Contents 3. Welcome to Edinburgh 11. Saturday events

4. Welcome to conference 12-13. Sunday timetable

6-8. How conference works 14-17. Sunday Events

9. Child protection 20. Get involved

10. Saturday timetable Welcome to Edinburgh I’m delighted to welcome you all to the Spring Conference, and to this beautiful venue for our 2019 Spring Conference. An especially warm welcome to those who have travelled to Edinburgh to participate. I’m excited. We are at an exciting time in Green politics, the world seems to be suddenly taking notice of the Climate Emergency. I think this is an exciting time for our party as well, as we will be debating and amending a proposed new constitution for our party. The development of this new constitution has been a long process and a lot of work, but I hope that today we can agree the details of a new structure that can take us into the next election cycle and continue our growth as part of the Green wave that is happening across Europe, as people reject populism and demand action on the climate crisis. As well as our speakers, EGM, fringes and workshops we are having a social in Akva (129 Fountainbridge) on Saturday evening, and I would like to invite you all to join me. More details are available at the reception desk. Thank you to all of you for being here today to shape the future of this party and of Green politics in .

Lorna Slater, Leith Walk by-election candidate and Operations Committee Co-convenor

3 Welcome to our 2019 Spring Conference!

Welcome to Edinburgh, and before, but also much more the Scottish Green Party’s to do. To make sure the party Spring Conference 2019. is fi t to face the challenges of We hope you’ll have a great the future we need to change weekend, meeting new our constitution. Over the past friends and helping to shape couple of years we have been the direction of our party. consulting with members over As we meet the Brexit crisis is the future shape and structure continuing to dominate the UK of the Scottish Green Party, political landscape, threatening today is the culmination of the to drag Scotland out of the huge amount of work put in EU and risking the hard won by our national committees, environmental protections and our volunteers, members and human rights that benefi t us all. branches, and we would like to We are delighted that Lorna thank everyone for their work. Slater, our candidate for the Over the weekend you will Leith Walk by-election this have the chance to hear about Thursday, will be joining us on the work Greens are doing stage in the opening session. at local and national level. Our councillor group in You’ll hear about – and decide Edinburgh, Melanie Main, about – the way we’re facing Gavin Corbett, Steve Burgess, challenges like Brexit, the Claire Miller, Chas Booth, Alex Climate Emergency, and the Staniforth, Susan Rae and country’s future relationship with Mary Campbell have done a the wider world including tremendous job Leading the Change in Edinburgh and it would be wonderful if we can win our fi rst by-election and have another Green Councillor. We also have important internal business this weekend. We are a growing party with more elected representatives, more supporters, volunteers and members than 4 our continued commitment to action on the Climate Crisis. We a European future. stand with them in solidarity. You’ll have the chance to Let’s make this weekend a meet and talk with many of the chance to connect with each organisations which work with other, to renew our party, and us, developing the new ideas to make clear that the Scottish our political system needs, Greens are the party that has and to share experiences and the commitment to change skills with other Green activists politics and to change society around the country. for the better. Now more We’d particularly like to than ever we are part of an welcome Holly Gillibrand and international movement and Josie Law to Conference. can help lead the Green surge The climate strikes have in Europe. inspired us all as they have become a global and , movement, demanding Scottish Greens that governments take Co-Convenors

5 HOW Emergency Motions are intended to allow conference to CONFERENCE debate issues that have arisen WORKS since then, and should be sent to [email protected]. The Party’s Constitution and org.uk seven days before the Policy Reference Document start of conference, signed by (PRD) have been voted in, and two members. amended, by a succession of An Emergency Motion relating Party conferences on the basis to events that have arisen of one member, one vote. The since then can be submitted Standing Orders Committee to SOC any time up until noon (SOC) is responsible for ensuring on the first day of conference conference rules are upheld, (also signed by two members). and for guaranteeing its smooth Emergency Motions will be and democratic running. rejected if they could have been If you have an issue relating submitted in time for the first to conference procedures, agenda, or are not concise and please raise it with a member focused. of SOC. SOC reports directly to conference, and its annual OFFICE BEARER REPORTS report – given during the There is a folder containing AGM – must be approved by reference copies of office- conference. SOC has a table in bearers’ reports and accounts front of the stage throughout at the registration desk. Digital conference should you have copies are also available. any queries. LANYARDS / VOTING CARDS MOTIONS Please keep close watch over Motions have to be submitted your voting cards. Please also 11 weeks before conference, wear your lanyard at all times amendments five weeks before. and remember to hand them The intention is that branches back at the end of conference. can debate them and, if wished, agree proxy votes or branch amendments.

6 DEBATES AND VOTING proposed amendment from the Motions are debated and voted floor, as this has not proved to on as follows: be an effective way of deciding • There is a short debate on the party policy. motion itself. • Each amendment is then As a member you may vote at debated and voted on in Yes conference providing that you turn. You have the choice have the red, green and white of voting for, against or voting cards you were given at abstain. registration. Please don’t lose • The final stage is a vote them! They are colour-coded, on the full motion, like traffic lights. as amended (or not amended), and again the Any member who can’t attend choice is between for, Conference may delegate against or abstain. another member to vote on their behalf. This is called a proxy At any point in the debate a No vote. No member may have member may ask (from the more than eight proxy votes. floor) to vote on referring a motion back to the relevant SPEAKING committee. That member Any member may speak during would have to explain a debate. If you think in advance their reasons and another that you’d like to speak, please member would have to fill in a speaking slip and hand it second that proposal. The in to the SOC table as soon as chair may refuse that proposal possible, giving a note of any or may put it to a vote, at their expertise or special interest you discretion. have in the topic. This Abstain will allow the chair to Amendments will not be ensure an equal number of accepted from the floor if speeches for and against, and more than ten members to give priority to those with object, or if the chair background knowledge of the refuses to allow them. subject, rather than just those It is unusual for all other who are better at catching the members to agree to hear a chair’s eye.

7 If you wish to respond to a VENUE ACCESSIBILITY point made during the debate, The venue is fully accessible, raise your hand and you will be you can view further details at called if there’s time. Please do https://www.accessable. not speak unless called upon co.uk/venues/lindsay-stewart- and you have the microphone. lecture-theatre Because of the size of the auditorium and the number of FIRST TIME AT CONFERENCE? people attending, there will be There is a special session for very little time for speakers who people new to Conference, have not filled in a request- which will be held at 9.15am in to-speak slip. You may ask a Room 210. short question of the motion proposer – but this must be FURTHER INFORMATION just that – a short question. The For any further information chair is there to ensure fair and about conference, please ask at smooth running of the session the registration desk. – please respect their authority.

FRINGES AND EXHIBITIONS Conference is not just the main sessions organised by the SGP. It is also the fringe meetings and stalls organised by outside groups, where new ideas flourish and where party members listen to the concerns of campaigning and representative groups. Please visit the stalls and take part in the sessions. They are as much a part of conference as the main sessions.

8 CHILD PROTECTION AT What do I need to do? CONFERENCE If a child tells you they are at actual or potential risk: SGP considers all persons under • Take them seriously; the age of 18 children for the • Don’t ask unnecessary purposes of this policy. questions; • Don’t promise to keep the As an organisation that has information confidential; members as young as 12, we • Make a note using the child’s have a duty to inform and words and make sure you support all our members in note the date; upholding our child protection • Contact your branch policy. The following will help convenor, the Child Rights you to know what to look for Volunteer or local social and what to do if you have any work department; concerns during conference. • Don’t contact the child’s parents/guardian; What constitutes a risk? • Don’t attempt to investigate • Witnessing an incident the situation; involving a child that causes • If you are concerned about you concern; the immediate safety of a • A child tells you they are child, contact the police. being abused or neglected or are at risk of being abused If you suspect an adult or or neglected; child is posing a risk to child • Someone tells you that a protection. child is at risk of abuse or neglect, even if the child has Contact your branch convenor no connection to the SGP. or the Child Rights Volunteer; If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child, contact the police.

9 Saturday Timetable Main Auditorium Room 210

8.00am Registration in entrance hall onwards 9.15am-10.15am Main Hall Set-up First time at conference? (CLOSED) 10.30am- Welcome to Edinburgh & Conference 11.15pm , Leith Walk by-election candidate Maggie Chapman, Scottish Green Party Co-convenor Patrick Harvie MSP, Scottish Green Party Co-convenor 11.15pm-1.30pm EGM Session 1 1.30pm-2.30pm Scottish Environment RNIB Lunch and LINK Lunch Fringe Lunch Fringe External fringes 2.45pm-4.45pm EGM Session 2 4.45pm-5.00pm Break 5.00pm-6.30pm EGM Session3

10 “Managing Scotland’s land for Fringe events nature and the public good” – & workshops Bruce Wilson, Scottish Wildlife Trust “Standing up for Scotland’s Saturday Timetable Saturday nature if Scotland leaves the EU.” – Isobel Mercer, RSPB Scotland 9.15am-10.15am First Time at conference? ACTIVE TRAVEL FOR ALL Room 210 RNIB Room 210

If this is your first time at conference then it can be a bit How active travel can be bewildering! Come along, get a made accessible for everyone. crash course in how From including physical conference works and meet delineation between cycle other first-timers. paths, pavements and roads, to removing barriers that tandem 1.30pm-2.30pm bikes struggle to manoeuvre around, there are many small AFTER 2020 – MEETING changes to street infrastructure THE CHALLENGES AND that can be made to improve OPPORTUNITIES FACING the experience of active travel. Speakers: SCOTLAND’S NATURE Patrick Harvie MSP. AND BIODIVERSITY Sandra Wilson, chair of RNIB Scottish Environment LINK Scotland. Main Hall Suzanne Forup, Head of Development, Scotland - Cycling UK. “Nature on Red Alert” – Climate Catriona Burness, Policy and change and biodiversity loss Parliamentary Manager - RNIB in Scotland – Daphne Vlastari, Scotland. Scottish Environment LINK

11 Sunday Timetable Main Room 210 Room 205 Room 206 Room 207 Auditorium 8.00am onwards Registration in entrance hall 9.15am-10.15am Talking Politics Democracy for Internal elections ASGC meeting Canadian-style Sale drop-in carbon fee and dividend 10.20am-11.10am Climate Strike Panel MSP; Campaigners Holly Gillibrand and Josie Law; Scottish Environment LINK representatives 11.10am-Noon European election hustings

Noon-1.00pm Give Me Five Campaign Lunch Peter Kelly of Poverty Alliance; Dr Sharon Wright Senior Lecturer of Public Policy, University of ; Sally Ann Kelly of Aberlour; MSP 1.00pm-2.00pm Accessible Target-to-Win in Building a Public International Treasurers’ campaigning Rural Areas Media Profile Committee Drop-in Session

2.15pm-3.15pm Young Greens Women’s Target-to-Win Green Isles Marine Policy Drop-in Network Drop-in Alliance 3.30pm-4.30pm SGP-CND Welfare and Rainbow Greens Data Protection Conduct officers AGM

4.30pm-5.00pm Closing Plenary Alison Johnstone MSP, Vice-convenor Scottish Green Party & Co-Leader of the Parliamentary Group Main Room 210 Room 205 Room 206 Room 207 Auditorium 8.00am onwards Registration in entrance hall 9.15am-10.15am Talking Politics Democracy for Internal elections ASGC meeting Canadian-style Sale drop-in carbon fee and dividend 10.20am-11.10am Climate Strike Panel Ross Greer MSP; Campaigners Holly Gillibrand and Josie Law; Scottish Environment LINK representatives 11.10am-Noon European election hustings

Noon-1.00pm Give Me Five Campaign Lunch Peter Kelly of Poverty Alliance; Dr Sharon Wright Senior Lecturer of Public Policy, University of Glasgow; Sally Ann Kelly of Aberlour; Alison Johnstone MSP 1.00pm-2.00pm Accessible Target-to-Win in Building a Public International Treasurers’ campaigning Rural Areas Media Profile Committee Drop-in Session

2.15pm-3.15pm Young Greens Women’s Target-to-Win Green Isles Marine Policy Drop-in Network Drop-in Alliance 3.30pm-4.30pm SGP-CND Welfare and Rainbow Greens Data Protection Conduct officers AGM

4.30pm-5.00pm Closing Plenary Alison Johnstone MSP, Vice-convenor Scottish Green Party & Co-Leader of the Parliamentary Group Sunday INTERNAL ELECTIONS DROP-IN 9.15am-10.15am Room 205

TALKING POLITICS Main Hall Find out what’s involved in standing for internal elections, understand what each role We’re all interested in politics entails and learn how you can but it’s not always easy to fi nd get involved in helping the SGP your words. Practice your pitch develop, shape strategy and in a fun setting while getting support members. to know SGP policy on a range of issues. You’ll even get some ASGC MEETING useful feedback if you want! Room 206

DEMOCRACY FOR SALE Room 210 Meeting of the Association of Scottish Green Councillors

Policy Committee-led CANADIAN-STYLE discussion on election law after Cambridge Analytica, GDPR CARBON FEE AND and the EU referendum. What DIVIDEND lessons are there for future Room 207 Scottish elections? A session with Dr Sam L J Page looking at whether a Canadian- style “carbon fee and dividend” could cut greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland.

14 1.00pm-2.00pm Greens ahead of the next election cycle.

ACCESSIBLE CAMPAIGNING INTERNATIONAL Main Hall COMMITTEE Room 206

Join Ellen Murray the Executive Director of TransgenderNI The SGP International who will deliver a session on Committee supports the party accessible campaigning with international connections, contributes international perspectives to policy-making TARGET-TO-WIN IN and aims to help win votes. RURAL AREAS Come and meet members of Room 210 the committee, hear how we operate now, in Europe and Globally, and join the discussion Laura Moodie talks through the on our future international targeting process and how TTW priorities. helped Dumfries & Galloway Branch grow their vote share from 2 per cent to more than 9 TREASURERS’ DROP-IN per cent in less than three years. SESSION Room 207 BUILDING A PUBLIC MEDIA PROFILE A session for branch treasurers Room 205 to meet and discuss recent campaigns.

Are you based in an area that does not have a Green MSP or councillor? This session will give you practical advice to building a media and public profi le to raise awareness of the

15 2.15am-3.15pm been doing it for a long time and want to bounce around a few YOUNG GREENS DROP-IN ideas. Main Hall GREEN ISLES ALLIANCE A session for Young Greens to Room 206 meet one another and compare notes on recent campaigns. The Green Isles Alliance is a network that enables the Green Parties in all of the UK and the WOMEN’S NETWORK Republic of Ireland to stand Room 210 together. Join this panel session to meet colleagues from our alliance partners and explore A relaxed opportunity to meet how we can work together and connect with other Green across borders – aims, women, build our internal outcomes, and methods. support network and plan for the year ahead. MARINE POLICY Room 207 TARGET-TO-WIN DROP-IN Room 205 Our SGP marine policy is being reviewed this year - this Target To Win has helped workshop is your opportunity to elect Greens across the help shape a new green vision country and as we aim to win for how our seas should be even more seats in the next managed. electoral cycle, members of the Elections and Campaigns Committee will be available to off er help with any questions about electoral strategy. Come along for a chat whether you want an introduction to Target To Win or whether you have 16 3.30pm-4.30pm RAINBOW GREENS AGM SGP-CND Room 205 Main Hall With the rise of the far-right, The Scottish Green Party the scourge of transphobia in and the Scottish Campaign our public discourse and the for Nuclear Disarmament persecution of LGBTI+ peoples (www.banthebomb.org/) across the world it is more recently agreed to a formal important than ever that you get alliance. Come to this involved. We’ll be electing a new workshop to join the team and discussing what issues discussion on how we can we should be focusing on to help work together to remove our community. nuclear warheads from Scotland as a step towards the global elimination of DATA PROTECTION Room 206 weapons of mass destruction. Everything you wanted to know WELFARE AND about GDPR but were too CONDUCT OFFICERS sensible to ask. The use of members, supporters and Room 210 campaign data after GDPR. Presentation on GDPR followed Meet & Greet for all branch by questions and discussion. WCOs as well as anyone else interested in party welfare. Exchanging ideas, best practices and more.

17 WWF Scotland RSPB Scotland With a global RSPB network, WWF Scotland Scotland is is the dedicated to charity finding positive that solutions promotes the conservation of to today’s most pressing birds and other wildlife. We environmental challenges. carry out scientific research, Our work focuses on Scotland education, land management achieving the full benefits of its and policy advocacy in areas world-leading climate-change such as agriculture, marine, ambitions, and of protecting flooding, planning, energy, our amazing seas. Pop by the forestry, species and habitats, stand to find out more. sustainability and climate @WWFScotland change. Come and say hello! wwfscotland.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/scotland

RNIB League Against Scotland Cruel Sports The Royal Scotland National League Scotland Institute campaigns against of Blind cruelty to animals People Scotland helps blind in the name of and partially sighted people “sport”, and are the foremost of all ages live as fully and organisation working towards independently as possible. a real ban on fox hunting in It provides advice, support, Scotland. Stop by our stand to training, equipment, and see the most recent footage transcribes books and other from our hunt monitors, and materials. It also campaigns to find out more about the across Scotland to improve #stillhunted campaign sight loss prevention. www.league.org.uk/ www.rnib.org.uk/scotland cruel-sports-in-scotland The Educational The Poverty Alliance Institute Of The Poverty Alliance’s vision is Scotland of a sustainable Scotland based The Educational on social and economic justice, Institute of Scotland (EIS) is with dignity for all, where Scotland’s largest teaching poverty and inequalities are not trade union, with around 55,000 tolerated and are challenged. members employed in nursery, We now act as the national anti- primary, special, secondary, poverty network in Scotland, further and higher education. working with voluntary The EIS represents over 80% organisations, policy makers of all teachers and lecturers and politicians at Scottish, UK in Scotland, campaigning to and European levels. protect and improve their www.povertyalliance.org pay and conditions of service, as well as promoting “sound learning” across all sectors. www.eis.org.uk

Friends of the Earth Scotland Revive We are Revive is the coalition for grouse campaigning moor reform, bringing together for a world concerned organisations where to try to tackle issues such everyone can enjoy a healthy as land reform, raptor environment and a fair share of persecution, public health the earth’s resources. Climate threats and environmental change is the greatest threat to damage associated with the this aim, that’s why we’re calling maintenance and operation for a just transition to a 100% of grouse moors in Scotland, renewable, nuclear-free, zero- which have dominated the fossil-fuel Scotland. landscape for 150 years. We work in Scotland for www.eis.org.uk socially just solutions to environmental problems. foe.scot Get involved! newsletters or visit After our fantastic wins in greens.scot. You can also help Holyrood, and the local build our national campaign authority elections in 2017, we fund by joining the Holyrood need to continue to lead the Club – forms can be found at change in our communities. the registration desk. Here are a few ways you can get active and make a Make use of your skills difference. The party is mostly run by volunteers. Everyone has skills Get involved locally that the party values, either Local branches are the at local or national level. backbone of our party. For Whether you’re professionally details visit members.greens. qualified, or simply have time scot or contact the SGP office to stuff envelopes, your help is (details below). Recruit other invaluable! members! Invite family, friends or colleagues who might be Become a social media interested in the Greens to activist make that next step. Like and share on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram Make a donation and more – or even write a Unlike big parties we don’t blog. We’d love you to tell the get any state funding and our world about your campaign policies tend not to attract experiences and connect with huge corporate donors. We other Greens! More details are rely on individuals like you. It’s at greens.scot/get-involved. easy to donate to one of our Be sure to tag any campaigning crowdfunder appeals – see our with the hashtag #ActiveSGP. Contact • Scottish Green Party, 17B Graham St, Edinburgh EH6 5QN • [email protected] • 08700 772 207 • Twitter: @scotgp • facebook.com/ScottishGreens • www.greens.scot Produced on behalf of the Scottish Green Party, 17B Graham St, Edinburgh EH6 5QN