Treasurer's report

The Edinburgh branch finances continue to be in a healthy position – despite
having been through two consecutive years of big elections. This is due to the
careful planning and budgeting of the campaign teams, as well as the ongoing
generosity of our branch members through crowdfunders, regular giving, and
larger one-off election donations.

As I am not re-standing as Treasurer this year, this will be my final report. If
you would like further information on anything raised, please email questions to
treasurer.edin@scottishgreenparty.org.uk.

Local Council Elections 2022

As has become the norm, the finances for the 2022 council election were recorded
on a separate budget from the ongoing branch figures. The total spend on the
election was £27,000 (including donations in kind).

In the planning stage of the campaign, the branch committee agreed that up to
£6000 of branch reserves would be available to supplement fundraising for the
council elections. This decision took into account the branch reserves policy
that required reserves for two years’ branch running costs to remain in the
bank, the healthy bank balance going into the election campaign, and the
principle that election campaign spending – on campaigns with significant chance
of returning elected representatives - is a valuable use of reserves.

In the end, the total branch reserves used was just under £3000. Given the
success of the campaign, which resulted in the increase of the Edinburgh Council
Green Group to 10 councillors, I believe this was a good use of branch reserves.

Special thanks must go to our Election Agent Alan Duggan for the huge amount of
work that he undertook in ensuring accurate spending returns were submitted in
good time. Thanks also to Fraser May for his tireless help with the campaign
budget, Steve West for his meticulous printed materials record-keeping, as well
as everyone involved on the core campaign team, local teams and branch committee
for their help in managing and tracking expenses, and for running such a
fantastic and enjoyable campaign.

Ongoing impact of Covid-19 and general finances

The ongoing impact of Covid-19, along with the focus on election campaigning,
has meant that branch spending has been relatively low in the first half of
2022. However, as we look ahead to the second half of the year, it is with
optimism that we will be able to return to in person meetings and events. This
will mean an increase in spending (on room hire etc.) but also a greater
opportunity for fundraising.

The projection, leaving aside the election-related income and spending, is that
we will have a small branch budget surplus at the end of 2022.

National and Sub-branch Capitations

In 2021, following the recommendations from the SGP Capitations Working Group,
the SGP National Council agreed to bring in a new Capitations model. Although
one capitations payment has been made in this time, I am concerned that the new
process will not lead to regular capitations payments. As someone who was on the
Capitations Working Group, and worked on the new model, I am disappointed that
the new process is still not fully operational. I hope to raise and revisit this
issue with the SGP Finance and Fundraising Committee over the coming months
(albeit not as branch Treasurer).

The process for implementing sub-branch capitations began but was then stalled,
largely by a lack of capacity due to election activity. An outgoing task will be
to restart these conversations with representatives from sub-branches, as well
as with the incoming branch Treasurer, Co-Conveners and Local Teams Officers.

Branch standing orders

As always, a massive thanks to everyone who has a standing order to the
Edinburgh branch bank account – this remains the primary means with which branch
activities can be guaranteed. If you are in a position to give a regular amount
to the branch each month, please complete this form (or email
treasurer.edin@scottishgreens.org.uk) and the incoming Edinburgh Branch
Treasurer will be in touch to discuss how to set one up.

Looking ahead

With no immediate elections on the horizon - and having come through two
expensive elections while retaining a healthy bank balance – now may be the time
for the branch to spend time and resources on strengthening capacity and
widening active membership.

One opportunity might be to allocate an amount to be used for a participatory
budget project – allowing for local teams and sub-branches to have greater input
in the spending of the branch budget. Another discussion that may be worthwhile
is whether there is more that the Edinburgh branch can do to provide one-off
support to other branches (and / or the national party) who might be struggling
financially following the election campaign periods.

However, these are not my decisions to make. After five years as the Edinburgh
Greens branch treasurer, it is time for me to move on. Over the years of my
involvement with the branch committee, I have been incredibly impressed by the
energy and expertise of those who volunteer with the branch – as well as the
respect and good humour brought to meetings. Looking at the candidates for the
upcoming committee, it is evident that this is still very much the case and that
the immediate future of the branch is in good hands.

Bank reconciliation (1 Jan – 31 Dec 2022)

Bank account 1 Jan 2021 £29,587.11

Total receipts in 2021 (branch only) £7,678.20

Total receipts in 2021 (incl. elections) £26,402.47

Total payments in 2021 (branch only) £4,779.81

Total payments in 2021 (incl. elections) £29,036.97

Net surplus / deficit (branch only) £2,898.39

Net surplus / deficit (incl. elections) £-2,634.50

Bank account on 31 Dec 2021 £26,952.61

Bank reconciliation (1 Jan – 19 June 2022)

Bank account 1 Jan 2022 £26,952.61

Total receipts 1 Jan – 19 Jun 2022 (branch only) £2,533.96

Total receipts 1 Jan – 19 Jun 2022 (incl. elections) £26,287.51

Total payments 1 Jan – 19 Jun 2022 (branch only) £1,281.79

Total payments 1 Jan – 19 Jun 2022 (incl. elections) £27,353.70

Net surplus / deficit as at 19 Jun (branch only) £1,252.17

Net surplus / deficit as at 19 Jun (incl. elections) -£1,066.19

Bank account on 19 Jun 2022 £25,886.42

Becky Luff

Edinburgh Branch Treasurer

19^th June 2022