BARFRESTONE, ELVINGTON & EYTHORNE FORUM CONSTITUTION

(as amended 10 March 2006)

1.         The name of the Society shall be the Barfrestone, Elvington and Eythorne Forum.

2.             Aims

To establish a local Forum which will enable people living and working in the Parish of Eythorne (incorporating the villages of Barfrestone, Elvington and Eythorne) to come together to form a network for support, to share good practice, encourage collaborative working and inform decision makers of local needs as identified by local people.

3.             Objectives
To research the social and economic needs for all the community.
To consult groups, organisations and individuals that might benefit from the Forum.
To develop and implement strategies and respond to identified community needs.

To utilise skills, knowledge and experience both from within the Forum and from the wider community.

To devise and implement an effective communicator network that will disseminate Forum information and will deliver it to the wider community.

To involve the community as much as possible in the decision-making process associated with the
development of the aims and objectives of the Forum.
To actively recruit new members to the Forum.   

4.          Membership

Membership of the Forum shall be open to people living or working in the Parish of Eythorne.

Representatives from specialist bodies whose purpose is to inform and advise the Forum may join the Forum as required, at the invitation of members.

5.         Officers                                                                                      :

The affairs of the Forum shall be managed by the Forum and shall include the following Officers: Chairperson, Deputy-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer. These officers shall be elected annually, each March.

Any Officer wishing to resign from the Forum shall do so in writing to the Forum. Any of the Officers shall be removable at any time provided the majority of the members present at a special meeting called for that purpose shall vote in favour of such removal.

6.         The Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting shall be held each March and at a place as shall be decided by the Forum. Six members shall form a quorum.

The business of the Annual Meeting shall be to:

a) Received and approve reports on the activities of the past year from the Chairperson

b) Receive and pass the audited accounts of the Forum.

c) Elect the Officers of the Forum

d) Transact any other business on the Agenda

7.         Nomination of Officers

Nominations for Officers shall be proposed and seconded by two members of the Forum with the consent of the nominee, and submitted to the Secretary at least 1 week before the Annual Meeting. Lists of such nominations, together with the names of the proposer and seconder shall be available to the members of the Forum at the Annual Meeting.

 

8.             Voting

Voting shall be by a show of hands with a simple majority. (Except as noted in Clause 15).

In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.

9.         Alteration of Rules

No amendment or alteration to the Constitution shall be made except at the Annual Meeting by a simple

majority of the members present.

The Forum is empowered to make emergency by-laws which must be submitted to the next Annual

Meeting.

Amendments to the Constitution should be given to the Secretary in writing, at least 1 week before the Annual Meeting.

10.        Extraordinary Meeting

An Extraordinary Meeting shall be called by the Secretary in the following cases:

a)    Upon the direction of the Officers and in accordance with such direction.

b)    Within 14 days of receiving notice in writing signed by not less than 10 members. The business to be transacted must appear on the Agenda and no other business discussed.

c)    Six members shall form a quorum.

11.        Meetings

The Forum shall meet at least six times a year, and on other occasions as shall be deemed necessary. Four members shall form a quorum.

Meetings are to be minuted. The Secretary is to circulate minutes and agenda at least one week before each meeting.

12.        Committees

The Forum shall have the power to appoint committees to address particular needs of the community and to formulate local strategies to respond to those identified needs.

A committee will elect its own Chairperson annually, record all meetings and deliver these minutes to the
Forum. A committee can meet as required.

13.        Financial Year and Auditor

            The Forum's financial year shall end on the 31st December.

A duly qualified Auditor shall be appointed at the Annual Meeting, and a duly audited Balance Sheet and Accounts for the preceding financial year shall be submitted at each Annual Meeting.

14.        Forum Funds

All money belonging to the Forum shall be paid by the Treasurer into a separate account in the name of the

Forum, at a bank/building society to be named by the Forum.

All payments shall be agreed by the Forum. All cheques shall be signed by two named members of the

Forum.

15.        Winding Up

If, at an Annual Meeting, or an Extraordinary Meeting, a special resolution to wind up the affairs of the Forum shall have been duly proposed and passed, so much of the assets of the Forum shall be realised as may be required to discharge all liabilities, and any remaining assets shall be used for the benefit of the Parish of Eythorne.

           

            No such special resolution shall be passed unless carried by two-thirds of the members present.