F4: Constitutional Housekeeping and International Work

Submitted by: Federal Board.
Mover: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, Federal Board)
Summation: Dr Mark Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats)

Conference notes that:

1. The constitution currently requires the chair of the Federal Appeals Panel to select the members of the panel for every hearing, although in practice this role can often best be done by delegation to a relevant member of staff.
2. The Autumn 2021 conference passed changes to the rules for party bodies which give conference and the Federal People Development Committee a role in deciding such designations, rather than simply leaving all such decisions to the Federal Board.
3. The reforms previously reported to conference for the operation of Liberal Democrats Ltd have moved responsibility for oversight of the major donors protocol and any legacy fund from the directors to the Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee (FASC).
4. The Federal Communications and Elections Committee (FCEC) has left vacant its observer post at the Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee (FASC) for several years, without either committee’s work suffering as a result.
5. The wording of Article 16.3 A. could be read as imposing a one-year term limit on FASC members, even though this was not the intention and is not how it has been interpreted up until now.
6. The composition of the Federal International Relations Committee needs to be reformed to reflect Britain’s departure from the European Union.

Conference therefore agrees to:

1. In Article 22.4, change “The members of the Panel to hear a particular case shall be selected by the Chair” to “The members of the Panel to hear a particular case shall be selected by or the Chair, or by a person authorised by the Chair to carry out this task.”
2. In Article 21.1, change both references to “Federal Board” to “Federal Party”.
3. Move the sentence, “Any such company shall oversee the Party’s Major Donations Protocol and the operation of the Party's Legacy Fund, ensuring that the wishes of testators are fully respected and in line with direction by the Federal Board” from Article 9.7 to the end of Article 16.2.
4. Delete Article 16.3(v).
5. Delete Article 15.2 I (E) and 15.2 II(C)
6. In 15.2 I (G) replace 'six' with 'eight'.

Conference further agrees that the new members of the Federal International Relations Committee shall take office immediately and be chosen by a recount of the last round of elections.

The current Federal Party constitution is available at libdems.org.uk/federal-constitution. The existing text of the relevant parts of the articles amended above are as follows:

ARTICLE 9: The Federal Board

9.7 The Federal Board shall have power to establish a company limited by guarantee to acquire, hold and dispose of such assets of the Federal Party as the Federal Board may from time to time direct and to undertake such work as the Federal Board may from time to time decide.The Directors of any such Company shall be the President, the Vice President responsible for working with ethnic minority communities, and the Chair of the FFRC. The directors shall present an Annual Report to Conference. Any such company shall oversee the Party’s Major Donations Protocol and the operation of the Party's Legacy Fund, ensuring that the wishes of testators are fully respected and in line with direction by the Federal Board.

ARTICLE 15: The Federal International Relations Committee

15.2 I (E) one person elected by Members of the European Parliament as set out in clause 17.4.

15.2 II C. one representative of the Committee of the Regions;

15.2 I G. six members who shall be elected by all members of the Party. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in accordance with the election regulations.

ARTICLE 16: The Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee

16.2 The FASC shall be responsible for commissioning the Party’s auditors and for representing the Party in any matters arising from the annual external audit. It shall report through the Federal Board to Conference including comment on the annual audited financial statements. It may also commission and oversee internal audit work related to the work of the Federal Party either on its own initiative or as requested by the Federal Board. It shall oversee the Party’s risk management operations and its Risk Register.

16.3 It shall comprise:

A. Six members, who shall be appointed by the Federal Board. Casual vacancies amongst this group shall be filled in the same way. Members appointed under this clause may not have held office or been a member of any other Federal Committee or a member of Federal Party staff during the two years preceding their nomination to the Committee.

B. The following shall also be invited to attend meetings of the committee, but shall not have the right to vote:

1. the President;
2. the Leader, who may nominate a substitute to act on their behalf;
3. the Treasurer;
4. the Chair of the Finance & Resources Committee; and
5. one person nominated by the Federal Communications & Elections Committee from amongst their members;

The Chair of the FASC shall be elected from amongst the members appointed under Article 16.3(a) above.

ARTICLE 21: Affiliated Organisations

21.1 Any organisation of persons having a common interest which satisfies the following criteria:

1. It has a membership policy which conforms to the principles in Article 3.1 of the Federal Constitution;
2. Its objects are consistent with the fundamental values and objectives of the Party;
3. Its internal procedures conform with the democratic principles in Article 4.6 (c),(d) and (e); and
4. Its internal procedures conform to any rules created under Article 9.9(b).

may apply to the Federal Board or a State Party by the internal procedures of that State Party to become an Affiliated Organisation. The Federal Board, or relevant State Party, may confer such status by their procedures. A list of Affiliated Organisations currently recognised by the Federal Party will be maintained by the Federal People and Development Committee and published on the party’s website. State Parties may make similar arrangements.

ARTICLE 22: Resolution of Conflicts

22.4 The members of the Panel to hear a particular case shall be selected by the Chair, who shall if appropriate consult with the applicant, subject to the following provisos:

Applicability: Federal.