Spring Conference Perth 2017 10th - 11th March
Agenda at a glance Friday 10th March 11.00 - 12.30 Morning session • Welcome address • SC1: Protecting independent consumer advocacy • EM1: Emergency motion 14.00 - 16.50 Afternoon session • SC2: Preventing drug-related deaths • SC3: Updating speed limits for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes • TI1: Topical issue • SC4: Education Saturday 11th March 09.30-12.00 Morning session • Party AGM • SC5: Fighting for our place in the UK and Europe • EM2: Emergency motion 14:40-17.00 Afternoon session • SC6: Maternal mental health
• Consultative session on housing • Party awards 2
Spring Conference 2017
Map of the Dewars Centre Ground Floor
Strathearn Hall
Male Toilet Female Toilet
Lift Main Entrance
First Floor Registration
Muirhead Suite
Stairs Cafe/ Exhibition
Lift
Perth
Hay Room
Male Toilet Female Toilet
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Conference Dinner with Baroness Sal Brinton Liberal Democrats Party President 7.30pm, Friday 10th March, Perth Mercure Hotel
Join us for the highlight of every conference weekend, our fantastic 3 course (plus coffee) conference dinner. This year we are lucky to have Liberal Democrats Party President, Baroness Sal Brinton as our guest speaker. Ticket price: ÂŁ40 To buy tickets and reserve your place please contact Colum Bannatyne on 0131 337 2314 or visit the registration desk in the Dewars Centre.
Welcome to Perth - Willie Rennie MSP Welcome back to the fantastic City of Perth. We gather ahead of another exciting year in politics. As we draw closer to the council elections in May there is good reason to be confident that we will grow our number of councillors. I look forward to hearing them make their case to be strong local representatives. Our party membership continues to grow. We have gained nearly 30 council seats across the UK in by-elections, including the amazing win in Richmond, proving that we are well and truly back. If the last few months have taught us anything it’s that Liberal Democrats are needed more than ever. With Brexit and the election of Donald Trump our political climate is indeed turbulent. The UK has a proud tradition of being open to the world, of working with our neighbours and offering a helping hand to those in need. The Conservatives and the SNP use each other to split our country further with Brexit and independence. As Liberal Democrats we reject both and put forward our vision of a Scotland in the UK and the UK in the EU. Liberal Democrats will continue to fight to protect the benefits we share as part of the European Union and keep our country open, tolerant and united. Our conference can show the people of Scotland that we can lead Scotland to be more progressive, optimistic and outward-looking. Enjoy conference.
Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats 6
Spring Conference 2017
Welcome to Perth - Cllr Peter Barrett Welcome to Perth - Scotland’s newest city and ancient capital. As Leader of Perth and Kinross Liberal Democrats councillors I am delighted to welcome the Scottish Liberal Democrats Conference back to Perth and, particularly, here to my Perth City Centre ward. Perth is bidding to be the UK City of Culture 2021. Known as the Fair City, we want to use culture to connect with people and to make Perth a fairer, greener place for all. Ours is a connected city with a unique geographical and historical place at the heart of Scotland and the heart of our wider rural communities. Perth has a long and proud Liberal tradition, built up over decades by strong and active local councillors. Scottish Liberal Democrats councillors have made their mark in Perth and Kinross. We have a record of action to be proud of: transforming services for the homeless and the elderly, delivering schools fit for our children’s future, protecting the environment and making communities safer. Perth and Kinross needs more Scottish Liberal Democrats councillors and the energy and urgency that we bring to tackling the issues that matter to local people. I would like to wish you all an enjoyable conference.
Cllr Peter Barrett, Leader, Perth and Kinross Liberal Democrats Group
Perth
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Helpful information Venue Dewars Centre, Glover St, Perth, PH2 0TH 01738 454700 Parking There is a large free car park at the Dewars Centre and an underground car park with 200 spaces. Please note that parking is on a first come, first served basis. There are ten bays designated for Blue Badge holders in the car park.
pool is on the left and the Dewars Centre is the brick building on the right. Continue along white walkway to front of building.) For information on buses see www.pkc.gov.uk/bustimetables or www.travelinescotland.com For information on trains see www.scotrail.co.uk Accessibility
The Dewars Centre is fully wheelchair accessible. There is a ramp from the car park to the front entrance. Conference will take place on the ground and first Conference passes floors of the venue and there is a lift. Wheelchair accessible and disabled Please remember to bring your pass with you as a replacement pass will be toilets are located in the venue. There will be an induction loop in the charged at a cost of £5. The Strathearn Hall and Hay Room. Please registration desk will be situated on note that there will be flash the first floor of the Dewars Centre. photography in the Strathearn Hall. Passes must be worn visibly. Taxis
Deadlines
• Ace Taxis - 01738 444000 • Perth Radio Taxis - 01738 580058 • Thistle Taxis - 01738 441122 • A&B Taxis - 01738 446688
The deadline for topical issues is 5pm on 9th March.
The deadline for emergency motions is 5pm on 9th March, to be considered for debate on 10th March or 5pm on 10th Public transport March to be considered for debate on The Dewars Centre is a 10 minute 11th March. Send to walk from Perth train station. linda.wilson@scotlibdems.org.uk or if (Shortcut from train station if coming you are submitting an emergency by rail: Exit station through automatic motion for debate on 11th March, leave ticket gates at the end of platforms 5 a copy at the registration desk at and 6. Walk straight on through the conference. Topical issues and station car park and up the ramp onto emergency motions must be submitted the main road. Turn left to cross over by at least five members. the railway line and then turn All motions are open to amendment by immediately left onto the white pedestrian footbridge. The swimming members. Amendments must be 8
Spring Conference 2017
Helpful information submitted by midday on 8th March to linda.wilson@scotlibdems.org.uk Amendments must be submitted by at least five members.
Refreshments
Wifi
conference, please contact Colum Bannatyne on 0131 337 2314 or hq@scotlibdems.org.uk
The cafe and the bar in the Dewars will serve refreshments throughout conference. If you have any dietary requirements please inform the catering Speaking in debates All movers and summators of motions staff who will do their best to accommodate you. Lunchtime and must submit a speaker’s card. Speakers from the floor shall normally evening fringes may provide be allocated 3 minutes but this may be complimentary refreshments. varied at the discretion of the chair of Further information the debate. If you have any questions about There is free wifi throughout the building. Connect to PKC guest. Use password mobility. Register as guest.
Conference Committee Jenni Lang (Convener) Sandy Leslie Callum Leslie David Green Paul McGarry Ross Stalker Willie Rennie (MSP) Sheila Thomson (Scottish Convener) Christine Jardine (Executive) Willie Wilson (ASLDC) Jacquie Bell (SLDW) Scottish HQ Staff
Party Office Bearers Willie Rennie MSP Cllr Eileen McCartin Alistair Carmichael MP Sheila Thomson Caron Lindsay Cllr Isobel Davidson
Linda Wilson
Jenni Lang
Colum Bannatyne
Alan Reid
Adam Stachura Paul Moat Perth
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Fringes: Friday The global threat to liberalism from populism and nationalism
Nick Clegg MP will bring his concerns to a meeting jointly organised by Liberal International in Scotland and the Scottish Liberal Club.
Association of Scottish Liberal Democrats Councillors AGM
If you want to find out more tips and ideas on campaigning for the Scottish Local Elections this is the place to be !
Enterprise and Skills Speakers: Willie Rennie MSP Prof Andrea Nolan, Convener, Universities Scotland
The Scottish higher education sector plays an important role in driving business innovation for the regions and Scotland as a whole. Join us to discuss how universities are integral to Scotland’s Enterprise and Skills agenda, and why it is important to maintain the Board of the Scottish Funding Council to ensure universities’ autonomy, so that it can retain its valued role, separate from government.
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Spring Conference 2017
Fringes: Saturday Looking local Chair: Cate Vallis, RNIB Scotland Speakers: Sandra Wilson, Chair RNIB Scotland Cllr Karen Clark & Cllr Robert Brown
Join RNIB Scotland to discuss our manifesto for the local government elections and what Scottish Liberal Democrat councillors can do to ensure blind and partially sighted people are supported to live independent lifestyles in their communities.
Standing up for Scottish Education
With the forthcoming Scottish local elections, what are the current and future issues which will dominate Scottish Education in the months to come? Speakers from the EIS and the Scottish Liberal Democrats will provide their perspectives.
Building a Brexit
With Article 50 due to be triggered this month, how can the Scottish Liberal Democrats effectively balance the EU referendum result north of the border with the need to deliver a successful Brexit? What are the opportunities and threats for the party UK-wide and in Scotland specifically? Join the Law Society’s Vice President, Graham Matthews, and an invited panel of experts from the party and beyond to debate the issue.
Perth
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Exhibition
YouthLink Scotland and Children in Scotland are coming together at conference to champion young people’s contribution to society. At the very heart of our ethos is the principle of equality of opportunity for every young person in Scotland. www.childreninscotland.org www.youthlinkscotland.org
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is Scotland’s largest teaching trade union with around 55,000 members employed in nursery, primary, special, secondary, further and higher education. The EIS represents over 80% of all teachers and lecturers in Scotland and campaigns to protect and improve their pay and conditions of service as well as seeking to promote “sound learning” across all sectors.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland helps blind and partially sighted people of all ages live as fully and independently as possible. It provides advice, support, training, equipment and transcribes books and other materials. It also campaigns to improve sight loss prevention. Contact: Ian Brown, RNIB Scotland Tel: 0131 652 3140 Email: ian.brown@rnib.org.uk
Come find out about our Access to Elected Office Fund; how it is supporting disabled people and how it may support you or someone you know. Help us identify the impairment related barriers that disabled people face when accessing politics and feed into our future plans.
MBM is a printing business with specialist expertise in the effective delivery of election communications to the public. We are a single source and expert partner in the production and distribution of all printed materials supporting an effective campaign (including the 2016 Scottish Election). Contact: Stephen Black Stephen.Black@mbmprint.co.uk
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The SFHA is the national representative body as well as the voice and advocate of Scotland's housing associations and cooperatives. The SFHA exists to lead, represent and support its members through lobbying decision-makers to bring about positive change.
Spring Conference 2017
Exhibition UNISON is the public services union and we are the largest trade union in Scotland. We represent workers in local government, health, police staff, utilities, voluntary and community sectors. We publish research, disseminate information and run campaigns to support public services and those who deliver them. www.unison-scotland.org
Come and find out what Scottish Liberal Democrat Women (SLDW) are doing to help get more women elected, increase female influence on policy and make the party a more equal place. Do you want to be an MP, lead a committee or change party policy? We can show you how! Liberal Youth Scotland is the Youth Wing of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. As an associated organisation we build campaigns around the issues our members care about. We also have representatives at all levels of the party and contribute to campaigns and recruiting members. Come and see what we do!
Perth
Marie Curie provides care and support for people living with a terminal illness, and their families and carers. Supporting over 8,000 people in Scotland through two hospices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as community nursing services across 31 local authority areas, and four volunteer led Helper services. Universities Scotland is proud to represent one of the best higher education sectors in the world. This January we launched ‘Scotland’s universities welcome the world’, a new campaign that celebrates the diversity and inclusivity of Scotland’s universities. Come along to our stall to learn more and share the welcome!
ALDC represents councillors and provides advice, information and resources for all activists, candidates and councillors. With only 53 days till the local authority elections, visit our stand to join ALDC and get access to our templates, ideas, advice and our member products like free campaigning websites and Connect Casework. www.aldc.org
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& HELP US WIN IN MAY Sp r
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Party e h t Join
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Training
Conference training Friday 10th March
Saturday 11th March
Marketing your campaign 11.15-12.15
Marketing your campaign 10.30-11.30
Getting enough votes to win and Getting enough votes and turning out the vote turning them out 14.30-15.30 14.00-15.00 Raising the money you need to win 15.30-16.30
Raising the money you need to win 16.00-17.00
All training sessions take place in the Hay Room on the first floor.
Perth
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Conference Friday 11th March 11.00 Conference opens Welcome address from Cllr Peter Barrett
SC1: Protecting independent consumer advocancy Mover: Euan Robson
Summator: TBC
1 Conference welcomes the devolution of consumer advocacy and 2 representation in the Scotland Act 2016 as a further step on the 3 road to a federal United Kingdom. 4 Conference believes: 5 6 7 8
1. That citizens and consumers should have access to advice, assistance and representation which is independent of government, regulators and commercial interests and which is free at the point of delivery;
9 10 11 12
2. That advocacy and representation on policy making or policy change on behalf of citizens and consumers is validated and given weight when underpinned by complaints handling data and research;
13 14 15 16
3. The advice provided by Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland to the general public in the most part by volunteers, over the last seventy five years has had quality and effectiveness.
17 Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to: 18 19 20
1. Support the establishment of Consumer Scotland, resourcing it appropriately including by means of a levy on the key industries from which complaints and representations arise;
21 22 23
2. Promote the establishment of specialist functions within Consumer Scotland to handle complaints on specialist subject areas such as transport, communications and energy;
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3. Ensure that central and local government provide proper support to Scotland's Citizens Advice Bureaux without conditions which compromise their independence;
27 28 29
4. Ensure that reports and proposals from Consumer Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland are given full consideration by the appropriate Committees of the Parliament.
EM1: Emergency motion
Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland
@ACarmichaelMP #sldconf 12.30-14.00
Lunch
12.45-13.45
Fringes
SC2: Preventing drug-related deaths Mover: Ewan Hoyle
Summator: John Waddell
1 Conference notes: 2 3 4
• The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has reached new heights in each of the last two years with that number reaching 706 in 2015.
Perth
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Conference 5 6 7
• NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are exploring the potential of safe injecting and heroin assisted treatment facilities in addressing harm to drug users and the wider community.
8 9
• Concerns over apparent planned reductions in spending for drug and alcohol services in 2016/17.
10 Conference further notes: 11 12 13 14
1. Front of house pill testing has been deployed for the first time in the UK last summer, with drug users able to submit pills for testing at the Secret Garden Party festival in Cambridgeshire in July.
15 16
2. The closure of Glasgow's The Arches nightclub and arts venue following licensing restrictions due to drug-related incidents.
17 18 19
3. Existing Liberal Democrat policy supporting the decriminalisation of drug possession and provision of heroin assisted treatment clinics.
20 Conference believes: 21
A. Drug-related deaths are preventable.
22 23
B. Existing drug law enforcement strategies will continue to be unsuccessful in reducing drug-related deaths.
24 25 26
C. Scotland can reverse its drug-related death trends if it learns from the experiences of other countries that have been more ambitious to save lives.
27 28 29
D. It is wrong to punish venues for incidents on their premises when those incidents could be prevented through evidencebased harm-reduction practices at a community level.
30 Conference calls for: 31 32 33 34
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i. The Scottish Government to support – politically and financially – the setting up of safe injection, heroin assisted treatment, and drug-testing facilities in all localities where there is a need.
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Conference 35 36
ii. The Scottish Government to encourage the de facto decriminalisation of the possession of drugs for personal use.
37 38 39
iii. The Scottish Government and local authorities to deliver factual public health education on the dangers of drugs and safe usage.
40 41 42
iv. Local authorities to make licensing decisions based on venues' efforts to keep their customers safe rather than their efforts to assist the police in enforcing drug laws.
SC3: Updating speed limits for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes
Mover: Ian Turnbull
Summator: John Ferry
Conference notes that: 1 2 3 4
1) In April 2015 speed limits for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) above 7.5 tonnes were increased in England and Wales from 40 mph to 50 mph on single carriageways, and from 50 mph to 60 mph on dual carriageways.
5 6
2)This change modernised an out-dated restriction that is no longer in place in most other European countries.
7 8
3) The 20 mph differential between lorry and car speeds on single carriageway roads encourages dangerous overtaking.
9 Conference reaffirms the Liberal Democrat commitment to: 10 11
A) Have an up-to-date road network with modern rules and regulations to match.
12 13
B) To improve productivity in the economy and safety on our roads.
Perth
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Conference 14 Conference calls on the Scottish Government to: 15 16
i. Update speed limits for HGVs above 7.5 tonnes to bring them in line with England and Wales.
Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam and Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson
TI1: Topical issue
SC4: Education Mover: Sheila Thomson
Summator: John Waddell
1 Conference reaffirms its belief that education is the essential 2 investment that allows everyone to achieve their potential. 3 Conference notes: 4 5 6
1. Scotland used to have one of the best education systems in the world but, after ten years of SNP Government, it is heading in the wrong direction.
7 8 9 10 11
2. Scotland’s performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has declined, with the latest report in December 2016 recording Scotland’s worst ever ranking in reading, maths and science, with its performance now just average among OECD countries.
12 13
3. Teachers are contending with huge amounts of conflicting and complicated guidance.
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Conference 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
4. Responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the introduction of new regional education boards which would operate across council areas, including the comments of the EIS union that significant restructuring of the relationship between central and local government would be a “significant distraction from the real needs of Scottish education”, the view of the Scottish Secondary Teacher Association that “structural change only diverts energies and resources away from the main challenge of closing the attainment gap” and the opinion of Children in Scotland that the governance proposals risk having “zero impact” on the attainment gap.
25 26 27
5. The introduction of national testing and prospect of school league tables, piling the pressure on pupils and school staff alike.
28 29 30 31 32
6. The widespread concerns surrounding the dual function of Education Scotland, founded in 2011 following a merger of HM Inspectorate of Education, which inspected schools, and Learning and Teaching Scotland, which developed classroom materials and provided school support.
33 Conference believes: 34 35 36
a) The SNP must take responsibility for the failure to provide schools, teachers and pupils with the support they need to work to the best of their ability.
37 38 39 40
b) Implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence has been beset by challenges under the leadership of four different Cabinet Secretaries but that the principles that underpin it are sound.
41 Conference also believes: 42 43 44 45
A. The introduction of national testing amounts to broken promises from the Scottish Government, undermining the spirit and purpose of Curriculum for Excellence and creating further burdens for teachers.
Perth
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Conference 46 47
B. Moving towards an increasingly centralised, one-size-fits-all approach is not an effective way to improve education.
48 Conference therefore calls for the Scottish Government to: 49 50 51 52
i. Further invest in our education system in order to stop years of damaging cuts to school and college budgets, pursue evidenceled measures to reduce the attainment gap, and ensure every child has opportunities to reach their potential.
53 54
ii. Work with others to identify further means to alleviate teachers’ workloads.
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iii. Stop school league tables.
56 57
iv. End its apparent determination to pursue centralising structural reform in education, irrespective of the evidence.
58 59
v. Separate the functions of Education Scotland and re-establish the independence of the school inspectorate
Whisky tasting with Alistair Carmichael MP A unique opportunity to taste, discuss and learn a bit about malt whisky in a relaxed friendly environment. 5.30 - 7pm, Friday 10th March, Muirhead Suite, Dewars Centre Tickets: ÂŁ30 Apply to libdemfow@gmail.com or call 07469 714839 Proceeds to support campaigning in Orkney and Shetland. 22
Spring Conference 2017
Conference Saturday 11th March Party AGM
President of the Liberal Democrats
@SalBrinton
#sldconf
SC5: Fighting for our place in the UK and Europe Mover: Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP
Summator: Christine Jardine
1 Conference notes: 2 3
• The longstanding commitment of the Liberal Democrats to membership of the European Union;
4 5 6 7
• The motion passed at the Autumn 2016 conference that regretted the “lack of direction, leadership or clarity” from the UK Government on their negotiations and strategy which “breeds unwelcome uncertainty”;
8 9 10 11
• Support from former UK and Irish prime ministers John Major and John Bruton for the idea of a referendum on the final terms of the deal between the UK Government and the rest of the EU.
12 Conference believes that: 13 14 15
• The loss of the single market and other pillars of the EU would harm our economy, security, education, environment and individual freedoms;
16 17 18
• There is a need for at least one political party to speak for and articulate the “majority case” in Scotland both for the UK remaining in the EU and for Scotland remaining in the UK;
Perth
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Conference 19 20 21 22 23
• The opportunity exists for the Scottish Liberal Democrats to be that party and to represent those people who voted Remain, as well as a wider group of voters who wish to retain the benefits of the single market or otherwise wish to reject the deal agreed by the Conservative Government with the rest of the EU;
24 25 26 27
• Such an opportunity would stay true to the positions taken by the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the referendums of 2014 and 2016 with the overwhelming support of party members and voters;
28 29 30 31 32
• No other party is prepared to take up that challenge: the Scottish Conservatives have switched sides to become hard Brexiteers; Labour is confused, has turned its back on free movement and has given up on the EU; and the SNP are marching up and down on independence;
33 34 35 36
• The Liberal Democrats were right to campaign for legislation to guarantee a Brexit deal referendum to allow people across the UK the opportunity to have a say when the terms become clear;
37 38 39 40
• The Liberal Democrats are right to maintain this stance, to continue to campaign for it, to advocate and to rally support for it among the public across the UK even as negotiations with the EU continue;
41 42 43 44 45
• The result of the Richmond Park by-election, gained by the Liberal Democrats on a platform of opposition to the Conservative Government’s Brexit policy, shows that there is appetite and appeal for a party prepared to stick to what it believes in and to campaign to win support for its position;
46 47 48
• All of this is consistent with the longstanding and continuing campaign for a modern UK constitution, federal and democratic in nature.
49 Conference calls for: 50 51 24
• The continuing purpose of the Scottish Liberal Democrats to be the voice for the majority in Scotland, who want Scotland Spring Conference 2017
Conference 52 53 54 55
inside the UK and the UK in the EU, and thus to seek to win support for a public vote across the whole UK on the final EU deal, and to persuade the rest of the EU to be pragmatic in response to such demands;
56 57 58
• Scottish Liberal Democrats to work with colleagues across the UK to be the UK-wide rallying point for all those who are pro-EU.
59 Conference further resolves: 60 61 62 63 64
• That in the event of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, to adopt a policy of re-entry for the UK to the EU, thereby reaffirming the Liberal Democrats as the only party advocating a truly internationalist platform of closer integration between the UK and EU.
EM2: Emergency motion
12.00-14.40
Lunch
12.15-13.15
Fringe meetings
13.30-14.30
Fringe meetings
Liberal Youth Scotland Quiz: Friday 10th March 8pm Miller Room, Perth Mercure Hotel Join LYS for special guests, prizes and a drink or two! Tickets available on the door or at the LYS stand Perth
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Conference SC6: Maternal mental health Mover: Elisabeth Wilson
Summator: Sheila Thomson
1 Conference believes that: 2 3
a. Maternal mental health in Scotland is a special cause for concern amidst the general neglect of mental health;
4 5 6
b. Where a mother does not receive appropriate support there may be long term effects upon the health of children as well as herself;
7 8 9 10
c. A growing body of research has demonstrated that the problem is serious and costly, yet can be tackled through an expansion of the training of professionals and the enabling of community support.
11 Conference notes: 12 13 14 15
a) The report of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2015 that showed that post-natal depression and depression during pregnancy affect up to one in five women and are undetected in as many as one in two women;
16 17
b) The 2011 research which names mental illness as one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in the UK;
18 19 20 21
c) The 2016 report of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland which says that stigma remains “a significant barrier� to women seeking help for postnatal metal illness especially the fear that their baby would be taken into care;
22 23 24 25 26
d) That there are only two Scottish Mother and Baby Units where a mother can continue to care for her baby, and these are both in the central belt, restricting the care offered to women with wider family responsibilities who live away from the central belt;
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e) The study by the London School of Economics and the Centre for Mental Health which suggests that the most common forms of perinatal mental illness cost the NHS across the UK ÂŁ1.2billion and puts the total economic costs at ÂŁ8bn annually;
31 32 33
f) The concern from Barnardo’s and NSPCC Scotland that knowledge of perinatal mood disorders is not a core compulsory topic within the curriculum of health professionals;
34 35 36 37 38 39
g) The report of the NSPCC in 2015 which showed that many health boards do not meet best practice, including only 36% of boards having a specialist community perinatal mental health service, and most health boards are without any midwives or health visitors with accredited mental health training;
40 41 42
h) The concern of the Royal College of GPs that core training does not equip GPs to deal with perinatal mental health problems;
43 44 45
i) The evidence that focused, available community support from the third sector can have a significant beneficial effect in allaying fears and preventing further distress.
46 Conference calls for: 47 48 49 50
a) Scottish Liberal Democrats to continue to press for an increase in funding for mental health services in Scotland, recognising the enormous personal, health and economic costs of failing to address the challenge;
51 52 53
b) The new Scottish Government ten year mental health plan to strengthen the provision of services for women with maternal mental health problems;
54 55
c) Scottish Liberal Democrats to make a new five-point offer to mothers for the services they can expect to receive:
56 57 58 Perth
1. The current post-natal six-week check to include support from a GP and Health Visitor with specific training on maternal mental health; 27
Conference 59 60 61
2. Referral to a suitable community support network operated by voluntary groups or the third sector and supported by a health visitor;
62 63 64 65
3. Where inpatient care is needed this is offered with provision for the mother’s continuing care for the baby, with the range of bed spaces expanded to allow more women to receive care close to their family home;
66 67 68 69
4. A new campaign to remove the stigma of mental ill health for new mothers, and to provide reassurance that keeping mothers and babies together is a foremost concern except in the most extreme cases.
70 71 72 73
5. A new time-bound plan to increase core training for GPs and health visitors in identifying and treating maternal mental health, to allow for the entitlement for a fully trained six-week check to be honoured.
Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats @Willie_Rennie #sldconf
Consultation session: Housing The Policy Committee will host a structured discussion on housing policy. The session will cover types of tenure, quality and sustainability, the overall volume of house building, planning rules, and funding sources for social housing. A short paper setting the scene and structuring the discussion will be available to those attending the conference. The discussion will allow Policy Committee to frame motions for future conferences.
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Conference
Party awards 17.00 Close of Conference Thanks Many thanks are extended to all the staff at the Dewars Centre. Also thanks to Party staff, in particular Linda Wilson and Colum Bannatyne for their outstanding work in organising Conference and to Metro who have yet again provided the stage set and AV services. Thank you to MBM for their kind sponsorship of the agenda and to Kirsty Smith, once again, for her sterling work behind the speaker’s desk.
Thank you for coming to conference, we hope to see you at our next conference in the Autumn Perth
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Standing Orders 1.
The Conference Committee
1.1. The Conference Committee shall be constituted as specified in Section E10 of the Constitution. The annual election of members by the conference shall be by Single Transferable Vote in a ballot of all members of the Party registered to attend Conference ('Conference Representatives'). 1.2. The Conference Convener shall be the Chair of the Conference Committee. At its first meeting after a new election under Section E10 of the Constitution, the Conference Committee may elect one or more Vice-Conveners. 2.
The Timetable and Agenda - Normal Meetings
2.1.
The Agenda for each ordinary meeting of Conference shall include time for:
2.1.1. Motions; 2.1.2. Emergency motions; 2.1.3. Topical issues; 2.1.4. A business session or sessions; and 2.1.5. any other business deemed appropriate by the Conference Committee. The time to be allocated to each type of business and the order of business shall be decided by the Conference Committee. 2.2. The Conference Committee shall, before each meeting of the Conference, prepare a timetable which includes: 2.2.1. The closing date for the receipt of motions (other than Emergency or Topical motions), which shall not normally be less than eight weeks before the start of the meeting; 2.2.2. The due date for the publication of the Agenda, which shall not normally be less than six weeks before the start of the meeting; 2.2.3. The closing date for the receipt of topical issues, which shall normally be the same deadline as that of the first emergency motion at any conference; and 2.2.4. The closing date for receipt of amendments, which shall not normally be less than two working days before the start of the meeting. 2.2.5. The Conference Committee may, in special circumstances, specify dates later than the normal dates under this Standing Order. It shall report to the Conference its reasons for doing so. 2.3. Submitting organisations shall detail at the time of submission the name and contact details of a person authorised to agree any redrafting of a motion or amendment and the name of the mover and summator of the motion or amendment, should it be selected for debate at Conference. 2.4. The Conference Committee shall decide which of the motions duly submitted shall be included within the Agenda. The proposers of the motions selected for debate shall be informed of the Conference Committee’s decision. The Agenda shall be circulated to Local Parties and other bodies entitled to submit motions and amendments under the provisions of Section E19 of the Constitution so that amendments can be tabled to these
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Standing Orders motions by such bodies. Copies of motions not selected for inclusion in the Agenda shall be available for inspection. 2.5. The Conference Committee shall meet the day after the deadline for submission of amendments to motions on the Agenda and shall decide which amendments should be accepted and those rejected. The proposers of the amendments selected for debate shall be informed of the Conference Committee’s decision. 2.6. The choice of subjects for the topical issue discussions shall be made by the Conference Committee in consultation with the Policy Committee. In choosing the subjects the Conference Committee shall have regard to the significance and topicality of the subjects proposed and whether they are likely to provoke a lively debate. No votes will be taken on topical issues and they will not be adopted as party policy. 2.7. The Party’s Principal Committees may submit holding motions, which shall identify the issues to be dealt with within the motion but which may be amended and expanded upon later. Standing Orders 2 and 3 shall apply to holding motions as they would apply to ordinary motions, except that: 2.7.1. the final version of the motion shall be submitted not less than two weeks before the start of the meeting of Conference; 2.7.2. The text of the final version shall be circulated to Conference Representatives, Local Parties and other bodies authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E19 of the Constitution, who may submit amendments no later than two working days before the start of the meeting of Conference; and 2.7.3. The Committee shall make available to Conference Representatives the text of the final version and any amendments chosen for debate, either by their publication in the Conference Daily Bulletin or by any other means the Committee considers most appropriate 2.8. The Conference Committee may, if the circumstances require, propose to 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. 3.
Submission of Motions and Amendments
3.1. The Conference Committee may refuse to select a motion for the amendment of the Constitution or Standing Orders if, in the opinion of the Committee, it is similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate at the same meeting of Conference. All other motions in these categories shall be circulated with the Agenda. 3.2. No amendment shall be selected if, in the opinion of the Conference Committee, it is insubstantial, outside the legitimate scope of the motion or tantamount to a direct negative of the motion. 3.3. The movers of any motion or amendment that has not been selected shall be notified as soon as is practicable and may appeal to the Conference Committee in accordance with directions given by the Committee. If an appeal is allowed, the motion or amendment shall be treated as an emergency motion or amendment notwithstanding that it does not comply with Standing Order 5.
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Standing Orders 3.4. This Standing Order and Standing Order 2 do not apply to procedural motions under Standing Order 8. 3.5. No topical issue may be selected for debate at Conference unless the Conference Committee is satisfied that the content of the motion is such that it could not have been submitted in time for the deadline as set out in Section 2.2 for ordinary motions. No topical issue can be a holding motion from a Party Committee. Selection of topical issues for debate will be made at the same time as consideration of emergency motions for debate. However, Conference Committee reserves the right to consider topical issues earlier if required 4.
The Agenda - Special Conferences
4.1. Special Conferences shall deal only with the business stated in the notice of requisition, save that the Conference Committee may allow time for emergency motions and for business which is formal or, in the opinion of the Committee, uncontentious. 4.2. The Conference Committee shall draw up an Agenda and circulate in line with Section 2.4. If the Committee deems it necessary the Agenda can be circulated with amendments to be submitted as Emergency Amendments. 4.3. The provisions of Standing Orders 2 and 3 shall, so far as they are not inconsistent with Standing Orders 4.1 and 4.2, apply to special meetings of the Conference. 5.
Emergency Motions
5.1. An emergency motion or amendment must relate to significant developments which have occurred since the relevant closing date or so shortly before that date as to make it impracticable to submit a motion, topical issue or amendment in due time. It must be brief and specific. 5.2. An emergency motion or amendment may be submitted by five Conference Representatives or by any persons or bodies authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E9 of the Constitution. 5.3. The Conference Committee may, for each day of the meeting of Conference, set aside time convenient for the debate of Emergency Motions. In such an event, proposed Emergency Motions must be submitted to the Conference Committee, duly signed, by 5pm the day before they are to be debated. Emergency Amendments to motions already on the Agenda for that meeting of Conference must be submitted by 5pm the day before the motion is to be debated. 5.4. The Conference Committee may refuse to select an emergency motion or amendment if, in the opinion of the Committee, it is similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate at the relevant meeting of Conference. 5.5. The Conference Committee will choose the emergency motions or amendments which, in the opinion of the Committee, are most relevant to the concerns of the Conference and can be debated within the time available. The Committee shall make available the text of all emergency motions and amendments chosen for debate either by publication in the Conference Daily Bulletin or any other means the Committee finds most appropriate. 5.6. Amendments shall not normally be taken to the text of an Emergency Motion. However Conference Committee may consider amendments duly signed by 5 Conference
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Standing Orders Representatives or by any body authorised to submit motions under the provisions of Section E9 of the Constitution. These amendments must be brief, suitable for debate and of a similar emergency nature. The deadline for submitting amendments to an Emergency Motion will be listed in the Conference Daily Bulletin alongside the text of the Emergency Motion. The movers of the Emergency Motion must be given the opportunity to agree that the text of the amendment be accepted without debate or vote, and the text must be circulated to voting representatives before the start of the debate. 6.
Conduct of Debate
6.1.
Length of Speeches
6.1.1. The Conference Committee shall decide the time to be allocated for each debate. The Conference Committee shall determine the times allocated to speakers in debates and shall set out in the agenda the time limits for speeches. 6.1.2. Movers of motions shall normally be allocated not more than 12 minutes to move and summate on a motion. Movers of amendments shall normally be allocated not more than 8 minutes to move and summate on a motion. Movers of emergency motions and topical issues shall normally be allocated 5 minutes to move the motion. Speakers from the floor shall normally be allocated 3 minutes but this may be varied at the discretion of the chair of the debate. 6.2.
Order of Debate
6.2.1. The Conference Committee shall direct the order of debate. Generally, however, a motion will be moved and immediately thereafter the amendments will be moved in the order directed by the Committee. There will then be a general debate. The movers of amendments (or their nominees) shall have the right to summate in the same order, after which the mover of the motion (or their nominee) shall have the right to summate. 6.2.2. Votes will be taken on amendments in the order in which they have been moved and finally, a vote shall be taken on the substantive motion. 6.3. The Conference Committee may direct that parts of any motion or amendment or group of amendments may be the subject of a separate debate the Conference Committee may also direct that a debate may comprise of more than one substantive motion. In this case it shall be up to the discretion of the Chair as to the allotment of speakers, save that the rights of movers of motions or amendments shall not be infringed. 6.4. The Committee may authorise members of other State or Regional Parties to speak. The Committee may also, with the approval of conference, invite any person to address a Conference as a guest. 6.5. On any topical issue, policy motion or emergency motion not moved on behalf of the Policy Committee, the Policy Committee shall have the right to nominate one of its members to report to the Conference its views on the motions and/or amendments under debate. Such persons shall be called to speak at any time up to the conclusion of the debate and before any replies and shall be entitled to speak for the same length of time as the mover of the motion. The Executive Committee shall have similar rights on business motions or motions to amend the constitution and the Conference Committee shall have similar rights in relation to motions to amend Standing Orders or motions otherwise relating to the proceedings of the Conference.
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Standing Orders 6.6. Save as provided in Standing Orders, no person may speak more than once in any debate. 6.7. All members wishing to speak in any debate, including the movers and summators of motions and amendments, must submit a speaker’s card and indicate whether they wish to speak in favour or against a motion or amendment. The Chair of the session shall be responsible for providing a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the Conference. In circumstances where there is a preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side in any debate, the Chair may announce a departure from this rule. 7.
Voting
7.1. Voting cards shall be issued to all Conference Representatives and shall be shown in respect of all votes taken. A count of voting cards will be taken when either: 7.1.1. This is felt necessary by the Chair of the session to resolve uncertainty as to the outcome, or 7.1.2. A request for a count has been made by 12 Conference Representatives standing in their places and showing their voting cards. 7.2. In the event of a count of voting cards being required, the Chair of the session shall appoint tellers for the purpose. A recount will be held only if the Chair of the session is not satisfied that the first count was accurate. 8.
Points of Order and Procedural Motions
8.1. Any voting member may rise on a point of order. A point of order shall be taken immediately, except that, during a vote no point of order shall be taken that does not refer to the vote itself. The decision of the Chair of the session on all points of order shall be final. 8.2.
References Back
8.2.1. A voting member may, at any time before the end of speeches in reply to the debate, submit in writing a motion to refer back the motion under debate. Such a submission shall state to whom the motion is to be referred and shall include a short statement of the reasons of no more than 100 words. 8.2.2. The Chair may decide either to take the motion to refer back immediately or defer it until the end of debate. If more than one request for a reference back is received, the Chair shall have the discretion as to which to take but shall give consideration to the appropriateness of the bodies to which the motion is being referred, the degree to which the stated reasons for reference back reflect views expressed in the debate and the order in which the requests were submitted, before exercising the rights of discretion. No more than one reference back shall be taken to any motion. 8.2.3. The Chair shall, upon taking the motion to refer back, read it and the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to debate the motion. If the conference decides not to debate the reference back, the reference back automatically falls. If the conference decides, by a majority of those voting to debate the reference back the mover of that motion may 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 motion.
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Standing Orders 8.2.4. The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If the substantive motion is referred to the Executive, Policy Committee or Conference Committee that body shall report to the next meeting of conference stating the action it has taken on the reference back. 8.3.
Suspension of Standing Orders
8.3.1. A voting member may, during any session of a conference, move for the suspension of Standing Orders. The mover shall submit the motion together with a written statement of its purpose, not exceeding 100 words, to the Chair who shall read them to the Conference. 8.3.2. No motion to suspend Standing Orders may suspend any requirement of the Constitution, not Standing Orders 2 and 3. 8.3.3. No motion to suspend Standing Orders to introduce a motion or amendment onto the Agenda can be taken unless the motion or amendment has been submitted to the Conference Committee in accordance with the published timetable and any right of appeal has been exercised. 8.3.4. The Chair shall read the statement of purpose and if the suspension is allowable, ask Conference whether it wishes to debate the request to suspend Standing Orders. If the Conference decides not to debate the request, it falls. If the Conference decides to hear the request the mover may speak and a representative of the Conference may reply. The Chair has the discretion to call other speakers and all speeches will be limited to two minutes. 8.3.5. A motion to suspend Standing Orders shall only be carried if supported by at least two thirds of voting Representatives present and voting. If the procedural motion is carried all Standing Orders shall remain in force except only for the purposes set out in the motion. 8.4.
Separate Votes
8.4.1. A Separate Vote shall be taken on a part of a motion or amendment. 8.4.2. At the direction of the Conference Committee; or 8.4.3. At the discretion of the Chair, when requested to do so by a voting representative. Any voting representative may submit a request for a separate vote to the Chair of a debate. Such a request must be in writing and received before the commencement of the speeches in reply to the debate. The Chair has complete discretion in such a case on whether to take a separate vote. 8.5. These Standing Orders may be amended by a two-thirds majority of Conference Representatives present and voting on a motion duly submitted under the terms of Standing Order 3. Subject to any amendment they shall remain in force from Conference to Conference.
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