WaGCG

Wantage and Grove Campaign Group Constitution

Name: The name of the organisation is Wantage and Grove Campaign Group.
Administration of The Organisation: The Organisation will be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of an Executive Committee.
Objectives: To oppose inappropriate growth of the area proposed by the District Council and to promote proportionate and sustainable development in the area of Wantage and Grove and a high quality of life for its residents
Affiliation: The Organisation shall not be affiliated to nor support any political party.
Powers: Solely in furtherance of the above objects the Executive Committee may exercise the following powers:

To co-operate with other voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objectives or of similar purposes and exchange information and advice with them;
Do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objectives.

Membership: Membership of the Organisation is open to anyone interested in furthering its objectives, who has fulfilled criteria agreed by the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee will keep an up to date list of all the members.
Every member shall have one vote at annual or special general meetings.
The Executive Committee may, if there is good reason, terminate the membership of any individual: the individual concerned will have the right of appeal to the Executive Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee will consist of at least 6 members, but no more than 10 members, who have been elected at an AGM.

The Executive Committee may also appoint up to 2 co-opted members as advisors.
Co-options can be agreed by the Executive Committee at any meeting.
The Executive Committee can continue to act regardless of any vacancy among their number.
Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made in accordance with procedures determined by the Executive Committee and ratified by the AGM.
In order to fulfill the requirements of section D above, nominations shall not be accepted from any person elected to a council or similar body.
A member of the Executive Committee will cease to hold office if they: become incapable, for example as a result of mental disorder, illness or injury, of managing and administering their own affairs; do not attend the Executive Committee meetings held within a period of six months and the Executive Committee resolve that they should be retired; are elected to a council or similar body; or notify the Executive Committee that they wish to resign (but only so long as at least three members of the Executive Committee remain in office).
The Executive Committee must hold at least four ordinary meetings each year. Meetings may be called at any time by the chair or by any three members of the Executive Committee with notice of at least seven days, including the matters to be discussed.
The members of the Executive Committee present can nominate any member to act as chair for that meeting.
A quorum will be at least three members or else a third of the total number of members of the Executive Committee, whichever is greater, present at a meeting.
A majority of votes of the members of the Executive Committee present will carry a decision. In the case of equality of votes, the chair of the meeting has a second or casting vote.
The Executive Committee can appoint sub-committees consisting of three or more members of the Executive Committee to carry out delegated tasks. All acts and proceedings of any sub-committees must be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee must keep minutes of the proceedings at meetings of the Executive Committee and of any sub-committee.

Receipts and expenditure: The funds of the Group, including all donations, contributions and bequests, must be accounted for by the Executive Committee in the name of the Organisation and must be used only to further the objectives. The Executive Committee must

Keep financial records for the Group;
Prepare annual statements of income and expenditure for the Group;
Obtain an independent review of the annual statements of income and expenditure.

Annual General Meeting: An annual general meeting of the Group must be held each year, with no more than 15 months between one Annual General Meeting and the next. The Executive Committee must give at least 14 days' notice of the annual general meeting to all the members. All the members are entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
Special General Meetings: The Executive Committee can call a special general meeting of the Organisation at any time. If at least ten members request such a meeting in writing, stating the business that they want to be considered, the secretary will call a meeting. At least 14 days' notice must be given and the notice must explain the business to be discussed.
Alterations to the Constitution: The Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by two thirds of the members who are present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the general meeting must include notice of the resolution, setting out the alteration proposed. No amendment may be made which would have the effect of putting the activities of the Group outside the law.
Notices: Any notice required by the Constitution may be sent by email to all those members who have registered email addresses and need not be sent by post except to those members for whom there is no email address recorded.
Dissolution: If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Group, it must call a meeting of all members, for which not less than 14 days' notice (stating the reasons for dissolution) must be given. If the dissolution is confirmed by a majority of voting members present, the Executive Committee can realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Organisation. Any assets remaining after the payment of debts and liabilities will be transferred to a local registered charity.