Constitution
1. Name
The name of the group shall be The New Friends of Northumberland
Park
2. Objects
The objects of The New Friends of Northumberland Park are:
• To work in partnership with North Tyneside Council to help improve and maintain
Northumberland Park.
• To raise awareness of the history and heritage of the Park.
• To actively encourage conservation and nurture the flora and fauna of the Park.
• To promote the use, enjoyment and upkeep of Northumberland Park.
3. Area of Benefit
Northumberland Park (NE30 2HA) and appropriate areas of North Tyneside.
4. Powers
To further the objects, The New Friends of Northumberland Park has the power to:
4.1 Recruit volunteers and employ and pay staff.
4.2 Work in partnership with other organisations.
4.3 Invest funds in any lawful way. Professional advice should be taken when
necessary.
4.4 Raise funds by any lawful means except permanent trading.
4.5 Accept gifts either for the general purposes of the New Friends of
Northumberland Park or for a specific purpose within or connected with the
objects.
4.6 Do anything else within the law which promotes or helps to promote the
objects.
5. Membership
5.1 Membership is open to any individual aged 18 or over or organisation
that agrees with the objects. Each member has one vote.
5.2 The Committee may set up a youth membership and any other types of
membership that they decide.
5.3 The Committee must keep an up to date list of the members of The New
Friends of Northumberland Park.
5.4 A member may resign by written notice to the group.
5.5 If the Committee considers that a member’s conduct is harmful to the group
5.5.1 The Committee should ask the member concerned, or someone on
behalf of the member concerned, to put their case to a committee
meeting
5.5.2 If after hearing the member’s case the Committee decides that the
member should leave the group, they may terminate the membership
by written notice. That notice is final.
6. The Committee
6.1 The group shall be managed by a Committee of not less than three and not
more than fifteen members. All Committee members must be members of
the group.
6.2 The term of office for Committee members shall be for a period of two years,
from the end of the AGM that they were elected at to the end of the AGM in
two years time. Half of the Committee will stand down at each AGM. The
Secretary will keep a record of Committee members’ appointment dates.
6.3 Committee members will be eligible for re-election at the end of their period
of service.
6.4 Nominations for the Committee will be received at least seven days before
the AGM.
6.5 If there are more nominations than places available on the Committee, a
secret ballot will be held.
6.6 Should a vacancy occur and it deemed necessary, an election will be held at
a General meeting. The member elected shall serve the remainder of the
term of office of the member replaced.
6.7 The Committee’s officers shall include a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and
any other officers that the Committee decides. The Committee will elect the
Chairman and the Secretary. The Treasurer will be either elected or co-opted
by the Committee.
6.8 Officers of the Committee will be elected at the first meeting following the
AGM, which will be held a minimum of seven days after the AGM.
Nominations for the Committee's officers will be received no later than seven
days before this meeting.
6.9 Officers are elected to serve for one year until the Committee meeting
following the AGM. It is normally expected that officers will serve up to a
maximum of three years in post unless the Committee agrees to an
extension.
6.10 Should a vote for post of officers become necessary, a secret ballot will be
held.
6.11 A committee member can only fill one position.
6.12 The Committee shall meet a minimum of four times a year, and must keep a
formal record of all meetings.
6.13 The quorum for a management Committee meeting is three members.
6.14 Each member has one vote and, if the vote is tied, the Chair has a second
casting vote.
7, General meetings
7.1 The Secretary must give 14 days notice of a general meeting to all members.
7.2 All members are entitled to attend and vote at the meetings.
7.3 The quorum for the meeting is five members, or a tenth of the membership,
whichever is the greater.
7.4 A formal record of a general meeting shall be kept.
7.5 The annual general meeting (AGM) will be held within six months of the
financial year-end of the group.
7.6 The AGM will
• Receive nominations for members of the committee.
• Elect the members of the committee.
• Receive a report of the year’s activities.
• Receive the year’s accounts.
7.7 The Committee can call a special general meeting (SGM) at any time. If five
members request a SGM in writing, the Secretary must call one.
8. Finance
8.1 All funds belonging to or raised for The New Friends of Northumberland Park
must be used in furthering the objects.
8.2 The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and shall
present examined accounts at the AGM.
8.3 An independent examiner, who is not a member of the group, shall be
appointed to examine the accounts.
8.4 There shall be one or more bank or building society accounts in the name of
the group. Cheques must be signed by two committee members, who must
not be related
8.5 Committee members may claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses on terms
approved of by the Committee. No other payments can be made to
members of the group.
9 Changes to the constitution
This constitution can only be changed at a general meeting. The Secretary must
give 14 days notice of the meeting to all members, along with proposed changes to
the constitution. For the constitution to be changed, over half the members present
at the meeting must agree.
10 Dissolution
10.1 The New Friends of Northumberland Park can only be dissolved at a general
meeting. The Secretary must give 14 days notice of the meeting to all
members, along with details of the proposed dissolution. For the group to
be dissolved, over half the members present at the meeting must agree.
10.2 If the members agree that the group should be dissolved, any assets
remaining after the clearing of all debts and liabilities shall be given to a
group with similar objects or, if this cannot be done, to any charitable
purpose.
11 A copy of this constitution shall be available to all members
This constitution was approved at a general meeting of The New Friends of
Northumberland Park
at (place)
on (date)
Signed Chair
Secetary
Treasurer