CONSTITUTION

Coe's Meadow Management Committee An Unincorporated Association

CONSTITUTION

1. NAME

 

The full name name of the association is Coe's Meadow Management Committee ("CMMC").

 

2. INTERPRETATION

 

In this Constitution, reference to the Countryside Agency shall mean and be a reference to that Agency and any body which succeeds to and carries on its functions relating to Doorstep Greens and/or its Doorstep Greens initiative.

 

3. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

 

Subject to the matters set out below the Doorstep Green shall be administered and managed in accordance with this Constitution by the members of CMMC, as constituted by clause 8 of this Constitution

 

4. OBJECTS

 

CMMC's objects ("the objects") are

 

1. To bring into use, maintain and promote Coe's Meadow, Bulmer as a Doorstep Green (the Green) under the auspices of the Countryside Agency's Doorstep Green initiative in accordance with the wishes of the late Lawrence Coe, who bequeathed it to Bulmer Parish. Coe's Meadow will be managed as a recreation area for the benefit of all sectors of the community, to be used for sports, games and as a public open space to be enjoyed at leisure, in a manner which also benefits the environment of the meadow and the surrounding area, but always on the basis of and with the intention that such a Green will be created by and vested in a body or organisation ("the Successor Organisation") formally constituted in a manner required by or otherwise approved by the Countryside Agency.

 

 

2. To support and assist in and assume responsibility for aspects of the creation and (when created) the continuance of the Green in such ways and/or by the provision of such works and services as the Management Committee may from time to time determine.

5. POWERS

 

             In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise CM:MC may exercise the following powers:

 

1. 1. power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions.

 

1. 2. without prejudice to enter into any grant contract or arrangement with the Countryside Agency to facilitate the achievement of the objects of CMMC.

 

1. 3. power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any item or equipment necessary for the achievement of the objects.

 

1. 4. power to invest any monies in any account at a recognised bank or building society.

   5. power to borrow money.

 

1. 6. power to co-operate with charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects and to exchange information and advice with them.

 

1. 7. power to enter into contracts or arrangements with the Successor Organisation or others in furtherance of its objects.

 

1. 8. power to appoint co-opted members for specific purposes to aid the achievement of the objects.

 

1. 9. power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.

 

6. MEMBERSHIP

   1. Membership of CMMC shall be open to individuals living or working in Parish of Bulmer who are interested in furthering the work of the CMMC.

 

1. 2. embership of CMMC shall consist of no more than eight permanent members, who in addition shall employ a part-time paid secretary.

 

1. 3. New or additional membership of CMMC is at the invatation of and subject to the approval of Bulmer Parish Council, as recommended by the existing members of CMMC.

6. 5. The members shall elect from amongst themselves a chairman and other officers as appropriate.

   6. Half the members of C.MMC (or the nearest equivalent number) shall retire from office together at the annual general meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be re-elected or re-appointed. The other half shall retire in the same way the following year.

 

               7. A Member: may, be requested to resign from CMMC a). if he or she fails to attend                              at least one half of CMMC's meetings in any calendar year or b) for other conduct

                  deemed by CMMC to be prejudicial to its objects.

7. MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS

 

7. 1. CMMC shall meet as frequently as is appropriate for the conduct of its affairs, but must hold at least four ordinary meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chairman or by any two members or by the Countryside Agency upon not less than 7 days' notice being given to members of the matters to be discussed.

7. 2. CMMC meetings shall be held in public, provided that a suitable venue is available on the date appointed for the meeting.

 

7. 3. Members of the public shall be permitted to speak at such meetings, at an appropriate part of the agenda with the approval of the chairman as advised by CMMC.

   4. If the chairman is absent from any meeting, the members of the CMMC present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting before any other business istransacted.

   5. There shall be a quorum when at least one half of the permanent members of CMMC are present

 

7. 6. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of CMMC 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.

 

7. 7. CMMC shall keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose, of the proceedings. These shall be distributed to members and made available to the public, via noticeboards and the Bulmer Village websitewith in 5 days of a meeting taking place.

 

7. 8. CMMC may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of its business, the summoning and conduct of its meetings and the custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this Constitution.

8. COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY

 

1. 1. Any right or privilege of the Countryside Agency under this Constitution shall subsist only for the duration of its Doorstep Green grant contract with CMMC save where such contract is determined (whether through default of CMMC or otherwise) prior to the expiry of its defined duration when such right or privilege shall continue in any event until the expiry of such defined duration.

   2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution the Action Group will

 

1. 1. 1. give at least 7 days notice of every meeting of the CMMC to the Countryside Agency and permit a duly authorised representative of it to attend and speak at (but not vote) any such meeting; and

 

1. 1. 2. provide to the Countryside Agency not later than 28 days after every such meeting true and accurate minutes thereof and of all papers tabled at or circulated or produced for such meeting.

2. RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURE AND ACCOUNTS

 

9. 1. The funds of CMMC, including all donations contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by Bulmer Parish Council at such Bank as the Parish Council shall from time to time decide. The Clerk of the Council shall pay costs incurred by CMMC upon the authority of an Officer of CMMC.

 

9. 2. The funds expended by CMMC shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects.

 

9. 3. Accounts shall be kept by Bulmer Parish Council on behalf of CMMC. CMMC shall provide the Clerk to the Parish Council with regular and comprehensive reports on items of expenditure incurred and to be incurred.

   4. Each year from 2004, for the period ending 31 December, CMMC will a statement of the income and expenditure of and of the financial position of CMMC and distribute the same to members and to the Countryside Agency on or before 31 March the following year.

 

1O.ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 

There shall be an annual general meeting of CMMC which shall be held in the month of January in each year or as soon as practicable thereafter.

 

11. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

 

11. 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.

 

11. 2. No alteration shall be valid unless the written consent of the Countryside Agency is given to such alteration.

 

11. DISSOLUTION

 

If CMMC decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve itself it shall call a meeting of all members, of which not less than 14 days' notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. A proposal to dissolve shall be confirmed by a majority of those present and voting.

 

11. 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 CMMC were references to the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.

 

This Constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.