South Edinburgh Greens (SEG) Annual Report  June 2023-24

Introduction

SEG is a sub-branch formed of two wards in the south of Edinburgh stretching
from Bruntsfield Links to the Pentlands. Morningside has c.200 members and
Colinton/Fairmilehead c.50.

Morningside has had a Green councillor since 2007 (Alison Johnstone 2007-12,
Melanie Main 2012-22, Ben Parker 2022-).
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2657

Morningside has four councillors in total (currently Green, Labour, Lib Dem,
Conservative). Colinton/Fairmilehead has three (currently Labour, SNP,
Conservative).

Colinton/Fairmilehead has never been a target ward, although we do stand
candidates there (Helen McCabe in 2022).

Green News in Morningside

In conjunction with Ben we produced and delivered two editions of Green News.

Autumn/Winter 2023 : 3000

Spring 2024 : 3000

We had a limited number of delivery volunteers with a few people doing a large
amount.

We held Green News Action sessions . Some students helped us deliver to the
tenements of Marchmont which was a great help.

Communication with SEG members

The Forest database is checked regularly for new members and a welcome email and
a welcome letter from SEG and a ( PDF) designed by Stevie West are sent to them.

We have a WhatsApp group with around 20 members signed up at any one time.

SEG Monthly Meetings

Due to an ongoing problem of finding a suitable venue in Morningside - that is
accessible, interesting and affordable -we have tried a variety but have settled
for a meeting every other month at the Eric Liddell Community Hub and an
informal coffee meet up on a Saturday in the other months . The coffee meets are
welcomed , the more formal meetings are less well attended . Cllr Ben Parker
attended all these meetings.

Liaison with the Branch

I (Aideen) acted as SEG rep on the branch committee during the year, attending
branch meetings and following activity on Slack. I attended Local Teams and
Membership working group meetings - and volunteered to send welcome letters for
local teams without the capacity to do so.

Cross team activity

SEG and SEEG held a joint meeting in May 2024

Membership

Diversity: it seemed that a slightly wider cross section of society was
represented at meetings than in previous years, although there is still a lot of
work to do.

Membership numbers remained roughly the same.

June 2021: 242 (198/44)

June 2022: 257 (207/50)

June 2023: 252 (203/49)

June 2024 : 241

Finances

SEG did not have a budget (or a Treasurer) for 2023 -24 We decided to keep
things simple and either ask the branch for reimbursement, or ask suppliers to
invoice the branch directly. Members contributed to refreshments at meetings. We
received no funds.

2023-24

The SEG AGM was held on Thursday 9th June 2023 at the Eric Liddell Centre. There
were 5 people in attendance and Aideen McNestry was elected as co-ordinator for
2023-2024

Future plans

There was a smaller than average turnout at our AGM and members at the meeting
considered what more could be done next year to encourage people to get involved
whilst also being realistic about what could be achieved. We also discussed how
greater integration with the wider branch might help us to galvanise more
members, and we discussed a need to receive support from the branch .

At our AGM on June 13th 2024

Jo Phillips and Aideen McNestry were elected as Co Cos for 2024-2025

Proposers Ben Parker and Kate Nevens

Seconders Frances Guy and Michael Heffernan