Crystal Palace Transition Town Constitution
NAME
The name of the organisation shall be Crystal Palace Transition Town (hereinafter called CPTT).
VISION
To move Crystal Palace and its community towards a sustainable future, resilient to the challenges posed by climate change and peak oil.
OBJECTIVES
CPTT is a community-led, not-for-profit initiative that will:
* raise awareness of the local and global effects of climate change, peak oil and
the impact of human activities on the environment.
* look for and communicate the positive opportunities that come from the challenges of climate change and peak oil, and create an atmosphere of fun, enjoyment and community.
* create, build and sustain awareness of the Transition Town movement in all areas of the local community, sharing our vision and bringing together passionate people to work with us towards achieving it
* create and deliver sustainable programmes of activity involving the local community around issues including food, energy, skills, transport, education and waste.
* build and sustain a productive network of contacts and relationships with supportive and like-minded organisations and individuals, including the Transition Town network of which it is a part
* promote Fairtrade as consistent with our principles of fairness and equality during the period of
transition to self-reliance.VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
CPTT will:
* be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion.
* support community life and a connection to the natural world.
* actively seek out and listen to the views of all local residents.
* value and celebrate diversity.
* not discriminate on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.
* promote mutual understanding and respect for one another
* promote the importance of working together to make the most effective use of resources and expertise.
* support the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
THE STEERING GROUP
The policy and general management of the affairs of CPTT shall be conducted by a Steering Group that will be responsible to the Annual General Meeting of CPTT.
The Steering Group shall consist of the officers (a minimum of three) elected by and at the Annual General Meeting, plus nominated representatives from each of the project groups.
In addition, the Steering Group may co-opt further members as necessary, who shall not exceed one-third of the total membership of the Steering Group as defined above.
Steering Group meetings shall be held at monthly intervals. At a Steering Group meeting a quorum shall be two-thirds of current Steering Group members. Steering Group meetings can decide to set up new project groups, or to delegate any relevant tasks to individual CPTT members as appropriate.
PROJECT GROUPS
Project groups will be set up to lead CPTT work in a number of areas such as food, energy, education, skills, transport, waste and Fairtrade. Each project group will nominate at least one person to be a member of the Steering Group. Any interested person from the local community may participate in any project group.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of CPTT shall consist of members of the Steering Group, members of the project groups and any interested party in the local community who supports the aims and values of CPTT and expresses an interest in its activities. This can include, but is not limited to, those people connected to the CPTT Facebook page or Twitter account, those registered to receive the CPTT newsletter and those who attend CPTT events.
Members will receive regular information on how to become active in CPTT activities and join any project groups.
Should a member act in a manner contrary to the aims and values of CPTT, the Steering Group shall have the right to exclude them from meetings and membership of CPTT, with the proviso that the member has the right
to be heard by the Steering Group before a decision is made.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Every year, the Steering Group shall convene an Annual General Meeting of CPTT. Notice of the AGM shall be given to members at least 28 days in advance of the date of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting will be to:
* elect officers.
* hear a report on the activities of CPTT and its project groups for the previous year.
* identify and discuss matters of importance for the forthcoming year.
* hear a report of CPTT finances, prepared by the Treasurer
* agree on any changes to the Constitution, or to how CPTT operates.
All members shall have the right to attend and to vote at the AGM. Decisions shall be made by consensus where possible, or by a simple majority vote where necessary (all members shall not exercise more than one vote, but in the case of an equality of votes the chair shall have a second or casting vote) except for amendments to the Constitution, which require a two-thirds majority of those present at the AGM.
At the AGM a quorum will consist of a minimum of 10 members. If there is not a quorum, a new AGM must be called.
OFFICERS
The following officers shall be elected at the AGM:
* Chair
* Secretary
* Treasurer
Nominations for the election of officers shall be supported by a seconder, and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained.
The officers shall serve in their respective capacities as officers of the Steering Group for one year, after which they must stand for re-election if they wish to continue in post.
In the event of a vacancy occurring among the officers, the Steering Group shall have the power to fill such a vacancy from its own members or other members of the CPTT until the next AGM.
ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
The CPTT constitution may be altered at an Extraordinary General Meeting or Annual General Meeting and at least 28 days’ notice of any meeting to consider a proposed alteration shall be given to all members.
In order to effect an alteration of a rule, at least two-thirds of the members present at the meeting shall vote in favour of the proposed change.
FINANCE
The financial year shall end on December 31st of each year.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping of CPTT funds and the preparation of the Annual Statement of Accounts, which shall be audited, and presented at the Annual General Meeting.
Any expenditure of CPTT funds requires the approval of the Steering Group.
Funds shall only be spent on the objectives set out in this constitution.
All funds belonging to CPTT shall (unless invested) be deposited in the banking account in the name of CPTT, and no sum shall be drawn from this account except by cheque signed (or online transaction made) by such person(s) as the Steering Group may direct.
The Steering Group by way of a resolution / vote shall have the power to add and remove signatories from the bank account.
DISSOLUTION
If the Steering Group, by a simple majority, decides at any time that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve CPTT it shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting of all members of CPTT. The Steering Group shall give not less than 28 days’ notice of such a meeting.
Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to another organisation having similar objectives to those of CPTT for the benefit of the Crystal Palace community, as the Steering Group shall decide; or in the case of money sourced through funding, returned to the funder if so stipulated in the terms of the funding award.
The name of the organisation shall be Crystal Palace Transition Town (hereinafter called CPTT).
VISION
To move Crystal Palace and its community towards a sustainable future, resilient to the challenges posed by climate change and peak oil.
OBJECTIVES
CPTT is a community-led, not-for-profit initiative that will:
* raise awareness of the local and global effects of climate change, peak oil and
the impact of human activities on the environment.
* look for and communicate the positive opportunities that come from the challenges of climate change and peak oil, and create an atmosphere of fun, enjoyment and community.
* create, build and sustain awareness of the Transition Town movement in all areas of the local community, sharing our vision and bringing together passionate people to work with us towards achieving it
* create and deliver sustainable programmes of activity involving the local community around issues including food, energy, skills, transport, education and waste.
* build and sustain a productive network of contacts and relationships with supportive and like-minded organisations and individuals, including the Transition Town network of which it is a part
* promote Fairtrade as consistent with our principles of fairness and equality during the period of
transition to self-reliance.VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
CPTT will:
* be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion.
* support community life and a connection to the natural world.
* actively seek out and listen to the views of all local residents.
* value and celebrate diversity.
* not discriminate on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.
* promote mutual understanding and respect for one another
* promote the importance of working together to make the most effective use of resources and expertise.
* support the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
THE STEERING GROUP
The policy and general management of the affairs of CPTT shall be conducted by a Steering Group that will be responsible to the Annual General Meeting of CPTT.
The Steering Group shall consist of the officers (a minimum of three) elected by and at the Annual General Meeting, plus nominated representatives from each of the project groups.
In addition, the Steering Group may co-opt further members as necessary, who shall not exceed one-third of the total membership of the Steering Group as defined above.
Steering Group meetings shall be held at monthly intervals. At a Steering Group meeting a quorum shall be two-thirds of current Steering Group members. Steering Group meetings can decide to set up new project groups, or to delegate any relevant tasks to individual CPTT members as appropriate.
PROJECT GROUPS
Project groups will be set up to lead CPTT work in a number of areas such as food, energy, education, skills, transport, waste and Fairtrade. Each project group will nominate at least one person to be a member of the Steering Group. Any interested person from the local community may participate in any project group.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of CPTT shall consist of members of the Steering Group, members of the project groups and any interested party in the local community who supports the aims and values of CPTT and expresses an interest in its activities. This can include, but is not limited to, those people connected to the CPTT Facebook page or Twitter account, those registered to receive the CPTT newsletter and those who attend CPTT events.
Members will receive regular information on how to become active in CPTT activities and join any project groups.
Should a member act in a manner contrary to the aims and values of CPTT, the Steering Group shall have the right to exclude them from meetings and membership of CPTT, with the proviso that the member has the right
to be heard by the Steering Group before a decision is made.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Every year, the Steering Group shall convene an Annual General Meeting of CPTT. Notice of the AGM shall be given to members at least 28 days in advance of the date of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting will be to:
* elect officers.
* hear a report on the activities of CPTT and its project groups for the previous year.
* identify and discuss matters of importance for the forthcoming year.
* hear a report of CPTT finances, prepared by the Treasurer
* agree on any changes to the Constitution, or to how CPTT operates.
All members shall have the right to attend and to vote at the AGM. Decisions shall be made by consensus where possible, or by a simple majority vote where necessary (all members shall not exercise more than one vote, but in the case of an equality of votes the chair shall have a second or casting vote) except for amendments to the Constitution, which require a two-thirds majority of those present at the AGM.
At the AGM a quorum will consist of a minimum of 10 members. If there is not a quorum, a new AGM must be called.
OFFICERS
The following officers shall be elected at the AGM:
* Chair
* Secretary
* Treasurer
Nominations for the election of officers shall be supported by a seconder, and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained.
The officers shall serve in their respective capacities as officers of the Steering Group for one year, after which they must stand for re-election if they wish to continue in post.
In the event of a vacancy occurring among the officers, the Steering Group shall have the power to fill such a vacancy from its own members or other members of the CPTT until the next AGM.
ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
The CPTT constitution may be altered at an Extraordinary General Meeting or Annual General Meeting and at least 28 days’ notice of any meeting to consider a proposed alteration shall be given to all members.
In order to effect an alteration of a rule, at least two-thirds of the members present at the meeting shall vote in favour of the proposed change.
FINANCE
The financial year shall end on December 31st of each year.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping of CPTT funds and the preparation of the Annual Statement of Accounts, which shall be audited, and presented at the Annual General Meeting.
Any expenditure of CPTT funds requires the approval of the Steering Group.
Funds shall only be spent on the objectives set out in this constitution.
All funds belonging to CPTT shall (unless invested) be deposited in the banking account in the name of CPTT, and no sum shall be drawn from this account except by cheque signed (or online transaction made) by such person(s) as the Steering Group may direct.
The Steering Group by way of a resolution / vote shall have the power to add and remove signatories from the bank account.
DISSOLUTION
If the Steering Group, by a simple majority, decides at any time that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve CPTT it shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting of all members of CPTT. The Steering Group shall give not less than 28 days’ notice of such a meeting.
Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to another organisation having similar objectives to those of CPTT for the benefit of the Crystal Palace community, as the Steering Group shall decide; or in the case of money sourced through funding, returned to the funder if so stipulated in the terms of the funding award.