AGM report and results

We held the Wandsworth Liberal Democrats annual general meeting on Monday 21 November at the Penfold Centre in Central Wandsworth. Here is a summary of events:

Chair Mark Lejman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and noting how the local party was gathering momentum in preparation for upcoming elections: the parliamentary election (when it is called) as well as the next local elections scheduled for 2026.

The AGM was well attended with representatives from the three constituencies that make up the Wandsworth: Putney, Tooting and Battersea.

We were pleased that the London LibDems team were represented by Craig O'Donnell and were delighted to be joined by Merton councillor and London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari as our guest speaker for the evening. Mathew Bryant attended as the independent returning officer.

The 2021 accounts were tabled by Treasurer Duncan Lyons and were approved. Duncan presented projections for 2022 and 2023 which showed the local party to be in a good financial position (see data on our website at wandsworthlibdems.org.uk/agm_2022).

Talks by council candidates in each of Wandsworth’s target wards outlined the successes and challenges of this year’s local elections:

• Gabriel Barton-Singer reflected on the Thamesfield ward local election in Putney.
• Paul Tibbles highlighted the efforts put into the Trinity ward (Tooting) campaign
• Sue Wixley looked back at the campaign at Nine Elms, Battersea

All three stressed the need to get out and start knocking on doors, establishing our presence and representing the needs of our communities.

Executive Committee

The election of Officers and Ordinary members of the Executive 2023 were as follows:

• Chair: Mark Lejman
• Secretary: Hugh Brown
• Treasurer: Duncan Lyons
• Campaign chair: Sue Wixley
• Data officer: Kieren McCarthy
• Membership development officer: Rebecca Grubb
• Diversity officer: Paul Tibbles

Executive members which includes at least one member from each constituency:

• Cait Hart Dyke
• Jane Hilton
• Lara Fiorani
• Haren Thillainathan

Guest speaker

Hina Bokhari, our guest speaker, gave a talk about the importance of supporting Londoners from all sectors and communities.

Having started out as a teacher in Tooting, Hina feels a great affinity with Wandsworth and used her own experiences in successfully being elected as a councillor in Merton and a London Assembly member to encourage the Wandsworth members to get out on the doorstep and work with the community to fight for just causes and help make a difference.

Thanks

The AGM was concluded with the Chair thanking all members of the executive and indeed all members and supporters who had worked tirelessly as volunteers  representing the Liberal Democrats in Wandsworth during 2022.

Many had also supported the national party in recent by-elections such as Tiverton, Amersham and Kingston. A particular mention was made thanking Caroline Ogden for all the support in ensuring envelopes /material were sent out from Wandsworth during these campaigns.

Three members in particular - Jenny Voyce, Mark Gitsham and Paul Benton - were thanked as they were stepping down temporarily from the executive.