Autumn Conference 2023

Motion #08

Change the Governance Structures of the Party

Motion not debated

Synopsis

This motion changes the composition of the Regional Council and the Executive in line with the pathfinder motion submitted to Conference in Autumn 2022 and the motions submitted to Spring 2023. It increases the size of Regional Council and introduces PR; and reduces GPEx and introduces a competence threshold.

Motion

SOC Note: This motion will require a 2/3 majority to pass.

Part One

This motion calls on Conference to amend Clause 6 of the constitution as follows:

Delete existing clause i)

i) There shall be a Green Party Regional Council which shall provide a forum for dialogue between Regions, responsible for keeping under review the general well-being of the Party and for supporting and advising the Green Party Executive, particularly on matters of political strategy.

and replace it with

i) There shall be a Green Party Council which shall be responsible for managing the Party’s culture, creating the political strategy, and directing the political direction of the Party in between conferences.

ii) It will be responsible for supporting and advising the Green Party Executive and hold the Executive to account for the delivery of the political strategy

And renumber, deleting Regional Council throughout Clause 6 and elsewhere in the Constitution and replacing it with Council

Amendment #1

In Part 1, in (i) replace “culture, creating the political strategy, and directing the political direction of the Party in between conferences.”

with:

“culture, wellbeing, and governance; creating the political strategy; and setting the political direction of the Party in between conferences.”

SOC Note: an amendment originally proposing the insertion of ‘GPC’ after ‘Green Party Council’ was recognised as a minor textual amendment and made by SOC of its own motion

Delete existing clause iv)

iv) The Regional Council shall consist of two members elected by postal ballot (as specified in Appendix C) by and from each constituted Region. Each term of membership of Regional Council shall be for two years commencing from the date of election by the individual Region. Such election shall be notified, in writing, to the Secretary of the Regional Council giving the date of election and confirmed by the Region’s Electoral Returning Officer. Such notice is to be given not less than two weeks prior to the next meeting of the Regional Council.

and replace it with

iv) The Council shall consist of 36 members. Each council member’s term will be for three years and 12 people will be elected every year, using a single transferable vote process, as part of the annual ballot. Any member who has been a member for over two years will be eligible to stand.

v) No person can be elected to more than two full terms consecutively. Terms will be considered non-consecutive if they are approximately one year apart. Members elected to a shortened term at the first Annual Ballot or elected to a shortened term to fill a vacancy are not considered to be elected to a full term.

vi) The Green Party Leader (or Co-Leaders), the Deputy Leader (or Deputy Leaders), the Wales Leader, and the Young Greens Co-Chairs will all be voting members of the Council. Where the position is a job-share, the role will have a single vote. The two Young Greens Co-Chairs will have one vote each. The Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, plus the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council.

And renumber subsequent clauses

SOC Note: the second proposed amendment has been split by SOC into two parts, 2A and 2B, for ease of reading, but can be debated together

Amendment #2a

In iv)

insert before “36” in the first sentence: “ordinary”.

insert after “members” in the first sentence: in addition to the role holders outlined in section x below ; and delete “who has been a member for over two” and replace with “of the Green Party of England and Wales whose membership of the Party exceeds two continuous”.

So that it reads:

iv) The Council shall consist of 36 ordinary members in addition to the role holders outlined in section x below . Each council member’s term will be for three years and 12 people will be elected every year, using a single transferable vote process, as part of the annual ballot. Any member of the Green Party of England and Wales whose membership of the Party exceeds two continuous years will be eligible to stand.

Insert new sections vi – ix and renumber:

vi) In order to preserve the regional spread of the council, in determining the results of annual ballot to elect ordinary members of the council the following requirement will be applied. At the point of the calculating the results of the election each year, the results shall, subject to the caveats outlined in section viii, provide for there to be amongst the membership of the ordinary members of the council:

a. At least 1 member of Wales Green Party

b. At least 1 member of each English Regional Party

vii) If at the close of nominations set out in Section 16 Internal Elections and Annual Ballot, part 7 there are insufficient nominations submitted for election to the Council in order that the election can satisfy the requirements set out in part 4 above, then nominations will be re-opened and the requirements to satisfy the constitution published to all members. This re-opened nomination period shall close at noon 5 weekdays prior to the opening of voting.

viii) If following the extended nomination process detailed in section vii above, there are insufficient candidates on the ballot to satisfy the requirements set out in section vi above then the election shall proceed to elect the full number of ordinary members as required and will waive the requirements in section vi for this ballot for that particular region, or Wales, as applicable. There will be a significant communication campaign from the council over the subsequent year within the region(s) concerned, or Wales, regarding the need for candidates to put themselves forward.

ix) If a member of the council moves to a region of England where they had not been resident at the time of their election, or into Wales, they will continue to be a member of the council. At the next annual election, their current location of membership at time of nomination will be used to determine whether requirements under vi have been met.

To reflect changes made at the Wales Green Party EGM in July 2023 and ensure parity

In current vi), renumbered as above to x), Delete “Wales Leader” and replace with “Leader (or Co-Leaders) of the Wales Green Party, the Deputy Leader(s) of the Wales Green Party”.

So that it reads: x) The Green Party Leader (or Co-Leaders), the Deputy Leader (or Deputy Leaders), the Leader (or Co-Leaders) of the Wales Green Party, the Deputy Leader(s) of the Wales Green Party, and the Young Greens Co-Chairs will all be voting members of the Council. Where the position is a job-share, the role will have a single vote. The two Young Greens Co-Chairs will have one vote each. The Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, plus the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council.

Amendment #3

Change (v) in Part 1 which reads:

No person can be elected to more than two full terms consecutively. Terms will be considered non-consecutive if they are approximately one year apart. Members elected to a shortened term at the first Annual Ballot or elected to a shortened term to fill a vacancy are not considered to be elected to a full term.

So that it reads:

For the purpose of term limits as set out in Section 5 Clause 20, terms will be considered non-consecutive and will not be counted towards these limits if they are at least 11 months apart or where a member is elected to a partial term to fill a vacancy.

SOC Note: The fourth proposed amendment has been split by SOC into three parts, 4A, 4B and 4C, for ease of reading, but can be debated together Amendment

Amendment #4a

Where it says:

“vi) The Green Party Leader (or Co-Leaders), the Deputy Leader (or Deputy Leaders), the Wales Leader, and the Young Greens Co-Chairs will all be voting members of the Council. Where the position is a job-share, the role will have a single vote. The two Young Greens Co-Chairs will have one vote each. The Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, plus the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council. And renumber subsequent clauses.”

Replace “the Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, plus the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council” with “the Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, the Convenor of International Committee, and the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council”, so that it reads:

“vi) The Green Party Leader (or Co-Leaders), the Deputy Leader (or Deputy Leaders), the Wales Leader, and the Young Greens Co-Chairs will all be voting members of the Council. Where the position is a job-share, the role will have a single vote. The two Young Greens Co-Chairs will have one vote each. The Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, the Convenor of International Committee, and the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council. And renumber subsequent clauses.”

Delete existing clause v)

vii) Any casual vacancy on the Regional Council may be filled by the appropriate Region according to its constitution.

and replace it with

v) Casual vacancies on the Council shall be filled at the next Annual Ballot. The highest ranked candidate who does not meet the threshold to be ordinarily elected, shall be elected to fill any vacant seats, with their term being the original term of the casual vacancy they are filling. This process will be repeated until all casual vacancies have been filled.

Delete Clause viii

viii) The Regional Council shall elect by secret ballot from within its number two Co-chairpersons who have different gender identities, and shall appoint a secretary.

and replace it with

viii) Every year at its AGM the Council shall elect by secret ballot from within its number two Co-chairpersons who have different gender identities, and shall appoint a secretary.

Amendment #5

Where in the motion it says:

Delete Clause viii) The Regional Council shall elect by secret ballot from within its number two Co-chairpersons who have different gender identities, and shall appoint a secretary.

and replace it with

viii) Every year at its AGM the Council shall elect by secret ballot from within its number two Co-chairpersons who have different gender identities, and shall appoint a secretary. Replace the second occurance of: “two Co-chairpersons who have different gender identities” With: “two co-chairs, at least one of whom must be a woman or a non-binary person (noting that gender is self determined)”

Amend Clause xiii)

xiii) The Regional Council may request with reasonable notice any member of the Green Party Executive to attend one of its meetings to report on their area of responsibility.

So it reads

xiii) The Council may request with reasonable notice any member of the Green Party Executive, regional coordinator or the chair(s) of any recognised affiliated group to attend one of its meetings to report on their specific area of responsibility. Those requested to attend may send another officer in their place.

Add Clause xv

xv) The Council will be run according to its Standing Orders. Any change in its Standing Orders needs to be agreed by a two - thirds majority and be ratified by the following Conference.

Insert new clause at the end of section 6:

The Appeals committee of the Council will be elected at each Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Council and will consist of 9 Council members, none of whom may be a Co-Chair of the Council. The quorum for the Council Appeals committee will be 5.

Amendment #6

Change the final clause of Part 1 which reads: The quorum for the Council Appeals committee will be 5.

So that it reads:

The quorum for the Council Appeals committee will be 3.

And to amend Clause 9 as follows:

Add to Existing Clause 9) 1):

(f) Members of The Council;

Amendment #7

In Part 1, insert a new clause at the end of Section 6 of the Constitution, which reads:

Where a body requires or otherwise permits one or more members of the Green Party Council to sit ex officio on the body either as voting members or otherwise, the members shall be chosen by the Council from among its own membership in accordance with its own standing orders, without respect to any others (i.e. if the co-chairs of the Council are referenced in the standing orders of another body, the Council may elect another of its members to act in their place).

Part Two

This motion calls on conference to amend Clause 7 of the constitution by deleting the existing Clause 7 and replacing it with the following:

GREEN PARTY EXECUTIVE

i) There shall be a Green Party Executive (hereinafter referred to as the Party Executive or GPEx) which shall be responsible for the overall and day-to-day direction of the Party. Certain duties and responsibilities are reserved to other Party bodies specified in this Constitution, in particular Conference, Standing Orders Committee, Green Party Regional Council, Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. The authority of the Executive does not extend over those reserved duties and responsibilities.

ii) The Party Executive shall consist of the following voting members: Leader plus Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders, Wales Green Party Leader, the two co-chairs of the Young Greens as a job share and the additional members elected to the following functional positions, to serve for two years:

a) Chair;

b) Treasurer;

c) Seven ordinary members.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be a non-voting member of the Executive.

iii) Elections for the GPEx Chair, Treasurer and Ordinary member posts shall be by a ballot of all members of the party with voting included within the Annual Ballot. The Chair and Treasurer shall be elected in one year in individual ballots by instant run off, at the same time as the Leader(s) plus Deputy Leader(s), and the ordinary members in the next year by a seven-seat single transferable vote, so that the two-year terms of the two groups are staggered.

iv) Subject to the collective responsibility of the Executive set out in 7 i), 7 xvi) and elsewhere in section 7 or other clauses of the constitution, within one month of the election of the Ordinary Members, GPEx will set out what their areas of responsibility are such that between the Chair, Treasurer and Ordinary Members, GPEx takes accountability for all sub-committees of GPEx and their individual accountabilities are aligned to the Party’s structures and staff responsibilities. This will be done using an appropriate methodology, to ensure an acceptable workload and that each Party Executive’s skills are matches to their portfolio.

v) Procedures for the election of Leader and Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders of the Green Party and their duties and responsibilities are outlined in Section 8 of this Constitution.

Amendment #4b

In “Green Party Executive”:

In clause iii, which currently reads:

ii) The Party Executive shall consist of the following voting members: Leader plus Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders, Wales Green Party Leader, the two co-chairs of the Young Greens as a job share and the additional members elected to the following functional positions, to serve for two years: a) Chair; b) Treasurer; c) Seven ordinary members. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be a non-voting member of the Executive.

After “Chief Executive Officer (CEO)”, insert “and the Convenor of International Committee”, and replace “a non-voting member” with “non-voting members” so that it reads:

ii) The Party Executive shall consist of the following voting members: Leader plus Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders, Wales Green Party Leader, the two co-chairs of the Young Greens as a job share, and the additional members elected to the following functional positions, to serve for two years: a) Chair; b) Treasurer; c) Seven ordinary members. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Convenor of International Committee will be non-voting members of the Executive.

Amendment #2b

In ii)

Delete “Wales Green Party Leader” and replace with “Leader (or Co-Leaders) of the Wales Green Party, the Deputy Leader(s) of the Wales Green Party”.

SOC Note: The eighth proposed amendment has been split by SOC into two parts, 8A and 8B, for ease of reading, but can be debated together

Amendment #8a

In “Green Party Executive”, where it says:

ii) The Party Executive shall consist of the following voting members: Leader plus Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders, Wales Green Party Leader, the two co-chairs of the Young Greens as a job share and the additional members elected to the following functional positions, to serve for two years: a) Chair; b) Treasurer; c) Seven ordinary members. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be a non-voting member of the Executive.

After “Chief Executive Officer (CEO)”, insert “and the Chair of Green Party Trade Union Group ”, and replace “a non-voting member” with “non-voting members” so that it reads:

ii) The Party Executive shall consist of the following voting members: Leader plus Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders, Wales Green Party Leader, the two co-chairs of the Young Greens as a job share, and the additional members elected to the following functional positions, to serve for two years: a) Chair; b) Treasurer; c) Seven ordinary members. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chair of Green Party Trade Union Group will be non-voting members of the Executive.

Where it says:

“vi) The Green Party Leader (or Co-Leaders), the Deputy Leader (or Deputy Leaders), the Wales Leader, and the Young Greens Co-Chairs will all be voting members of the Council. Where the position is a job-share, the role will have a single vote. The two Young Greens Co-Chairs will have one vote each. The Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, plus the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council. And renumber subsequent clauses.”

Replace “the Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, plus the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council” with “the Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, the Chair of Green Party Trade Union Group, and the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council”, so that it reads:

“vi) The Green Party Leader (or Co-Leaders), the Deputy Leader (or Deputy Leaders), the Wales Leader, and the Young Greens Co-Chairs will all be voting members of the Council. Where the position is a job-share, the role will have a single vote. The two Young Greens Co-Chairs will have one vote each. The Chair and Treasurer of the Executive, the Chair of Green Party Trade Union Group, and the CEO will be non-voting members of the Council. And renumber subsequent clauses.”

vi) Candidates for the GPEx Chair, Treasurer and Ordinary Member positions shall have been a member of the Party for the two complete years preceding the date of close of nominations, and shall be required to complete a standard application form. Nominations of candidates must be supported by the signatures of a minimum of ten members of the Green Party of England and Wales. Or, if they have been a member for a minimum of one complete year preceding the date of close of nominations, their nomination must be supported by a majority of the Green Party Regional Council’s members in attendance at a quorate official meeting of that body.

vii) Members of the Party may be nominated for no more than one GPEx post at any one time, and no member may hold more than one post on the Party Executive at any one time. Members of the Party Executive may not hold any other elected office in the Party at national level. Members of the Party may be nominated for both Leader and Deputy Leader(s).

viii) The Party Executive shall meet as necessary and at least once every two months.

ix) A quorum of the Party Executive shall comprise a majority of the total membership eligible to vote.

x) The Party Executive may from time to time create such sub-committees as it considers necessary for the efficient conduct of its business and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition at least annually, retaining responsibility for the conduct of such sub-committees and accounting for the conduct of those sub-committees to the Annual Conference. Any such sub-committee shall include at least one member of the Regional Council.

xi) The Party Executive shall appoint the following posts:

a) a National Election Agent;

b) The Party Executive shall nominate persons to Spokesperson roles, who shall each be responsible for covering a designated area of policy. They shall be appointed subject to ratification by the Green Party Regional Council, who may approve or reject any nomination. The Regional Council may recall any appointed Spokesperson. The Young Greens Co-Chairs shall be the Youth and Students Spokespeople.

c) In addition the Party Executive may create such posts as it considers necessary.

xii) The Executive shall elect from among its elected members a deputy chair, to assist the chair in their duties, and to act in the role of the chair at any time when the chair is unable to do so. Such elections are to take place at least annually and by the end of November each year.

Amendment #9

Change (xi) in Part 2 which reads:

b) The Party Executive shall nominate persons to Spokesperson roles,

So that it reads:

b) The party Leadership team, including the Wales Green Party Leader, shall nominate persons to Spokesperson roles,

xiii) By a two-thirds majority of its membership eligible to vote, the Party Executive may suspend from office any member of the Party Executive, if there is evidence of sustained conduct which in the opinion of the Party Executive is against the interests of the Party, subject to any decision of the Regional Council under Clause 6(xii) and subject to the right of such a member to appeal.

xiv) In the event of 20% of constituted Local Parties petitioning the Regional Council to recall the GPEx Chair, Treasurer or Ordinary Member, such a member shall be under suspension until a new ballot has been held for that post at a date to be determined by the Regional Council.

xv) In the event of a casual vacancy (i.e. one not arising in the normal electoral cycle) for a GPEx Chair, Treasurer or Ordinary Member position a replacement shall be appointed in an acting capacity by the Party Executive until the next scheduled ballot is held. An acting replacement will not have voting rights

xvi) The responsibilities of the Party Executive shall include the following at the national level:

a) to implement the decisions of the Annual Conference;

b) to ensure the proper financial oversight and administration of the Party and fundraising for its operations;

c) to act as the Green Party’s employer of Green Party staff;

d) to keep records of its business, which it shall provide to the Regional Council and make available to the membership of the Party;

e) to present a full written report on its activities and on the financial state of the Party to the Annual General Meeting;

f) to present to the Annual General Meeting a plan for intended activities for the next 12 months

xvii) The Chair, and other Executive members that the Regional Council may from time to time, invite shall attend every meeting of the Regional Council to report on the work of the Party Executive, without prejudice to Clause 6 (xiii).

Amend Clause 9) 1) b) to read:

(b) GPEx Chair and Ordinary Members;

Amend Clause 15 Campaigning, to make consistent the relationship with GPEx in light of the changes made to GPEx above, so it reads:

CAMPAIGNING

i. There shall be a Green Party Campaigns sub-committee (hereafter called the Campaigns Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of GPEx as set out in 7 iv, and shall be responsible for organising campaigning, consistent with the Objects and Aims set out in part 3.

ii. The Campaigns Committee shall include five members elected at the Annual Conference, with vacancies to be filled by election, or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference.

iii. The role of the Campaigns Committee shall be to support and enhance agreed messaging and lobbying related to parliamentary and local council campaigns designed to change the law and policies in pursuit of the Political Strategy; and to give local Green Parties and individual members opportunities and resources to take part in non-electoral campaigns on issues of local and national importance.

iv. The Campaigns Committee shall provide a report to each Annual General Meeting.

v. The Campaigns Committee is a sub-committee of GPEx.

Amend Clause 16 International Committee, to make it a working group of the regional Council consistent with the Regional Council leading on political issues, and to remove repetition in the current constitution and to require a report to be made annually at conference so it reads:

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

i. There shall be a Green Party International working group (hereafter called the International Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of the Green Party Regional Council (GPRC).

ii. The International Committee shall include five members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference.

iii. The role of the International Committee shall be to support the work of the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) and organise the International work of the party. This includes, among other things, selecting delegates and / or representatives to meetings of fellow Green parties and groupings of Green parties worldwide.

iv. The International Committee shall provide a report to each Annual General Meeting.

v. The International Committee is a working group of GPRC.

SOC Note: Amendments 4c and 10 are to be considered as alternatives to one another and should be debated together

Amendment #4c

In clause i, which currently reads:

i. There shall be a Green Party International working group (hereafter called the International Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of the Green Party Regional Council (GPRC).

Delete “ which shall be convened by a specified member of the Green Party Regional Council (GPRC)”

In clause ii, which currently reads:

ii. The International Committee shall include five members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference.

Replace “five” with “six”.

ii. The International Committee shall include six members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference

Insert new clause iii (and renumber): iii. Every year after Annual Conference, and whenever there is a vacancy, the International Committee will elect from within its number a Convenor or Co-Convenors.

Amendment #10

In “International Committee”

In clause i, which currently reads:

i. There shall be a Green Party International working group (hereafter called the International Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of the Green Party Regional Council (GPRC).

Delete

“ which shall be convened by a specified member of the Green Party Regional Council (GPRC)”

In clause ii, which currently reads:

ii. The International Committee shall include five members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference.

Replace “five” with “six”, and insert at the end:

“, and a non-voting member of the Council”,

Insert new clause iii (and renumber):

iii. Every year after Annual Conference, and whenever there is a vacancy, the International Committee will elect from within its number a Convenor or Co-Convenors.

Add new Clause 17, renumbering other clauses in the constitution as needed, to create a Trade Union Liaison Committee to coordinate the Party’s relationship with the trade union movement and other workers’ organisations:

TRADE UNION LIAISON COMMITTEE

I. There shall be a Green Party Trade Union Liaison working group (hereafter called the Trade Union Liaison Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of GPRC, who is to have responsibility for Trades Unions.

II. The Trade Union Liaison Committee shall include five members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference.

III. The role of the Trade Union Liaison Committee shall be to support the work of GPEW and coordinate and strengthen the Party’s work with the trade union movement and other workers’ organisations.

IV. The Trade Union Liaison Committee shall provide a report to each Annual General Meeting.

V. The Trade Union Liaison Committee is a working group of GPRC.

Amendment #8b

Remove section:

Add new Clause 17, renumbering other clauses in the constitution as needed, to create a Trade Union Liaison Committee to coordinate the Party’s relationship with the trade union movement and other workers’ organisations: 17 TRADE UNION LIAISON COMMITTEE I. There shall be a Green Party Trade Union Liaison working group (hereafter called the Trade Union Liaison Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of GPRC, who is to have responsibility for Trades Unions. II. The Trade Union Liaison Committee shall include five members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference. III. The role of the Trade Union Liaison Committee shall be to support the work of GPEW and coordinate and strengthen the Party’s work with the trade union movement and other workers’ organisations. IV. The Trade Union Liaison Committee shall provide a report to each Annual General Meeting. V. The Trade Union Liaison Committee is a working group of GPRC.

In Section B1.2 of the Standing Orders for the Conduct of the Annual General Meeting (SOCAGM), which lists the bodies which report to Conference, insert new list item at the end:

“Green Party Trade Union Group shall be invited to provide a report”

Amend Clause 20 Equalities and Diversity Committee , to make consistent the relationship with GPEx in light of the changes made to GPEx above, so it reads:

EQUALITIES EQUITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (EEDI) COMMITTEE

i. There shall be a Green Party Equalities Equity Diversity and Inclusion sub-committee (hereafter called the EEDI Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of GPEx as set out in 7 iv.

ii. The EEDI Committee shall include five members elected by Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co- option to be ratified at an intervening conference.

iii. The EEDI Committee shall also include a representative of each group that is recognised as a Members Working Group by the EEDI Committee.

iv. The EEDI Committee shall provide a report to each Annual Conference.

v. The role of the EEDI Committee shall be to support the work of GPEx to improve Equalities Equity Diversity and Inclusion within the Green Party.

Transitions

GPRC

Following the passing of this motion we will transition to the new format of the Council as follows:

At the first Annual Ballot, only 12 Council seats shall be up for election.

At all future Annual Ballots, 12 seats shall ordinarily be up for election (the seats of the Councillors whose terms are expiring in that year) and the 12 Councillors elected shall serve for a three year term.

Any existing members of GPRC will transition to become full voting members of the Council, with their terms expiring in line with their existing mandate. If any such Regional Councillor is elected to the Council at an Annual Ballot, they shall immediately cease to be a member by way of this transition clause. If any Regional Councillor ceases to be a member of the Council, or is elected to the Council at an Annual Ballot, the region which elected them shall not replace them.

This clause shall be removed automatically once all of the following have taken place:

  • The first Annual Ballot has concluded,
  • The terms of any and all Regional Councillors have expired.

Amendment #11

In “Transitions”:

Where it reads: "If any such Regional Councillor is elected to the Council at an Annual Ballot, they shall immediately cease to be a member by way of this transition clause. If any Regional Councillor ceases to be a member of the Council, or is elected to the Council at an Annual Ballot, the region which elected them shall not replace them.”

Replace:

“If any Regional Councillor ceases to be a member of the Council, or is elected to the Council at an Annual Ballot, the region which elected them shall not replace them.”

With:

”, and the region which elected them shall not replace them. Additionally they shall not replace them if any Regional Councillor ceases to be a member of the Council after the first Annual Ballot after this motion is passed.”

GPEx

At the next Annual Ballot following this motion being passed, those members standing down, comprising half of GPEx, will be replaced by the seven ordinary members elected as set out in this motion.

The accountabilities set out in Clause 7 iv) shall exclude the responsibilities of those members of GPEx who still have a year left to serve.

In the following Annual Ballot, the remaining half of the existing GPEx members shall stand down and elections conducted for the new Chair and Treasurer elected as set out in this motion.

Amendment #12

In “Transitions”:

Where it says:

“GPEx At the next Annual Ballot following this motion being passed, those members standing down, comprising half of GPEx, will be replaced by the seven ordinary members elected as set out in this motion. The accountabilities set out in Clause 7 iv) shall exclude the responsibilities of those members of GPEx who still have a year left to serve. In the following Annual Ballot, the remaining half of the existing GPEx members shall stand down and elections conducted for the new Chair and Treasurer elected as set out in this motion.”

Replace:

“will be replaced by the seven ordinary members elected as set out in this motion”

With:

“will be replaced by the new Chair and Treasurer elected as set out in this motion (alongside the Leader(s) and Deputy Leader(s) due to be elected at that Annual Ballot)”.

Replace:

“elections conducted for the new Chair and Treasurer elected as set out in this motion.”

With:

“elections conducted for the seven ordinary members as set out in this motion.“

Incorporation

Conference instructs GPRC through its Party Structure Working Group to bring back further motions to build on these changes to enable the incorporation of the Party.

Last updated on 2023-10-21 at 11:41