CONSTITUTION TO BE PROPOSED ON THE 18TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2003
CONSTITUTION ADOPTED ON THE 2nd DAY OF APRIL 2003
A. NAME. The name of the Association is Queen�s Park Improvement & Protection
Society (�the Charity�)
B. ADMINISTRATION. Subject to the matters set out below the Charity and its
property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution
by the members of the Executive Committee, constituted by clause G of this
constitution (�the Executive Committee�).
C. OBJECTS. The Charity�s objects (�the objects�) are:
1. For the public benefit to secure the re-establishment, preservation,
protection and improvement of Queen�s Park (including Queen�s Park West Open
Space), Bournemouth, as a place of beauty and historical interest and for the
rest, recreation and enjoyment of the whole neighbouring community and the
general public;
2. To provide or assist in the provision of equipment or facilities for
recreation and other leisure time occupation;
3. To assist with the conservation and encouragement of wildlife;
4. To educate the public in the history, plant-life, wildlife and other
aspects of the Park.
D. POWERS. In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Executive
Committee may exercise the following powers:
i) power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions
provided that in raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any
substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant
requirements of the law;
ii) power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the
achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use;
iii) power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose
of all or any part of the property of the Charity;
iv) power subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to
charge all or any part of the property of the Charity with repayment of the
money so borrowed;
v) power to employ such staff (who shall 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;
vi) power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory
authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable
purposes and to exchange information and advice with them;
vii) power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or
institutions formed for all or any of the objects;
viii) power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the
Executive Committee may think fit;
ix) power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the
achievement of the objects.
E. MEMBERSHIP.
1. Membership of the Charity shall be open to any person over the age of 18
years interested in furthering the objects and who has paid the annual
subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee.
2. Every member shall have one vote.
3. The Executive Committee may by unanimous vote and for good reason
terminate the membership of any individual: Provided that the individual
concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee,
accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
F. HONORARY OFFICERS. At the annual general meeting of the Charity the
members shall elect from amongst themselves a chairman, a secretary and a
treasurer, who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting.
G. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
1. The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than 6 members nor more
than 12 members being:
a) the honorary officers specified in the preceding clause;
b) not less than 3 and not more than 9 members elected at the annual
general meeting who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting;
2. The Executive Committee may in addition appoint not more than 3 co-opted
members but so that no-one may be appointed as a co-opted member if, as a
result, more than one third of the members of the Executive Committee would be
co-opted members. Each appointment of a co-opted member shall be made at a
special meeting of the Executive Committee called under clause J and shall take
effect from the end of that meeting unless the appointment is to fill a place
which has not then been vacated in which case the appointment shall run from the
date when the post becomes vacant.
3. All the members of the Executive Committee shall retire from office
together at the end of the annual general meeting next after the date on which
they came into office but they may be re-elected or re-appointed.
4. The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any
vacancy among their number or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the
appointment or qualification of a member.
5. Nobody shall be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee who is
aged under 18 or who would if appointed be disqualified under the provisions of
the following clause.
6. No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Executive Committee
whether on a first or on any subsequent entry into office until after signing in
the minute book of the Executive Committee a declaration of acceptance and of
willingness to act in the trusts of the Charity.
H. DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
A member of the Executive Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:
1. is disqualified from acting as a member of the Executive Committee by
virtue of section 72 of the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or
modification of that provision);
2. becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of
managing and administering his or her own affairs;
3. is absent without the permission of the Executive Committee from all their
meetings held within a period of six months and the Executive Committee resolve
that his or her office be vacated; or
4. notifies to the Executive Committee a wish to resign (but only if at least
three members of the Executive Committee will remain in office when the notice
of resignation is to take effect).
I. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOT TO BE PERSONALLY INTERESTED.
No member of the Executive Committee shall acquire any interest in property
belonging to the Charity (otherwise than as a trustee for the Charity) or
receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the
Executive Committee) in any contract entered into by Executive Committee.
J. MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
1. The Executive Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings each
year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chairman or by any two
members of the Executive Committee upon not less than 4 days� notice being given
to the other members of the Executive Committee of the matters to be discussed
but if the matters include an appointment of a co-opted member then not less
than 21 days� notice must be given.
2. The chairman shall act as chairman at meetings of the Executive Committee.
If the chairman is absent from any meeting, the members of the Executive
Committee present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting
before any other business is transacted.
3. There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the number of members
of the Executive Committee for the time being or four members of the Executive
Committee, whichever is the greater, are present at a meeting.
4. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of
the Executive Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of
equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting
vote.
5. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose,
of the proceedings at meetings of the Executive Committee and any sub-committee.
6. The Executive Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the
conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings and the
custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this
constitution.
7. The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees consisting
of three or more members of the Executive Committee for the purpose of making
any inquiry or supervising or performing any function or duty which in the
opinion of the Executive Committee would be more conveniently undertaken or
carried out by a sub-committee, provided that all acts and proceedings of any
such sub-committees shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive
Committee.
K. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE.
1. The funds of the Charity, including all donations contributions and
bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Executive Committee in
the name of the Charity at such bank as the Executive Committee shall from time
to time decide. All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two
members of the Executive Committee.
2. The funds belonging to the Charity shall be applied only in furthering the
objects.
L. PROPERTY.
1. Subject to the provisions of sub-clause (2) of this clause, the Executive
Committee shall cause the title to:
a) all land held by or in trust for the charity which is not vested in the
Official Custodian for Charities; and
b) all investments held by or on behalf of the charity; to be vested either
in a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee or in not less than
three individuals appointed by them as holding trustees.
Holding trustees may be removed by the Executive Committee at their pleasure
and shall act in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive
Committee. Provided they act only in accordance with the lawful directions of
the Executive Committee, the holding trustees shall not be liable for the acts
and defaults of its members.
2. If a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee has not been
appointed to hold the property of the charity, the Executive Committee may
permit any investments held by or in trust for the charity to be held in the
name of a clearing bank, trust corporation or any stockbroking company which is
a member of the International Stock Exchange (or any subsidiary of any such
stockbroking company) as nominee for the Executive Committee, and may pay such a
nominee reasonable and proper remuneration for acting as such.
M. ACCOUNTS.
The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the
Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act)
with regard to:
1. the keeping of accounting records for the Charity;
2. the preparation of annual statements of account for the charity;
3. the auditing or independent examination of the statements of account of
the Charity; and
4. the transmission of the statements of account of the Charity to the
Commission.
N. ANNUAL REPORT.
The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the
Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act)
with regard to the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the
Commission.
O. ANNUAL RETURN.
The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the
Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act)
with regard to the preparation of an annual return and its transmission to the
Commission.
P. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
1. There shall be an annual general meeting of the Charity which shall be
held in the month of September in each year or as soon as practicable thereafter.
2. Every annual general meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee.
The secretary shall give at least 21 days� notice of the annual general meeting
to all the members of the Charity. All the members of the Charity shall be
entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
3. Before any other business is transacted at the first annual general
meeting the persons present shall appoint a chairman of the meeting. The
chairman shall be the chairman of subsequent annual general meetings, but if he
or she is not present, before any other business is transacted, the persons
present shall appoint a chairman of the meeting.
4. The Executive Committee shall present to each annual general meeting the
report and accounts of the Charity for the preceding year.
5. Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by
members of the Charity in writing and must be in the hands of the secretary of
the Executive Committee at least 14 days before the annual general meeting.
Should nominations exceed vacancies, election shall be by ballot.
Q. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
The Executive Committee may call a special general meeting of the Charity at
any time. If at least ten members request such a meeting in writing stating the
business to be considered the secretary shall call such a meeting. At least 21
days� notice must be given. The notice must state the business to be discussed.
R. PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS.
1. The secretary or other person specially appointed by the Executive
Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every general meeting of
the Charity.
2. There shall be a quorum when at least one tenth of the number of members
of the Charity for the time being or ten members of the Charity, whichever is
the greater, are present at any general meeting.
S. NOTICES.
Any notice required to be served on any member of the Charity shall be in
writing and shall be served by the secretary or the Executive Committee on any
member either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter
addressed to such member at his or her last known address in the United Kingdom,
and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of
posting.
T. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
1. Subject to the following provisions of this clause the Constitution may be
altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members
present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the general meeting must
include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration
proposed.
2. No amendment may be made to clause A (the name of charity clause), clause
C (the objects clause), clause I (Executive Committee members not to be
personally interested clause), clause U (the dissolution clause) or this clause
without the prior consent in writing of the Commissioners.
3. No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Charity
cease to be a charity at law.
4. The Executive Committee should promptly send to the Commission a copy of
any amendment made under this clause.
U. DISSOLUTION.
If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to
dissolve the Charity it shall call a meeting of all members of the Charity, of
which not less than 21 days� notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be
proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority
of those present and voting the Executive Committee shall have power to realise
any assets held by or on behalf of the Charity. Any assets remaining after the
satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred
to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to
the objects of the Charity as the members of the Charity may determine or
failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose. A copy of the
statement of accounts, or account and statement, for the final accounting period
of the Charity must be sent to the Commission.
V. ARRANGEMENTS UNTIL FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. Until the first annual
general meeting takes place this constitution shall take effect as if references
in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signatures
appear at the bottom of this document.