| CONSTITUTION OF THE THORNCOMBE VILLAGE
TRUST |
| 1. NAME |
| The name of the Trust shall be the
Thorncombe Village Trust (hereinafter referred to as the Trust). |
| 2. OBJECTS |
| The Trust is established for charitable purposes only. |
| In particular the Trust is established to- |
| i) Encourage and promote a greater interest in, and understanding of, the local environment and its history; |
| (ii) protect historic buildings in the Parish, and especially to conserve the character |
| (iii) oppose unsuitable development in the Parish |
| (iv) safeguard and enhance the countryside in the Parish; |
| (v) support nature conservation in the Parish; |
| (c) In furtherance of these objects the Trust may obtain, collect or receive money by way of contributions,
donations, subscriptions, grants or other lawful methods, and may make donations to individuals or organisations. |
| 3. MEMBERSHIP |
| Membership shall be open to all who are interested in furthering the objects of the Trust. All members aged 16 years and over qualify to vote at the AGM and any Special General Meeting. |
| 4. PRESIDENT |
|
A
President of the Trust may be elected by a majority vote at the AGM for
the services he has rendered to the Trust. The President will have a non
executive role but shall be entitled to attend Committee Meetings and
vote at them. The President shall be exempt from paying a subscription. |
| 5. OFFICERS |
|
The
Officers of the Trust shall be: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary,
Treasurer, Programme Secretary and Membership Secretary. The election of
the Officers is dealt with in paragraph 6 below. If an Officer ceases to
hold office for any reason the committee may appoint a successor to act
temporarily. |
| 6. COMMITTEE |
|
The
affairs of the Trust shall be managed by a Committee of ten members, who
shall be elected by the AGM to serve for a period of two years. The
Committee shall be composed of the Officers of the Trust and of four
other members. Committee members shall retire in rotation and be
eligible for re-election. Their nominations shall be in writing, shall
be made by a member of the Trust with the concurrence of the nominee and
be received by the secretary not less than 14 days before the AGM.
Election shall normally be by show of hands, unless a ballot is deemed
appropriate by the Chairman. The Committee shall normally meet once a
month. At the first Committee meeting held after the AGM the Committee
shall elect the Officers of the Trust, the arrangements for the election
being at the discretion of Chairman of the meeting. The Committee may
also be summoned by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman in the absence of
the Chairman, or by 3 members of the Committee acting together. The secretary
shall prepare an agenda for the meeting. The Chairman, or in his absence
the Vice Chairman shall be Chairman of the committee. If both are
absent, members present shall elect one of their number to preside at
the meeting. The Chairman, or member presiding, shall have a second and
casting vote where there is an equality of votes. Four members of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum for a meeting, and the quorum shall
be maintained throughout the meeting. Minutes of all Committee meetings,
signed by the Chairman, or person acting as Chairman, shall be kept and
be available to all members of the Trust. The Committee shall have
powers to co-opt other members of the Trust to attend meetings, but they
shall have no voting rights. Also it may appoint such other committees
as it may be deemed necessary. |
|
7. PECUNIARY
INTERESTS |
| If any member of the committee has a pecuniary
interest in a matter under discussion, the member must declare it and
withdraw from the meeting until the Committee has made its decision. |
| 8. AGM and SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS |
| The
AGM shall be held once a year, normally in May, to elect members of the
committee as necessary, approve the accounts, receive reports from the
Chairman and the Secretary, and conduct any further business. |
|
A
special General Meeting may be called by resolution of the Committee or
by written demand of not less than 8 members of the Trust acting
together. Normally not less than two weeks notice of the time and place
of the AGM or Special General Meeting shall be given by the Secretary
who shall post notices of these details in the village. |
|
At
such meetings the Chairman or Vice-Chairman shall preside. In their
absence those persons present shall, before any business is
transacted, elect one of their number to preside. A quorum at these
shall consist of 10 members of the Trust. Every matter, except as
provided for under this Constitution, shall be determined by a
majority of members present. The Chairman of the meeting shall have
a second and casting vote where there is an equality of votes.
Minutes of the meeting shall be kept and be available to members of
the Trust. |
|
9.
SUBSCRIPTIONS |
|
Subscriptions
shall be fixed at the AGM and shall remain in force until amended if so
required to be at the next AGM. Subscriptions shall fall due on the day
of the AGM. |
|
10.
FINANCE |
|
The
Trust shall have the power to raise money by means of subscriptions,
donations, grants and other sources. The income of the Trust shall be
applied solely towards the promotion of the objects. No portion thereof shall be paid or
transferred to any member of the Trust, provided that nothing herein
shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable expenses incurred
by an Officer or member of the Trust. |
|
The
Treasurer shall be responsible for the custody of the funds and for
keeping a record of receipts and payments. An audited statement of
accounts shall be presented by the Treasurer at the AGM. |
|
The
accounting year shall be from the first day of April to the last day of
March. |
|
11.
DISSOLUTION |
|
The Trust
may at any time be dissolved by a resolution supported by two-thirds of
those members of the Trust present and voting at a special General
Meeting convened for the express purpose of dissolving the Trust. Such
resolution may give instructions for the disposal of the Trust’s assets.
Any funds remaining after debts and liabilities have been dealt with may
be given or transferred to other bodies having objects similar to those
of the Trust. |
|
12. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION |
| The
rules of the Trust may be altered only at an AGM or Special General
Meeting with a two- thirds majority of those members present and voting.
Notice of any proposed change must be given to the Secretary at least
one month before the meeting. |
|
This
Constitution was adopted in May 1995 with amendments adopted at a
Special General Meeting March 2003. |
