The Friends of the Conservation Area (Middleton one Row & Middleton St George) Constitution

1. Name

1.1 The Society's name shall be the “The Friends of the Conservation Area (Middleton One Row & Middleton St George), or by abbreviation, “Friends of the Conservation Area”, referred to henceforth and herein as “FCA”.

2. Aims and Objectives

2.1 To raise awareness of the Middleton One Row Conservation Area and through doing so, inspiring and increasing interest in and support for the principle of Conservation Areas.

2.2 To create this awareness, and to inspire and increase interest in order to protect and maintain the historic layout of roads, paths and boundaries; characteristic building and paving materials; a particular 'mix' of building uses; public and private spaces, such as gardens and greens; and trees and street furniture, which are recognised as part of the character of the Conservation Area.

2.3 To represent residents of Middleton One Row and Middleton St George who join the FCA and to support, defend and promote its principles.

2.4 To initiate and facilitate debate about issues relating to the relationship between the built environment and the natural environment in the Conservation Area and the wider villages surrounding it.

2.6 To provide the membership with an active and efficient committee.

MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Ordinary membership of FCA will be open to all residents in the ward of Middleton St George who subscribe to the aims and objectives above, register their support and pay a membership. Associate members who support the aims and objectives are welcome (see 3.6).

3.2 Patron(s) or Honorary members (provided that they are of some status in relation to the aims of the FCA) may be appointed at the discretion of the FCA Committee either for life or for a specified period of time.

3.3 The Secretary shall keep a list of all members, differentiating between Ordinary and Associate Members.

3.4 Any member may resign from FCA by presenting their resignation in writing to the committee.

3.5 No member of FCA may in any way act publicly contrary to this Constitution, its aims and objectives, its tenets, or its expressed values.

3.6 Only ordinary members of FCA may sit on the FCA Committee or vote in AGM’s.

4. Code of Conduct

4.1 No member of the FCA may act in a way that is deliberately and explicitly

prejudiced, discriminatory or abusive towards any other person.

4.2 No member of FCA may write or publish unwarranted ad hominem (i.e.

personal) attacks on any other person.

4.3 No member of FCA may act in a way that brings shame and

embarrassment to FCA.

5. Subscriptions and Finance

5.1 A membership fee is required from all FCA members, fixed at the discretion of the FCA Committee.

5.2 FCA members shall receive no direct or indirect payment, except for legitimate

expenses incurred in connection with FCA’s business.

5.3 The Treasurer is responsible for the collection of subscriptions and shall keep proper accounts and submit them to the FCA at the AGM

5.4 FCA shall not use any grant for any purpose other than that for which it was made.

5.5 The Chairman, Treasurer, or any other officer entitled to sign cheques and other instruments of payment, should be members of the FCA.

6. FCA Officials & Committee

6.1 A democratically elected FCA Committee shall be the executive decision making body of FCA. This committee will have the authority to take policy decisions, general or financial for FCA, doing so at FCA Committee Meetings.

6.2 The FCA Committee will consist of the following officers: Chairman; Deputy Chairman, Secretary; Treasurer

6.3 The Officers of FCA shall have the power to create and dissolve at their discretion any other positions on the FCA Committee; subject to a majority vote by the Officers.

6.4 The affairs of FCA shall be conducted by the aforementioned FCA Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

6.6 Quoracy for officers shall be set at 70% of Committee.

7. General Meetings

7.1 There shall be an AGM once per annum.

7.2 Notices of such meetings must be published in FCA’s newsletters, website, or emailed to all members at least seven days beforehand, together with the Agenda.

7.3 Quorum of the AGM shall be set at twice the Committee size, plus one

7.4 An Emergency General Meeting (EGM) may be called by 10% of the membership of FCA by written application to the Secretary. An EGM shall be called within three weeks and at least 7 days notice shall be given to members through the usual channels.

8. Election

8.1 Elections shall be held at the AGM to elect officers of the FCA Committee.

8.2 Voting decisions shall be determined by a simple show of hands.