July 2020 Coronavirus Guidance:
Guidance for branches & CLPs (version 3)

The current restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak mean that branches and CLPs
will be unable to organise in the usual manner for the foreseeable future. The Labour
Party’s priority is to protect the health of our staff, members and the wider public and
we strongly encourage everyone to follow government advice at all times, which can be
found at gov.uk/coronavirus.
While physical meetings remain prohibited, we want to ensure that urgent business can
still be conducted by local parties and that we are able to prepare effectively for the
crucial elections that will take place in May 2021. Furthermore, we recognise that
continuing to engage with their local parties will have a positive impact on the wellbeing
of many of our members while they are confined to their homes. The guidance below is
intended to allow that to happen.
It will be a big change for the Labour Party to temporarily move business away from
physical meetings, so we want to take out time to ensure any solution is as safe, secure
and inclusive as possible.
The Labour Party recognises the hard work undertaken by volunteer officers both in the
current context and generally. All officers will now be “working from home” and many
will be ill, have caring responsibilities and/or be self-isolating over coming weeks, and we
would therefore ask all members to bear that in mind and manage their expectations
accordingly.
 Physical meetings are not permitted until the current restrictions on non-essential
movement are lifted.
 Any scheduled AGMs shall be postponed. Any vacancies arising on branch or CLP
Executive Committees shall be filled by members of the Executive Committee on
a pro tem basis.
 Selections for next year’s vital local government selection, business relating to the
NPF, and nominations for this year’s NEC elections can now be conducted using
an online platform provided by the Party following NEC decisions in May and June.
In line with normal procedures, local government selection timetables must be
signed off in advance by your regional office.
 NEW: CLP ordinary meetings and branch meetings may now be conducted online,
though secret ballots may not currently be possible.
 Where CLP meetings remain impractical, urgent and essential decisions, in
particular the approval of accounts, shall be made by Executive Committees. Any
such decisions shall be notified to CLP members at the earliest opportunity and be subject to ratification at the next General Meeting.
 Executive Committees may make such decisions by telephone or video
conference, or email. Every effort should be made to make such remote meetings
accessible to all members of the Executive Committee.
 The usual requirements for postal notification for those not an email will not be
applicable for this period, though Executive Committee members should make
reasonable efforts to notify members who may not be on email, such as by
telephone.