Branch Rules. Dunblane. 1 Rules. 2 Name. 3 Objects. Acceptance of Rules. 5 Membership. Branch Rules Page 1 of 6

Transcription

1 Branch Rules 1 Rules Each Branch will adopt a Constitution as follows, and this shall replace any previous Constitution; 2 Name 3 Objects 2.1 The name of the Branch shall be the Scottish National Party Dunblane Branch (hereafter referred to as the Branch ). 3.1 To further the aims, provide an efficient organisation, and spread the knowledge of the policy of the Scottish National Party, hereafter referred to as the Party in the following area (include a list of the electoral wards which the Branch is responsible for in an addendum to this constitution) and to promote the organisation and expansion of activity within the Branch territory, in accordance with the Constitution, and Rules and Standing Orders of the Party. 3.2 To co- operate with other Scottish National Party Branches in the Constituency Association and with relevant liaison committees to secure the return of Scottish National Party candidates for parliament at all levels and local authorities and to provide satisfactory support and liaison for candidates when returned. 3.3 To raise adequate funds for the foregoing purposes. 4 Acceptance of Rules 4.1 The Branch accepts the Constitution, and Rules and Standing Orders of the Scottish National Party, together with any subsequent alterations thereto and that the Branch Rules shall be subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee of the Party. 5 Membership Membership is open to an individual, who agrees to abide by the Constitution, and Rules and Standing Orders of the Party, and is registered as an elector in the area covered by the Branch. An individual, who is not registered as an elector in the area covered by the Branch, may request to be a member of the Branch subject to Branch approval. The conditions of membership for, method of enrolment of, and level of subscription payable by individual members in this Branch shall be in accordance with the 5.4 Membership Rules of the Party and any decision taken by National Conference, National Council and/or the National Executive Committee. The resignation of a Member received by the Branch shall be reported to Party Headquarters within seven days of receipt of such notification. Branch Rules Page 1 of 6

2 6 Conduct of Members 6.1 The branch will report any alleged breach of the Party s Code of Conduct for Members, or contravention of the Constitution, or Rules and Standing Orders of the Party, to the National Secretary for investigation, who shall act in accordance with the Disciplinary Rules. 7 Office Bearers 7.1 The Office Bearers of the Branch shall be i) Convener Vice Convener i Secretary iv) Treasurer v) Organiser vi) Political Education Officer v Women s & Equality Officer Co- Opted Member vi Membership Secretary Executive Committee Other Office Bearers may be appointed if desired. The Office Bearers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Branch No member shall hold simultaneously more than two of the Branch Offices listed in 7.1 (i iv) above No member shall hold simultaneously the offices of Convener and Secretary The Branch may have an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Branch Office Bearers and other members to be elected at the Annual General Meeting, as required. The Executive Committee shall have powers to co- opt no more than three additional members The quorum for meetings of the Executive Committee shall be 4. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held as required to conduct the business of the Branch between Branch meetings and to receive reports from Office Bearers. The Executive Committee shall have powers to act on behalf of the Branch in an emergency. The Convener shall rule if there is an emergency but may not do so for matters covered by the Party Constitution, and Rules and Standing Orders (dealing with formal notification of resolutions etc to Headquarters) or covered by the Branch Constitution, Clause 17.1 Special Business. 9 Finance and Property The Branch shall elect a treasurer (and in the absence of a treasurer the Convener shall have this responsibility) who shall adhere to procedures laid down in the Financial Scheme for the purpose of compliance with the relevant legislation. The administrative and financial year of the Branch shall be the calendar year. Any heritable property owned by the Branch shall be in the names of three Office Bearers, one of whom shall be the Treasurer, and their successors in office. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the safe- keeping of any title deeds to property which shall normally be lodged with the Branch s bank or solicitors. Branch Rules Page 2 of 6

3 The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping proper books of account, together with receipts for outpayments, and comply with all accounting arrangements set down by the Electoral Commission, the Party Treasurer (in reference to that role registered with the Electoral Commission), and/or the National Executive Committee, especially those concerned with the reporting of donations to the Branch. The funds of the Branch shall be used only for the Objects as detailed in this Constitution, Clause 3.1 and 3.2. Audited annual statements shall be submitted at the Annual General Meeting of the Branch in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislation and any subsequent regulations laid down by the Electoral Commission, the Party Treasurer (in reference to that role registered with the Electoral Commission), and/or the National Executive Committee. The audited annual statements for a financial year shall be submitted to Party Headquarters (and to the Electoral Commission if required to do so) no later than 31st March in the year following the period which the audited annual statements relate to. A written financial report shall be submitted by the Treasurer at each meeting of the Executive Committee and of the Branch. 10 Local Government Elections 10.1 When a local council ward to be contested lies wholly within the branch territory, the branch shall be responsible for: i) submitting the name(s) of any nominee(s) to the Local Government Liaison Committee (or relevant body determined in the Party s Organisational Framework) for approval selecting the candidate(s) from the register of approved potential local government candidates agreed by the Local Government Liaison Committee in accordance with the Rules on Vetting and Selection of Local Government Candidates i approving a candidate s choice of election agent iv) financing the local election campaign Decisions taken by the Branch shall be binding on all members of the Branch. 11 Annual General Meeting 11.1 The Branch shall hold its Annual General Meeting by the end of February of each year when the Office Bearers shall submit their reports for the preceding financial and administrative year. At least four weeks notice of the date, time and venue of the Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing to all members of the Branch. The detailed agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to all members of the Branch at least fourteen days before the date of the Annual General Meeting The circulated agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall contain a list of all nominations for Branch Office(s) and resolutions on Branch affairs and policy matters for consideration at the Annual General meeting, which have been notified in writing to the Branch Secretary. These resolutions and nominations of Office Bearers and Committee, duly signed by a proposer and seconder, shall be in the hands of the Branch Secretary twenty one days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of such written nomination not being made for an office, oral nomination, duly seconded, shall, with the consent of the nominee, be accepted. 12 Business of an Annual General Meeting 12.1 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be: Branch Rules Page 3 of 6

4 i) i iv) v) to receive reports of Office Bearers to consider resolutions proposed by members and submitted in accordance with procedure detailed in section 11.2 above to elect Office Bearers and Committee members as provided in this Constitution to elect two auditors to elect delegates to Constituency Association, National Council, National Conference and other bodies as required Nothing in this section shall preclude general discussion of any topic permitted by the Convener of the meeting but no formal proposal, other than an emergency motion, may be considered without prior notice as detailed in Clause 11.2 above. Emergency Motions shall require to relate to matters which could not have been foreseen at the time the Agenda was compiled. 13 Ordinary Meetings 13.1 Ordinary meetings of the Branch shall be held as required to conduct the business of the Branch, receive reports of the Executive Committee and Branch delegates as appropriate and to provide an opportunity for Party and other speakers to address members on subjects of common interest, political or otherwise. Such meetings shall be held not less frequently than six times annually At least seven days notice of each ordinary meeting shall be given by the Branch Secretary in writing or by public notice unless all members have been notified in writing that regular meetings are held at a particular time. When Special Business (as defined in Section 17.1 below) is included on the agenda, 13.3 at least fourteen days notice in writing shall be required. Special Business for consideration at an ordinary meeting must be notified to the 13.4 Branch Secretary in writing not later than twenty one days before the date of the scheduled meeting and detailed in the notice calling the meeting. 14 Quorum and Voting The quorum for a Branch meeting shall be 10 and will include an Office Bearer. Those present shall vote for a Chair, should the Convener/Vice- Convener not be present. Each member shall have one vote at meetings. The Convener shall have a deliberative and casting vote but the former may be used only whilst the vote of other members is being taken. 15 Special General Meeting 15.1 A Special General Meeting shall be called to discuss Special Business (as defined in Clause 17.1 below): i) i 16 Notification of Special General Meeting on receipt of a written request containing the details of the business to be discussed, submitted by at least 6 members of the Branch (personal issues will be handled by a separate procedure 17.3), or on the instruction of a properly constituted meeting of the Branch or Executive Committee, or on the instruction of the Branch Convener At least fourteen days notice of a Special General Meeting, quoting the authority for calling the meeting, shall be given in writing to every member of the Branch and the business to be discussed shall be detailed on the notice. The meeting shall be held within three weeks of notification to the Branch Secretary of the business and no other business shall be in order at the meeting. Branch Rules Page 4 of 6

5 17 Special Business 17.1 Special Business shall include the following topics and may only be discussed at a meeting called by due notice as outlined in Clause 16 above: i) i iv) v) any proposal to alter these Rules selection of prospective local government candidate(s) or proposal for the deselection of a local government candidate a proposal to suspend or remove a Branch Office Bearer or Committee member from office a proposal to censure a local Councillor any matter, being a matter not previously notified to members, ruled by the convener of any meeting of the Branch to be Special Business. (If the Convener does not invoke this rule a resolution, proposed and seconded, may be put to a meeting that a particular matter be ruled to be Special Business. If a simple majority of members present and voting declares in favour of the resolution, it shall be carried and the Convener shall rule the matter to be Special Business ). All proposals dealt with, as Special Business shall require a majority of two- thirds of the members present and voting to be effective. Grievance Procedure Any members with an individual issue relating to conduct of Office Bearers, Executive Committee members, elected officials or other members of the Branch must contact a member of the committee or Convener in the first instance. 18 Press and Public Communications 18.1 Only members of the Branch authorised to do so by the Branch may make statements on behalf of the Branch in public or to the press. 19 Groups 19.1 The Branch may organise members in a geographic area into a Group. A Group is not recognised by the National Executive Committee and responsibility for the Group s membership, activities and finances will remain with the Branch. Groups may be recognised by a Constituency Association and/or Liaison Committee at the Constituency Association s and/or Liaison Committee s discretion. 20 Conduct of Meetings The Convener shall be responsible to the Branch for the conduct of all meetings and shall be the deciding authority on points of order. Except where otherwise specified, all issues involving voting will become effective by a simple majority unless stipulated differently in Party Rules and/or guidance issued by the National Executive Committee and, unless otherwise agreed at the meeting, voting will be carried out by a show of hands. ADOPTED BY THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY DUNBLANE BRANCH DATE PLACE CONVENER SECRETARY Branch Rules Page 5 of 6