WEST KENT NEWS News for Conservative Members and Activists from West Kent Campaign HQ

Edition Number 3 - January 2015

From the Chairman: William Rutherford

Dear Members

May I begin by wishing you all a very Happy New Year, which I hope will bring you good health, happiness and success.

It is now 9 months since the West Kent Group of Conservative Associations was formed, and as we approach our AGMs I wanted to give you an update on the progress of this innovative and exciting initiative. Our new joint office in Paddock Wood was formally opened on 24th April by the Conservative Party’s Senior Vice-President, Steve Bell.

National Vice President, Steve Bell, officially opening the West Kent Campaign HQ in Paddock Wood, April 2013. Steve praised all five Associations for their cooperation, their hard work and for their vision. In creating a grouping of independent Associations, sharing costs and supporting each other, the West Kent Group has set a new standard for Party organisation. Our first challenges were the local and European elections on 22 May. It was a disappointing night for the Conservative Party nationally, but our own results showed more reasons for optimism. While we did lose a number of seats in Maidstone, neighbouring Tunbridge Wells recorded a remarkable result. Thanks to a very focused local campaign Tunbridge Wells was the only Borough in Kent where the Conservatives topped the poll in the European elections and the Party also made a net gain of council seats against all expectations. The lessons from this successful campaign will be useful for all the Associations in the run up to the General Election.

Membership in our five Associations bucked the national trend and across West Kent we finished the year with 137 more members than in 2013. Having one central office has enabled us to collect renewals and chase lapsed members more efficiently while also promptly following-up all new enquiries. A lapsed members campaign was also organised in the summer, for those Associations that wished to take part. The office contacted several hundred supporters whose membership had lapsed since the 2010 election. 76 members re-joined as a direct result of this activity, contributing an additional £2,715 to our funds. The table below shows how much was raised for each Association through this initiative:

Whilst the West Kent Group was not established to organise social events or replace the activities of local branches and Associations, we did have the opportunity this year to use our collective strength to raise additional money thanks to a generous offer. “An Audience with Baroness Trumpington” was held at Maidstone’s Hazlitt Theatre on Thursday 4 September. Each Association sold tickets and the profit was divided on a pro-rata basis, with over £2,500 being raised towards campaign funds. The event was so successful that a second event along the similar lines is being organised with Sir Nicholas Soames on Thursday 12 March at Tonbridge School. Further details and a booking for are enclosed. The Summer and Christmas Draws continued to go from strength to strength with all Associations showing significant increases in both sales and profit over the two draws. The graph below demonstrates what we have achieved.

West Kent 2013

Membership

1789

West Kent

2014 Membership

1926

Association Members Re-enrolled

Additional Income

Chatham & Aylesford 7 £235

Faversham & Mid Kent Did not participate in campaign

Maidstone & Weald 15 £985

Tonbridge & Malling 39 £990

Tunbridge Wells 15 £505

Totals: 76 £2715

Association Summer Draw 2013 v 2014

Christmas Draw 2013 v 2014

Chatham & Aylesford +28% -12%

Faversham & Mid Kent +187% +45%

Maidstone & Weald +106% +61%

Tonbridge & Malling +19% +42%

Tunbridge Wells +20% +41%

Membership 2013 v 2014 Increase (decrease) by Association

Chatham & Aylesford: +22 Faversham & MK: (6) Maidstone: +34 Tonbridge & Malling: +57 Tunbridge Wells: +30 West Kent overall: +137

INTERIM WEST KENT GROUP ACCOUNTS TO 31 DECEMBER 2014

Income Expenditure

Fixed contributions from Associations:

Chatham & Aylesford 5,800 Staff costs 55,000

Faversham & Mid Kent 15,700 Rent 10,200

Maidstone & The Weald 15,925 Business Rates 1,200

Tonbridge & Malling 22,540 Electricity 800

Tunbridge Wells 19,660 Telephone 2,200

79,625 Office equipment 2,500

Payments for print, postage and consumables: Stationery and print 6,900

Chatham & Aylesford 2,700 Insurance 700

Faversham & Mid Kent 4,700 Office costs 1,200

Maidstone & The Weald 5,500 Postage 16,500

Tonbridge & Malling 7,200 Legal fees 1,700

Tunbridge Wells 7,900 Set-up costs 5,800

Miscellaneous 1,600 Petty cash 600

29,600 Contribution to FMK staff settlement 1,000

Total Income: 109,225 Total Expenditure: 106,300

Excess income over expenditure £2,925

One of the main objectives of forming the West Kent Group was to use our collective strength to support each other and provide assistance to neighbouring marginal constituencies. Over the last year we have organised coaches to Eastbourne and Clacton and we played a hugely supportive role in the recent Rochester & Strood by-election. Our efforts in supporting others were recognised in September when the West Kent Group received the Party’s National Excellence Award for Campaigning at a presentation in Westminster hosted by Party Chairman, Lord Andrew Feldman.

Receiving the National Excellence award for Campaigning at a ceremony in Westminster.

Having our own phone bank has proved a huge success and has brought many benefits to our Associations. Over the year, 17,000 phone calls have been made. In the election period alone 11,000 households were contacted, including 5,000 on polling day itself. As we approach the General Election we would like to see the phone bank used more often as it is openly and freely available to all Associations for canvassing, membership recruitment and helping find new volunteers.

As well as fulfilling their campaigning, fundraising and administrative responsibilities the West Kent Office is a vital resource for help, advice and support to all of our MPs, councillors, Associations and branches. Guiding our Associations through the complex new selection rules, the staff has overseen the selection of nearly 200 local government candidates. Since moving to Paddock Wood the team have designed and printed over one million leaflets and packed 100,000 envelopes. The fact that we manage all of this with just two full time staff is a remarkable achievement and testament to the tireless hard work of Andrew Kennedy and Jon Botten on our behalf.

We also benefit hugely from a small army of willing volunteers who come in on a regular basis to provide clerical help and support. These include Gill Levine, Owen & Chris Baldock, David Elliott, Sue Nuttall, Thelma Huggett, Janet Sergison, Joyce Gadd, Vivian Branson, Brenni Wilson, Brian & Pat Moss and many others. They too deserve our thanks as without their time and dedication we would not achieve all we do. Over 100,000 envelopes packed by our wonderful team of volunteers who come into the office week-in week-out to support our work.

In conclusion, I would like to thank my fellow West Kent Management Team for their help and support throughout the year and thanks also to Julian Walden from CCHQ who is always on hand with wise counsel and sensible advice. Most importantly of all, I would like to thank you, our loyal members and donors, whose generosity, hard work and ongoing support ensures that the Conservative Party continues to thrive and prosper in our corner of Kent.

William Rutherford