Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (6)
Review of the Conservative Party
Constitution - Phase 3
Document sent to Party members by the
Chairman of the National Convention, Julian Ellacott 29 January 2026
Suggested changes: 6 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
6.5.3
Proposed:
The Association’s representatives on its
Area Council shall ex officio be the Chairman, Deputy Chairman Political
and Deputy Chairman Membership and Finance.
For Associations covering more than one
constituency, in addition to the Chairman, Deputy Chairman Political and Deputy
Chairman Membership and Finance representatives on the Area Council shall
comprise the Constituency Officer for each constituency plus two further
representatives living in each constituency, elected by the Executive Council.
Where an Association straddles the
boundaries of more than one Area, representation on the respective Area
Councils will be determined by agreement of the Association and the respective
Area Management Executives. If no such
agreement can be reached the Board shall make a determination.
Delete in entirety.
Insert: All members of the
Association resident in the Area shall be members of the Area Council. Constituency Associations shall constitute
Area Councils as determined by the Board.
Sch 7-14
6.6 Funds of the Association
6.6.2
Proposed:
The Executive Council shall appoint no fewer than 3 signatories
for Association bank accounts, with cheques or other payments always requiring
authorisation by at least two of those signatories, to the extent possible. The
Board shall set out further rules in this area as necessary.
Delete: “The Board shall set out further rules on
this area as necessary.”
Existing:
6.7.3 In an emergency, and at
the absolute discretion of the Chairman of the Association, the Chairman may
summon a meeting of the Executive Council at shorter notice to deal only with
the business stated in the notice convening the meeting.
Proposed:
To deal with a pressing matter the Chairman or a quorum of members
of the Executive Council may summon a meeting of the Executive Council at
shorter notice, with the consent of the Area Chairman.
Such meeting may only discuss the business stated in the notice of
the meeting, relating directly to the pressing matter.
Stick with the existing rule Why should the Area Chairman be involved.
He/she can attend the meeting.
Sch 7 -15
Committees of the Association
Existing:
6.5.2 The Executive Council may, pursuant to
paragraph 6.8 below, establish such committees of the Association as it shall
think fit, for example a Political Committee, a Women’s Committee, a Local
Government Committee, and Youth Committee, where there are sufficient numbers
of members of the Association who would wish to take part in the activities of
such Committee to warrant its establishment.
Proposed:
The Executive Council may, pursuant to clause [X], establish such
Committees as it sees fit, provided that any Committee is chaired by a member
of the Executive Council appointed by it.
The Executive Council must set out clear terms of reference for and
membership of any Committees so established, and review the same at its first
meeting after each AGM.
Where a Committee is established to promote activity in a constituency
within an Association covering more than one constituency (ie a Federation), it
is to be referred to as the “[Constituency Name] Constituency Committee”, and
be chaired by the relevant Constituency Officer.
Where a Committee is established to promote activity in a defined area
smaller than a constituency (eg a ward), it is to be referred to as a Ward or
Branch Committee, and be chaired by a relevant Ward Representative. This is a simplified alternative to
having separate provisions for Branches, as currently in section 7 below) –
views are welcomed on which route is preferred.
Committees may be established for other purposes, for example running
specific election campaigns, policy development, promoting women, young people
or other sub-groups of the membership.
Where relevant, these Committees should liaise with any nationally
recognised or affiliated groups within the Party with similar objectives.
This provides a structure within which Committees can be developed for
any purpose, including to cater for local CWO, YC, CPF groups, etc.
The Board may direct the Executive Council to establish a Committee for a
particular topic or purpose, or may set other rules governing Committees.
The Board may lay down Rules which apply to any Committee
established by the Executive Council pursuant to clause [X].
Stick with the existing wording.
This is bureaucracy gone mad.
Why does a Committee have to be chaired by a member of the Executive
Council? Why does the Executive Council
have to set out the membership of the Committee and review this after each
AGM? Committees should not be set up to
promote activity outside the Association!
Why should the Board direct the Executive Council to establish a
Committee or set other rules governing Committees?
This is another power grab by the unaccountable, unelected Board. It is killing the voluntary Party. With all this bureaucracy imposing all these
conditions no one with any sense will want to be a Officer of an Association. CCHQ will then achieve what it wants, no
voluntary Party will exist!
Existing:
6.6.2 The
Executive Council shall appoint not less than three signatories for Association
bank accounts, bank drafts or cheques or similar documents which shall always
require authorisation by at least two of those authorised signatories. This
shall include the written authorisation to control electronic, online or
digital banking and all payments made in such forms.
Proposed:
The Executive Council shall appoint no fewer than 3 signatories
for Association bank accounts, with cheques or other payments always requiring
authorisation by at least two of those signatories, to the extent possible. The
Board shall set out further rules in this area as necessary.
Delete: “The Board shall set out further rules in this area as
necessary”.
More power grab by the Board!
Sch 7-16 7 Branches
7.1 The Executive Council may establish
Branches of the Association, in wards, polling districts or other geographical
areas in the Constituency or Constituencies, consisting of all members of the
Association resident in that geographical area.
The Board may set down further rules in relation to the operation
of Branches.
Delete “or Constituencies”
Delete: “The Board may set down further rules in relation to the
operation of Branches” Another power
grab!
7.4 Each
Branch shall consist of the following Officers: Move to Rulebook (in
substantively the same form)
Where is this Rulebook? Is it part of the Constitution?
Sch 7-17 8 AGENT,
CAMPAIGN MANAGER, OR OTHER STAFF
Existing
8.1 The Executive Council
shall have power to appoint a member of staff who shall be responsible to the
Executive Council for supervising the work of the Party organisation throughout
the constituency.
Proposed
The Executive Council shall have power to appoint staff, who shall
be responsible to the Executive Council for undertaking activity in pursuance
of the Objective of the Association throughout the constituency or
constituencies, in line with a role specification which the Executive Council
shall approve.
This applies to staff employed directly and those employed via a
consultancy contract.
Delete: “or
constituencies”
Delete: The Board may issue guidance or
directions on the employment of staff, including template employment contracts
and the handling of disputes, which Associations may be required to adopt.
More power to the Board!
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