections.