CONSTITUTION
1) NAME
The name of the organisation shall be Friends of Acornfield Plantation hereinafter called the “Association”.
2) PURPOSES
The purposes of the association shall be to: -
promote the preservation, restoration, maintenance and improvement of Acornfield Plantation (known locally as Spinney Woods) for the benefit of the public and local biological diversity. promote the benefit of
the Spinney Woods Estate and the surrounding areas by associating the local authorities and inhabitants in a common effort to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for education, recreation and leisure time occupation with the objects of improving the conditions of life of the inhabitants
For the purpose of attaining the aforesaid objectives the association shall have the power to: -
a) Promote and develop the aforesaid objectives;
b) Assist or affiliate with other charitable or community associations;
c) Raise funds and receive contributions;
d) Buy, take on lease or in exchange any property of the Association, subject to any consents required by law;
e) Borrow money and to charge all or part of the property of the Association with repayment of the money so borrowed subject to any consents required by law;
f) Employ staff (who may not be members of the executive committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation for staff and their dependants;
g) Do all such lawful things that shall further the objects of the Association
The Association shall not distribute profits and shall apply all of its income to the furtherance of the objects above. The work of the Association shall not be for the benefit of landfill site operators who may contribute to the Association and claim credit under the Landfill Communities Fund. The Association shall not carry out, promote or pay for work required to be completed under any notice issued under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Water Resources Act 1991, or required by any planning permission, statutory consent or by agreement under [section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990] [S75 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) 1997] [article 40 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991].
3) MEMBERSHIP
a) Membership shall be open irrespective of political party, nationality, religion, race, sexual orientation or gender to: -
I) Full Members: Individuals of 18 years who will be entitled to vote at General Meetings of the Association. II) Junior Members: Individuals under the age of 18 may be admitted into junior membership as and when and subject to such conditions as the General Committee may decide. Junior members shall not be entitled to vote.
4) SUBSCRIPTIONS
All members shall pay such subscriptions or fees, as the committee shall determine from time to time.
5) COMMITTEE
The committee shall comprise of members of the Association. The latter shall be determined from time to time. There shall be not less than 3 and not more than 10 members of the committee at any one time.
6) OFFICERS
The officers shall comprise of: -
A Chairperson,
Vice Chairperson, [if available]
Secretary,
Treasurer,
and any other officers as the committee shall determine from time to time. Such officers shall be elected or re-elected at each Annual General Meeting.
7) GENERAL MEETINGS
The policy and general management of the association shall be directed by a general meeting, which will consist of individual members and officers. Once a year the association shall hold its Annual General Meeting, which shall receive an annual report and statement of accounts, elect officers and a committee. It may also discuss any other business, of which proper notice has been given to the secretary including proposals to amend the constitution. Other general meetings shall be held at such times as determined by the committee, or at the request of the officers, or within 28 days of receiving a written request to the secretary, signed by not less than two members (seven days notice shall be given of the time and place of all meetings to the members).
8) QUORUM
A quorum at a general meeting shall be one tenth of the members. A quorum for a committee meeting shall be one third of members elected to the committee, providing that is not less than three people.
9) VOTING
At a committee meeting or a general meeting, each member eligible to vote shall have one vote only. In the case of an equal vote, the chairperson shall have the casting vote.
10) FINANCE
At least once a year, the accounts shall be independently examined and presented to the membership. All monies raised by or on behalf of the association shall be used to further the purposes of the association and to no other purpose.
11) STANDING ORDERS
The committee shall have the power to adopt and issue orders for conducting business. Such standing orders shall come into operation immediately. Provided that they shall be subject to review by the Annual General Meeting and shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution, which shall take precedence in the case of any dispute.
12) CONSTITUTION
Alterations to the constitution shall require the approval of not less than two thirds of the members present at the Annual General Meeting or extraordinary General Meeting. A resolution for the alterations to the constitution shall be received by the secretary at least 28 days before the meeting in which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least 14 days notice in writing of such a meeting shall be given by the secretary to members and shall include notice of the alteration proposed.
13) DISSOLUTION
The committee may by a resolution passed at a general meeting by not less than three quarters of those present entitled to vote, after 21 days notice has been given in writing to all members, decide to dissolve the association. Any assets remaining upon such dissolution, after satisfying the debts and liabilities of the association shall be transferred to another organisation whose objectives are similar to that of the Association. This constitution was approved and adopted by members of the Friends of Acornfield Plantation on the 8th day of December 2010
Signed: Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
