Officers of the Association are elected annually at the Association's Annual General Meeting. Officers have a designated role but roles may be combined. All paid up members of more than three months standing may vote at the Annual General Meeting.
The Officers are responsible for managing the Association on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Executive Council. The Executive Council is made up of representatives from each of the branches of the Association and other bodies and individuals. It is the governing body of the Association. The Executive authorises the establishment of branches and also forms sub committees. At present, we have a sub committee the Conservative Political Forum. We recently had to stand down the Conservative Women group but hoping to re-establish at the appropriate time. Scope also exists within the rules to appoint a Conservative Future Committee and we are currently developing a group dedicated to younger Conservatives.
Branches of the Association
Branches are responsible for carrying on the work of the Conservative Party within their own ward or polling district boundaries. They hold their own Annual General Meetings, elect their own Officers, collect funds on behalf of the Association and take part in the selection of Prospective Candidates for Local Government elections.
They are set up under the authority of the Executive which may, if it wishes, amend, suspend or terminate the activities of a branch subject to the Rules of the Association being followed. The Association's strength is its branches and its nominated Ward Representatives. There is a proud history of very effective work, both political and financial, within many of their areas. It is the independence and commitment from the branches and its members that helps to make Bexhill and Battle Conservative Association the effective body it is today.