Our Constitution
1. Name
The name of the party shall be Hertsmere First Independents ("the Party").
2. Aims and Values
The Party exists to:
- Promote transparent, community-led, and evidence-based local governance.
- Represent residents of Hertsmere at town, parish, borough, county, and unitary authority levels.
- Select candidates, in accordance with the Party’s selection process, to stand for election in the UK at town, parish, borough, county, and unitary authority levels. The Party will not field candidates to stand in General Elections, or in any election outside of the UK.
- Encourage active public participation in decision-making.
- Support policies that improve quality of life, fairness, accountability, and democratic integrity.
- Uphold high standards of conduct in public life.
- Promote an inclusive, respectful, and non-discriminatory political culture.
3. Membership
3.1 Eligibility
Membership is open to any individual who:
- Supports the Party’s aims and values;
- Is not legally disqualified from holding political party membership; and
- Meets equalities and safeguarding requirements under UK law (see 3.5 below).
3.2 Application
Prospective members shall:
- Submit an application in the form approved by the Party officers;
- Agree to abide by this Constitution and any Codes of Conduct.
The Executive Committee may recommend to the Oversight Committee that a person be refused membership. Membership may only be refused where the individual is deemed not to meet the eligibility criteria in 3.1 above. Where appropriate, brief reasons will be given for any such refusal.
3.3 Rights and Responsibilities
Members have the right to:
- Participate in Party meetings and democratic processes;
- Stand for internal roles subject to eligibility rules;
- Enjoy equal access to Party activities and internal elections, subject only to reasonable and non-discriminatory eligibility rules.
- Put themselves forward to be selected as a candidate representing the Party in town, parish, borough or unitary authority elections, in accordance with the Party’s Selection Process.
Members have the responsibility to:
- Uphold the Party’s values;
- Conduct themselves respectfully and lawfully;
- Follow the Party’s Code of Conduct.
3.4 Suspension and Termination
The Oversight Committee may suspend or terminate membership if a member:
- Brings the Party into disrepute;
- Violates the Code of Conduct or this Constitution;
- Acts against the Party’s fundamental values.
- Is found to have behaved in a manner that is discriminatory towards others, or has harassed or victimized others.
- A fair process shall be followed, including written notice and an opportunity to respond.
3.5 Equality and Non-Discrimination
The Party shall operate in full compliance with the Equality Act 2010.
No person shall be refused membership or discriminated against on the basis of protected characteristics, including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
The Party shall promote an inclusive culture in which all members are treated with dignity and respect.
The Party takes complaints of discrimination, harassment or victimisation very seriously, and these will be dealt with, where appropriate, through the Oversight Committee.
The Party will make reasonable adjustments for disabled members including providing additional aids and services if this will allow or make it easier for disabled members to have access to the rights, benefits, facilities and services that come with membership of the party.
The Party will ensure that information for members is provided in an accessible format, such as large print.
The Party will make reasonable and proportionate adjustments for disabled members, including providing additional aids or services where this enables equal access to membership rights, benefits, facilities and services. The Oversight Committee will keep its practices under review to ensure these aims are being met.
4. Party Officers
4.1 Required Officers
The Party shall have at minimum:
- Chair
- Leader
- Nominating Officer (must be a unique individual)
- Treasurer
- Secretary
4.2 Additional Officers
The Party may appoint:
- Deputy Leader
- Campaigns Officer
- Compliance Officer
4.3 Appointment of Officers
Officers shall be elected by simple majority vote at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
Officers shall serve until the next AGM.
4.4 Responsibilities
Chair:
- Chairs meetings of the Executive Committee and general meetings.
- Maintains accurate membership databases and safeguards them in accordance with data protection legislation.
- Has overall responsibility for administration and direction of the Party organisation.
Leader:
- Provides political leadership and represents the Party publicly.
Nominating Officer:
- Responsible for arranging the nomination of candidates and approving the party identity marks used on nomination forms and ballot papers at elections. As required by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Nominating Officer will control the Party’s descriptions and emblems.
Treasurer:
- Responsible for ensuring the party complies with the political finance rules set out in PPERA.
- Ensures proper financial management, statutory reporting, and compliance with the Party’s Financial Scheme.
Secretary:
- Ensures administrative arrangements comply with legal requirements other than those relating to finance;
- Establishes and chairs the Oversight Committee;
- Convenes meetings of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), and Executive Committee;
- Maintains administrative records and minutes of meetings;
- Responsible for maintaining records of the Party’s business
- Responsible for taking minutes of all meetings, including the decisions taken, and ensuring that they are appropriately signed and filed for future reference.
4.5 Removal of Officers
An officer may be removed before the end of their term by a two-thirds majority vote at an EGM.
4.6 Resignations
Resignation of an officer shall be evidenced in a written letter to the Executive Committee.
4.7 Officer Vacancies
If an officer position becomes vacant due to resignation, incapacity, death, or removal:
- The Executive Committee shall appoint an interim officer within 14 days;
- A permanent replacement shall be elected at the next AGM or at an EGM convened for that purpose.
4.8 Notifying the Electoral Commission
The Executive must notify the Electoral Commission of a change of officer within 14 days of a change due to death or termination of appointment.
5. Meetings
5.1 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Party shall hold an AGM at least once every twelve months to:
- Elect or re-elect officers;
- Receive the annual accounts approved by the Executive Committee;
- Set strategic priorities for the year;
- Elect or re-elect members of the Oversight Committee.
5.2 Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM)
An EGM may be called by:
- The Leader;
- A majority of Party officers; or
- At least 25% of the membership via a written request.
5.3 Decision-Making
- A minimum of five people, including one Officer, is required for a meeting to be quorate;
- Decisions require a simple majority unless otherwise stated;
- Meetings may be held in person, virtually, or hybrid.
- The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes of all meetings, including the decisions taken, and ensuring that they are appropriately signed and filed for future reference
- Decisions taken by an AGM or EGM are binding on the Party, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Executive and the Executive Committee. Such decisions may be overturned only at a subsequent AGM or EGM and not by the Executive Committee or any other committee.
5.4 Notice Periods
- Notice for an AGM shall be at least 14 days;
- Notice for an EGM shall be at least 7 days, unless urgent statutory requirements necessitate shorter notice;
- Notice may be given electronically.
6. Party Executive Committee
6.1 Composition
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Party officers and any additional members appointed at the AGM.
6.2 Meetings
The Secretary shall convene meetings of the Executive Committee, which shall take place no fewer than three times a year. A minimum of three members is required for quorum. At least three days’ notice shall be given.
The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee, including the decisions taken, and ensuring that they are appropriately signed and filed for future reference.
6.3 Duties, Responsibilities and Powers
The Executive Committee shall:
- Oversee strategic decisions between AGMs;
- Implement the strategic objectives set by the AGM
- Be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Party
- Establish political groups on any council (with the exception of town or parish councils) where the Party has at least two elected members;
- Appoint the Leader and Secretary of the Party’s political groups;
- Ensure the Party works towards the aims and values set out in Article 2;
- Manage the Party’s funds and structure;
- Advise the Party Leader on political matters;
- Approve the Party’s policies and manifestos;
- Approve local campaigning activities;
- Manage and conduct the Party’s disciplinary procedures through the Oversight Committee where appropriate;
- Ensure the Constitution is compliant with UK law;
- Manage officer vacancies and urgent governance matters.
7. Oversight Committee
The Oversight Committee shall be chaired by the Secretary and shall include additional members elected by the AGM. It is responsible for discipline, disputes, and membership refusals.
The Oversight Committee is responsible for:
- Conducting an annual review of conditions or requirements for membership in the constitution, and the Party’s rules and practices more generally. The Oversight Committee will propose changes where necessary to ensure the Party’s constitution, rules and practices are not discriminatory and comply with the law, in particular Equality Act 2010;
- Involving equality groups or people who share one or more of the protected characteristics in any reviews of the Party’s policies or practices to identify areas of potential discrimination that need to be addressed
- Identifying potential barriers for disabled people and making reasonable adjustments.
- The Oversight Committee is also responsible for dealing with complaints regarding the conduct of individual members of the Party.
Any complaints about conduct of a Party member, including but not limited to, allegations of discrimination, harassment or victimization, shall be addressed to the Secretary who will refer the matter for consideration by the Oversight Committee.
The Oversight Committee may impose sanctions including oral or written advice, written caution, suspension, expulsion, or removal from a Political Group. Decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
In discharging its duties, the Oversight Committee shall recognise that party members are entitled to hold protected beliefs, to criticise those who do not share their beliefs and to organise with other members who hold the same beliefs as them.
The Oversight Committee shall follow a fair and proportionate process when considering complaints.
8. Candidate Selection
Candidate selection shall be governed by a written Selection Process approved by the Executive Committee. Selection panels must include at least one non-officer. The Nominating Officer shall confirm all candidate authorisations.
9. Financial Governance
The Party has adopted, and shall operate under, a Financial Scheme which is intended to be compliant with Electoral Commission rules and PPERA. All donations and loans shall be recorded and reported as required by law. Annual accounts shall be prepared by the Treasurer, approved by the Executive Committee, and received by the AGM.
10. Code of Conduct
The Party shall maintain a Code of Conduct covering respectful communications, compliance with electoral law, and zero tolerance for discrimination, victimisation or harassment.
11. Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by at least 20% of members. Amendments require a two-thirds majority vote at an AGM or EGM.
12. Local Branches (Accounting Units)
The Party may create local branches subject to Executive Committee approval. Branch officers must comply with the Party’s financial governance rules and provide required information to the Treasurer. The financial affairs of any local branches or affiliated organisations (should these be established at any point in the future) will be wholly controlled by the Party’s registered Treasurer. No branch may operate an independent bank account or financial structure.
13. Dissolution
The Party may dissolve itself by a two-thirds majority vote at an AGM or EGM. Upon dissolution, assets shall be used to settle liabilities and any remaining assets donated to a local charitable organisation chosen by the membership.
14. Interpretation
Questions of interpretation of this Constitution, or of decisions taken by an AGM or EGM, and any disputes arising in connection with them, may arise from members, from the Executive Committee in the course of its work, or from the Oversight Committee in the course of its duties. Any such question or dispute may be submitted by a member to the Secretary for referral to the Oversight Committee. Questions of interpretation and disputes shall be determined provisionally by the Oversight Committee, and any such determination shall be subject to confirmation or reversal by the membership at the next AGM or EGM, whose decision shall be final. The Executive Committee are not vested with authority to impose interpretation of this Constitution or of AGM/EGM decisions on the Party
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