Our Constitution
Constitution (revised January 2024)
1. NAME
The name of the Society shall be the CLITHEROE CIVIC SOCIETY.
2. OBJECTIVES
The Society is established for the following purposes in the area comprising the Civil Parish of Clitheroe which shall hereinafter be referred to as “the core area of benefit,” and also subject matters outside ”the core area of benefit” but otherwise within the general interest area or outlying geographical area, which shall hereafter be referred to as “areas of special interest.”
(i) To promote high standards of planning, design and architecture in or affecting the core area of benefit.
(ii) To educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of both the core area of benefit and the areas of special interest.
(iii) To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the core area of benefit.
In furtherance of the said purposes but not otherwise the Society through its Executive Committee shall have the following powers: -
To promote civic pride in the area of benefit
To promote research into the subjects directly connected with the objectives of The Society and to disseminate, place on record or publish the results of any such research.
To act as a co-ordinating body and to liaise with the local authorities, planning Committees and all other statutory authorities, voluntary organisations, charities, amenity societies and persons having aims similar to those of the Society.
To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions.
To inform public opinion and to give advice and information
To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions, donation and otherwise; provided that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary purposes.
To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said purposes.
3. MEMBERSHIP
There shall be four categories of members: -
Honorary Life Members
Subscription Members
Student Members (defined as persons under 18 shall be free)
Corporate Members shall be from such societies, associations, educational institutions or businesses that are interested in actively furthering the purposes of the Society. A corporate member shall appoint a representative to vote on its behalf. One individual only from any one group.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions shall run from the 1st of August to 31st July. The amount to be decided each year at the May Meeting of the Society and payment to become due at the Annual General Meeting.
5. MEETINGS
(i) An Annual General Meeting shall be held on or about 1st September of each year to receive the Executive Committee’s report and audited accounts and to elect Officers and Members of the Executive and General Committees. The Committee shall decide when ordinary meetings will be held.
(ii) Special General Meetings of the Society shall be held at the written request of fifteen or more members whose subscriptions are fully paid up or at the request of the Executive Committee.
(iii) Twelve members personally present shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Society.
6. OFFICERS
Nominations of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be supported by a seconder and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. The election of Officers shall be completed prior to the election of further Committee members. Nominees for election as Officers or Committee members shall declare at the Annual General Meeting at which their election is to be considered any financial or professional interest known or likely to be of concern to the Society.
The Executive Committee shall consist of three Officers, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The General Committee shall consist of the above Officers and no fewer than four Members. At the discretion of the Executive, Officers may undertake specific delegated roles.
7. THE GENERAL COMMITTEE
(i) The General Committee shall be responsible for the management and administration of the Society. In the event of an equality of the votes cast, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. The General Committee shall meet not fewer than six times a year. The quorum shall comprise not fewer than four members of the General Committee. The General Committee shall have the power to fill up to three casual vacancies occurring among members of the General Committee between Annual General Meetings.
(ii) Members of the Committee are expected to attend each of the 6 meetings held annually. Prior notice should be given in respect of any absence. Failure to attend at least 50% of the meetings in any membership year may, at the discretion of the committee, be grounds for removal from the Committee.
8. SUB-COMMITTEES
From time to time the General Committee may constitute sub-committees. The Chairman and the Secretary of each sub-committee shall be appointed by the General Committee and all actions and proceedings of each sub-committee shall be reported to and be confirmed by the General Committee as soon as possible. Members of the General Committee may be members of any sub-committee and membership of a sub-committee shall be no bar to appointment to membership of the General Committee. Sub-committees shall be subordinate to and may be regulated by the General Committee.
9. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
It shall be the duty of every member who is in any way directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any meeting of the Society (including any meeting of Committee or Sub-committee) at which he or she may be present to declare such interest and he or she shall not discuss such item (except by invitation of the Chairman) or vote thereon.
10. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATION OF FUNDS
The Executive Committee shall, out of the funds of the Society, pay all proper expenses of administration and management of the Society. After payment of the administration and management expenses and the setting aside to reserve such sums as may be deemed expedient, the remaining funds of the Society shall be applied by the Executive Committee in the furtherance of the purposes of the Society.
11. BANKING
The Bank used by the Society shall be HSBC (Currently used). The Executive Committee has the power to change banks.
12. AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting of the Society, provided that not fewer than 28 days’ notice of the proposed amendment has been given to all members.
13. WINDING UP
The Society may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of members voting at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Society confirmed by a simple majority of members voting at a further Special General Meeting held not less than 14 days after the previous Meeting. If a motion for the dissolution of the Society is to be proposed at an Annual General Meeting or a Special Meeting this motion shall be referred to specifically when notice of the Meeting is given. In the event of the dissolution of the Society the available funds of the Society shall be transferred to such one or more charitable institutions having objects similar or reasonably similar to those herein before declared as shall be chosen by the General Committee and approved by the Meeting of the Society at which the decision to dissolve the Society is confirmed. On dissolution, the minute books and other records of the Society shall be deposited with the Local History Records in Clitheroe Library.