What are the criteria for new Equity Branches?

For democracy to work properly the majority have to be involved - it cannot be democracy by default where the minority decide can it? It used to be that there was a minimum number of members required to start a new General Branch ideally between 80 - 100 members making such a request. The current Rep Con Council majority have lowered this requirement over the past few years. So a "backstage" question - how many members DO YOU think should be regarded as sufficient to request Council to agree to a form a new General Branch?
Please email any thoughts to:

daveeagerequity@yahoo.co.uk

You may like to consider this:
Apart from the additional cost to Equity, you and me, the more General Branches there are...the more representatives attend the Annual Representative Conference. If the General Branches are NOT representative of the members, then it means neither is the Annual Representative Conference. BUT the Annual Representative Conference has the power to over-rule the Council...the body which is directly elected by all members, regardless of whether you attend a local branch or not.
The move for more branches is a move to "ACTIVISTS ONLY WELCOME". Other members - just pay your subscriptions because the activists know best what is good for you !