Conference Agenda Oct 2021 PRINT - Flipbook - Page 28
A02
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE (PDC)
[SOC Note: RoOS for PDC is in Appendix 3)]
Motion text: To accept the following report (as
amended, if amendments are agreed)
Policy Development Committee (PDC) formally gives
thanks to Natalia Waring, Andrea Dexter, David Carlyon
and Mick Gregg for their time, consideration and expertise
as elected PDC members for the last 12 months, and Sam
Alston as co-opted member. PDC has a central role for
not only policy development, but the smooth functioning
of the wider purpose of the party and it is vital that the
committee is at full strength. We welcome Nick Cox as a
newly elected PDC member, and also Edward Gildea who
returns for a second year. Thank you. However, this leaves
vacancies for 3 elected PDC members and also co-opted
members and consequently PDC could be under strength
for the coming year. PDC will be addressing this issue
immediately through seeking members to fill the 4 coopted positions.
This situation has illustrated how the yearly cycle of
elections for PDC is an obstacle for stability of committee
membership, and therefore has wider implications for
the party as a whole. In addition, there are no apparent
Standing Orders for Policy Development Committee, and
so this report to Conference includes proposed Standing
Orders for the acceptance of Conference [see below] with
huge thanks to PDC, Anne Gayfer and the GPRC Chairs
in addressing the key constitutional requirements of PDC
through these very clear provisions.
In the August 2021 PDC meeting it was discussed and
agreed that the 2021/22 Policy Development Committee
will function more effectively with clear roles for members,
to share responsibility in the following areas: a. Secretary,
b. Pre-conference co-ordinators, c. Post-conference
co-ordinators, d. Policy Working Groups co-ordinators, e.
Green Spaces/ membership communications, f. Rapid and
Interim Policy Statements and processes coordinators,
g. Events reps, h. Strategy and GPEX link role. It is
envisaged that with the newly co-opted members these
responsibilities can be divided between the new PDC
members.
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Standing Orders for Policy Development
Committee
1.
General provisions
1.1. These Standing Orders are made under
the Constitution by the Policy Development
Committee. They are to be read and applied
in conjunction with the relevant provisions of
the Constitution and the Standing Orders for
the Conduct of Conference. Nothing in these
Standing Orders shall contradict any provision
of the Constitution, and in the event of any
conflict between these Standing Orders and the
Constitution the latter shall prevail.
1.2. These Standing Orders shall apply at all times
and govern meetings and decisions of Policy
Development Committee. Where they are silent,
the Chair of Policy Development Committee shall
make a ruling.
1.3. There shall be a Space on the members’ website
for Policy Development Committee and a
nominated member shall manage it. The Green
Space shall also serve as a discussion forum with
Policy Development Committee.
1.4. Members of Policy Development Committee shall
be elected in accordance with the constitution.
OoO4 section removed.
1.5. Immediately after the election of new members
a skills audit shall be conducted in accordance
with the requirements of the constitution and a
maximum of five new members shall be co-opted
for a 2 year term. This will take place within one
month of the election of new members.
1.6. In line with the requirements of the constitution,
Policy Development Committee will set up and
maintain a programme of reviewing existing
policy, so as to make minor changes to policy to
keep it up to date.
1.7. Policy Development Committee shall provide
reports to conferences in line with the provisions
of the constitution (Spring) and the Standing
Orders for the Conduct of Conference (Autumn).
2.1 The initiator of the request for a Policy Statement
should appoint somebody from within their own
ranks to “lead” on the project. This could be
any elected party body or local/regional party,
affiliated group or working group. It shall be that
person’s responsibility for ensuring that the Policy
Statement is prepared and submitted to GPRC.