What is the English Council Executive?

The English Council Executive meets about 6 times a year to oversee the day-to-day management of the Liberal Democrats in England between English Council Meetings.

You can follow this link for the 2023 meeting diary.

How is it made up?

At the first Executive of the year, both of the Vice-Chairs and Treasurer are elected, as well as the directly elected members for any of its four sub-committees. The Executive comprises of:

• 5 Officers (Chair, 2 x Vice-Chairs, English Candidates Chair, Treasurer)
• Directly elected ordinary members of the English Party
• Regional Chairs of the 11 Regions (or their designated substitutes)
• A representative of the Young Liberals
• Representatives of the English Party on Federal Party committees.

To see who sits on the English Council Executive, please click HERE. To see the Standing Orders for the committee, please click HERE.

The English Council Executive Sub-Committees

The Officers of the English party are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Party in England. They lead sub-committees which include:

The English Finance and Administration Committee (EFAC)
Chaired by: English Party Treasurer

EFAC is responsible for:

• budgeting and monitoring the financial affairs of the English Party, conducting negotiations with the Federal Party on financial matters, liaising with auditors
• overseeing the administrative functions of the Party in England, including organisation of the English Council, monitoring Service Level Agreements, membership and other projects.

As well as the Treasurer of the English Party, the committee also comprises of the English Party Chair, Vice-chairs, Chair of the English Candidates Committee and four members elected by and from ECE. The Federal Party's financial controller, staff from Membership and other appropriate members of staff are also invited to its meetings but do not have a vote.

The Regional Parties Committee (RPC)
Chaired by: Vice-Chair - RPC

The RPC meets to encourage best practice amongst Regions, to discuss compliance issues and to draft strategies to promote the development of Regional Parties in terms of campaigning activity, membership and fundraising. The committee includes the English Party Chair, Chair of the English Candidates Committee and four members elected by and from the English Council Executive.

The RPC may co-opt six additional members from the English Council. These co-options must be ratified by the ECE, and must, in the eyes of the ECE possess experience or expertise relevant to the function of the RPC. Appropriate members of staff may also be invited to these meetings although they do not have a vote.

The committee deals with issues relating to: Groups, Councils and Local Parties. Complaints concerning individuals are addresed by the Federal Party Complaints Procedure. You can find information regarding this, and Safeguarding, by clicking HERE

English Candidates Committee (ECC)
Chaired by: English Candidates Chair

The ECC is responsible for the approval, training and management of Westminster Parliamentary candidates and Mayoral and PCC candidates in England, for administration of their selection by local parties and for recommending processes and rules for the approval, selection and appointment of candidates. The Committee recruits and trains facilitators and assessors for the candidate approval process, and Returning Officers who oversee all selections.

The Committee comprises the Chair, the Chair of each Region's Candidates Committee, five ordinary members, the Chief Whip or an MP for an English constituency appointed by the Chief Whip, and one person appointed by the Parliamentary Candidates Association. The ECC Chair and the ordinary members are elected by and from the membership of English Council.

English Policy Committee (EPC)
Chaired by: English Rep to the Federal Policy Committee

In 2021, ECE agreed to establish a Joint Policy Committee of the Regions, to be chaired by the English Party representative to FPC and including the Policy Chairs or a nominee of each Region. This was based on a Motion agreed by English Council in 2020. The FPC has supported the establishment of this committee, and agreed to facilitate evidence sessions with Policy Working Groups on topics that have a significant regional dimension. It gives a structure whereby the Regions can feed into the Federal Policy process