Agenda Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference Brighton 15-18 September 2018. DEMAND BETTER Plain text This plain text version of the Conference Agenda contains the text of the published Agenda. Note that page numbers refer to the pages in the printed Agenda and motion line numbers have been omitted. Graphics and some complex page layouts are omitted. Some elements may appear in a different location to that in the printed Agenda. Welcome to the Liberal Democrat 2018 Conference Agenda. If you have any questions whilst at conference please ask a conference steward or go to the Information Desk on the ground floor of the Brighton Centre. For features, general conference information, exhibition and fringe, see the separate Directory. Conference venue Brighton Centre King's Rd, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2GR Please note that the Brighton Centre is within the secure zone and that access is only possible with a valid conference pass. Further information, registration and conference publications (including plain text and clear print versions) are available at: www.libdems.org.uk/conference Contents Information: 2-6 Auditorium information 2 Agenda: 7-69 Agenda index and timetable 7 Saturday 15 September 9 Sunday 16 September 33 Monday 17 September 46 Tuesday 18 September 61 Conference timetable 2019 60 Standing orders 70-80 Federal Party 81 ISBN 978-1-910763-50-6 Edited by Emma Price and published by The Conference Office, Liberal Democrats, 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE. Design and layout by Mike Cooper, mike@mikecoopermcc.co.uk. Printed by Park Communications Ltd, Alpine Way, London E6 6LA. Photographs (c) Liberal Democrats unless stated. Auditorium information This Agenda covers the auditorium sessions at autumn conference. The formal rules are set out in standing orders on pages 70-80. General conference information can be found in the conference Directory. Conference Extra and Conference Daily Conference Extra shows any changes to auditorium timings shown in this agenda, amendments to motions, topical issues, emergency motions and questions to reports. Copies will be available from the Information Desk at conference and, in conference week, online at: libdems.org.uk/conference_papers Conference Daily includes last-minute changes to the auditorium timetable, collect your copy from the Information Desk each morning for the latest updates. Venue Access to the Brighton Centre is possible only with a valid, conference pass worn with the official lanyard. You will be asked to show your pass when you enter the secure area and you are required to wear the pass visibly at all times within the area. Do allow time for security check queues during key times - particularly after lunch and ahead of popular events. Please ensure mobile phones are on silent before entering the auditorium. Disabled facilities - Space for wheelchair users on the ground floor of the auditorium. - Ramped access to the stage; the chair of the session will ensure wheelchair users are called in plenty of time to access the stage. - An induction loop system, which can be linked to hearing aids; please ask our stewarding team to direct you to the appropriate seating block. - Sign language interpretation during all auditorium sessions; a number of seats are reserved for representatives using this service, at the front of the auditorium. - Reserved seats at the front of the auditorium for those who would benefit from being closer to the stage due to a visual impairment. If you need assistance at the venue, please contact the Information desk. If you need assistance or information in advance, please contact the Conference Team on conferences@libdems.org.uk Debates and votes at conference Debates on policy and business motions are at the heart of federal conference. It is through them that the party sets its policy and future direction. Unlike in other parties, Liberal Democrat members are sovereign, and what they decide really matters. The structure of debate on policy and business motions: Proposer of the motion speaks V Proposers of any amendments speak in turn V Speakers called on all sides of the debate with the chair seeking to ensure balance V Interventions taken (if listed on the agenda) V Summators of amendments speak in turn V The summator of the motion speaks V The chair takes votes for and against the amendments and separate votes (if any) in turn V A vote will be taken on the motion as a whole Interventions: concise (one minute) speeches made from the intervention microphone(s) on the floor of the auditorium, during debates where it is indicated in the Agenda. Amendments: all motions except emergency motions are open to amendment; amendments accepted will be printed in Conference Daily. Voting: decisions on most motions and all amendments and separate votes are by simple majority of those voting (2/3 majority for constitutional amendments). To vote, voting members must show their voting badge whilst seated on the ground floor of the auditorium. Separate votes: a vote to delete or retain the specified words or section. A request for a separate vote may be submitted by any party member: by the start of the first conference session on the day before the debate is scheduled, or by the deadline for emergency motions for debates scheduled for the first day of conference; using the online form at libdems.org.uk/conference_papers, by email to separate.votes@libdems.org.uk, or in writing to the Speakers' Table in the auditorium. Counted vote: the chair of the session may decide that a vote needs to be counted. Any voting member may request a count from the floor; if fifty voting members stand and show their voting cards, a count will be taken. Speaking and voting in conference debates Eligibility to speak and vote All party members are entitled to speak and vote in conference debates, providing they are: - attending conference as a party member (and not eg an exhibitor or observer); and - not registered as a day visitor. Party members fulfilling these criteria are known as 'voting members'. Federal Conference Committee may also give permission for other persons to speak (but not vote) in conference debates. Length of speeches The length of speeches is shown against each motion in the Agenda. There are three lights on the speaker's rostrum and visible either side of the stage. The green light is switched on at the beginning of the speech. The amber light is switched on 60 seconds before the end of the allowed time (20 seconds before the end of an intervention). The red light is switched on when all the time is used up, and the speaker must stop immediately. Applying to speak To make a speech in a debate you must complete a speaker's card, collected from and returned to the Speakers' Table at the front of the auditorium, an auditorium steward or the Information Desk. Completing a speaker's card When completing a speaker's card, remember: 1 Submit your card well in advance. The chair and aide team for the debate will meet well in advance to plan the debate - sometimes the previous day. 2 Fill in your card completely. Complete the two sections on the back of the card as well as the front. These sections are needed for the chair and aide to balance the debate, so they can call people with relevant experience and avoid a string of people making the same point. 3 Make sure it's readable! Don't fill every square centimetre of the card; don't write illegibly, in very small letters, or in green ink ... The easier you make it for the chair and aide to read the card the more likely you will be called. Interventions To speak during interventions, voting members should complete an intervention form, collected from and returned to a steward in the auditorium. Speakers will be chosen by the chair of the session by random ballot. Other conference sessions Emergency motions and topical issue discussions Emergency motions are debated and voted on and make formal party policy like other motions, but refer to a substantial development since the deadline for submission of motions. Motions selected for debate, and/or for selection by ballot along with the ballot procedure, will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. Topical issue discussions allow members and spokespeople to discuss and comment on a political issue live at the time of conference; they do not make party policy. The topical issue to be discussed is chosen by officers of the Federal Conference Committee and Federal Policy Committee and will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. Question & answer sessions Any party member may submit a concise question (maximum 25 words) on the subject of the session, or on any subject for the Leader's Q&A. Questions will be selected by the chair and put by the submitter from the intervention microphones in the auditorium. Questions may be submitted using the online form: - at libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions. - by 13.00 Monday 3 September. Questions may also be submitted on a form collected from and returned to the Speakers' Table in the auditorium by: - 12.50 Sunday 16 September. Reports The reports of Federal Committees and Parliamentary Parties are printed in the separate reports document. Any party member may submit concise questions (maximum 25 words) on these reports. The chair will select which questions will be asked. Questions to reports of the Parliamentary Parties may relate to any aspect of Liberal Democrat activities in the UK or European Parliaments. Questions may be submitted using the online form: - at libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions. - by 13.00 Monday 3 September. Questions received by the deadlines above will be printed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadlines above may be submitted on speaker's cards at the Speakers' Table up until one hour before the start of the relevant session. Submitting amendments, emergency motions, topical issues and appeals Amendments and emergency motions Amendments and emergency motions must be: - signed by 10 party members; OR - submitted by one or more of: a local party, state party, regional party in England, Federal Specified Associated Organisation or Federal Party Committee. Amendments and emergency motions must be submitted by 13.00 Monday 3 September. Submitters should include: - For amendments - a short explanation of the intended effect of the amendment. - For emergency motions - a short explanation of its emergency nature. Topical issues Suggestions for topical issues may be submitted by any party member by: - 13.00 Monday 3 September. The title of the issue should be no more than ten words, and should not include an expression of opinion; please include full contact details of the submitter and up to 100 words explanatory background. Drafting advice Submitters are encouraged to use our drafting advice service: draft amendments and emergency motions should be submitted by: - 13.00 Monday 20 August. Amendments, emergency motions and topical issues should be submitted to the Policy Unit: - using the online form at www.libdems.org.uk/conference_submissions - or by post to Policy Unit, 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE. Appeals Appeals against the non-inclusion of emergency motions or amendments must be signed by the original drafting contact and should be no longer than one side of an A4 sheet; give a contact name and telephone number; include a copy of the motion/amendment to which they relate; and give justification for the appeal and new information Conference Committee was unaware of when it made its decision. Appeals should be sent to: - appeals@libdems.org.uk and submitted by: - 13.00 Thursday 13 September. Agenda index and timetable Saturday 15 September 09.00-09.05 F1 Opening of conference 9 09.05-09.40 F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee 9 F3 Report: Federal Policy Committee 9 09.40-10.25 F4 Policy motion: Improving Animal Welfare 9 10.25-11.15 F5 Policy motion: Righting Wrongs: Restoring the Rights of the Windrush Generation 12 11.15-12.30 F6 Policy motion: Establishing Real Freedom of Choice 14 12.30-12.50 F7 Speech: Layla Moran MP 16 12.50-14.40 Lunch 13.00-14.30 Consultative sessions: 16 Climate Change and the Low Carbon Economy Race Equality Supporters' Scheme 14.40-15.55 F8 Policy motion: Power for People and Communities 17 15.55-16.15 F9 Speech: Rt Hon Tom Brake MP 19 16.15-17.00 F10 Business motion: After Alderdice - Delivering Race Equality in the Liberal Democrats 20 17.00-18.00 F11 Business motion: Reforming our Party's Disciplinary Processes 22 F12 Constitutional amendment: Reforming our Party's Disciplinary Processes 25 Sunday 16 September 09.00-10.00 F13 Report: Campaign for Gender Balance 33 F14 Report: Parliamentary Parties 33 10.00-11.00 F15 Policy motion: Ending Discrimination in Mental Health Provision 33 11.00-12.30 F16 Policy motion: A Fair Deal for Everyone: Prosperity and Dignity in Migration 35 12.30-12.50 F17 Speech: Jo Swinson MP 40 12.50-14.10 Lunch 14.10-15.10 F18 Q&A session: Rt Hon Vince Cable MP 40 15.10-15.30 F19 Speech: Baroness Brinton 40 15.30-16.45 F20 Policy motion: Britain at the Heart of a Changing World 41 16.45-18.00 F21 Report: Federal Appeals Panel 45 F22 Report: Federal Board 45 Monday 17 September 09.00-10.00 F23 Policy motion: An Affordable, Secure Home for All 46 10.00-11.00 F24 Policy motion: Europe Motion 49 11.00-11.20 F25 Speech: Gina Miller 49 11.20-14.10 Lunch 14.10-14.55 F26 Policy motion: Taxing Land, Not Investment 50 14.55-15.15 F27 Speech: Jane Dodds 52 15.15-16.35 F28 Policy motion: Good Jobs, Better Businesses, Stronger Communities: Proposals for a New Economy that Really Works for Everyone 53 16.35-17.30 F29 Policy motion: Plastic Pollution and UN Sustainable Development Goals 56 17.30-18.00 F30 Business motion: Membership Subscriptions and Federal Levy 59 Tuesday 18 September 09.00-09.20 F31 Business motion: Renewal of Recognition of SAOs 61 F32 Business motion: Recognition of AOs and SAOs 62 09.20-10.25 F33 Emergency motions or topical issue discussions 63 10.25-11.30 F34 Policy motion: Promoting a Fairer Distribution of Wealth 64 11.30-12.30 F35 Policy motion: Demand Better: Liberal Democrat Priorities for a Better Britain 66 12.30-12.50 F36 Speech: Willie Rennie MSP 69 12.50-14.10 Lunch 14.10-15.30 F37 Speech: Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 69 All conference sessions take place in the auditorium in the Brighton Centre, except the consultative sessions which take place in the Hilton. Saturday 15 September 09.00 Party business Chair: Baroness Brinton (President of the Liberal Democrats). Aide: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). F1 Opening of Conference by Baroness Brinton, President of the Liberal Democrats @salbrinton, #LDconf 09.05 Party business Chair: James Gurling. Aide: Liz Lynne. Hall Aide: Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). F2 Report of the Federal Conference Committee (FCC) Mover: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Questions selected will be detailed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted up until 08.50 on Saturday 15 September. See page 5 for further information. F3 Report of the Federal Policy Committee (FPC) Mover: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, FPC). The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Questions selected will be detailed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted up until 08.50 on Saturday 15 September. See page 5 for further information. 09.40 Policy motion Chair: Cara Jenkinson. Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Susan Juned. F4 Improving Animal Welfare 10 members Mover: Baroness Bakewell (Lords Spokesperson on Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs). Summation: Baroness Parminter. Conference notes with concern that: A. 80 per cent of current animal welfare legislation originates from EU law. B. If the UK were to leave the EU, it could have serious implications for animal welfare in the UK. C. As a result of Brexit, the UK government may receive pressure from potential new trading partners to open markets to low-welfare animal products, undermining British producers and standards. Conference believes that: i) Animals are sentient beings with the capacity to feel pain and suffering. ii) All protection measures currently afforded to animals under EU regulations must be transposed into UK law. iii) The government must pay full regard to animal welfare when developing all future policy, particularly upcoming legislation on farming, fisheries and international trade. iv) Government policy must support British farmers to produce a safe and affordable supply of food while maintaining and where possible, improving high animal welfare standards. Conference reaffirms pledges in the Liberal Democrat 2017 Manifesto, Change Britain's Future, to: a) Ensure that future trade agreements require high environmental and animal welfare standards at least equivalent to standards in the UK. b) Improve standards of animal health and welfare in agriculture by updating farm animal welfare codes and other legislation, and promoting the responsible stewardship of antibiotic drugs. c) Introduce stronger penalties for animal cruelty offences, clamp down on illegal pet imports, fund research into alternatives to animal testing and bring in a ban on caged hens. Conference calls on the Government to: 1. Prevent unnecessarily painful practices in farming including: non-anaesthetised castration, dehorning, live plucking and force feeding for foie gras. 2. Commit to phasing out experiments on sentient animals that cause extreme suffering, as defined in UK legislation, and replacing them with humane alternatives. 3. Include the justification for using live animals in experiments in the Freedom of Information Act. 4. Ensure that all public procurement in the UK is compliant with high animal welfare standards. 5. Ensure police officers and other public officers in charge of the enforcement of animal welfare legislation receive relevant training and maintain funding for the Wildlife Crime Unit. 6. Promote responsible breeding of companion animals to reduce avoidable diseases and deformities that can result from pedigree and purebred practices. 7. Support the establishment of an EU-wide harmonised system of identification and registration of companion animals. 8. Establish an independent regulatory body for horse welfare, which is separate from the British Horseracing Authority, to prevent abuse of racehorses and reduce avoidable deaths. 9. Avoid the culling of badgers, or other animals, for public or animal health reasons. Culling should only be considered as a last resort and carried out at the minimum necessary level if clear, independent scientific advice shows that no humane alternative is available. 10. Ban the use of wild animals in circuses in England and Wales. 11. Ban the use of glue traps which cause prolonged suffering for animals. 12. Ban the sale of ivory and parts of endangered species. Applicability: England only; except 7 (lines 49-50) and 12 (line 62) which are Federal; and 5 (lines 43-45) and 10 (line 59) which are England and Wales. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion - see page 6 - and for requests for separate votes - see page 3 - is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. 10.25 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Victor Chamberlain. Aide: Tahir Maher. Hall Aide: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). F5 Righting Wrongs: Restoring the Rights of the Windrush Generation 19 members Mover: Pauline Pearce. Summation: Roderick Lynch. Conference deplores: A. The official 'hostile environment' immigration policy of the Conservative Government applied to the Windrush generation, embedding institutional racism at the Home Office, which has resulted in mass breaches by the UK Government of the British Nationality Act 1948 and the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 and which has led to the deportation of retirement-age citizens with rights to live in the UK under the Immigration Act 1971. B. The government's pursuit of exemptions for the Home Office from transparency legislation such as GDPR (EU) 2016/679 and the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000, in order to conceal the extent of harm resultant from the 'hostile environment' policy. C. The policy of forcing the NHS, private landlords and the DVLA to act as quasi immigration police, resultant from the Home Office's inability to manage immigration effectively. D. The consequent application of aggregate immigration and deportation targets - with staff bonuses for deportations - which, encourage Home Office officials and contractors to make decisions contrary to domestic and international law, breaching UK regulations and published official guidance; even in cases where it was known that claims to reside were valid. Conference notes: i) The failure of the Home Office to establish and implement a rules-based legal, fair and just immigration system; leading to a targets-driven approach and tabloid-focused gimmicks like 'go home vans'. ii) The negative effects of the government's 'hostile environment' immigration policies on the economy and public services, increasing the shortage of technical skills in industry and the shortage of skills in the NHS. Conference believes that: a) The programme of mass deportation of the Windrush generation, and the destruction of relevant data to facilitate the programme, arose because the individuals, well established in British society, were the more easily located and victimised by administrators and contractors. b) The blame for the recent shameful Home Office approach to the Windrush generation lies in the policy established by the Home Secretary in office from 12th May 2010 to July 13th 2016. Conference calls for: 1. A public enquiry into immigration policy and practice of the UK government 1997-2018 with powers to compel the Home Office, Cabinet Office and other UK institutions to reveal all relevant information leading to the repeal of the offending legislation. 2. Righting wrongs perpetrated by the Home Office in each individual case, including the full restoration of rights to indefinite leave to remain, access to housing, healthcare, welfare, and employment, plus the return of those wrongly deported, and a new task force to apply justice, with access to legal aid for victims where needed; to include the release of such individuals currently wrongly detained and wrongly facing deportation. 3. The establishment of a system of compensation for all the victims of the Home Office's unjust policies in line with recommendations of Ministry of Justice appointee Martin Forde QC. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion - see page 6 - and for requests for separate votes - see page 3 - is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. 11.15 Policy motion Chair: Jenni Lang. Aide: Mary Reid. Hall Aide: James Gurling. F6 Establishing Real Freedom of Choice Liberal Democrat Women Mover: Katy Gordon. Summation: Christine Jardine MP. Conference believes that: A. Everyone regardless of gender identity has a right to make independent decisions over their reproductive health without interference by the state. B. Access to reproductive healthcare is a human right, as recently confirmed by the Supreme Court in relation to Northern Ireland. C. Liberal Democrats champion the freedom, dignity and wellbeing of individuals, acknowledging and respecting their right to freedom of conscience. D. Our responsibility for justice and liberty cannot be confined by national boundaries. Conference notes: i) The huge success of the recent referendum to liberalise abortion in the Republic of Ireland. ii) That induced abortion is currently a crime throughout the UK, although the Abortion Act 1967 provides exceptions to the crime of administering or procuring an abortion in England, Wales and Scotland, and the common law allows some exceptions in Northern Ireland. iii) That in 2017, several professional medical organisations backed calls from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service to remove abortion from criminal law: a) The Royal College of Midwives' position statement on abortion says: "Abortion procedures should be regulated in the same way as all other procedures relating to women's healthcare". b) The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists voted strongly in favour of updating their position to say that abortion "should be treated as a medical, rather than a criminal issue". c) The British Medical Association's annual representative meeting voted that regulation and limits on abortion should be subject to professional and regulatory, rather than criminal, sanctions. d) The Aston University study A Hard Enough Decision to Make identifies the presence of anti-abortion protesters as a cause of stress, distress, anxiety, and intimidation to those providing and seeking reproductive healthcare - women and clinic staff across the country report being followed, filmed, and harassed when trying to access or provide services - and it concludes that limiting the presence of anti-abortion activists outside clinics would uphold the right of healthcare privacy. Conference calls for the UK Government to: 1. Repeal sections 58 and 59 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, while retaining the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 and the framework for exemptions laid out in the Abortion Act 1967, thus removing criminal sanctions both for receiving an abortion of a non-viable foetus, and for appropriately registered and regulated medical professionals providing a safe abortion. 2. Provide funding so that users of reproductive healthcare services are provided with enough specialist advice to make fully informed decisions. 3. Enforce safe zones around abortion service providers so that those visiting can travel to them free of any harassment or pressure on their decision, and to make intimidation or harassment of abortion service users outside clinics, or on common transport routes to these services, illegal. 4. Provide funding to enable abortion clinics to provide their services free of charge to service users regardless of country of nationality or residency, using standard NHS provision criteria. 5. Do all they can to support the people of Northern Ireland to have access to abortion facilities within their own province. Applicability: England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion - see page 6 - and for requests for separate votes - see page 3 - is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 12.30 Speech Chair: Cllr Alex Hegenbarth. Aide: Cllr Jon Ball. Hall Aide: Mary Reid. F7 Layla Moran MP (Spokesperson on Education) @laylamoran, #LDconf 12.50 Lunch Break 13.00-14.30 Consultative sessions Climate Change and the Low-Carbon Economy Policy Working Group Hilton, Balmoral Room Chair: Duncan Brack Rapporteur: Christian Moon Race Equality Policy Working Group Hilton, Clarence Room Chair: Merlene Emerson Rapporteur: Jonathan Everett Supporters' Scheme Hilton, Buckingham Room Chair: Miranda Roberts Rapporteur: To be announced Consultative sessions provide a less formal mechanism than the full-scale conference debates for conference representatives and other Party members to participate in the Party's policy- and decision-making process. Each session examines a particular topic and hears contributions from Party members and in some cases outside speakers. Each session will be organised by the relevant Working Group or other party body. The conclusions of the session will be taken into account by the group when drawing up their final recommendations. 14.40 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Cara Jenkinson. Hall Aide: Jennie Rigg. F8 Power for People and Communities (Local Government and Community Empowerment Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Wera Hobhouse MP (Spokesperson on Communities and Local Government). Summation: Cllr Tim Pickstone (Chair of the Policy Working Group). Conference notes that in the preamble to the constitution we commit to enabling all citizens to "contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives". Conference believes that: A. Community is the arena in which individuals are able to co-operate with others to achieve their personal and shared goals. B. Democratically elected local government is the key public institution which enables local communities to work effectively together. C. Voluntary community action is also essential to creating a vibrant civic culture, both to express local communities based on place and non-geographic communities of interest. Conference regrets, however, that in England government is highly centralised, with central government having far more power relative to lower tiers of government than in almost any comparable democracy, and its attempts to micromanage local decisions and delivery of local services frequently lead to ineffectiveness, waste and a feeling of alienation and disempowerment. Conference further regrets the inadequate progress towards a devolved tier of democratic government within England, with serious consequences for the uneven economic and social development of the regions of England. Conference resolves that a Liberal Democrat vision for the empowerment of people and communities in England should be based on the principles of: i) Decisions being made at the lowest practicable level. ii) Openness. iii) Inclusivity. iv) Representative elections. v) Financial empowerment of democratically elected authorities. Conference therefore welcomes Policy Paper 130, Power for People and Communities, as a statement of Liberal Democrat policy, and in particular welcomes its proposals to: 1. Devolve power to the lowest practicable level by: a) Removing barriers to the creation of additional Parish and Town Councils, as well as of neighbourhood forums in areas that so choose. b) Strengthening the powers of principal local authorities over key areas such as education, health and care, transport, planning, housing and the environment. c) Abolishing the role of Police and Crime Commissioners. d) Aiming for the creation of a democratically elected devolved tier across England to be achieved by the end of the next Parliament, using existing local authority areas as the building blocks. e) Ultimately locking in the new settlement for England as part of a Written Constitution for the UK as a whole. 2. Make local government fit for the future by: a) Introducing elections by the Single Transferable Vote in multi-member constituencies for all levels of local government. b) Increasing the openness of decision making, including by requiring webcasting of all council meetings and strengthening transparency rules on council-owned companies and planning decisions on council owned land. c) Increasing the inclusivity of councils by supporting the use of all-women and all-disabled shortlists as a way of correcting underrepresentation as already provided for by law, and legislating to allow for all-BAME shortlists. d) Encouraging the use of deliberative consultation methods such as Citizen's Juries. e) Strengthening the role of individual councillors, for example by giving them a formal right to hold service providers to account in their own ward. d) Empowering Councils over their own finances, including by ending the current capping regime, giving them enhanced powers to call on new income sources appropriate to their area which should be linked to local activities and support local services and investment, and by giving them enhanced borrowing powers, including the power to borrow to enable and deliver housing and required local infrastructure. 3. Strengthen the community and voluntary sector by: a) Updating and renewing the Compact between Government and the Voluntary Sector. b) Implementing the recommendations of Lord Hodgson's review of the Lobbying Act (only applying regulations to campaigns intended to influence votes for candidates). c) Seeking a better balance between 'payment by results' contracts and grant funding, to allow some costs of voluntary organisations to be supported. d) Amending the Social Value Act so that service commissioners have to 'take into account' rather than just 'have regard to' social value in procurement decisions. Applicability: England only. Mover and summation of motion: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion - see page 6 - and for requests for separate votes - see page 4 - is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 15.55 Speech Chair: Baroness Sheehan. Aide: Chris Maines. Hall Aide: Tahir Maher. F9 Rt Hon Tom Brake MP (Spokesperson on Exiting the European Union and International Trade) @thomasbrake, #LDconf 16.15 Business motion Chair: Cllr Jon Ball. Aide: Cllr Susan Juned. Hall Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Vice Chair, FCC). F10 After Alderdice - Delivering Race Equality in the Liberal Democrats: RDC and Vice President BaME Federal Board Mover: To be announced. Summation: Baroness Brinton (President of the Liberal Democrats). Conference notes: i) The Alderdice Review published in January 2018 proposed that the Liberal Democrats review how they can improve, deliver and monitor representation of ethnic minority members throughout the party. ii) Each Federal Committee has discussed and is implementing a plan following the Alderdice Report to ensure that we do embed race equality in our actions, and a roundtable of a range of stakeholders, is addressing how we can mainstream race equality throughout the wider party. iii) The re-branding of Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats into the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality (LDCRE). iv) The success and continuing work of the Campaign for Gender Balance. v) There are currently three Vice Presidents of the party, who are the Chairs/Convenors of the English, Welsh and Scottish Parties. RDC a) Following the Alderdice Review, the Federal Board has agreed to set up a campaign group to promote, train, support and mentor BaME members who wish to stand for elected office, which will be called Racial Diversity Campaign (RDC). b) Its principal aims are to increase the number of ethnic minority MPs, Members of the Scottish and European Parliaments, Assembly Members and senior local government elected roles such as Police and Crime Commissioners and elected Mayors. It would also work alongside ALDC to increase the number of ethnic minority Councillors and Council Leaders. c) The purpose of the group is to provide this specific support and the officers of the group (chair and vice chairs) will be experienced in training and mentoring and have a deep knowledge of the party's processes for candidates, from assessment through to fighting a target seat. d) The arrangements for this group will mirror the Campaign for Gender Balance, which was set up in 2002 under the auspices of the Federal Executive Committee. e) As with other party posts reporting to the Board, the Chair and up to two Vice Chairs vacancies will be advertised to the membership, and must be nominated by two members of the Federal Board. The voting members of the Federal Board will then vote for the candidates for Chair/Vice Chairs. The Chair and Vice Chairs terms of office will automatically terminate when there are Federal Committee elections, and fresh elections held for these posts by the incoming new Federal Board. Casual vacancies will be elected as required. Vice President BaME 1. The Federal Board shall elect a Vice President BaME (VP BaME) from amongst the membership of the party. 2. The VP BaME will act as a senior party ambassador, working closely with Federal and state parties, and will be a non-voting member of the Federal Board. They will work closely with the Party's Equalities Spokesperson to ensure that different BaME communities' interests are represented, highlight issues, engage ethnic minority voters. 3. They will work closely with LDCRE to reach out to different BaME communities to enthuse them about Liberal Democracy and attract them to become members. 4. The Vice President BaME vacancy will be advertised to the membership, and must be nominated by 10 party members or a Local Party. The voting members of the Federal Board will then interview and vote for the candidates. The Vice President BaME will be a three year term to coincide with the Federal terms of election. Two terms will be the limit for holding the position. Casual vacancies will be elected until the end of the Federal election term. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion - see page 6 - and for requests for separate votes - see page 3 - is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. 17.00 Business motion and constitutional amendment Chair: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Jenni Lang. Hall Aide: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). F11 Business motion: Reforming our Party's Disciplinary Processes Federal Board Mover: Alice Thomas. Summation: Sheila Ritchie (Federal Vice-President and Convenor of the Scottish Liberal Democrats). Conference notes: A. The dedication and commitment of the volunteers and staff who have devoted valuable time and effort to ensuring the Party's current disciplinary processes function. B. That despite this, the large number of members who have previously expressed concerns regarding the Party's current disciplinary processes, including as part of the Governance Review consultations in 2015 and 2016. C. That party members voted at Autumn Conference 2016, in motion Towards a More Effective Party Governance that "there shall be a review of the disciplinary processes of the party". D. That Ken Macdonald QC, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, was appointed to carry out this review (known as 'the Macdonald Review'), and that Isabelle Parasram was appointed to undertake a special investigation into the Complaints Handling Processes in cases of sexual impropriety, the conclusions of which have been incorporated into the Macdonald Review's recommendations. E. The delays in acting on the review caused by the snap 2017 general election. F. The urgency of action now being taken to implement the review given the sexual harassment allegations made against members of all political parties. G. The debate and reference back at Spring Conference 2018, where speakers asked for more detail on how the new system would work, as well as concerns about a number of issues, addressed in the sections below. H. That the Federal Board has appointed a steering group on Sexual Impropriety Complaints, as recommended by Isabelle Parasram in her Special Investigative Report, to: i) Build upon the current support system for complainants by ensuring the Morrissey recommendations are fully implemented including as applicable during all stages of the Complaints Procedure. ii) Review and regularly update the Party's policy on anonymity, as published in draft form along with this business motion. iii) Review and regularly update the Party's policy on police referrals, as published in draft form along with this business motion. iv) Create a guidance manual to support and supplement the general guidance on the Complaints Procedure for those tasked with adjudicating or investigating sexual impropriety complaints. v) Devise an initial training programme to support and supplement the general training on the Complaints Procedure for those involved in the handling of sexual impropriety complaints, with regular refresher courses. vi) Advise the Party on an ongoing basis on conveying its stance and approach to incidents of sexual impropriety to every member in a more effective manner. vii) Review the handling of cases involving allegations of serious sexual impropriety on an ongoing basis. viii) Report back to the Federal Board with initial training plans and guidance by December 2018. Conference believes that: I. For any new complaints process (the 'Complaints Procedure') to command the confidence of members, it must be an independent, stand-alone process which is free from interference by the executive functions of the Party; is simple, transparent and efficient; and deals with complaints promptly, with clear lines of communication. II. To ensure such a process functions adequately, all those involved in it must be properly trained to ensure high standards, and that the Party has a responsibility to resource this. III. Such a process must be underpinned by a properly resourced system of informal resolution with trained Independent Persons, to be administered by the State Parties and coordinated with relevant staff at Party Headquarters. IV. The pool of individuals trained to carry out the complaints process (adjudicators) should have representation of underrepresented groups, in line with the guidelines for the membership of Party Committees laid out in Articles 2.5-2.7 of the Federal Party Constitution. Conference therefore recommends that: 1. The Federal Board appoint a pool of no less than 40 adjudicators and 15 investigators, who shall be required to undergo an approval process and shall not sit on any regional, state or federal party committee, and that the Federal Board report their appointment to Conference. 2. The Federal Board submit for approval by Conference: a) A Lead Adjudicator, who shall act as a spokesperson for the disciplinary process and may provide advice to adjudicators where necessary, and; b) Three Senior Adjudicators (one from each State Party) to be drawn from the pool of approved adjudicators to support the Lead Adjudicator in that role. 3. The team of the Lead and Senior Adjudicators be given the role of determining whether members should be suspended under the Complaints Procedure and, in addition, be empowered to refer cases to appeal on behalf of the Party, where the decision of a disciplinary panel risks damaging the Party's reputation. 4. The State and Regional Parties be urged to create a co-ordinated system of informal resolution with trained independent persons, and to amend their constitutions in line with this motion and the accompanying constitutional amendments. 5. The training programme for independent persons, investigators and adjudicators be centrally co-ordinated, and include but not be limited to: training on how to investigate, adjudicate and/or mediate on cases involving under-represented groups, minors, allegations of sexual misconduct and/or abuse of power. 6. The Chief Executive of the Party create and appropriately staff a central mechanism through which complaints should be reported, along with a central log of all complaints and the actions or resolutions related to them, and that access to such a log be strictly controlled in line with relevant data protection regulations. 7. A strict timeline be enforced, normally lasting no longer than three months from the date of the complaint to its final resolution, with a mechanism for extensions in exceptional circumstances, and an expedited timeline for those cases involving clear and unmistakeable examples of the Party being brought into disrepute, such as a criminal conviction. 8. The Complaints Procedures be made publicly available, with relevant guidance documents provided to affected individuals at each stage of the complaints process. 9. Provision be made for the majority of the members of any disciplinary panel to come from the State Party which covers the person being complained of. 10. A support system be devised to ensure proper support is provided to both complainants and respondents going through the process. 11. To allow the necessary time for selection of adjudicators and their approval at conference in Spring 2019, the revisions to the Party's disciplinary processes included in this motion and the corresponding constitutional amendments formally come into force on 1 July 2019, and that procedures for the handling of live cases be published in final form by 1 June 2019. Applicability: Federal. Motions F11 and F12 will be debated together but voted on separately. For timings and deadlines, see note after F12 on page 32. F12 Constitutional amendment: Reforming our Party's Disciplinary Processes Federal Board Mover: Alice Thomas. Summation: Sheila Ritchie (Federal Vice-President and Convenor of the Scottish Liberal Democrats). In 3.1 (a), after 'gender' insert ', gender identity'. In 3.1 (b), delete 'Party staff, member of the Parliamentary staff' and insert 'staff employed to support Liberal Democrats', and after 'Such behaviour will' insert 'be'. In 3.4 (ii), after 'Article 21' delete 'of the Constitution', and after 'Article 3.1' delete 'of the Constitution; and'. In 3.4 (iii), delete 'revocation' and insert 'refusal of admission or, revocation; and'. Insert new 3.4 (iv) 'where notice has been given under Article 3.4 (iii), any application for admission or readmission shall be referred to the original State Party.' In 3.6, delete 'Any person aggrieved by such a refusal shall, subject to having exhausted the internal procedures of the relevant State Party, have a right of appeal pursuant to Article 21 on any matter relating to the interpretation of this Constitution' and insert 'Any person whose membership is refused shall have a right of appeal, which must be made in writing within 14 days of the applicant being advised of the refusal to admit, and which shall be dealt with in accordance with the guidance published under Article 22'. In 3.7, delete 'by a Local Party (or, where appropriate, a Specified Associated Organisation which acted as the enrolling body) or a State Party'. In 3.7 (c), delete 'Parliamentary or European Parliamentary election' and insert 'election to public office'. Delete 3.7 (d). In 3.7, insert new (e) 'a breach of the standards set out in Article 3.1(b); or' and a new (f) 'discrimination against another person on the basis of a protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010'. In 3.7, delete 'paragraph (c), (d) or (e)' and insert 'paragraph (c)', and after 'Article' delete '3.7'. In 3.7, delete 'the body with powers of revocation may suspend membership while revocation is being considered' and insert 'the person or body designated in the procedures made under Article 22 may suspend membership while revocation is being considered. If the procedures do not designate such a person or body, the Chair/Convenor of the relevant State Party or their deputy, or for members outside the UK the Federal Board's Chair or Vice-Chairs may suspend membership while revocation is being considered'. In 3.7, delete final paragraph and insert 'Any person whose membership is revoked shall have a right of appeal, which must be made in writing within 14 days of the applicant being advised of the revocation, and which shall be dealt with in accordance with Article 22'. In 4.6 (a), (b) and (c), delete 'of this Constitution'. In 6.6 (e), delete ', including those set out in Article 20'. In 18.3, (a) (iii), at the end delete 'or' and insert new (b) 'the outcome of a complaints procedure recommends it;' and new (c) 'the person requests it; or'. In 18.3, at the end insert new paragraph 'Any person removed from a list by the relevant State Candidates Committee under grounds (a) or (d) above shall have a right of appeal, which must be made in writing within 14 days of the applicant being advised of the removal, and which shall be dealt with in accordance with Article 22'. Insert new Article 22: ARTICLE 22: Complaints Procedure 22.1 If a complaint is brought against a member of the Party, it shall be dealt with by the State Party which covers the Local Party they are a member of or, for members outside Great Britain, by the State Party which the Federal Party has appointed under Article 3.2(c). 22.2 Provided it is done in compliance with the procedures made under Article 22.3, each State Party may choose either to administer all of its complaints though the complaints procedure or it may decide to delegate the administration of all of its complaints to the Federal Party. 22.3 The Federal Board shall have power, after appropriate consultations, to make and from time to time vary procedures for the handling of complaints (the "Complaints Procedures"). These Complaints Procedures shall include an appeals process. The Federal Board shall report any variations made to the Complaints Procedures in its written report to conference under Article 7.6. Such variations shall be effective from the date on which such report is made. The existing text of relevant articles of the Federal Constitution: ARTICLE 3: Membership 3.1 (a) Membership of the Party is open to all persons who agree with its fundamental values and objectives without discrimination as to age, ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. (b) As a Member of the Liberal Democrats, you must treat others with respect and must not bully, harass, or intimidate any Party member, member of Party staff, member of the Parliamentary staff, Party volunteer, or member of the public. Such behaviour will considered to be bringing the Party into disrepute. 3.2 Membership shall be acquired through an enrolling body, being: (a) a Local Party in the area of which the member lives, works or studies (or, with its consent, another Local Party); (b) a Specified Associated Organisation representing youth and/or students; or (c) a State Party in accordance with its internal procedures (and so that any overseas member in a location where there is no Local Party may become a member via a State Party designated by the Federal Board to act as agent for the Federal Party). (d) any Specified Associated Organisation or Associated Organisation that the Federal Board considers ought to be entitled to enrol members of the Party. An applicant shall become a member on acceptance by the enrolling body, payment of the requisite subscription and registration. However, a State Party may, by its internal procedures, determine that eligibility of a member to vote in Local Party elections (including Parliamentary and local government selections) may be subject to a minimum requirement as to age (not being more than 10 years) and/or length of continuous membership (not being more than 15 months); and the provisions of this constitution as to members' voting rights shall be construed accordingly. 3.3 Responsibility for renewal of membership shall lie with State Parties but these may, by their internal procedures, provide for this function to be fulfilled by any other body or bodies within the Party. Membership will be automatically terminated if the renewal subscription is not received within three months following the due date. 3.4 All other matters relating to the admission or refusal of admission to membership of any person, or for the revocation or cessation of membership of any member, including the basis on which Local Parties may be involved in the recruitment and renewal of members, shall be governed by the Constitutions of the State Parties or by membership rules made under them, except that: (i) where, in any part of the United Kingdom, provision is not made in any of these respects by the State Party concerned, Articles 3.5 to 3.7 shall apply; (ii) a right of appeal pursuant to Article 21 of the Constitution, once any procedures internal to the State Party concerned have been exhausted, cannot be excluded in relation to the interpretation of Article 3.1 of the Constitution; and (iii) each state party shall give notice to the other state parties of any revocation of membership. Subject to the conditions set out in the Constitution of or in the rules made by the State Party concerned, a member shall be a member of: (a) where the enrolling body is a Local Party, that Local Party or, where the enrolling body is not a Local Party, an appropriate Local Party in terms of Article 3.2 (a); and (b) any applicable State Party and/or Regional Party; and (c) the Federal Party. 3.5 No person may simultaneously be a member of more than one Local Party. A member may re-register as of right in a different Local Party under the terms of Article 3.2 (a), or may, with the consent of the member's previous Local Party where that Local Party has ceased to be appropriate in terms of Article 3.2 (a), retain membership of that Local Party. A member who is an MP, MEP, prospective parliamentary or European parliamentary candidate or member of a local authority may re-register as of right in a relevant Local Party. 3.6 Membership may be refused by an enrolling body on one or more of the following grounds: (a) material disagreement, evidenced by conduct, with the fundamental values and objectives of the Party; (b) the admission of the applicant would be likely to bring the Party into disrepute; or (c) membership of another political party in Great Britain. Any person aggrieved by such a refusal shall, subject to having exhausted the internal procedures of the relevant State Party, have a right of appeal pursuant to Article 21 on any matter relating to the interpretation of this Constitution. 3.7 Membership may be revoked by a Local Party (or, where appropriate, a Specified Associated Organisation which acted as the enrolling body) or a State Party on one or more of the following grounds: (a) material disagreement, evidenced by conduct, with the fundamental values and objectives of the Party; (b) conduct which has brought, or is likely to bring, the Party into disrepute; (c) standing against the candidate of the Party in any Parliamentary or European Parliamentary election; (d) standing against the candidate of the Party in any local authority election; and (e) membership of or support for another political party in Great Britain. Membership shall not be revoked unless the member has been notified of the grounds on which revocation is to be considered and has been given a reasonable opportunity to reply. Where paragraph (c), (d) or (e) of this Article 3.7 applies, membership shall be automatically and immediately suspended, and in other cases of urgency the body with powers of revocation may suspend membership while revocation is being considered. Any person aggrieved by such a revocation shall, subject to having exhausted the internal procedures of the relevant State Party, have a right of appeal pursuant to Article 21 on any question relating to the interpretation of this Constitution. 3.8 A register of members shall be maintained by each State Party. A register of members resident outside Great Britain shall be maintained by a State Party designated by the Federal Board to act as agent for the Federal Party. Any body entitled to maintain a list of members may use the list for its own internal purposes. The Federal Party shall have direct access to such lists. Any body holding or having access to such lists shall ensure that the information contained in them is not disclosed to any person other than for the proper purposes of the Party. Party bodies shall comply with the directives of the Federal Board in relation to the Party's Data Protection Act registration. ARTICLE 4: Local Parties 4.6. Each Local Party shall have a constitution, which must comply with the following principles: (a) the objects shall include those set forth in Article 4.5 of this Constitution; (b) it must give effect to the provisions of Article 3 of this Constitution; (c) all elections shall be in accordance with the election rules made under Article 6.6 of this Constitution; (d) there must be an annual general meeting, and provision for the calling of other general meetings by the executive committee and by requisition of the members; (e) proper accounts and accounting records must be kept as required by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and must be audited and delivered to the Election Commission as required by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, and submitted with an independent report to the annual general meeting for approval; and (f) it must ensure compliance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. ARTICLE 6: The Federal Board 6.6. The Federal Board shall have power, after appropriate consultations and subject to ratification by the Conference, to make and from time to time vary rules as to: (a) membership, subject to the provisions under Article 3; (b) criteria for Associated Organisation and Specified Associated Organisation status and for the regular review of bodies holding such status; (c) party elections, with any such rules providing for the use of STV (or, in the case of a single person vacancy, the Alternative Vote) and the secret ballot; (d) compliance with any statutory or regulatory provisions that are relevant to the party's activities, including the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act and the relevant data protection legislation; and (e) such other matters as it may consider necessary or desirable to give effect to or supplement the provisions of this Constitution, including those set out in Article 20. ARTICLE 18: Parliamentary Candidates 18.3 The name of any person may be removed from a list by the relevant State Candidates Committee if: (a) the Committee has reason to believe that such person: (i) no longer supports the fundamental values or objectives of the Party; (ii) has behaved (whether personally or in connection with the affairs of the Party) in such a way as to be unsuitable to serve as an MP or MEP; or (iii) is unfit, through ill health or otherwise, to conduct an election campaign or to serve as an MP or MEP; or (b) the Committee is satisfied that it would for any other sufficient reason be contrary to the interests of the Party for that person to remain on the list. Applicability: Federal. Motions F11 and F12 will be debated together but voted on separately. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion - see page 6 - and for requests for separate votes - see page 3 - is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. F12 is a constitutional amendment and requires a two-thirds majority to pass. 18.00 Close of session Sunday 16 September 09.00 Party business Chair: Jennie Rigg. Aide: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Vice Chair, FCC). F13 Report of the Campaign for Gender Balance (CGB) Mover: Julia Cambridge (Vice Chair, CGB). The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Questions selected will be detailed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted up until 18.00 on Saturday 15 September. See page 5 for further information. F14 Report of the Parliamentary Parties Movers: Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Commons); Lord Newby (Lords); Catherine Bearder MEP (Europe). The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Questions selected will be detailed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted up until 18.00 on Saturday 15 September. See page 5 for further information. 10.00 Policy motion Chair: Baroness Doocey. Aide: James Gurling. Hall Aide: Jenni Lang. F15 Ending Discrimination In Mental Health Provision South Central Region Mover: To be announced. Summation: Dr Mohsin Khan. Conference notes that: i) In May 2017, the Prime Minister described the 1983 Mental Health Act as "outdated", "discriminatory" and "unfit for purpose", and promised to repeal it and replace it with new legislation; and in October 2017, the Government established a review of the Act, including "rising rates of detention" and "the disproportionate number of people from black and minority ethnicities detained". ii) Under the Act, one of the conditions for a person to be forcibly detained is that they have a 'mental disorder' (which includes Asperger's Syndrome and learning disabilities); this applies even if they have capacity (the ability to make their own decisions) and in some cases, having a childhood diagnosis of Asperger's has allowed people to be forcibly detained for months despite having capacity. iii) Mind, a mental health charity, has argued that detaining people based on disability is discriminatory, and in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; it has called for replacing the 'mental disorder' test with a 'mental capacity' test, as defined in the 2005 Mental Capacity Act. iv) A person with a 'mental disorder' who commits a serious crime can be placed under a Restriction Order, which restricts them to hospital for their whole life unless it is lifted by the Justice Secretary or a tribunal; this applies even if their treatment team consider them to be clinically safe, resulting in people potentially being detained, rather than treated, for their whole lives. Conference believes that: a) A person with a 'mental disorder' should not have fewer rights than a person without one. b) Everyone has the right to control their own body - a person should not be forced to receive treatment unless they don't have the capacity to make that decision. c) Detaining people on the basis of 'mental disorder', rather than capacity, is discriminatory, contributes to stigma and discourages people from being open about their mental health. Conference reiterates its support for the Liberal Democrat policy of ensuring that mental health services are fully funded and given parity of esteem with physical health services, so that people can be given care without unnecessarily having to be detained. Conference calls on the Government to reform the Mental Health Act to ensure that: 1. The 'mental disorder' test for involuntary detention and treatment is replaced with a 'mental capacity' test, so that a person cannot be involuntarily detained or treated unless they lack capacity, as defined in the Mental Capacity Act. 2. Advance decisions, as defined in the Mental Capacity Act, can be applied to mental health conditions, including an advance decision to refuse detention and/or treatment, provided that this decision is regularly renewed by the individual, with a formal assessment of capacity required on each renewal. 3. Restriction Orders are not used unjustifiably to detain, rather than treat, patients; in particular, the Restriction Orders' presumption for lifelong detention should be reviewed to ensure it is not unduly discriminatory against individuals with mental health conditions. Applicability: England and Wales. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 4. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Sunday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Saturday 15 September; see page 3. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 11.00 Policy motion Chair: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). F16 A Fair Deal for Everyone: Prosperity and Dignity in Migration (Immigration and Identity Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Rt Hon Sir Ed Davey MP (Spokesperson on Home Affairs). Summation: Thais Portilho (Vice Chair, Policy Working Group). Conference celebrates the positive impact migration has had on the United Kingdom - its culture, economy and standing in the world, throughout history. Conference rejects the Government's hostile language and policies towards migrants that have demonised them and have wrongly portrayed them as responsible for problems caused by the failure of successive Governments like the housing crisis, low wages and the lack of social cohesion in too many communities. Conference believes that: I. Liberal Democrats should continue to champion migration policies that put our national interest first, treat migrants and seekers of asylum with dignity and courtesy and expose the flawed arguments of people seeking to exploit concerns that people do have about immigration. II. Our goal should be a positive, liberal consensus on immigration, partly by rebuilding people's trust in the system, and that this requires us to listen and engage with those who do link pressures on public services and housing to immigration and to reject the argument that merely labels such people as racist. Conference further believes that Conservative immigration policies have failed even in their own terms and have broken the Home Office and the UK's immigration system by: A. Pursuing their ill-conceived target of reducing net migration to the "tens of thousands", which has simultaneously eroded public faith in the UK's immigration system and damaged the country by preventing people with valuable skills, like doctors and nurses, coming to work here. B. Making a "hostile environment" for migrants, resulting in severe hardship for many people and targeting people who have every right to be in the UK, including British citizens. C. Developing a visa system that is bureaucratic, costly to administer and expensive for employers, universities and applicants to use. D. Increasing hostility in their rhetoric on immigration that has polluted public dialogue and made it harder for communities to integrate. Conference regrets the result of the European referendum and reaffirms the Liberal Democrats' commitment to give the British people the final say on the Brexit deal, with the option of remaining in the EU and preserving the freedom of movement of goods, people, services and capital. Conference endorses policy paper 131, A Fair Deal for Everyone: Prosperity and Dignity in Migration, as a statement of Liberal Democrat policy to meet these challenges. Conference particularly calls for: i) The abolition of the net migration target and the hostile environment policy. ii) A root and branch reform of the Home Office, including the transfer of policy-making on work permits and student visas to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department of Education respectively. iii) A new right to work for seekers of sanctuary while their case is being considered, in order both to treat them more humanely and save the taxpayer tens of millions. iv) A new policy of 'detention as last resort' for irregular migrants, with more community detention and the closure of 8 immigration detention centres, to treat people more humanely and save an estimated œ100 million a year. v) Major investment into a new more effective approach to tackling illegal immigration, including a focus on organised crime gangs and human traffickers, through a new intelligence-led unit using data on overstayers from exit checks at the border, and a significant strengthening of the UK Border Force. Conference further calls for the following measures: 1. To promote social cohesion: a) Establish a national strategy in England to promote the teaching of English as a second language (ESOL) and develop a migrants' languages strategy to reap economic benefits from the diasporas living in the UK. b) Make funds available to local authorities to reward community groups who develop innovative and successful ways of promoting social cohesion, including in rural areas. c) Support projects in schools that educate students about the history of migration into the UK. 2. To make family migration more humane and efficient: a) For spouse and legal partner settlements, replace the crude and arbitrary income threshold with the pre-2012 rules and the 'no recourse to public funds' test. b) For dependent adult relatives, amend rules to make them less restrictive for elderly parents living with their British children. c) For registering a child, reduce the fee so it only covers the cost of administration, with a fee waiver for those who prove they cannot afford any fee. 3. To support people coming to the UK to work: a) Replace caps on work-related visas with a Department of Business-led policy of identifying sectors with serious skill shortages for the economy and public sector. b) Replace the Tier-based system with a merit-based system and a temporary workers scheme, along the lines of Canada's system, to provide a more flexible and higher quality work permit system. c) Establish a 'Training up Britain' programme - a mentorship scheme to enable British workers to develop their skills under the guidance of highly skilled migrants. 4. To make student migration work for the UK's economy and education sector: a) Make the Department of Education the lead department, with a policy objective of encouraging foreign academics, researchers and students to come to the UK, reporting the number of people coming to the UK to study separately. b) Introduce a new Student and College Compliance and Liaison Team in the DfE, aimed at reducing bureaucracy and costs for the sector, and to improve compliance with the rules. c) Enable graduates to stay and work in the UK for two years after their course. 5. To improve Britain's record on assisting people seeking sanctuary: a) Establish a dedicated unit for asylum applications to improve speed and quality of decision-making that will work with local authorities on dispersal and settlement issues. b) Provide free basic English lessons to any seeker of sanctuary and scrap the 16 hours-per-week rule with respect to financial support for asylum-seekers and refugees unable to work due to insufficient English. c) Review and reform all aspects of current asylum rules and operations that offend basic fairness and justice, with an initial focus on how the rules affect Christian converts, LGBT+ applicants and child-led family reunification applications. 6. To tackle illegal immigration: a) Invest in the Border Force and Immigration Enforcement agencies, ensuring that they have appropriate training and information-systems in place to enable a compassionate and intelligence-led approach. b) Introduce a 28-day limit on detention, but plan that under our new system, even this is much longer than the one to two days many people would normally be detained for. c) Introduce a UK equivalent of the US DREAM Act, by which individuals can apply for conditional resident status in the UK. 7. To improve the machinery of government: a) Take political influence out of decision-making on applications for visas and sanctuary and move towards a caseworker-model of support for applicants. b) Provide training for staff and ensure that all civil servants working in this role are Executive Officer grade by 2022. c) Hold an annual parliamentary debate on migration at which the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and ministers from BEIS, DfE, DfID and the Home Office report on migration. Applicability: Federal; except 1 (lines 63-72) which is England only. Mover and summation of motion: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 4. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Sunday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Saturday 15 September; see page 3. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 12.30 Speech Chair: Cllr Susan Juned. Aide: Cllr Victor Chamberlain. Hall Aide: Simon McGrath. F17 Jo Swinson MP (Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats) @joswinson, #LDconf 12.50 Lunch 14.10 Question and answer session Chair: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cara Jenkinson. Hall Aide: Sally Burnell. F18 Question and Answer Session with Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Members may put questions on any topic to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Concise questions (maximum 25 words) may be submitted via the website until 13.00, Monday 3 September or to the Speakers' Table by 12.50 on Sunday 16 September. See page 5. 15.10 Speech Chair: Cara Jenkinson. Aide: Cllr Alex Hegenbarth. Hall Aide: Susan Juned. F19 Baroness Brinton President of the Liberal Democrats @ salbrinton, #LDconf 15.30 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Victor Chamberlain. F20 Britain at the Heart of a Changing World (Britain in the World Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Jo Swinson MP (Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs). Summation: Cllr Martin Horwood (Chair of the Policy Working Group). Conference recognises that the world in 2018 feels increasingly unsafe and unstable, with nations unwilling or unable to address the challenges presented by a changing world and instead retreating into isolationism and nationalism. Conference notes that the focus of UK foreign policy in recent years has been unclear - focusing on firefighting rather than working towards a defined vision or goals. Conference calls for the UK to develop a liberal strategy for restoring pride in our place in the world: at the heart of global networks; championing British values and interests; defending our national interests; and building partnerships to promote and safeguard peace and security, prosperity, people, and the planet. Conference believes that Britain's national interests are best pursued in collaboration with countries, organisations and individuals who share our values - because all of us, countries and people, rise and fall together. Conference therefore endorses policy paper 132, Britain at the Heart of a Changing World, as a statement of Liberal Democrat policy on international affairs, and especially on the methods we must use to develop our vision and commitment to improving the world in which everyone lives, and particularly welcomes its proposals to: 1. Develop and adopt five strategic priorities and goals, linked into the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, that give the UK the vision and means to play a meaningful role in improving the lives of people around the world, prioritising: a) Global gender equality, building on our work to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation and ensuring that the realities of the lives of women and girls are not ignored in favour of improving trade links or building regional alliances. b) The combatting of climate change and other environmental crises, and reducing their impact on the stability of fragile states and regions and on international migrant flows. c) Protecting, defending, and promoting human rights for all, including LGBT+ individuals who are persecuted across the world. d) Reducing inequality within and between nations, working to combat poverty not just in the interests of the poor and disadvantaged but to avoid the further growth of instability based on a sense of deep-seated injustice. e) Leading in the worldwide response to new technologies - supporting innovation while addressing issues of privacy, human safety, and cybercrime. 2. Invest in building strong and effective diplomatic relationships across the world, allowing the UK to work with its neighbours to promote national strategic priorities and goals, particularly by: a) Maintaining the closest possible diplomatic relationship with the European Union, regardless of the UK's position within it, including close liaison with the European External Action Service. b) Building a wide, changing coalition of support on specific policy priorities, including developing and smaller nations that share our interests. c) Establishing a new cabinet committee led by the Foreign Secretary to drive co-ordinate international policy across Whitehall. d) If the UK were to leave the EU, increasing the Foreign and Commonwealth Office budget by nearly œ1bn to replace EU functions that would be lost and to build the relationships that would be necessary if seeking new deals outside the EU. e) Publishing a charter for British citizens in crisis overseas and working with mobile operators to provide people with their nearest consulate's emergency telephone number by text as soon as they connect to a mobile network outside the UK. 3. Build on our international obligations to security and defence - working for peace and protecting the UK and its citizens from countries that wish to do us harm by: a) Committing to the principle of collective self-defence as laid out in the North Atlantic Treaty and spending 2% of GDP on defence in line with NATO recommendations. b) Legislating to ensure there is a parliamentary vote before engaging in military action, whilst preserving the ability to engage in action in emergencies or under treaty obligation without being forced to recall parliament. c) Focusing on the diplomatic priorities of the UN's Responsibility to Protect doctrine and establishing new tests to ensure UK action taken under doctrine has regional support, a decent prospect of defined success, and a sound legal or humanitarian case. d) Promoting an international treaty on the principles and limits of the use of technology in modern warfare. 4. Develop trade, aid, and investment to ensure that economic development leaves nobody behind, specifically by: a) Remaining firmly committed to spending 0.7% of GNI on aid. b) Prioritising development that both helps the poorest and ties in with our strategic international objectives on gender equality, climate change and the environment, human rights, inequality, and technology. c) Working through international bodies for better regulation and scrutiny of international trade and investment treaties to ensure they do not worsen inequalities or human rights, or undermine sustainability. d) Remaining within the Single Market and Customs Union to ensure the best trading arrangements for the UK, regardless of whether or not the UK remains in the EU. e) Urgently reviewing the national security implications of exposing critical national infrastructure to foreign ownership. f) Tackling international tax avoidance and corruption by ensuring the UK and British Overseas Territories have publicly-accessible registers of beneficial ownership of companies registered in their jurisdictions. 5. More effectively harness British influence and soft power, supporting its development and using it as a tool to advance our interests, by: a) Altering funding arrangements for the British Council so that it is able to spend money on projects in countries and regions of strategic importance. b) Restoring BBC Monitoring funding to a ring-fenced grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. c) Uniting the three existing UK global scholarships under the Chevening brand, aim to double the number of beneficiaries to 5000 a year, and explore funding similar numbers of UK students to study abroad. d) Requiring DCMS to prepare a biennial report to parliament on the international impact of the UK's creative industries, sport, art, culture, and heritage. 6. Protect the rights of citizens around the world by protecting and promoting the rules-based international order by: a) Working with allies and partners to strengthen and adapt existing multilateral institutions so that they remain effective and reflect changing power dynamics. b) Continuing to involve ourselves in newly-established multinational, regional, and international organisations. c) Requiring NGOs and organisations including the Armed Forces and defence contractors to report all instances of documented abuse overseas to government - reviewing, reducing, or refusing funding to organisations found in breach of these rules. d) Establishing an easy and appropriate reporting mechanism for abuse that makes clear reporters and whistleblowers will not be discriminated against for reporting abuse. e) Prioritising efforts to eradicate the use of sexual violence in conflict and by military personnel including UN peacekeepers. Applicability: Federal. Mover and summation of motion: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 4. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Sunday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Saturday 15 September; see page 3. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 16.45 Party business Chair: Liz Lynne. Aide: Cllr Jon Ball. Hall Aide: Cllr Alex Hegenbarth. F21 Report of the Federal Appeals Panel (FAP) Mover: Alan Masters (Chair, FAP). The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Questions selected will be detailed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted up until 15.45 on Sunday 16 September. See page 5 for further information. F22 Report of the Federal Board (FB) Mover: Baroness Brinton (President of the Liberal Democrats). The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 3 September. Questions selected will be detailed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted up until 15.45 on Sunday 16 September. See page 5 for further information. 18.00 Close of session Monday 17 September 09.00 Policy motion Chair: Mary Reid. Aide: Simon McGrath. Hall Aide: Cara Jenkinson. F23 An Affordable, Secure Home for All 10 members Mover: Lord Shipley (Spokesperson on Housing). Summation: Baroness Thornhill. Conference reaffirms: A. The right of every person to live in an affordable, secure home in a safe environment. B. The long-standing commitment of the Liberal Democrats to achieve this by building 300,000 homes a year over the next decade. Conference notes that: I. Homelessness is at record levels with rough sleeping rising, large numbers of young people sofa hopping and tens of thousands of homeless families trapped in unsuitable temporary accommodation. II. Over the last decade Government subsidies for rent through housing benefit have tripled to around œ25 billion (of which œ10 billion goes to private landlords) when subsidies to increase the supply of social housing have declined to around œ1 billion a year. III. The ratio of house prices to gross average earnings per head is at record levels of around 10 to 1 and that as a result home ownership has become unaffordable for most young people and for most people on average incomes. IV. Too many people have been forced into the private rented sector which now provides one fifth of all homes in the UK, a third of which fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard. V. Government policies to promote owner occupation through taxpayer subsidies have boosted demand and house prices without effective measures to increase supply and affordability. VI. The number of new social homes has contracted from over 200,000 a year at its peak to the unacceptable level of just 1,400 social home starts in 2017/18. VII. The market in land does not work in the public interest, with large builders getting unearned rewards for hoarding land and restricting supply with house prices forced upwards thus making homes unaffordable for most first-time buyers, and the present system of viability assessments for affordable housing being too weighted in favour of the developer leading to inflated land prices at the expense of infrastructure, affordable housing, and design quality. VIII. One and a half million council homes have been sold under the Right to Buy with only one replacement for every five sold. Conference believes that: a) Government housing policies have increased social, financial and inter-generational inequalities. b) There are still too many long-term empty homes which are seen as financial investments rather than places to live. c) Local government can play a critical role in achieving the number of homes required by directing the use of publicly owned land before disposal for affordable and social housing and by being able to borrow both to buy land for housing and to build it. d) In the private rented sector there should be: i) A system of mandatory licensing with a publicly available database of rogue landlords. ii) Promotion of longer private tenancies with inflation or wage-linked rents. iii) A right to buy (or first refusal) for sitting tenants when a landlord sells. iv) A cap on upfront tenant deposits. v) A ban letting agents' fees. e) Green space in towns and urban areas and green field between towns are vital components of our quality of life and provide essential protection for neighbourhoods against urban sprawl. f) Poor quality or disused land (for example, former petrol stations and warehouses) defined as green belt may be suitable for development as part of local or neighbourhood planning. g) 'Rent to Own' homes would enable many younger people to get on the housing ladder without a deposit by renting from housing associations at a market level rent giving them an increasing stake in their property over time. i) Second home owners should always pay their fair share of local taxation for the provision of local services. j) Fiscal incentives could help to encourage older owner occupiers to downsize their properties and should therefore be considered further. Conference calls for: 1. The creation of a British Housing Company as a dedicated, arms-length, not for profit non-governmental body to acquire land of low amenity at current use value through compulsory acquisition to reduce prohibitive land costs and excessive developer profits. 2. Removal of the cap on local authority borrowing. 3. The construction of 50,000 social homes for rent per year by both councils and housing associations rising as soon as practicable to 100,000 a year. 4. Local authorities to have the power to decide on the availability of Right to Buy in their areas and for Right to Buy receipts to be reinvested in social housing. 5. A big expansion in 'Rent to Own' where occupants pay rent to housing associations, in return for an increasing stake in the property over time. 6. Higher quality, safety and environmental standards in the existing housing stock including the retrofitting of 4 million homes to higher standards. 7. An increase to 500% in council tax levied where homes are being deliberately bought as investment properties and left empty for long periods with a stamp duty surcharge on overseas residents purchasing such properties. 8. The Government to deliver its commitment to building 300,000 homes a year by i) ensuring the workforce in the construction industry is sufficient to build them ii) encouraging new building techniques to build quality new homes in shorter timescales. 9. Local government to adopt a civic house building model working in partnership with developers and supported by a planning system which is less about gatekeeping planning applications and more about creating places in which people want to live, work and play. Applicability: England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Sunday 16 September; see page 3. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 10.00 Policy motion Chair: Cllr Jon Ball. Aide: Jennie Rigg. Hall Aide: Cllr Paul Tilsley. F24 Europe Motion To ensure a timely and relevant debate on Europe, the Federal Conference Committee have decided to reserve this space on the agenda and to invite members to submit motions on Europe up to the Emergency Motion deadline. The deadline for submission of motions on Europe is 13.00, Monday 3 September. The selected motion will be available online by 17.00, Monday 10 September and the deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Thursday 13 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Saturday's and Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Sunday 16 September; see page 3. 11.00 Speech Chair: Tahir Maher. Aide: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Chris Maines. F25 Gina Miller, Businesswoman and activist @thatginamiller, #LDconf 11.20 Lunch 14.10 Policy motion Chair: Jeremy Hargreaves. Aide: Cllr Susan Juned. Hall Aide: Liz Lynne. F26 Taxing Land, Not Investment 13 members Mover: Andrew Dixon. Summation: Lord Fox (Spokesperson on Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy). Conference believes that Business Rates and Non-Residential Stamp Duty are an unacceptable burden on business and unfit for purpose in a modern economy. Conference notes: A. That dissatisfaction with Business Rates has reached an all-time high, following a long-delayed and poorly implemented rates revaluation in 2017 and a deepening crisis on Britain's high-streets. B. Recent calls for reform of Business Rates from all the major business organisations, including the CBI, the FSB, the BCC, the BRC, the EEF and the IoD. C. The recommendation in the IFS's seminal 2011 Mirrlees Review that Business Rates should be replaced with a tax based on land values. D. Liberal Democrats' longstanding commitment to Business Rates reform, with a specific emphasis on replacing it with a land value tax. Conference believes that: i) By taxing business premises and equipment, Business Rates are a disincentive to investment, and are a particularly heavy burden on capital-intensive sectors such as manufacturing and renewable energy. ii) It would be more efficient to solely tax the land value of commercial property, removing the disincentive to invest and enabling the state to better capture increases in land value driven by public infrastructure investment. iii) By taxing commercial property transactions, Non-Residential Stamp Duty is an unwelcome burden on businesses that want to acquire or change premises, with the result that commercial property is not allocated efficiently. Conference notes the proposals to replace Business Rates in the report Replacing the Broken Business Rates System: Taxing Land, Not Investment and calls for: a) The replacement of Business Rates in England (currently set at a rate of 49.3p per pound) with a Commercial Landowner Levy (CLL) set at a rate of 59p per pound but based solely on the land value of commercial sites rather than their entire capital value, thereby stimulating investment, and shifting the burden of taxation from tenants to landowners. b) The immediate abolition of Non-Residential Stamp Duty, thereby improving the efficiency of the commercial property market and making life simpler for businesses that want to own or change premises. c) Ending discounts for empty and derelict premises and allowing councils to tax unfinished commercial developments beyond a reasonable construction period, increasing the supply of commercial property and reducing rents. d) Abolishing the current system of Small Business Rates Relief - much of which is absorbed by landlords through higher rents - and replacing it with a doubled Employment Allowance, giving every employer a œ3,000 tax cut by reducing their National Insurance bills, and providing a boost to wages and employment. e) Existing relief for agricultural land to be maintained; relief for charities to be protected except in the case of private schools and private healthcare. f) Local authority revenues from Business Rates to be protected under the CLL through an adjustment to the redistribution formula, so that tax cuts for businesses do not mean lower revenues for those local authorities. g) The transition from Business Rates to the CLL to take place over 4 years, with bills shifting gradually from a property to a land value basis and incidence moved to landlords when contracts are renewed or at rent reviews. h) Annual revaluations of commercial land values by the Valuation Office Agency and the completion of a comprehensive and publicly-accessible Land Registry. Conference further notes that: 1. Introducing the CLL would give businesses a net tax cut. 2. Under the CLL, business taxes would be lower in 92% of local authorities, helping to close Britain's regional divide and alleviating the crisis on our high streets. 3. The majority of economic sectors would receive a boost under the CLL, with lower bills in manufacturing, hospitality and shops among other sectors. 4. Under the CLL, the 61% of small and medium sized businesses that do not own their own premises would no longer directly pay property tax, shifting the administrative burden of tax away from businesses onto a smaller number of commercial landlords, and saving both businesses and councils precious time and money. Applicability: England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Sunday 16 September; see page 3. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 14.55 Speech Chair: Simon McGrath. Aide: Cllr Paul Tilsley. Hall Aide: Cllr Jon Ball. F27 Jane Dodds (Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats) @doddsjane, #LDconf 15.15 Policy motion Chair: Chris Maines. Aide: Liz Lynne. Hall Aide: Tahir Maher. F28 Good Jobs, Better Businesses, Stronger Communities: Proposals for a New Economy that Really Works for Everyone (21st Century Economy Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Baroness Kramer (Treasury Spokesperson). Summation: Mike Tuffrey (Chair of the Policy Working Group). Conference believes the current British economy is simply not working for enough people today, and is not fit to face the challenges of tomorrow, in that: A. Real living standards are being squeezed and inequalities of wealth and income are worsening. B. The economy is geographically and sectorally unbalanced, and productive investment is too low. C. Much economic activity is unsustainable, threatening the planet on which future generations depend. Conference regrets that successive Labour and Conservative governments over decades have preferred to protect vested interests and pursue dogmatic ideological battles rather than tackle the real underlying problems of the economy, and that the current Government's industrial strategy is woefully inadequate in supporting businesses to thrive and grow. Conference further believes that Brexit will, at best, exacerbate these problems, while technological changes already underway - digital, biological, physical - will disrupt and transform our economy over coming decades, on a scale similar to the first industrial revolution; who gains or loses depends on how we act now. Conference therefore resolves to work towards creating a new economy that really works for everyone - one that provides good jobs and opportunity at work, ensures business serves the common good and consumers benefit, and sustains strong communities and thriving places; this should be based on the principles of: i) Greater fairness and equality of opportunity, overcoming barriers and truly enabling individuals to advance and be rewarded in a dynamic economy and fulfilling world of work. ii) Positively embracing innovation and the potential of the new technologies to serve society and enhance human well-being, while protecting individuals from negative impacts and ensuring the benefits are widely shared. iii) Productive, entrepreneurial business, freely competing in a market economy, with government playing an enabling role, through smart regulation and infrastructure investment, by controlling vested interests who abuse monopolistic power, and by promoting open trading internationally, within Europe and beyond. iv) Genuinely sustainable growth, respecting the environmental limits of our one planet, meeting true consumer needs, supporting small, local and community solutions, and recognising well-being not just wealth as the goal. Conference therefore welcomes policy paper 133, Good Jobs, Better Businesses, Stronger Communities: Proposals for a New Economy that Really Works for Everyone, as a statement of Liberal Democrat policy on our approach to the economic challenges of the 21st Century, and in particular welcomes its proposals to: 1. Create a fair economy that works for all by: a) Reforming the labour market to give control and choice back to workers, with additional rights for those in the gig economy, a powerful new Worker Protection Enforcement Authority to protect those in precarious work, and a 'Good Employer' kite mark to promote good firms. b) Investing in skills, in particular in lifelong opportunities for retraining, so people can better adjust to the fast-moving economy of the 21st Century, with a national skills strategy, an expanded skills and training levy, and a new initiative - Lifelong Learning Entitlements. c) Setting immigration policies that support growth and meet key skills gaps, with a Canadian-style international mobility programme. d) Strengthening diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace, with mandatory reporting of pay ratios and corrective action plans, and a fresh approach to modern trade unionism for stronger representation in new workplaces. 2. Create a sustainable economy that works for future generations by: a) Reforming the ways companies and markets are governed to entrench a longer-term, more sustainable approach, with a new Companies Act for the 21st Century, so large companies fully reflect the interests of all stakeholders, serve the common good and are accountable for their actions - including an annual Fair Pay report and action plans on diversity. b) Making the UK a laboratory for new forms of enterprise, with a big boost to employee ownership by extending the Liberal Democrat 'employee ownership trust' scheme. c) Introducing an extended public interest test for takeovers that conflict with the national industrial strategy. d) Challenging the growing concentration of market power - including in energy, banking and the new 'tech titans' - with stronger regulation of monopolies, enhanced consumer protections, greater rights over data and by sharing economic benefits more widely through an innovative Citizens' Wealth Fund. e) Introducing a new 'right to repair' for consumer products, setting lifetime manufacturing standards and curbing costly waste and pollution. f) Harnessing the strength of the public sector balance sheet to open additional sources of finance for innovative business, the green economy and vital national infrastructure including hyper-fast broadband. g) Helping businesses to adapt to the challenges of the digital economy, with forward thinking 'automation plans' to prepare for change and a new approach to potentially disruptive technology. 3. Create a balanced economy that works for the whole UK by: a) Devolving more powers on economic development to cities and regions within England, with enhanced flexibility on revenue generation and a focus on increasing local purchasing power. b) Developing sustainable cities as hubs of growth, concentrated around skills, housing and healthy environments - with increased transport connectivity within and between regions an essential component. c) Creating city and region integrated economic development plans, aligned with the national industrial strategy, based on specialist sector clusters and with close links to universities. d) Increasing access to finance and investment, with an enhanced mandate for the British Business Bank to catalyse private sector investment equally across the UK. Applicability: Federal; except 1 b) (lines 54-58) and 3 a)-c) (lines 97-107) which are England only. Mover and summation of motion: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Sunday 16 September; see page 3. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 16.35 Policy motion Chair: Sally Burnell. Aide: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). F29 Plastic Pollution and UN Sustainable Development Goals Cheltenham Mover: Cllr Martin Horwood. Summation: Jane Brophy. Conference: i) Notes and fully supports the UN's sustainable development goal 14 which includes targets to reduce marine pollution. ii) Recognises that marine pollution is a global problem which requires both international co-operation and local community action to eradicate. iii) Recognises that the use of plastic, especially single use plastic, has become a major environmental problem. iv) Recognises that designing plastics out is the preferred option. Conference welcomes: I. The UN pledge made by nearly 200 countries, including the United Kingdom, to eliminate plastic from the sea. II. The European Commission's proposed ban on the most common single-use plastic items, along with other measures to reduce the amount of plastic waste reaching the oceans. III. The voluntary pledge by supermarkets to cut plastic packaging. IV. The decision by supermarkets, retailers, restaurants and pubs to end the use of plastic straws. Conference deplores the failure of the Government to respond adequately to the seriousness and urgency of this issue and therefore calls for legislation to be introduced: A. Banning non-recyclable single-use plastics with affordable alternatives; with a target for their complete elimination within a three-year period. B. Requiring all retailers and other organisations to reduce the amount of plastic and non-recyclable packaging they use, with immediate action to eliminate hard-to-recycle items such as black plastic and a three-year target to make all plastic packaging either unnecessary, re-usable or recyclable. C. Setting targets for large public organisations, such as the NHS, to reduce their use of plastic and find alternatives. D. Implementing a deposit system on all food and drink bottles and containers whether they are made from glass, plastic or other materials. E. Requiring all retailers and businesses that produce plastics or use them for their products to pay a levy to contribute towards the cost of necessary recycling services and for larger retailers to be subject to a right of return for waste packaging. F. Working in partnership with local authorities to: i) Produce an action plan to deliver the target leading to the elimination of single use plastic within three years in their local authority area. ii) Prepare audit trails to demonstrate that plastics are recycled where they cannot be re-used. iii) Support the formation of local community action groups to assist in delivering the statutory target. iv) Resolve any issues relating to the funding and legislative powers required to deliver this the required outcomes. G. Creating an international task force to work in developing countries on initiatives supporting the elimination of single use plastic in those countries. Furthermore, such legislation should: a) Place a duty on all governmental organisations to promote the need to reduce packaging of any sort, particularly plastic products, and to replace plastic packaging where possible with compostable materials that are safe to be used for vegetable growing. b) Introduce a legal requirement to label all packaging with recyclability information. c) Require a public information and education campaign to be delivered through all governmental agencies, organisations receiving public funding and public bodies including schools, colleges and universities. d) Provide that, where the use of plastic remains unavoidable, there should be a requirement on all retailers only to use any plastics or other materials that can be recycled through existing or new recycling services or that can be re-used. Conference calls on Liberal Democrats to: 1. Campaign for the implementation of these policies and to highlight the impact of plastic pollution in their communities. 2. Introduce and implement policies through their elected representatives - Councillors, MPs, AMs, MSPs and MEPs - to reduce plastic pollution where they are in a position to do so. 3. Work through parliaments and assemblies for the introduction of legislation outlined in this motion. 4. Ensure our own Party fulfils its own responsibilities in this regard in practice. Applicability: England only; except B (lines 25-29), a) and b) (lines 53-59) and 2 and 3 (lines 71-75) which are Federal. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 4. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Sunday 16 September; see page 3. 17.30 Business motion Chair: Cllr Nick da Costa (Vice Chair, FCC). Aide: Mary Reid. Hall Aide: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). F30 Membership Subscriptions and Federal Levy Federal Board Mover: Tony Harris (Chair, FFRC). Summation: To be announced. In order to make the party's finances simpler, more transparent and more sustainable, Conference agrees to the following for 2019: 1. To make the Federal Levy system more transparent and consistent by applying the Federal Levy to membership subscriptions in England, Scotland and Wales. 2. To make the finances of the State parties sustainable by recognising the significant additional costs faced by the Scottish and Welsh State parties on account of the policy, communications, organisational and campaigning challenges presented by the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. This will be done by introducing an Additional Costs Grant from the Federal Party for the Scottish and Welsh Parties. 3. To address the significant imbalance in party resources shown by the relative balance sheets of the Federal Party and other parts of the party, and to provide the resources for the shared tools, services and support set out in the party's strategy passed at Spring 2018 Conference, by setting the Federal Levy at 55% for 2019. 4. To encourage further membership growth by freezing the current membership rates of œ72 (recommended), œ12 (standard minimum), œ6 (minimum for those in receipt of or entitled to state benefits), œ6 (minimum for members paying via Liberal Youth) and œ1 (minimum for members paying via Liberal Youth in their first two years). 5. That nothing in this motion shall prevent a State Party from setting via their internal procedures higher recommended or minimum subscription rates or from introducing additional concessionary rates. Applicability: Federal. Mover: 5 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments and all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Monday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Sunday 16 September; see page 3. 18.00 Close of session Tuesday 18 September 09.00 Business motions Chair: Mary Reid. Aide: Simon McGrath. Hall Aide: Cllr Susan Juned. F31 Renewal of Recognition of SAOs Federal Board Mover: Gordon Lishman. Summation: Toby Keynes. Conference notes that: A. Under Article 20.2 of the Federal Constitution, the Federal Board is required to periodically propose the renewal of the Annexe listing Specified Associated Organisations (SAOs), and that this must take the form of an amendable motion to Federal Conference. B. Under the same article, an organisation that (except in the case of youth and/or students) consists solely of members of the party, and satisfies the criteria set forth in Article 20.1, and the further criteria established under Article 6.6, may be recognised as an SAO following a proposal from the Federal Board and a two-thirds majority vote by Federal Conference. C. Under Article 20.3 of the Federal Constitution, the Federal Board shall from time to time review the operation of Associated Organisations (AOs) and SAOs in the light of the principles and practices established by and pursuant to the Constitution and shall report to the Federal Conference on such reviews. D. Under Articles 20.4 and 20.5 of the Federal Constitution, an AO or SAO that is in breach of the criteria set forth in articles 20.1 and 20.2, or those established under Article 6.6, may have its AO or SAO status suspended by the Federal Board; and that this shall be reported to the next meeting of the Federal Conference, which may revoke such suspension or, by a two-thirds majority, remove the organisation's AO or SAO status. Conference resolves, in line with the Federal Board's proposal and recommendations, that: 1. The following organisations shall have their status as SAOs renewed: a) Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC). b) Association of Liberal Democrat Engineers & Scientists (ALDES). c) Liberal Democrat Campaign for Racial Equality (LDCRE), previously known as Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats d) LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. e) The Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association, also known as Rights - Liberties - Justice (R-L-J). f) Liberal Democrat Women (LDW). g) Young Liberals (YL). h) Parliamentary Candidates Association (PCA). Applicability: Federal. Motions F31 and F32 will be debated together but voted on separately. For timings and deadlines, see note after F32 on page 63. F32 Recognition of AOs and SAOs Federal Board Mover: Gordon Lishman. Summation: Toby Keynes. Conference notes that: A. Under Article 20.2 of the Federal Constitution, the Federal Board is required to periodically propose the renewal of the Annexe listing Specified Associated Organisations (SAOs), and that this must take the form of an amendable motion to Federal Conference. B. Under the same article, an organisation that (except in the case of youth and/or students) consists solely of members of the party, and satisfies the criteria set forth in Article 20.1, and the further criteria established under Article 6.6, may be recognised as an SAO following a proposal from the Federal Board and a two-thirds majority vote by Federal Conference. C. Under Article 20.3 of the Federal Constitution, the Federal Board shall from time to time review the operation of Associated Organisations (AOs) and SAOs in the light of the principles and practices established by and pursuant to the Constitution and shall report to the Federal Conference on such reviews. D. Under Articles 20.4 and 20.5 of the Federal Constitution, an AO or SAO that is in breach of the criteria set forth in articles 20.1 and 20.2, or those established under Article 6.6, may have its AO or SAO status suspended by the Federal Board; and that this shall be reported to the next meeting of the Federal Conference, which may revoke such suspension or, by a two-thirds majority, remove the organisation's AO or SAO status. Conference resolves, in line with the Federal Board's proposal and recommendations, that: 1. The following organisation shall be recognised as an SAO: a) Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF). 2. The following organisations shall have their AO status removed on the grounds that they have ceased to operate: a) Liberal Democrat Friends of Kashmir. b) Liberal Democrat Friends of Pakistan. Applicability: Federal. Motions F31 and F32 will be debated together, but voted on separately. Mover: 5 minutes; summation of motion, movers and summation of any amendments and all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Tuesday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Monday 17 September; see page 3. Motion F32, Recognition of AOs and SAOs, requires a two-thirds majority to pass. 09.20 Emergency motion or topical issue discussions Chair: Sarah Boad. Aide: Sally Burnell. Hall Aide: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). F33 Emergency Motion or Topical Issue This slot has been reserved for the debate of two emergency motions and/or discussion of topical issues. The deadline for emergency motions and for suggestions for topical issues is 13.00, Monday 3 September. The motions selected for debate or the motions proposed for the ballot will be printed in Saturday's Conference Daily. See pages 5 and 6. Emergency motion timing - mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers 3 minutes. Topical issue timing - introducer of issue and spokesperson's response: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedures for speaking in the debates see page 4. 10.25 Policy motion Chair: Duncan Brack (Vice Chair, FPC). Aide: Cllr Paul Tilsley. Hall Aide: Sally Burnell. F34 Promoting a Fairer Distribution of Wealth 11 members Mover: Lord Newby. Summation: To be announced. Conference notes that: i) Wealth is extremely unevenly distributed in the UK, with 45% of UK wealth owned by 10% of households, and just 9% owned by the bottom 50%. ii) Wealth inequality is twice as severe as income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient. iii) Between 2010 and 2014, over half of the net increase in wealth was received by the top 10% of households. iv) Although UK net wealth has increased from around 300% to almost 700% of GDP over the last 60 years, wealth taxes bring in revenue worth only around 4% of GDP, the same proportion as in the mid-1960s. v) Wealth inequality is expected to worsen in the coming years, due to stagnant wages and rising debt, automation, growing numbers of young people unable to get on the housing ladder or save for the future, and an increasing flow of inheritances. vi) Liberal Democrats have long advocated for raising a greater share of tax revenue from wealth, and have previously called for reforms to inheritance tax, capital gains tax, pension tax relief and property taxation to achieve this. Conference believes that: a) Wealth inequality and the concentration of economic power are economically and socially damaging. b) Britain's deepening wealth gap rigs society in favour of those with substantial wealth and those able to inherit it, and has contributed to a growing intergenerational, geographical and class divide. c) The Liberal Democrats should embrace the prosperity and innovation generated by the market economy, but also recognise its tendency to concentrate resources and power among a minority. d) Capitalism has only thrived thanks to the bold reforms - such as the welfare state and the breaking-up of monopolies - of liberal visionaries; these are needed once again if it is to survive the 21st century. e) The tax system must play a greater role in promoting a more equitable distribution of wealth; taxation reflects the fact that wealth creation is reliant on public goods such as infrastructure and a healthy, educated labour force. Conference notes the proposals in the spokesperson's paper, Promoting a Fairer Distribution of Wealth, and calls for: 1. Equalising the tax treatment of income from wealth and income from work by: abolishing the separate capital gains and dividend tax-free allowances and instead taxing these through the income tax personal allowance; aligning capital gains and income tax rates while introducing a basic inflation or "rate of return" allowance; abolishing capital gains forgiveness at death, which creates an incentive to hold on to assets to avoid paying tax. 2. Streamlining the taxation of intergenerational transfers by: abolishing inheritance tax and instead taxing recipients at income tax rates and bands of œ250,001 to œ500,000, œ500,001 to œ1 million, and above œ1 million; ensuring that all transfers - not just those made at or near the giver's death - are subject to tax; giving each person a generous œ250,000 lifetime tax-free allowance, and exempting small annual gifts below a specified amount and all transfers to spouses and charities. 3. Reforming the current regressive system of pension tax relief by: introducing a flat rate of 25% on pension contributions and abolishing employee National Insurance payments on those contributions, substantially boosting incentives to save among lower earners while reducing relief for higher earners; limiting the current tax-free lump sum people can withdraw from their pension pots from 25% to œ40,000, reducing tax relief for the wealthiest pensioners while leaving 75% of drawdowns untouched. 4. Making the taxation of residential property fairer by: immediately introducing additional higher bands to make council tax more progressive; reviewing the case for replacing council tax with a simple percentage-based annual property tax based on up-to-date valuations, as is the case in most other developed economies and as recommended by the OECD, Resolution Foundation, IFS and IPPR. 5. Revenues from higher wealth taxation to be allocated to a combination of: lower taxes for young people and low earners; increased investment in infrastructure and education; an independent, professionally managed Citizens' Wealth Fund, which by investing in assets would earn an annual rate of return that could be used to boost public spending or be returned to citizens in the form of an annual dividend. Applicability: Federal; except 4 (lines 66-72) which Is England only. Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Tuesday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Monday 17 September; see page 3. 11.30 Policy motion Chair: Jennie Rigg. Aide: Jenni Lang. Hall Aide: Mary Reid. F35 Demand Better: Liberal Democrat Priorities for a Better Britain (FPC Themes Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Layla Moran MP. Summation: Duncan Brack (Vice Chair, FPC). Conference deplores the fact that: a) Britain is a place where people too often struggle to achieve a decent quality of life for themselves and their families, where work and effort are often not rewarded and a rigged system allows wealthy people and companies to avoid paying their fair share. b) Too much of people's success in life is determined by the circumstances of their birth, rather than their hard work and skills. c) Public services such as the NHS and schools are starved of resources to do a proper job. d) People from diverse backgrounds often face unfair barriers to success. e) Long-term challenges such as climate change or the impact of automation on employment are neglected while the machinery of government is consumed by Brexit. Conference believes that the Conservative Party has created and continues to promote these unfair divides while failing to lay the foundations for a successful future. Conference demands that people have the opportunities they need to make the best of their lives, instead of being trapped by inequality, poverty, debt, ill-health, a failing economy and the shambles of Brexit. Conference calls on Liberal Democrats everywhere to stand up to power and privilege and enable everyone to build the future they want and deserve. Conference therefore endorses Policy Paper 134, Demand Better: Liberal Democrat Priorities for a Better Britain, as a statement of Liberal Democrat priorities for action. Supporting the approach of the paper, conference in particular: 1. Demands a better society, in which everyone is supported in times of need, with an end to austerity where everyone pays a fair share of taxes on income and where wealth is taxed fairly; where everyone has the chance to live in decent homes in safe and clean communities; where everyone has opportunities to succeed regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, religion, age or disability and where everyone has a chance to make their voice heard through the decentralisation of power and a reformed voting system. 2. Demands better and more integrated health and social care, including a higher priority for mental illness and standards of public health and greater equality in healthy life expectancy, supported by an immediate injection of resources funded by a 1p rise in income tax and, in the longer term, a dedicated health and care tax. 3. Demands better education, with more resources for schools, teachers and further and higher education, in particular to support children from deprived backgrounds, in order to foster understanding and tolerance and equip people to play a full part in democracy, to provide children with the skills they need to make the most of their lives and to underpin future prosperity. 4. Demands a better environment, in which people enjoy clean air, clean water and clean energy; where the countryside and wildlife is protected; where businesses are supported to invest in green solutions, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-carbon transport; and in which Britain is a leader in the fight against climate change, achieving zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 5. Demands a better economy, breaking the cycle of low productivity and low-paid and insecure employment; providing opportunities for people to make full use of their talents and be properly rewarded; and spreading prosperity to every community in the UK including a major programme of capital investment to stimulate growth and encourage business in turn to invest, the establishment of a British Housing and Infrastructure Development Bank, and support for innovation in the digital economy. 6. Demands a better Britain, open to and engaged with the world, benefiting from the opportunities of world markets and a positive approach to immigration, cooperating with other countries in promoting peace, human rights, sustainable development and the rule of law world-wide, and remaining a full member of the EU. Applicability: Federal; except 2 and 3 (lines 40-51) and those elements of 1 (lines 31-39) that relate to housing, and of 4 (lines 52-58) that relate to the natural environment, which are England only. Mover and summation of motion: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 4. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 3 September; see page 6. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Tuesday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Monday 17 September; see page 3. In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 3 and 4 for further information. 12.30 Speech Chair: Cllr Paul Tilsley. Aide: Mary Reid. Hall Aide: Jennie Rigg. F36 Willie Rennie MSP (Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats) @willie_rennie, #LDconf 12.50 Lunch 14.10 Speech Chair: Geoff Payne (Chair, FCC). Aide: Cllr Zo‰ O'Connell (Vice Chair, FCC). Hall Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Vice Chair, FCC). F37 Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats @vincecable, #LDconf 15.30 Close of conference Standing orders Standing orders - glossary of terms Business motion A proposal to conduct the affairs of the Party in a particular way or to express an opinion on the way affairs have been conducted. Business amendment A proposal to change a business motion. Any such proposal should be significant, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Committee Throughout these standing orders, Committee means the Federal Conference Committee unless otherwise qualified. Constitutional amendment A proposal to change the constitution of the Party. Secondary constitutional amendment An amendment to a constitutional amendment. This must not introduce new material. Consultative session A meeting where selected areas of policy or strategy are considered in greater depth than is possible in full debates. Day visitor Someone who has paid the appropriate day visitor fee. Day visitors are not entitled to speak or vote in full sessions of conference. Emergency motion A proposal which relates to a specific recent development which occurred after the deadline for submission of motions. Emergency motions must be brief. Emergency amendment An amendment to a motion which relates to a specific event which occurred after the deadline for the submission of amendments. It must be brief and uncontentious. Full session Any part of the conference agenda during which debates, topical issue discussions or discussion of business, including formal reports, takes place. This specifically excludes formal speeches such as those by the Leader or Party Officers. Point of order A suggestion to the chair of a debate that the conduct of the debate, as laid down in the standing orders, has not been followed correctly. Policy motion A proposal to adopt a new policy or reaffirm an existing one. This includes motions accompanying policy papers. Policy amendment A proposal to change a policy motion. Any proposal should be of significant importance, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Policy paper A paper prepared by the Federal Policy Committee and submitted to conference for debate under the terms of Article 5.4 of the Federal Party constitution. Procedural motion A proposal that the conduct of a debate should be changed in a specific way. Procedural motions are: Move to next business A proposal that the conference should cease to consider an item of business and immediately move to the next item on the agenda. Reference back A proposal to refer a motion or amendment to a named body of the Party for further consideration. Request for a count A request to the chair that a specific vote be counted and recorded rather than decided on the chair's assessment of a show of voting cards. Separate vote A request to the chair of a debate that a part or parts of a motion or amendment should be voted on separately. Suspension of standing orders A proposal to relax specific standing orders for a stated purpose. Special conference An additional meeting of the conference requisitioned by the Federal Board, Federal Policy Committee, conference itself or 200 members in not fewer than 20 local parties, under the provisions of Article 6.6 of the Federal constitution. Standing order amendment A proposal to change these standing orders. Secondary standing order amendment An amendment to a standing order amendment. This must not introduce new material. Topical issue discussion A discussion on a policy issue of significant and topical relevance, conducted without a vote. Voting member A member attending conference who has satisfied the requirements for attendance and has paid the registration fee presently in force for party members as agreed by FCC, and who is not a day visitor [or observer]. Standing orders 1. The conference agenda 1.1 What is on the agenda The agenda for each meeting of conference, other than a special conference, shall include time for: a) One or more consultative each sessions; save that the Committee may decide not to hold any consultative sessions at a spring conference. agenda b) A business session or sessions for the consideration of reports from the Parliamentary Parties as listed in Article 9 of the Federal Party's Constitution, the Federal Board, the Federal Policy Committee and the Federal Conference Committee together with, when appropriate, reports from any other body the Committee considers appropriate, accounts, the annual report, a motion accompanying the proposed strategy of the party, business motions, constitutional amendments and standing order amendments. c) Policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers). d) Emergency motions. e) Topical issue discussions. f) Any other business which the Committee thinks appropriate. The time to be allocated to each type of business and the order of that business shall be decided by the Committee provided that conference may decide not to take any particular item on the agenda. 1.2 Conference or council of state parties In addition, time before or after any meeting may be agreed with the relevant state party for a meeting of the conference or council of that party. 1.3 Right to submit agenda items a) Reports to conference may be submitted only by the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b). b) Business motions (including amendments and emergency business motions and amendments), constitutional amendments and secondary constitutional amendments, standing order amendments and secondary standing order amendments may be submitted by the Federal Board, Federal Policy Committee, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Specified Associated Organisations and 10 party members. Business motions, standing order amendments and secondary standing order amendments may also be submitted by the Federal Conference Committee. c) Motions accompanying policy papers may only be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee. d) Policy motions (including amendments, emergency policy motions and amendments) may be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Specified Associated Organisations and 10 party members. e) Proposals for topical issue discussions may be submitted by any party member. 1.4 How motions and amendments are submitted All motions and amendments must be submitted to the Committee. They must must identify a person authorised to agree to their being composited or redrafted. The detail of methods of submission will be notified for each conference via the party website. 1.5 The deadlines by which motions, amendments, reports and questions to reports must be submitted The Committee shall specify: a) The closing date for the receipt of policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers), business motions, constitutional amendments and amendments to standing orders, which shall be at least eight weeks before the start of conference. b) The closing date for the receipt of amendments to motions published in the agenda and emergency motions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference. c) The closing date for the submission of written reports from the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b), which will be set so as to enable their distribution with the agenda. Any supplementary report submitted later than this deadline may only be tabled at conference with the permission of the Committee. d) The closing date for the submission of questions to any of the reports listed in the agenda, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference, except for questions to the reports of the Parliamentary Parties in the House of Commons, House of Lords and European Parliament, where the closing date shall be at least one hour before the start of the business session at which the report is due to be considered. e) Notwithstanding 1.5(d), questions may always be submitted to any of the reports listed in the agenda arising from events occurring after the deadline specified in 1.5(d). The deadline for these questions shall be one hour before the start of the business session at which the report is due to be considered. f) The closing date for proposals for topical issue discussions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference 1.6 Notification of deadlines All dates specified under Standing Order 1.5 shall be pulicised to party members and bodies entitled to submit motions. Publication in the party newspaper/magazine and website may be treated as notice for this purpose. 1.7 Later deadlines in special circumstances In special circumstances the Committee may specify later dates than those indicated above. In particular, where developments which, in the opinion of the Committee, are of great importance have taken place after the closing date for emergency motions and questions to reports, the Committee may make time available for an additional emergency motion or for a statement to be made on behalf of the Party or for additional questions to be submitted to reports. 2. Consultative sessions 2.1 The subjects for consultative sessions The subjects for debate at consultative sessions shall be chosen by the Committee on the advice of the Federal Policy Committee and, where appropriate, the Federal Board, and published in the agenda. Two or more such sessions may be held simultaneously. 2.2 Speaking at consultative sessions Any member of the Party may be called to speak at a consultative session and, with the approval of the chair, non-members with relevant expertise may also be called. 2.3 Voting at consultative sessions At the discretion of the chair a vote by show of hands may be taken to indicate the weight of opinion among members present on any issue that has been debated. 3. The agenda 3.1 The shortlisting of motions The Committee shall draw up the agenda and shall decide which of the motions duly submitted shall be included in it. The Committee may allocate time for one or more policy or business motions to be selected by ballot. Copies of motions not selected shall be available for inspection and will be supplied to any party member on payment of a copying charge and postage. 3.2 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders Save as detailed below in Standing Order 4.3, all proposed amendments to the constitution or standing orders must be selected for debate. 3.3 Balance between State and Federal policy debates The Committee shall, in drawing up the agenda, have due regard to the balance of State and Federal policy debates and in particular shall as far as possible organise the agenda so that all matters which relate solely to one or more state parties but not all State Parties or the Federal Party shall be considered at either the beginning or the end of the conference. 4. Selection of motions and amendments 4.1 Compositing or otherwise altering motions In drawing up the agenda the Committee shall seek to reflect the range of views in the Party as indicated by the motions and amendments submitted. The Committee may: a) Treat any severable part of a motion or amendment as a separate motion or amendment. b) Redraft a motion or amendment so as to improve expression, remove inaccuracy or superfluity or take account of new developments. c) Composite similar motions or amendments. 4.2 Selection of amendments The Committee shall decide which of the amendments duly submitted to each motion shall be selected. No amendment shall be selected if, in the opinion of the Committee it is insubstantial, outside the scope of the motion, or tantamount to a direct negative of the motion. 4.3 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders The Committee may refuse to select a motion for amendment of the constitution or standing orders if, in their opinion, it is: a) Similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate or ballot at the same meeting of conference. b) Similar in effect to a motion that has been rejected at either of the last two meetings of conference. c) In the case of amendments to the constitution, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of the constitution which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. d) In the case of amendments to standing orders, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of standing orders which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. e) Ambiguous. 4.4 Emergency motions The Committee may reject an emergency motion if: a) It is similar in effect to another motion that has been selected for debate or ballot. b) It is similar in effect to a subject chosen for a topical issue discussion. c) It is unclear as to its meaning or intent or is, in the opinion of the Committee, too poorly drafted to provide a sensible basis for debate. d) It falls outside the definition of emergency motions. No amendment shall be taken to any motion selected under this Standing Order. 4.5 Ballots for emergency motions All emergency motions, except those rejected under Standing Order 4.4, must be placed either on the agenda for debate or in a ballot for selection by Conference. The Committee may hold separate ballots to select which of a range of emergency policy motions and which of a range of emergency business motions to debate. If one or more ballots is held the Committee shall circulate the text of all balloted motions to the voting members as soon as practicable and shall specify a closing time for the ballot. Following the counting of any ballots the Committee shall organise the debates on the motions in the order chosen by conference in the ballots. 4.6 Emergency amendments The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to select emergency amendments for debate. 4.7 Topical issue discussions The choice of subjects for topical issue discussions shall be made by the Officers of the Committee in consultation with the Officers of the Federal Policy Committee. In choosing the subjects, the Officers shall have regard to the significance and topicality of the subjects proposed and whether they are likely to provoke a lively discussion. 5. Special meetings 5.1 Timetabling of special meetings The Committee shall, as soon as practicable after the requisitioning of a special meeting of the conference, fix a date for the meeting, draw up the agenda and, if appropriate, specify a date for the submission of amendments. The meeting shall deal only with the business stated in the notice of requisition save that the Committee may allow time for emergency motions and for business which is formal or, in its opinion, uncontentious. 5.2 Preferred timescales for special meetings In setting dates for the submission of motions and amendments and giving notice thereof and of the conference itself the Committee shall endeavour to follow the timescales laid down elsewhere in these standing orders but, where this is not practicable, the Committee shall set such dates as it sees fit. 6. Appeals 6.1 Appeals against rejection of motions The Committee shall provide written reasoning to the nominee of the proposers for the rejection of any motion or amendment. The proposers may appeal, in writing, to the next meeting of the Committee. Any such appeal shall provide reasons why, in the opinion of the proposers, the expressed reasons for rejection are not valid. If the appeal is allowed, the motion or amendment shall be treated as an emergency motion or amendment according to the stage of the agenda-setting process at which the appeal has been allowed. 6.2 Appeals against exclusion from conference Any person excluded from conference by a decision of the Chief Steward shall have the right of appeal to the Committee at the next of its regular meetings. The exclusion shall remain in force pending the appeal. 7. The chair 7.1 Who chairs conference The President, if present, shall normally take the chair at the formal opening and closing of conference and when the Party Leader is making a formal speech from the platform. At all other sessions the chair shall be appointed by the Committee. Normally no person shall chair more than one session at any meeting. 7.2 The chair's aide The Committee may appoint an aide or aides to assist the chair of each session. 8. Conduct of debate 8.1 Variation in the order of business The Committee may propose to the conference a variation in the order of business as set out in the agenda. Such variation shall be put to the vote and shall take effect if approved by a majority of those voting. 8.2 Withdrawal of motions and amendments Once the Committee has included a motion or amendment, or part of a motion or amendment, in the agenda, may not be withdrawn except by leave of conference. 8.3 The order of debate The Committee shall direct the order of debate. Generally, however, a motion will be moved and immediately thereafter the amendments and options will be moved in the order directed by the Committee. There will then be a general debate. The movers of amendments and options (or their nominees) shall have the right of reply in the same order (except that where an amendment or option has not been opposed during the debate, the chair of the session shall have the right to direct that its movers shall not exercise their right of reply), after which the mover of the motion (or the mover's nominee) shall have the right of reply. Votes shall then be taken on the amendments and options in the order in which they have been moved and, finally, on the substantive motion. The Committee may direct that part of any motion or amendment or groups or amendments may be the subject of a separate debate. 8.4 Topical issue discussions The Committee shall direct the order of the discussion. Normally the proposer of the subject shall speak first, and a representative of the Federal Policy Committee shall speak last. 8.5 Who may speak All voting members may speak at a full session of conference. Additionally, the Committee may invite any person to address the conference as a guest. Neither such provision shall prejudice the right of the chair of a session to select speakers. 8.6 The special rights of the Federal Committees Provided that the Federal Policy Committee is not proposing the motion or any of the amendments to be taken in a debate on a policy motion or on motions relating to the policy-making processes of the Party it shall have the right to nominate a person to report its views on the subject before the conference. The Federal Board shall have similar rights on business motions or motions to amend the constitution, as shall the Federal Conference Committee on motions relating to the proceeding and procedures of the conference and to amend standing orders. Such a person shall be called to speak for the same length of time as the person replying on behalf of the mover of the motion. 8.7 The selection of speakers Voting members wishing to speak in any debate shall submit a speaker's card, prior to the commencement of the debate in which they wish to speak, stating whether they wish to speak for or against an amendment, the motion or part of the motion. The chair shall be responsible for the choice of the speakers and shall attempt to provide a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the conference, but may announce a departure from this rule if there is an overwhelming preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side. The chair shall have the discretion to accept speakers' cards after the start of the debate. Save as provided for in these standing orders, no person may speak more than once in any debate. 8.8 The length of speeches The Committee shall set out in the agenda time limits for speeches. 9. Voting at conference 9.1 The method of voting Voting cards shall be issued at each meeting to voting members. The Committee may direct that voting on any issue be by ballot. Subject thereto all votes at full sessions shall be taken by show of voting cards. 9.2 Counting of votes A vote by show of voting cards shall be counted: a) If the Committee has so directed. b) If the chair so directs. c) As the result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.5 below. A recount will only be held if the chair is not satisfied that the first count was accurate. 9.3 Separate votes A separate vote may be taken on a part of a motion or amendment: a) On the direction of the Committee. b) At the discretion of the chair. c) As a result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.4 below. 10 Points of order 10.1 Making a point of order Any voting member may rise on a point of order which shall be taken immediately except that, during a vote, no point of order shall be taken that does not refer to the conduct of the vote. The chair's decision on all points of order shall be final. 11 Procedural motions 11.1 Next business a) A voting member may, during any full conference session, submit, in writing, a request that conference move to next business, giving the reasons to do so. The submission shall not exceed 75 words. b) The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of any speech currently being made. If more than one request is received the chair shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken in respect to any motion or report. c) When the request is to be taken, the chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to consider the request to move to next business. If conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak. The chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to two minutes. If conference decides not to debate the proposal, it falls. d) The proposal shall require a two-thirds majority of those voting being to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. 11.2 Reference back (moved by a voting member) a) A voting member, who has not already spoken in the debate, may, at any time before the chair has asked the first speaker in reply to stand by, submit, in writing, a request to refer back the motion under debate. The submission shall state to whom the motion is to be referred and shall include a statement of the reasons, including reasons why voting against the motion would not achieve a similar result, not exceeding 75 words. b) The chair may take the request to refer back at whatever stage of the debate they consider appropriate. If more than one request is received, the chair shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken with respect to any motion. c) When the request is to be taken, the chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to consider the request to refer. If conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak and the mover of the substantive motion, or their nominee, may reply. The chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to two minutes. If conference decides not to debate the reference back, it falls. d) The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. e) If the substantive motion is referred to the Federal Board, the Federal Policy Committee or the Federal Conference Committee that body shall, in its report to the next meeting of the conference, state what action it has taken on the reference. 11.3 Reference back (moved by the Federal Policy Committee) a) The Federal Policy Committee may, at any time before the beginning of the debate on a motion, submit, in writing, a request to refer that motion to the next meeting of the conference. The chair shall announce the existence of such a request at the start of the debate. b) The chair may take the request to refer back at whatever stage of the debate they consider appropriate. A nominee of the Federal Policy Committee will speak and the mover of the substantive motion, or their nominee, may reply. The chair shall have discretion whether to allow other speakers on the request. c) The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. d) If passed, the Federal Policy Committee shall, before the next meeting of the conference, circulate its reasons for acting under this section and its comments on the motion and any amendments thereto accepted for debate. 11.4 Separate vote A voting member of conference may request that the chair take a separate vote on a part of a motion or amendment provided that such a request is in writing and received by the commencement of the first conference session on the day before the debate is scheduled. If the debate is scheduled for the first day of conference, the request must be received in writing by the same deadline as that for emergency motions. The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to take a separate vote. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a separate vote if it is received in writing after this deadline. 11.5 Counted vote Any voting member may ask for a counted vote, which shall be taken if the request is supported by 50 members rising in their places and showing their voting cards. 11.6 Suspension of standing orders a) A voting conference member may, during any full conference session, move a motion for the suspension of standing orders. The mover shall submit the motion together with a written statement of its purpose, not exceeding 75 words, to the chair, who shall read them to the meeting. The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of the speech currently being made. b) No motion to suspend standing orders may suspend any requirement of the constitution, nor any part of these standing orders which govern: i) The rights of, or timetable for, submission of motions and amendments. ii) Consultative sessions. iii) Procedural motions for next business or suspension of standing orders. c) No motion to suspend standing orders to introduce a motion or amendment on to the agenda can be taken unless the motion or amendment has been submitted to the Committee in accordance with the published timetable and, where a right of appeal against non-selection exists, the right has been exercised. d) The chair shall read the statement of purpose and, if the suspension is allowable in the terms of this standing order, ask the conference whether it wishes to debate the request for suspension. If the conference decides not to debate the request, it falls. If the conference decides, by a majority of those present and voting, to hear the request the mover may speak and a representative of the Committee may reply. The chair shall have the discretion to allow other speakers. All speeches on the motion to suspend standing orders will be limited to two minutes. e) A motion to suspend standing orders shall only be carried if supported by at least two-thirds of the conference members voting. If the procedural motion is carried all standing orders shall remain in force except only for the purposes set out in the motion. 11.7 No procedural motions during votes No procedural motion can be moved during a vote. 12 Reports 12.1 Which reports are tabled The business session or sessions of the conference must include consideration of reports from the bodies listed in Standing Order 1.1(b). 12.2 Submission and selection of questions A voting member may submit questions to any report tabled for consideration, by the deadlines set under Standing Orders 1.5 (d) and (e). The Committee shall publish in advance of the report session all the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5 (d) which are in order, compositing similar questions where appropriate. 12.3 Whether questions are in order or not A question shall be ruled out of order if it asks the body submitting the report about issues which are outside its duties and responsibilities. If the question could be answered by another body reporting to the same conference, the Committee may transfer the question to that body. 12.4 How questions and supplementary questions are put and answered After the report is moved, the mover, or their nominee, shall answer the questions in turn. After each question has been answered, the voting member who submitted the question will be given the opportunity to put a supplementary question, speaking for a maximum of two minutes, and the mover, or their nominee, will be given an opportunity to respond. The chair shall determine the time given to the mover in moving the report and replying to questions. The chair shall also determine how many of the published questions, and how many of the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5 (e), can be taken. After the conference the Committee shall publish the answers to all questions submitted under Standing Orders 1.5 (d) and (e) which are in order, and to all supplementary questions asked. 12.5 Approval or rejection of reports from Federal Party committees or sub-committees Any report tabled by a Federal Party committee or sub-committee must be submitted for approval by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. A voting member may move the rejection of any part of the report or of the report as a whole. A voting member wishing to move a rejection shall submit a speaker's card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report, stating the section(s) which they wish to have rejected. All moves to reject a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between moves to reject the same part of the report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 12.6 Receipt of reports from other bodies Any report tabled by a body other than a Federal Party committee or sub-committee must be submitted for receipt by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. A voting member may move not to receive the report, by submitting a speaker's card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report. A move not to receive a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between more than one move not to receive the same report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 13 Amendment of standing orders 13.1 Amendment of standing orders These standing orders may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members of conference voting on a motion duly submitted and selected in accordance with standing orders. Subject to any amendment they shall remain in force from meeting to meeting. 14 The Chair and Vice Chairs of the Committee 14.1 Chair and Vice Chairs At its first meeting after a new election the Committee shall elect a Chair, who must be a member of the Committee directly elected by party members, and at least one Vice Chair, who must be members of the Committee either directly elected by party members or elected by one of the State Parties. The Federal Party Officers of the Federal Party Leader Vince Cable MP President Baroness Brinton Chair of FFRC Anthony Harris Treasurer Lord German Vice President (England) Liz Leffman Vice President (Scotland) Sheila Ritchie Vice President (Wales) Cadan ap Tomos Chief Executive Sir Nick Harvey Federal Conference Committee (FCC) The FCC is responsible for organising the two Federal conferences each year. This includes choosing the agenda from the policy and business motions submitted by conference representatives, local, regional and state parties, specified associated organisations and Federal committees, and taking decisions on venues, registration rates and other organisational matters. It works within a budget set by the FFRC. The FCC has 22 voting members: Party President; Chief Whip; three state party representatives; one representative from the FB, two from the FPC, one from the Federal Communications & Elections Committee (FCEC), one from the Federal People Development Committee (FPDC); and fifteen directly elected members. It elects its own chair, who must be one of the directly elected representatives Federal Policy Committee (FPC) The FPC is responsible for researching and developing policy and overseeing the Federal Party's policy-making process, including producing policy papers for debate at conference and drawing up (in consultation with the relevant parliamentary party) the Federal election manifestos for Westminster and European elections. The FPC has 29 voting members: Party Leader and six other Parliamentarians; Party President; two councillors; three state party representatives; one representative of the FCEC; and fifteen members directly elected by conference representatives. It must be chaired by the Leader. Federal Board (FB) The FB is responsible for directing, co-ordinating and overseeing the implementation of the Party's strategy and the work of the Federal Party. The FB also has responsibility, at least once per Parliament, for preparing a document outlining the Party's Strategy, for submission for debate and agreement by Conference. The FB has 35 voting members: Party President (who chairs it); Party Leader and three other Parliamentarians; the chairs of the three state parties; the chairs of each of the Federal Committees including a vice-chair of the FPC; a councillor; a Young Liberals representative; three state party representatives; and 15 directly elected members. Federal Finance and Resources Committee (FFRC) The FFRC is responsible for planning and administering the budget and finances of the Federal Party, overseeing its administration and ensuring its compliance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as well as overseeing the Party's risk management operations and its Risk Register. The FFRC has 14 voting members: the Registered Treasurer and Chair; the Registered Treasurers of the three state parties; five other members (elected by the FB); Party Treasurer; Party President; one representative of the Parliamentary Office of the Liberal Democrats; Chief Executive; and one member of Federal staff.