|
HATHERTON COMMUNITY GROUP
CONSTITUTION
(a non-political organisation)
1. Name
The name of this association shall be The Hatherton Community Group (HCG)
The Hatherton area is defined by the Ring Road, follows the railway to include the Butts Area, the Mellish Road and roads off and Buchanan Avenue/Road and roads off.
2. Objects
Being:
- To seek to improve the environment and to provide a focus for community activities in the Butts/Mellish Road area
- To propose and initiate ways of improving the area
- To give a community input to those initiatives of the Local Authority (who describe this area as a ‘gateway’ to the town and are providing funding opportunities)
- To bring the former focus of community activity, the church, back into community use after being derelict for 10 years and being a major detractor on the area
- To increase public participation in the area.
3. Powers
In pursuit of this object, but not otherwise, the Group has the power to:
- Employ staff or hire independent contractors
- Buy, lease or otherwise acquire, and sell, lease or otherwise dispose of property and goods
- Raise money from public and/or private sources.
- Promote the services provided by the Group and raise public awareness of issues
- Work in co-operation with the appropriate statutory, voluntary, community and private bodies.
- Carry out any lawful activity which will, in the judgement of the management committee, further the object of the Group.
4. Membership
Membership of the Group shall be open to any individual living or having an interest in the area.
5. Control and Organisation
The control and organisation shall be vested in the Committee consisting of an appropriate number - but not less than 4 - honorary officers, and other full members making a total of 6.
6. Object of the Committee
To follow specific policies agreed at the AGM
7. Officers
The honorary officers of the Group shall be the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson (if appointed), Treasurer, Secretary. No person shall hold more than one office at one time. The entire committee shall resign at the end of the year of office and a fresh committee shall then be elected. All members shall be eligible for re-election. The office of Chairperson shall be restricted to three consecutive years; Secretary and Treasurer to five consecutive years. Any member or officer of the Group must seek authority from the committee prior to making a public statement on behalf of the Group.
8. Representation
CHAIRPERSON – is responsible for ensuring that the Group policy is strictly followed and shall be the titular head of the Group and shall represent the Group, or ensure that an officer deputises when necessary.
VICE-CHAIRPERSON – deputises and chairs meetings in absence of the above.
SECRETARY – Will conduct the correspondence of the Group and have custody of documents, a register of all past and present members. The Secretary may be assisted by (or delegate to) a MINUTES SECRETARY, who takes a contemporaneous record of committee meetings, a PUBLICITY OFFICER, who will arrange press releases for all events, activities etc. in consultation with the other officers of the Committee and be responsible for posting all necessary notices.
TREASURER - will keep the accounts of the Group and make up the annual statement of accounts and balance sheet which after external examination will be made available at the AGM. The financial year will be 1st January to 31st December. A current account will be held and all cheques issued must bear the signatures of the Treasurer plus Chairperson or Secretary.
9. Meetings
The Chairperson will preside at the AGM and committee meetings. He/she is responsible for ensuring that the Group’s policy is followed and ensures that accurate minutes of each meeting is kept. The minutes will be deemed confidential and access by interested parties will be granted only open upon the written application to the committee and similar approval. The committee will have the power to co-opt additional members whenever necessary, such co-opted members will be non-voting members and only serve until the next AGM.
10. Quorum
A quorum shall consist of not less than 4 members of the Group, 3 of whom should be honorary officers.
11. Absenteeism
Committee members who are absent for four consecutive meetings without just cause will be considered to have resigned their position unless the remainder at its discretion should deem otherwise.
12. Calling and Holding of Meetings
There should be a minimum of 4 committee meetings each year. The Chairperson will give seven days notice if there is a need to call an extra meeting.
The secretary will call such a Special Meeting on instructions from the Chairperson.
Notice convening an A.G.M. will be published 14 days before the meeting and will state the time and place of such a meeting.
In the event of there not being a quorum at the A.G.M. it shall be adjourned.
13. Annual General Meeting
No business other than that appearing on the agenda accompanying the notice of the meeting will be discussed except with the approval of the Chairperson.
14. Alteration of Rules
No alteration or addition may be made to the rules except by majority vote at an A.G.M. or Special Meeting. Any proposed alteration, amendment or addition to the rules should be received in writing by the Secretary at least three weeks before the meeting and particulars of such proposals will be sent to committee members with the notice convening any such meeting.
15. Intrepretation
The Constitution shall be governed by and interpreted according to English Law.
16 The Termination of the Group
If, at any A.G.M. or Special Meeting a resolution for the dissolution of the Group is passed the committee will dispose of any balance of monies to a person, group or charity nominated by the committee.
|
