1. Name
The name of the organisation shall be the SEATON DELAVAL and HOLYWELL COMMUNITY FORUM (hereinafter called "The Forum").
2. Aims and Objectives
The objects and aims of the Forum shall be:
a) To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for residents in Seaton Delaval and Holywell, without distinction of sex or of economic situation, or of political, religious or other pinions, in the interests of their social, physical and spiritual welfare.
b) To provide or assist in the provision of improvements to the fabric of the area for all of its inhabitants.
c) To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for young people of the community.
d) To co-operate with the various organisations for the safety of the people in the community.
e) To co-operate with Local Authority, voluntary or charitable organisations and the inhabitants of the area, to raise funds for the stated objectives.
f) To promote the members and raise the profile.
3. Membership
a) Membership of the Forum shall be open to all groups and individuals interested in the development of extra facilities for residents of the Seaton Delaval and Holywell area.
b) Member groups by their nominated representatives (not exceeding two and individual members) will be entitled to participate in the business of the Committee by attending general meetings and voting there at.
4. Termination of the Membership
The Committee of the Forum shall have the right, for good and sufficient reason, to terminate the membership of any member. Provided that the member shall have the right to be heard by the Committee of the Forum before a decision is made.
5. The Committee
Subject to the limitations set out in Clause 6 hereof, the policy and general management of the affairs of the Forum shall be directed by a Committee which shall meet no less than three times a year. The Committee shall consist of,
a) Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and other such officers deemed necessary to be elected at the Annual General Meeting by the members from the Forum.
b) The representatives appointed by member groups in accordance with Clause 3.
c) The Committee shall have the power to co-opt as additional members any person that in their opinion are able to render special service or knowledge to assist the Committee.
6. Annual General Meeting
Once each year in September the Forum shall convene an Annual Genreal Meeting at which all individual members and representatives of groups shall be entitled to attend for the purpose of,
• Receiving the Annual Report of the Forum and the audited statement of accounts.
• For the election officers to the Committee these officers will be elected to serve for one year until the end of the Annual General Meeting following their election.
• For the appointing of honorary officers of the Forum.
• For the accepting the resignation of members of the Committee.
• For voting on proposals to amend the Constitution or the Aims and Objectives of the Forum.
7. Special General Meeting
The Chairperson of the Committee or the Secretary may at any time at their discretion, and shall within twenty-one days of receiving a written request to do so, signed by not less than ten members having the power to vote and giving reasons for the request, call a Special General Meeting of the Forum for the purpose of altering the Constitution in accordance with Clause 2 hereof or of considering any matter which may be referred to them by the Committee or for any other purpose.
8. Rules of Procedure at all meetings
a) Voting - subject to the provision of Clause 12, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority or those present and entitled to vote thereat. No member shall exercise more than one vote not withstanding that he/she may have been appointed to represent two or more interests, but in case of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
b) Quorum - One third of the members shall form a quorum at General and other meetings of the Forum provided always that the quorum shall be of one third of the members whichever shall be the greater.
c) Minutes - Adequate minutes will be kept of any meetings.
9. Finance
a) All money raised by or on behalf of the Forum shall be applied to further the Aims and Objectives of the Forum and for no other purposes.
b) The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Forum.
c) The accounts shall be audited at least once a year by an auditor or auditors not being a member of the Forum who shall be appointed by the Committee.
d) An audited statement of accoutns shall be open in the name of the Forum at HSBC Bank, Seaton Delaval.
e) Any cheques shall be signed by two officers of the Committee, one who shall be the Treasurer.
10. Trust Property
The title to all and any property which may be acquired by or for the purposes of the Forum shall be vested in Trustees not being members of the Committee who shall be appointed by the Committee and who shall enter into a deed or trust setting forth the purposes and conditions under which they hold the said property in trust for the Forum. The number of Trustees shall not be less than two nor more than four and must agree to their appointment.
11. Alterations to the Constitution
Any proposal to alter this constitution must be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Forum not less than 28 days before the date of the meeting at which it is to be considered. An alteration will erquire the approval of a somple majority of the members present and entitled to vote.
12. Dissolution
The Forum may at any time be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at properly constituted meeting of the Forum of which 21 days notice has been given to all members of the Committee specifying that this is the purpose of the meeting.
Such resolutions may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Forum provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debt and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to, or distributed among the members of the Forum but shall be given to other charitable institutions having similar objectives and aims to that of the Forum.
This Constitution was adopted as the Constitution of Seaton Delaval and Holywell Community Forum at a meeting held on the 17th September 1996.