Role description: Branch Chair

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Branch Chair

Provide leadership, direction and a positive culture for your local branch.

As Branch Chair, you play a key role in leading your local branch and supporting members to work together effectively. You help set the tone for how the branch operates, ensuring meetings are welcoming, activity is organised and members are able to take part fully.

This role suits someone who is a confident facilitator, a good communicator and able to bring people together in a fair and constructive way.

What success looks like

A strong Branch Chair helps create a branch that is:

  • Well-led – members and officers are clear on priorities and work well together
  • Inclusive – meetings and activity are welcoming, open and respectful
  • Active – regular campaigning and community activity
  • Organised – meetings are effective and decisions are followed through

What you’ll do

Provide leadership and direction

  • Work with officers to plan activity and set priorities for the branch
  • Support and develop a strong and effective team of officers
  • Help create a positive and inclusive culture
  • Ensure the branch is aligned with CLP priorities and activity

Chair meetings and decision-making

  • Chair meetings in a fair, open and impartial way in line with party rules
  • Work with the Branch Secretary to plan agendas and ensure meetings run effectively
  • Encourage participation and ensure discussions are constructive and focused
  • Ensure clear decisions are made and actions are followed up

Support an active and engaged branch

  • Work with officers to plan campaigning, events and engagement activity
  • Encourage members to get involved and take part in branch activity
  • Support activity that builds visibility in the local community
  • Have strong relationships with local councillors and council candidates

Work with the CLP and officers

  • Maintain regular contact with CLP officers to align activity and priorities
  • Support communication between the branch and CLP
  • Help ensure members are aware of opportunities, training and campaigns

How you’ll work with others

You’ll work with officers and members to support inclusion, engagement and participation.

  • Branch Secretary – key partner in organising meetings and communication
  • Branch Treasurer – supports financial planning and activity
  • CLP Chair and Secretary – coordinate activity and share information
  • Other branch officers – support campaigning and member engagement
  • Councillors – support campaigns and reporting back to members

Top tips to get you started

  • Focus on people – strong relationships make everything easier
  • Be fair and impartial – help everyone feel able to contribute
  • Keep things moving – clear decisions and follow-up matter
  • Support your team – share responsibility across officers
  • Set the tone – create a welcoming and inclusive environment

Your first 90 days

  • Meet with branch officers and councillors to understand priorities and activity
  • Work with the Branch Secretary to plan meetings and communication
  • Connect with CLP officers and understand wider plans
  • Support your first meetings and ensure clear actions and follow-up

Tools, guidance and support

If you need support or advice, you can contact your CLP officers or regional office, or Scottish or Welsh Labour.