Conference Daily Tuesday 20th September Autumn Conference 2016 Brighton Plaintext Conference Daily This plain text version of Conference Daily contains the text of the published Conference Daily. Page numbers refer to the published Conference Daily, motion line numbers have been omitted, some elements may appear in a different place in the document and graphics and complex page layouts have been omitted. Information from the Conference Committee for Tuesday 20th September and report back for Monday 19th September. Please read in conjunction with the Agenda and Conference Extra. Contents Report back for Monday 19th September - 2 Timetable for Tuesday 20th September 09.00Ð09.45 F35 Emergency motion: Local Communities Welcoming Refugees - 3 09.45Ð10.35 F36 Constitutional amendments: Committees - 4 10.35Ð10.50 F37 Standing order amendments - 4 10.50Ð11.30 F38 Report: Parliamentary Party - 4 11.30Ð11.50 F39 Speech: Baroness Brinton 11.50Ð12.50 F40 Policy motion: Future Transport - 5 12.50Ð14.10 Lunch 14.10Ð15.30 F41 Speech: Tim Farron MP - 5 Conference timetable 2017 - 6 If no page number is indicated next to a session or item of business, there are no changes or additional information to that in the Conference Agenda or Conference Extra. Please note that timings are approximate only. Some items of business may occur earlier than indicated. Conference representatives wishing to speak are requested to submit a speakerÕs card as soon as possible. Conference Daily and other conference publications, in PDF and plain text formats, are available online www.libdems.org.uk/conference_papers or ask at the Information Desk in the Brighton Centre. ÔA vision for a Britain that is open, tolerant and unitedÕ Report back for Monday 19th September F26 Emergency motion: Nuclear Power at Hinkley Point - Passed F27 Policy motion: Britain in the European Union - Passed (Amendment One passed) F29 Policy motion: Investing in the Green Economy - Passed (Amendment One passed), lines 16Ð17 retained. F31 Policy motion: Mending the Safety Net - Passed (Amendment One passed, Amendments Two and Three defeated) F32 Report: Diversity Engagement Group - Approved F33 Report: Campaign for Gender Balance - Approved F34 Constitutional amendments: Diversity Quotas - Passed Left Luggage Please note change of location: The Platform, Wagner Hall, Regency Road, BN1 2RT (off West St. behind WetherspoonÕs) Opening Time: Tuesday 20th at 08.30 Closing Time: Tuesday 20th at 16.00 sharp Fee: £1 ¥ Your bag will be labelled with your name and number when you leave it. ¥ You will need to pick your bag up by 16.00 - the left luggage facility will close at 16.00 sharp. ¥ Any bags that are left will be returned to Lib Dem HQ in London; we will store them for a week before they are disposed of. ¥ It is the individuals own responsibility to arrange collection from Lib Dem HQ; collection will be at their own cost. ¥ All luggage is left at your own risk; we do not assume any responsibility for loss, damage or theft. FRINGE UPDATE Please note that the following event has been cancelled: Fringe Tuesday Breakfast 08.00Ð09.00 The Howard League for Penal Reform Prison reform in an age of uncertainty Hilton, Sandringham Spring conference 2017 Visit Stand 8 to book your accommodation for the 2017 spring conference in York. Conference tours Are you a first timer? Have you not attended conference in a while? Do you have questions about the Party? Do you have a famed Lib Dem youÕve been waiting to meet? If youÕve answered yes to any of the above, then come along to a conference tour! Our tour guides are Lib Dem experts who are simply waiting to get tested on their knowledge. Questions are not limited to conference! Tours are also a great way of meeting people and having a good time, so pick one and weÕll see you there. Meeting point: Information Desk Tuesday 10.30Ð11.15 tour guide Lorely Burt Tuesday 20th September F35 Emergency motion: Local Communities Welcoming Refugees - 09.00Ð09.45 Aide: Cllr Joe Otten. ALDC Ð Liberal Democrat Campaigners & Councillors Mover: Cllr Chris White Summation: Baroness Sheehan Conference notes: i) The refugee crisis over the summer including refugees from Syria but also from other countries; the publication of a House of Lords report on unaccompanied migrant children in July 2016 and the visit by a delegation of senior local government figures to the Calais ÔjungleÕ migrant camp in August 2016. ii) That 88,245 unaccompanied migrant children applied for asylum in 2015. iii) That there are an estimated 10,000 missing unaccompanied migrant children in the EU. Conference believes: a) The UK must welcome its fair share of refugees to ease this crisis including unaccompanied refugee children. b) That Government should make additional funding available to local authorities to help with this and to build capacity. c) That refugees contribute a huge amount to local communities throughout the UK. Conference calls for: 1. National co-ordination which is essential to share intelligence around foster care capacity across the country. 2. Central government to work closely with local government to ensure councils have the funding and support they need to help refugees. 3. UK and French governments to work together to ensure that unaccompanied children are reunited with their families or otherwise given long-term security including access to education. 4. Councils to support measures such as the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (SVPRS) and request that Syrian refugees are encouraged to settle in their area. 5. Suitable housing to be made available to refugees in need. 6. Councils to provide a contact point for newly arrived refugees to register their skills and qualifications and given assistance to find work. 7. Improved provision for English language teaching for those who need it. Applicability: Federal. Background briefing The motion updates policy on the continuing refugee crisis. Existing policy is set out in policy motions Towards a Stable and Peaceful Syria (March 2016) and Creating Safe and Legal Routes for Refugees (2015). F36 Committees - 09.45Ð10.35 Summation: Neil Fawcett (Vice Chair, Federal Executive) The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: Delete Article 13.5 (lines 479Ð481). In Article 13.6 (line 482), delete: ÔalsoÕ. Amendment One 10 members Mover: Sarah Noble Summation: George Potter In lines 18, 155, 261, 306, 348, 410, 475, and 543, delete: ÔthreeÕ and insert: ÔtwoÕ. In 7.4 (lines 21 and 23), delete ÔtriennialÕ and insert: ÔbiennialÕ. Delete lines 96Ð98. Amendment Two English Liberal Democrats Mover: Steve Jarvis Summation: Richard Brett Delete 12.4 (c) (lines 437Ð440) and insert: c. In accordance with article 11.8 (a), the JCSC may instruct a State Candidates Committee to take appropriate action or may take over its functions if it is not discharging its constitutional responsibilities; this action shall only be taken after due consultation with the relevant State Party and with the approval of the Federal Board. F37 Standing Order Amendments - 10.35Ð10.50 Mover: Cllr Chris White Summation: Baroness Brinton (President of the Liberal Democrats) F38 Report: Parliamentary Parties - 10.50Ð11.30 Mover (Lords): Lord Newby (Leader, Lords) F40 Future Transport - 11.50Ð12.50 Chair: Zo‘ OÕConnell (Vice Chair Federal Conference Committee). Aide: Liz Lynne. Hall Aide: Cllr Joe Otten. The Federal Conference Committee has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion: In 1. (line 43), after ÔCommissionÕ, insert: Ô; this strategy should also incorporate new transport infrastructure with new urban and housing developmentsÕ. After 13. (line 71), add: 14. The Transport for London ÔBaby on BoardÕ badge scheme and, if successful, the pilot of the ÔPlease offer me a seatÕ badge for disabled passengers, to be introduced nationally across other local transport systems where feasible. Amendment One Calderdale Mover: Richard Gadsden Summation: Alisdair McGregor Delete f) (lines 28Ð30) and insert: f) HS2 and HS3 are essential and long-overdue structural upgrades to the railway network of the United Kingdom; their implementation forms the essential backbone upon further development of supporting heavy and light rail systems will be based and is essential to further investment and revitalisation of the North of England. Background briefing This motion updates and develops policy for the future of British transport. In particular it reaffirms the Liberal Democrat aim to live in a zero carbon economy and calls for further investment into sustainable transport for the future. Existing policy is set out in the General Election Manifesto, Stronger Economy. Fairer Society. Opportunity for Everyone (2015), policy paper 119, Protecting Public Services and Making Them Work For You (2014), and policy paper 85, Fast Track Britain (2008). F41 Speech: Tim Farron MP - 14.10Ð15.30 The Party Awards will be presented before the LeaderÕs speech. Conference timetable 2017 17th-19th March 2017, York Drafting advice deadline (motions): 13.00, Wednesday, 4th January 2017. Motions deadline: 13.00, Wednesday, 18th January 2017. Drafting advice deadline (amendments, emergency motions): 13.00, Tuesday, 28th February 2017. Deadline for amendments to motions, emergency motions, topical issues, questions to reports: 13.00, Tuesday, 14th March 2017. 16thÐ20th September 2017, Bournemouth * Drafting advice deadline (motions): 13.00, Wednesday, 14th June 2017. Motions deadline: 13.00, Wednesday, 28th June 2017. Drafting advice deadline (amendments, emergency motions): 13.00, Monday, 21st August 2017. Deadline for amendments to motions, emergency motions, topical issues, questions to reports: 13.00, Monday, 4th September 2017. (* Subject to the review of the trial 4-day conference of September 2016.)