Putting flesh on the Bones

As a former member of party staff I self-imposed a moratorium on commenting in public on the party organisation. But now I have been out for a year, and the Executive Summary of the Bones report is out I am going to break cover a bit...
Firstly I have to say the way the reporting of the Commission's work has been handled is an example of the lack of communication and answerability that the report itself complains about. You can't sit on a report like this in a large, membership based organisation of awkward buggers and expect them not to smell a stitch up.
So what about the Executive Summary itself? Well it is motherhood and apple pie. We can all run round stating the obvious as to what the problems are - but it lacks substance in the solutions. Why do I think that I am being lulled into a warm feeling about what is yet to come, and then just before conference (way after we were promised the findings) get smacked with a cricket bat?
It talks in terms of the obvious problems, and it talks in very general terms about what is desired, but there it (almost) ends.
One area there is a small bit of substance on is the COG. Now the conspiracy theorist in me would think that the reason this one solution is flagged up is because the hare had to be set running before the COG itself implemented any unpalatable bits in the rest of the report.
Now don't get me wrong, the COG management board is needed, but the membership of it is totally wrong.
Let us compare what the Executive Summary says about the COG, to what the make up is. Executive Summary:

The most important step we are proposing – which will act as driver to many of our others – is the formal creation of a Chief Officers Group (COG). This group will act as a Management Board for the party and will bring together all the key stakeholders and leaders in the party. It will be the role of COG to set the party’s budget and strategy and for ensuring its successful implementation.
This will require a number of delegations from existing committees of some of their authorities and budget setting powers; in return these committees will be able to approve and scrutinise the decisions that are being taken by the COG.
This Board will be constituted only until the time of the next General Election.
During that time it will work through the operating issues for such a Board and its future will be reviewed after the next General Election.
We believe that for the first time in our history as a party this will mean that ecisions taken at the top will be democratic, transparent, and accountable as well as allowing an efficient decision making process. This proposal has the full support of the Party Leader, President, and Chief Executive and the overwhelming backing of the Federal Executive. We are working very closely with the Federal Executive and other party committees to make this happen as soon as is possible.

The actual structure of the COG:

Chief Offices Group (Management Board)
Composition voting members
Chair: Federal Leader.
Federal President, Chair of the English Party, Scottish Leader, Welsh Leader, Leader in the Lords, Leader in the European Parliament, Chair of POLD, Party Treasurer, Chair of FCC, Chair FFAC, Chair CCC, Leader’s Chief of Staff, a leader of a principal council chosen by the leader in consultation with ALDC and the LGA.
Non voting members
Federal Chief Executive to be in permanent attendance.
Other senior staff members, subject to the Agenda, to attend in an advisory capacity
Purpose
The Chief Officers Group is charged with the management of the Party, which means among other things, that it is responsible for determining the Party’s overall objectives and strategy, as well as ensuring delivery of results. The Chief Officers Group is accountable for this to the Federal Executive and the Federal Conference
Key accountabilities
1. setting the overall strategy and priorities (strategic objectives) for the Party and working with State and Regional Parties to ensure effective execution at all levels of the party;
2. overall preparations for elections;
3. overall presentation, image and media relations of the Party;
4. planning and monitoring the budget and finances of the Party;
5. directing the administration of the Party including its chief executive, headquarters, POLD and other staff;
6. empowering the chief executive to deliver the strategic objectives, subject to being accountable to the COG for his performance;
7. the COG will seek advice from the Federal Executive and the Party Chief Executive in setting the strategic objectives of the Party.
Process
The Chief Officers Group is accountable to the Federal Executive and the Federal Executive will hold regular agreed scrutiny sessions throughout the year. The Chief Officers Group will seek Federal Executive approval for:
· Strategy
· The budget to deliver it
· The establishment of Boards to support its work
Clerking and administrative support
The Leader’s Office will provide the secretariat for the Chief Officers Group.

Now, I am not the only person to think that it is a bit parliamentary party leaders heavy. That you won't get them all in one place at one time and that they should all be busy running their parliamentary parties rather than pissing around on an executive decision making body. Yes to a COG, no to this COG!

I welcome the Bones report with open arms. We must tackle the problems we face. The Executive Summary highlights them well. Any changes will be a bitter pill to swallow, and people will feel aggrieved. But, we are a liberal and democratic party that needs to see how bitter that pill is and exercise our democratic rights as to what we believe we must do to solve our problems