South Norfolk Council Liberal Democrat Group

Standing Orders

1. Name

The name of the organisation shall be the South Norfolk Council Liberal Democrat Group (‘The Group’).

2. Aims

The Group’s aims shall be:

2.1  collectively to advance within South Norfolk Council (‘the Council’) the cause of the Liberal Democrat Party through the expression of a co-ordinated and cohesive viewpoint;

2.2  to secure the implementation of Liberal Democrat principles and policies applied to local needs;

2.3  to increase the effectiveness of Group members as representatives of their wards;

2.4  to work with Liberal Democrats on other Councils and bodies.

3. Group Members

All members of the Liberal Democrat Party who are elected to the Council, who agree to abide by these Standing Orders and who pay any dues required by the Group shall be Group Members.

4.  Appointments

The Group shall elect, within one month of Council Elections and annually thereafter prior to the Council’s Annual Meeting:

4.1  OFFICERS:  Leader, Deputy Leader, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Press Officer. The Secretary, Treasurer and Press Officer do not need to be members of the Group but they must be members of the Party.

4.2  SPOKESPERSONS:  To lead Liberal Democrat interests on the Cabinet and all Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council.  When the Group is involved in the control of the Council these shall normally be the Members of the Cabinet and the Chairman and/or Vice-Chairman of each of the relevant bodies;

4.3  COMMITTEE MEMBERS:  Members of all Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council and representatives on outside bodies.

4.4  Nominations for any of the positions listed above may be made by any member of the Group.  They shall be submitted in writing to the Group Leader or Secretary before the start of the meeting where the appointments are to be made.  When more than one nomination is received for any position then a secret ballot shall be conducted, using STV.

4.5  Vacancies caused by resignation, death or removal from office shall be filled forthwith by election by the Group, the new appointment to run until the next Group elections.

4.6  Appointees may be removed from office by a vote on a motion of no confidence carried by a simple majority of Group members present and voting at a properly constituted meeting with proper notice.

4.7  Officers who fail to attend three consecutive Group meetings shall be automatically subject to a motion of no confidence.

5.  Group Meetings

5.1  The Group shall meet at least once prior to every meeting of the Cabinet, the agenda to include consideration of the Agenda for the Cabinet meeting, and other business brought forward by Group Members.  Items for inclusion should normally be notified to the Leader one week before the date of the meeting.  Significant items to be raised under AOB should be announced at the start of the meeting. Decisions on these items shall normally be deferred until the next meeting.

5.2  The Group will also normally meet one hour before each Full Council Meeting to consider the Agenda and to decide questions, statements and amendments concerning agenda items.

5.3  Special Meetings may be called either by the Group Leader or at the written request of at least one-third of all Group Members.  Special meetings shall take place with at least seven days notice and no more than fourteen days from their being called.

5.4  The Group may invite non-members to attend and speak at meetings.  Non-members shall have no vote.

5.5  Sub-Group meetings shall normally be held before each meeting of the Council’s Committees. The Liberal Democrat members of the Committee or their substitutes shall form the Sub-Group.

5.6  All Group members shall be expected to attend Group and appropriate Sub-Group Meetings.  If unable to do so they should inform the Secretary, the Group Leader or appropriate Spokesperson beforehand.

6.  Decisions at Meetings

6.1  All decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of Group members present and voting, the Chairman having a vote and an additional casting vote.

6.2    A quorum shall be one half of Group Members with a quorum required for any decision to be made.

7.  Group Policy

7.1  Except as modified by agreement, the policies of the Group shall be those within the manifesto for the last or the next Council election.

7.2  When the Group is involved in the control of the Council, Cabinet members and Committee Chairmen shall be empowered to work with the Council’s Chief Officers in the implementation and development of policy.  All such activities shall be reported to the Group and any significant change to established policy shall be subject to the prior agreement of the Group.

8.  Group Loyalty

8.1  All Group members are expected to support decisions of Group Meetings and Sub-Group Meetings at Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings.

8.2  The right to dissent and represent the best interests of the Group Member’s local area and personal conscience is recognised and protected, where this is announced in advance.  A Group Member intending to disagree with a Group decision is asked to abstain from speaking or voting at Council, Cabinet or Committee meetings.  Only in exceptional circumstances should a Group Member speak or vote against the Group.

8.3  If a Group Member is unable to support the Group, and there is no appropriate meeting to which to report this decision, the Leader must be informed in advance.

8.4  A Group Member who fails to attend a Group or Sub-Group Meeting and who does not make his intentions known to the Group is expected to support Group decisions.

8.5  Persistent failure to support Group decisions without dispensation shall render the Group Member liable to suspension or revocation of membership by the vote of a simple majority present and voting at a properly constituted meeting.

9.  Submission of Motions

A Group Member is expected to discuss with the Group (or, in an emergency, with the Leader) the wording of any proposed motion to be submitted to Council or Council Committee meetings.

10.  Attendance at Council Meetings

A Group Member who cannot attend a meeting shall give prior notice of this to the Group Leader in the case of a Council meeting or to the appropriate Committee or Subcommittee spokesperson.

11.  Subscriptions

The Group shall agree from time to time a subscription, payable to the Treasurer, sufficient for the incidental expenses of the Group and of Officers incurred in the course of their duties.  The Treasurer shall account for these expenses annually in writing at the Group Annual Meeting.

12.  Amendments

Proposals to amend these Standing Orders must be submitted in writing and circulated with the agenda of the meeting at which they are to be considered.  Notwithstanding Section 6.1, their approval shall require a two-thirds majority of Group members attending and voting.