Role description: CLP Secretary

Download a PDF version of this page here Secretary e-learning module on Achieve

CLP Secretary

A strong and dynamic CLP Secretary can ensure an outward-looking and vibrant local Labour Party. This role suits an organised individual who can work as part of a team, show initiative and is able to juggle many responsibilities.

As Secretary you will act as a Labour Party figurehead in your constituency and it will be you who makes your party a strong, vibrant, welcoming and effective unit.

Key Responsibilities and tasks

  • Work with other officers to put together a 12 month development plan, covering specific targets such as elections, campaign organising and capacity building
  • Set up effective digital and traditional communication systems
  • Maintain accurate contact details for members using Admin Hub and Organise, and providing membership information to other officers as required
  • Work to ensure your CLP is welcoming and friendly to new people, well organised and an open and fair place where members feel involved and have a stake in the direction of the CLP
  • Support the CLP to be an active, campaigning local movement where local members are encouraged to get involved as much as possible
  • Develop a strong and consistent communications strategy, making sure that all of your members are well informed on party activity
  • Ensure Standing Orders are up to date and comply with Labour Party rules. For more advice and help on this, you can contact your regional office. Information on where to find their contact details is in the useful links and contact details section below.
  • Work with Branch officers to ensure they are happy and confident in their roles.

Activity

  • A rich variety of activity throughout the year will not only ensure that the party has a strong presence in your area, but will also make sure that everybody gets the most out of their membership.
  • All officers of the CLP have a duty to provide opportunities for others to become involved, and to make sure community events and activities are organised to involve people in the local community.
  • You should aim to have a range of different campaigning activities, social events, coffee mornings and policy discussions. You should try to bring guest speakers along to events as well as ideally making sure every member has met your MP or candidate.

Meetings

You should work along with your CLP Chair to arrange the time, date and venue for meetings in good time. You will have a lot of functional business to go through at your meetings, but please make sure that they are interesting and welcoming.

It is important to have political discussions and lively debates at meetings. However, it is also the Secretary’s responsibility to ensure that meetings and discussions relate to the following key functions of the CLP:

  • Campaigning – campaigning for change in the local community and campaign to get our candidates elected at elections
  • Membership work – welcoming new members, recruiting new members and finding new supporters
  • Fundraising – making sure your CLP has the money it needs to campaign by confirming a programme of social events as well as other fundraising activity. You will need to work closely with the CLP Secretary and Treasurer to do this
  • Policy discussion – make sure this is interesting and engaging

As Secretary you should ensure that comprehensive minutes of the meeting are recorded and circulated afterwards. You may also wish to distribute copies of any relevant correspondence in support of your minutes.

Working with branches

CLPs with a branch structure should work with and offer support to branch officers to share out tasks and ensure information is disseminated through the CLP. Particularly in larger CLPs, delegating work to branches will make your job easier and lead to a more effective and cohesive CLP.

  • Ensure you communicate what CLP meetings will be covering with Branch Secretaries in advance, so this isn’t duplicated at branch meetings and so important information is discussed at branch level.
  • Think about appointing Branch captains or buddies who can help with member engagement work and to welcome new members.
  • Get good communication systems in place and regular meetings with Branch Secretaries so that important information is passed on – this will make your job easier too.
  • Make sure Branch Secretaries and Branch Membership Secretaries are aware of new members and resigners in their branches.

Admin Hub and Organise

As CLP Secretary, you’ll automatically have access to Admin Hub, Labour’s online membership database, and Organise, our mobilisation and volunteer management tool. To log in to these, just use your usual Labour Login.

You can use Admin Hub to update members’ details and maintain information on your CLP and roles. You can read the full guide to using Admin Hub at help.labour.org.uk.  

It is the responsibility of the CLP Secretary to keep CLP roles up to date on Admin Hub, and this will ensure all CLP and Branch Officers receive the right information relating to their roles.

Organise provides the tools you need to contact, engage and mobilise your members and volunteers. You can use it to send emails, call members, create events and plan your campaigns.

Useful links and contact details

Keep up to date with our latest campaigns, find out more about Campaign Technology team, find resources for role holders and check our online training offer at www.labour.org.uk/resources. You can also purchase and download membership recruitment and campaign materials from the Campaign Shop. For useful guides and resources on membership engagement and how to use Admin Hub and Organise to full effect, visit help.labour.org.uk, and if you need support or advice, you can contact your national or regional office. Labour’s full training offer can be found at achieve.labour.org.uk.

Download a PDF version of this page here Secretary e-learning module on Achieve