The Chair provides overall leadership to the LCBA Committee and helps ensure the association acts in line with its constitution, values, policies and agreed priorities. The Chair should keep meetings focused, encourage fair discussion, support other officers, and help the committee make clear decisions.

What is Expected of the person in the role:

• Chair committee meetings and ensure all voices are heard.
• Help set meeting agendas with the Secretary.
• Ensure decisions are made properly and recorded.
• Keep the committee focused on the aims of LCBA.
• Support and supervise officer roles without taking over their work.
• Act as a point of contact for sensitive or urgent committee matters.
• Help manage disagreements, conflicts or complaints in a fair way.
• Represent LCBA where appropriate, using statements provided by the Head of Communications and Liaison or statements authorised by the committee.
• Ensure safeguarding, welfare, financial and reputational risks are taken seriously.
• Make sure subcommittees report back to the full committee.
• Support the Events Manager where an event requires senior committee oversight, public representation or difficult decision-making.
• Work with the safeguarding and welfare officer, and the Head of Communications and Liaison to develop internal membership policies.
• Support the Head of Communications and Liaison where communications involve sensitive matters, reputation, complaints, CRT, facilities or committee changes.
• Ensure the Content Creator is protected from being asked to publish sensitive, personal, complaint-related or policy-related content without proper approval.
• Encourage a positive, respectful and practical committee culture.
• Attend any relevant training courses needed to fulfil the requirements of the position. 
• Maintain a good standing in the community and represent LCBA in accordance with all internal policies.

Reports to: 

• The full LCBA Committee 
• The LCBA membership, through the AGM or member meetings.

Deputised by: 

• The Secretary at committee meetings when the Chair is unavailable,  but with prior committee approval.
• The Head of Communications and Liaison for external statements or liaison matters when  unavailable, but with prior committee approval. 
• The Treasurer may provide temporary cover on financial governance matters if the Chair is unavailable, but only within agreed financial controls.
• No deputy should commit LCBA to major financial, legal, safeguarding, facilities, lease or public policy decisions without full committee approval.

Deputises for:

• The Head of Communications and Liaison where an official public statement, sensitive external communication, or formal liaison matter needs senior committee oversight.
• The Safeguarding and Welfare Officer in urgent or serious safeguarding matters if the Safeguarding and Welfare Officer is unavailable, provided LCBA’s safeguarding policy is followed.
• The Chair should not routinely deputise for the Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Events Manager, Content Creator, Fundraising Officer or Boat Specialist unless there is an urgent need and the committee has agreed temporary cover.