This constitution was approved at the AGM held on January 11th 2022.
1. TITLE AND STATUS
1.1. The name of the local party shall be as Tower Hamlets Green Party, hereafter referred to as “the party”.
1.2. The party is a constituent part of The Green Party of England & Wales and is subject to its rules and constitution.
1.3. The geographical area of the party is the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
1.4. The party is also part of the London Region.
2. AIMS
2.1. The object of the party is to promote the aims of The Green Party as stated in its Constitution:
2.1.1. to develop and implement ecological policies consistent with the Philosophical Basis of the Party as expressed in the Manifesto for a Sustainable Society;
2.1.2. to that end to win seats at all levels of government;
2.1.3. to organise any non-violent activity which will publicise and further these aims;
2.2. The party’s local aim is to monitor and scrutinize decisions made by Tower Hamlets Council, the Mayor and the Cabinet and to actively oppose policies that exacerbate inequality and/or environmental degradation, and to lobby for adoption of Green Party Policy at a local level.
3. MEMBERSHIP AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
3.1. The membership consists of all national Green Party members resident within the geographical area of the party.
3.2. Members may not be a member of another political party (other than Green Parties abroad) at the same time. Should a member join another political party then they immediately cease to be a member of the party.
3.3. The party will seek to resolve any disputes between members through discussion and conciliation. The Dispute Resolution Committee could be consulted and may be involved if considered appropriate. However, Tower Hamlets Green Party has the right and responsibility to take disciplinary action (including suspension or expulsion from Tower Hamlets Green Party) against any member who has acted against the aims, agreed policies or code of conduct of the group, or brought it into disrepute. Disciplinary action must be taken on the basis of clearly defined evidence, and must be proportionate to the actions of the member or members in question. Any disciplinary action must be considered to have breached the Code of Conduct of the Green Party of England and Wales.
3.4. Where disputes cannot be resolved through discussion and conciliation, the Tower Hamlets chair/s shall co-opt four Tower Hamlets Green Party members to consider the dispute and recommend appropriate action or disciplinary action (suspension or expulsion from Tower Hamlets Green Party).
3.5. Any decision to take disciplinary action (suspension or expulsion from Tower Hamlets Green Party) can only be made at a properly constituted quorate Members Meeting where advance notice of the matter has been given.
3.6. Any member subject to disciplinary action will have the right of appeal to the London Green Party disputes process. Whilst this appeal is taking place or any during any further appeal to the national party process by either the person subject to disciplinary action or Tower Hamlets Green itself any suspension or expulsion shall remain in place.
4. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY
4.1. The party shall elect an Executive Committee at the AGM. These must include a Local Party Co-Chairs, a Treasurer, and an Election Agent (who shall also be the Nominating Officer).
4.2. Nominations shall be proposed and seconded, and won by a simple majority vote. Any member can ask for a secret ballot. Any tied vote shall be resolved by a coin toss.
4.3. The AGM has the discretion not to fill posts other than the four named above if no suitable nominations are forthcoming, or to propose the merging of posts or the creation of other posts with the agreement of a simple majority.
4.4. Should any officer fail to attend three consecutive monthly meetings without good reason or apology, the party may co-opt another person to act in their place.
4.5. In the event of a vacancy an officer may be co-opted at the next monthly meeting.
4.6. Officers may be de-selected at an AGM or EGM.
5. MEETINGS AND DECISION MAKING
5.1. The business of the party shall be decided and managed by monthly meetings open to all members and potential new members.
5.2. Motions should be proposed and seconded, and will be carried by a simple majority vote of members present. Any tied vote shall be resolved by a coin toss.
5.3. Membership of Tower Hamlets Green Party must have been held for one week before the member is eligible to vote.
5.4. Members should be notified of any motions relating to policy at least one week before the meeting to discuss the issue.
5.5. Members may attend meetings in person or, if it is reasonably practicable, remotely by electronic communication.
5.6. Only members of the party will be entitled to vote. Those unable to attend may make their views known to the meeting, either in writing or through representation by another member, and may nominate another member to cast proxy votes for them. Members aged under 14 may not vote, but are encouraged to speak at meetings.
5.7. The monthly meeting will be deemed to be in quorum if there are five or more paid up members in attendance.
5.8. Attendance and business conducted at meetings shall be recorded in minutes to be approved by the next meeting.
5.9. A draft agenda will be circulated at least one week (or a shorter time period if one week is not reasonably practicable) in advance of each meeting, together with the minutes of the previous meeting, to any member who has requested to receive them. Anyone can suggest additional items for the agenda in advance of or at the start of the meeting.
5.10. The Executive Committee may meet from time to time (in person or remotely) and such meetings will be open to all members as observers. A quorum of the Committee shall consist of three Committee members. Officers may take decisions in such meetings or through the Officers’ email list. Any decisions taken by the Executive Committee must be either (a) matters of urgency that cannot wait until the next monthly meeting, or (b) minor operational matters that do not require the consent of a monthly meeting. All such decisions made by the Executive Committee will be reported to the subsequent monthly meeting.
5.11. Working groups may be set up to discuss specific issues. Any decisions shall be ratified by the monthly meeting. All members can attend these groups.
5.12. Local/Ward Teams may be formed to carry out and promote the work of the party in their geographical area. They shall work in accordance with all current policies and strategies. Any decisions shall be ratified by the monthly meeting.
6. POLICY AND IDEAS MEETING
6.1. There shall be a regular Policy and Ideas meeting, open to all members. A Policy Coordinator will be elected at the Annual General Meeting, and shall be responsible for publishing the agenda and ensuring that minutes are prepared and circulated.
6.2. The Policy and Ideas meeting will determine the policies of the party (subject to clause 6.5) and shall be a forum for debate. In particular, the Policy and Ideas meeting shall: a) Regularly review and suggest improvements to local policies; b) Debate and suggest motions for national party conferences, including amendments to motions proposed by other local parties and individuals; c) At its discretion invite external speakers to give presentations on topics of interest to the membership, on which the party may wish to take a position.
6.3. Members unable to attend may make their views known to the meeting, either in writing in advance to the Policy Coordinator or through representation by another member, but only those in attendance will be entitled to vote.
6.4. Motions will be carried by consensus or, in the absence of a consensus, a majority vote of members present (requiring 50% plus 1).
6.5. Policy motions passed by the Policy and Ideas meeting may only be overturned by a two-thirds majority vote of the business meeting.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
7.1. Every year an AGM shall be held for the purposes of:
7.1.1. Presentation of a report of work which has been carried out over the year.
7.1.2. Presentation of a financial statement for the year.
7.1.3. Election of the Executive Committee .
7.1.4. Agreeing the cheque signatories.
7.1.5. Reviewing strategy and setting goals for the following year and beyond.
7.1.6. Any other business on the agenda (to be determined in the same way as for a monthly meeting).
7.2. The Chair shall be taken by a nominated person as agreed by members attending the monthly business meeting prior to the AGM.
7.3. Members may attend the AGM in person or, if it is reasonably practicable, remotely by electronic communication.
7.4. Only members of the party will be entitled to vote. Those unable to attend may make their views known to the AGM, either in writing or through representation by another member, and may nominate another member to cast proxy votes for them.
7.5. Resolutions must have the support of a simple majority. Any tied vote shall be resolved by a coin toss.
7.6. Notice of the AGM shall be given at least one month prior to the meeting and any motions for consideration shall be submitted in writing to the Chair at least one week prior to the meeting.
7.7. The agenda will be circulated at least one week prior to the meeting.
7.8. The Chair has the right to rule on the admissibility of any emergency motions put forward.
7.9. The quorum of an AGM shall be 5 members of the party.
7.10. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on a particular agenda may be called on the request of the monthly meeting or at least 5 members of the party. The same general rules apply to EGMs as to AGMs.
8. FINANCE
8.1. The Treasurer will collect or arrange the collection of all money due to the party, and will receive all donations to the party and will be the custodian thereof.
8.2. The Treasurer will arrange payment of any bills incurred by the party, and will notify the Executive Committee if it is in danger of becoming overdrawn.
8.3. There are three authorised signatories on the account, to be agreed at the AGM; two are required to authorise changes to the account.
8.4. Wherever possible, funds will be held by a banking organisation with a policy of ethical investment acceptable to the membership.
8.5. Members, Local/Ward Teams and Working Groups may incur expenditure on behalf of the party. This expenditure may be subject to certification by the Treasurer that there are sufficient funds to cover it. The Treasurer may, at their discretion, reimburse a member for expenses that the member has incurred on behalf of the party.
8.6. Unplanned spend will be agreed with the executive and reported to the next monthly meeting for ratification.
8.7. Any affiliation fees to another organisation or donations to another group must have the approval of a monthly meeting.
9. SELECTION OF ELECTION CANDIDATES
9.1. The selection of any election candidate must take place in accordance with UK law and national Green Party rules. These override any discrepancy with the following provisions.
9.2. Nominees must be legally eligible to stand in the election for which they wish to be selected.
9.3. The costs of running a selection process (e.g. printing and mailing of statements and ballot papers, rent of space for hustings etc.) should normally be borne by the party.
9.4. Prior to any selection process (other than of parliamentary candidates), rules for initiating and approving de-selection of candidates should be agreed.
9.5. For selection and de-selection of parliamentary candidates national rules must be followed.
9.6. For selection of local authority candidates in officially designated target wards and local authority mayoral candidates:
9.6.1. Nominees do not need to be Green Party members but must commit to joining the Green Party if they are selected.
9.6.2. Each nominee must be nominated by two members.
9.6.3. Reasonable notice shall be given of a call for nominees, which shall be at least two weeks before close of nominations unless this is not reasonably practicable.
9.6.4. Selection of candidates shall be by single transferable vote of current members. All ballot papers shall carry the option to re-open nominations.
9.6.5. Voting shall be conducted online unless this is not reasonably practicable, in which case it shall be conducted by postal vote. Members may also cast a paper vote at any hustings events.
9.6.6. In the event of a by-election being called where there is no candidate already selected, the Executive Committee shall decide whether to stand a candidate, and if so, they shall approach suitable candidates. The final candidate for the election shall be approved at a monthly meeting or, if the Executive Committee considers that there is insufficient time for a monthly meeting, by the Executive Committee.
9.7. For selection of local authority candidates in non-target wards, candidates may be identified and appointed by the Executive Committee.
10. AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
This constitution can only be altered by an AGM or EGM of the party. Amendments to this constitution require notice in accordance with the provisions of section 7.
11. WINDING UP
The party may cease to exist or join with other local Green Parties, only by agreement of an EGM or AGM. In the event of the party being wound up, the balance of funds shall be transferred to The Green Party (of England & Wales). In the event of the party becoming defunct, national rules apply.