Salisbury for Europe Constitution
SALISBURY FOR EUROPE CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION FOR AN UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATION
1. NAME
The name of this association is Salisbury for Europe.
2. FOUNDING BELIEFS AND OBJECTS
Salisbury for Europe is a cross-party, collaborative group campaigning democratically for the UK to remain within the European Union and working with other members to champion human rights, peace, prosperity and respect for the environment at home in Europe and around the globe.
We aim to celebrate our shared European history and culture and to defend the many achievements of the European project, including peace, human rights, the free movement of peoples, environmental concerns, workers’ wellbeing and the many shared political, historical and cultural institutions.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of Salisbury for Europe is open to anyone who:
- lives in Salisbury or the surrounding area or has an interest in Salisbury
- and supports the aims of Salisbury for Europe
- and is on the mailing list of Salisbury for Europe held by the Membership Secretary
Membership is free but we welcome donation donations by members. Membership donations are not refundable.
Membership will begin as soon as an application is received.
A list of all members will be kept by the membership secretary.
Members may resign at any time in writing to the secretary or by ‘unsubscribing’ from the newsletter
Members may be removed from the list of members where a member:
- does not support the founding beliefs or objects of Salisbury for Europe
- exhibits any offensive behaviour to other members
- Contravenes the equality policy
A member will be notified if the Executive Committee considers that there are grounds for removing a member for the list. The member will be given an opportunity to provide an apology or explanation in writing to the secretary for consideration by the Executive Committee before a final decision is made.
4. EUROPEAN MOVEMENT AFFILIATION
Salisbury for Europe is a Group affiliated to the European Movement UK and, as such, it is expected that it will encourage its members and supporters to become individual members of the European Movement and to participate in its activities at both local and regional level.
The Chair of Salisbury for Europe will represent the Group at the European Movement’s Branches Forum which meets at least once per annum. Along with one other Executive Committee member, the Chair will also represent the Group at the South West Regional Meetings held from time to time.
5. EQUALITY POLICY
Salisbury for Europe will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.
6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee will consist of eight elected officers:
- A Chair: who will set the agenda and chair meetings
- A Vice-Chair
- A Secretary: who will take minutes of decisions and maintain other records as provided for in this constitution
- A Treasurer: who will be responsible for maintaining accounts
- A Membership Secretary
- Three general officers
The officers will be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The list of officers will be maintained by the secretary.
If an officer stands down during the year or fails to attend more than five Executive Meetings without an apology, the remaining members of the Committee may agree another member to replace that officer until the next Annual General Meeting.
The Executive Committee will carry out the business of Salisbury for Europe. The Committee may form such sub-groups and include other members in those sub-groups as is expedient for its work.
An executive member may stand down at any time by notifying the secretary. The Executive Committee, acting reasonably, may decide to remove an executive member from the Committee.
7. MEETINGS
7.1. Annual General Meetings (AGMs)
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within fifteen months of the previous AGM
All members will be notified at least two weeks before the date of the meeting, giving the venue, date and time. Notification may be by email or phone
The quorum for the AGM will be 30% of the membership or thirty members, whichever is the lower number.
At the AGM the Executive Committee will nominate an officer or executive member to present:-
- a report of the work of Salisbury for Europe over the year
- the strategy and plan of work for the next year
- a financial report of Salisbury for Europe over the previous year
The officers of the Executive Committee for the next year will be elected at the AGM by the members.
Nominations for the Executive Committee must be made to the Secretary at least 3 days before the AGM.
The strategy for the next year will be adopted at the AGM by the members.
Other proposals by members will be discussed at the AGM where these have been notified to the Secretary at least seven days in advance of the AGM.
7.2 Special General Meetings
The purpose of Special General Meetings will be to address, as a matter of urgency, matters that would usually be considered at an Annual General Meeting or urgent matters of significance to Salisbury for Europe.
The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the Executive Committee or at the request of least twenty members giving a written request to the Secretary stating the reason for their request.
The meeting will take place within twenty-one days of the request
All members will be given seven days notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda, and notice may be by telephone, email or post.
7.3 Executive Meetings
Executive Committee Meetings will be held to make day-to-day decisions as to the business of Salisbury for Europe.
Executive Committee Meetings will take place as often as required but at least every two months.
Executive Meetings will be open to any member of Salisbury for Europe wishing to attend but
members may not vote at Executive Meetings
8. RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR ALL MEETINGS
All questions that arise at any meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general agreement that everyone present can agree to
The Chair, or another officer nominated by the Chair, will chair meetings.
If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side are equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote..
9. FINANCES AND AUTHORITIES
All money raised by or on behalf of Salisbury for Europe is only to be used to further the founding beliefs and objects of the Salisbury for Europe, as specified in item 2 of this Constitution
An account will be maintained on behalf of Salisbury for Europe at a bank agreed by the Executive Committee.
Three cheque signatories and bank card holders will be chosen from the Executive Committee (one to be the Treasurer). Cheques will be signed by two officers.
Salisbury for Europe shall not be permitted to borrow, to charge against its assets or to loan any money.
Any financial expenditure of funds held by Salisbury for Europe requires prior approval of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may provide prior approval by setting a budget for the Executive or individual executive members to manage and spend.
The Treasurer will be responsible for recording approvals of budgets and the Treasurer will report to the Executive Committee any instances of non-compliance.
Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement given at each Executive Meeting.
The entry into contracts (other than for purchasing goods) for the benefit of Salisbury for Europe and the terms of those contracts shall be approved by the Executive Committee. Without prejudice to any other insurance policies that may be desirable in respect of the activities of Salisbury for Europe, the Executive Committee may approve the provision of officer’s insurance to cover the personal liability incurred by the officers in respect of their duties.
10.AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Amendments to the Constitution may only be made at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution must be given to the Secretary in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the notice of meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote
11.DISSOLUTION
If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary to dissolve Salisbury for Europe, it may call a Special General Meeting to do so.
The sole business of the meeting will be to dissolve Salisbury for Europe.
If it is agreed to dissolve Salisbury for Europe, all remaining money and other assets will be donated to a Salisbury charitable organisation to be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.