Our Constitution

BJCAG Revised Constitution

This group is affiliated to Friends of the Earth, which focuses on tackling the climate change emergency. It is an unincorporated, not-for-profit community group and so any money obtained by the group shall only be used for the group.

Aims

·       To raise awareness in our local community of climate change and its impacts

·       To work positively alongside residents of Burton Joyce and surrounding area to empower them to reduce their impact on the environment by sharing practical ideas

·       To link with Burton Joyce Parish Council and Gedling Borough Council to inform their environment plans to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity locally

·       To campaign and take lawful direct action to protect and enhance nature and biodiversity.

Membership

Membership is open to all persons without discrimination and the group will not discriminate against anyone in its practices.

Membership of the group is open to anyone over 18 in Burton Joyce and its environs who is interested in helping the group to achieve its aims. Younger people can join the group if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Every member shall have a chance to share their opinion at meetings and a vote when key decisions are made. 

To sign up as a member any interested person will need to provide the group with their name and email address.  The group will manage members’ details in accordance with the latest General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Officers

The group shall be administered by no fewer than three officers: Chair, Secretary and a Treasurer as a minimum, elected by a majority vote at an AGM.  Officers shall attend group meetings regularly. Officers and Committee members shall be re-elected at each AGM.

o   Chair: shall be responsible for chairing (keeping order/ giving attendees a chance to speak) meetings and leading the group in the achievement of its aims

o   Secretary: shall be responsible for notifying members of meetings,  ensuring minutes are taken and circulating them. Minutes can be taken on a rotational basis by other group members.

o   Treasurer: shall maintain the group’s accounts and manage the bank account.  They will provide updates at meetings and provide an annual report at the AGM.

o   Social media person: shall promote the group’s activities and key messages on the BJCAG Facebook page.

o   Committee members: can be elected to support the group to achieve its’ aims (without having specific roles).

If any Officer wishes to resign, they must inform the group verbally at a meeting or in writing. If an officer resigns before an AGM, the group can co-opt a replacement until the next AGM, when the co-opted member can choose to stand for election.

 

Meetings and Governance

Meetings will be organised regularly, at least bi-monthly.  All key decisions shall be made by majority vote at a group meeting. The quorum is at least one officer and four other members. 

The committee has the power to invite any person for advice or consultation to any meeting in a non-voting capacity. 

 

Annual General Meeting

The purpose of the AGM is to vote in Officers and Committee members for the forthcoming year, to review progress and to approve the accounts for the last financial year.

The AGM shall be held no more than 15 months after the last AGM. Members shall receive 14 days’ notice in writing of the AGM and any proposed changes to the constitution.

 

Extraordinary General Meeting

An EGM may be called at the request of at least three committee members to discuss any issue of concern.  Members shall receive 14 days’ notice in writing of an EGM.

  

Finance

·       The bank account name is: ‘ Burton Joyce Climate Action’

·       There will be a minimum of three signatories

·       Cheques shall be signed by any two of the signatories.  If one of the signatories is the beneficiary of a cheque, the other two must sign it.

·       Any money obtained by the group shall only be used for the group’s purposes.

 

Removing a member

The group has the right and a responsibility to remove a member who has brought the name of the group into disrepute, acted inappropriately or worked against the aims of the group.

Such a decision can only be made at an EGM by majority vote. 

 

Dissolution

The group shall be wound up by a vote at an EGM called for that purpose.  At least 14 days’ notice of the intention to wind up the group must be communicated to all members.  Any remaining funds shall go to a group with similar aims.  The destination for remaining funds will be decided at this meeting.