LLANGENNECH COMMUNITY CENTRE

COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION

1 NAME

The name of the Association shall be the "Llangennech Community Centre Committee" (Hereinafter called "The Committee").

2 OBJECTS

The Committee is established:

(a) To promote and develop the use of the Community Centre for the benefit of the inhabitants of the locality without distinction as to age, sex, race, political, religious or other opinion, by associating with the statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare, for recreation or other leisure-time activities with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

(b) To secure the establishment of the new building as a Community Centre (hereinafter called 'the Centre') and to maintain and to manage it and to cooperate with any local statutory authority in the maintenance and management of the Centre for activities promoted by the Committee.

(d) To obtain, collect and receive monies by way of grants, donations, bequests, legacies or other lawful method, provided that the Committee does not engage in any form of permanent trading.

(e) To receive money from any sources, such as those mentioned above, or to raise money as the Committee thinks fit, subject to any conditions imposed by law.

(f) To carefully invest the monies of the Committee not immediately required for use.

(G) To engage in other lawful actions as may be necessary for the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

2 MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Committee shall be open to the following, irrespective of political party, nationality, religion or political opinion: people aged sixteen years or over living/working within the locality, or individuals co-opted by the Committee who subscribe to the objects of the Committee and whose applications for membership are accepted by the Committee. Such members shall be entitled to speak and vote at all meetings of the Committee and any sub-committee of which he/she is a member.

4 STRUCTURE OF COMMITTEE

The committee shall meet not less than 4 times a year. A quorum of the committee shall be one-third of its current members (if this is not a whole number it shall be rounded upwards to the next whole number). The quorum for any sub-committee shall be 3 members.

Nominations from individuals from the locality for membership of the Committee must be in writing and must be in the hands of the Secretary of the Committee at least 7 days before the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Should the number of nominations exceed the number of vacancies, an election shall be held by secret ballot at the AGM to determine the membership of the Committee for the ensuing year.

The Committee elected at an AGM shall have the power to co-opt further members it deems necessary. Such co-opted members have the same entitlement to vote as elected members of the Committee and shall serve until the following AGM.

The Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be referred to as the Officers of the Committee, are elected annually at the AGM. Any member of the Committee who fails to attend 3 consecutive committee meetings without a valid reason shall lose her/his place on the Committee which may then be filled by co-option as described above.

5 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

Terms of reference

1. The Committee will decide its own constitution and will remain a separate organisation from Llangennech Community Council (LlCC), although LlCC shall have a representation of 3 members on the Committee.

It is anticipated that the role of the Committee will develop as the usage of the Centre increases, and it is likely that a reassessment of these terms of reference will be required in due course.

2. Initial terms of reference:

(a) To promote the use of the Centre and to identify demand for usage and services to be provided there.

(b) To be proactive and sensitive to demand and to seek the cooperation of LlCC as necessary to achieve objectives.

(d) To respond to and assist LlCC in developing and devising policies for the management of the Centre.

(e) To seek grants that may be available to enhance provision at the Centre and to make applications for such grants in appropriate cases.

(f) To liaise with the Caretaker/Manager of the Centre in arranging bookings for its use.

(g) To work closely with the Caretaker/Manager regarding any requirements for approved use of the Centre.

3 The Committee may make such regulations as its members consider appropriate for the efficient conduct of it's business.

4. The Committee may appoint sub-committees, advisory groups or working parties of its own members and other persons to facilitate the undertaking of its duties and will determine their terms of reference, duration and composition. All such sub-committees shall make regular reports on their work to the Committee.

5 CHAIRING MEETINGS

All meetings of the Committee or of any of its sub-committees shall be presided over by its Chairperson, or in his/her absence, by the Vice-Chairperson. In the event of both the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson not being present, the Committee shall select a Chairperson from the members present, by conducting a ballot for this purpose if necessary. The Chairperson of any meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

6 FINANCE

All monies raised by or on behalf of the Committee shall be utilised solely to further the objects of the Committee PROVIDED THAT nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment of legitimate out-of-pocket expenses to members of the Committee engaged upon approved business of the Committee.

The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the Committee's finances.

The financial year of the Committee shall run from 6 April of one year to 5 April of the next.

The accounts shall be audited once a year by an independent auditor. At the AGM, an audited statement of accounts for the last financial year shall be submitted by the Treasurer for the approval of the Committee.

A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Committee with National Westminster Bank Ltd or such other bank as the Committee shall from time to time decide. All cheques relating to this bank account must be signed by any 2 of the Committee's 3 Officers.

Fees for hiring of rooms are the responsibilty of Llangennech Community Council. The Committee expect a consultative role in this matter.

7 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM of the Committee shall be held during May of each year. An AGM shall be held at such place and time as the Committee shall determine.

At an AGM the business shall include the following:

The election of members to serve on the Committee;

The election of Officers;

The appointment of an auditor;

The consideration of an Annual Report of the work done by or under the auspices of the Committee;

The consideration of the audited accounts;

The transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be considered necessary.

8 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

With the Chairperson, the Secretary may at any time, upon a requisition signed by not less than 50% of Committee members, and giving reasons for the request that are relevant to the functions of the Committee, call a Special General Meeting of the Committee. If they deem it necessary, the 3 Officers can collectively call a Special General Meeting upon giving 14 days notice of the meeting to the Committee.

9 RULES OF PROCEDURE AT ALL MEETINGS

Voting

Subject to the provisions of Clause 10, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting. Voting shall be by show of hands.

Minutes

The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Committee and sub-committee meetings. These shall contain all resolutions made at the meetings together with the essence of the meetings' proceedings.

Standing Orders

The Committee shall have power to adopt and issue Standing Orders and/or Rules for the Committee and sub-committees. Such Standing Orders and/or Rules shall come into operation immediately PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT they shall be subject to review by the Committee at a later General Meeting and shall not be inconsistent with this Constitution.

10 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Any alterations to this Constitution must receive the assent of not less than two thirds of the members of the Committee present and voting at an ordinary General Meeting, or a meeting specially called for the purpose.

PROVIDED THAT at least 14 clear days notice in writing of such a meeting setting forth the terms of the alteration(s) to be proposed shall be sent by the Secretary to each member of the Committee.

11 DISSOLUTION

If the Committee by a simple majority decides at any time that on any grounds it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Committee, the Secretary shall summon a Special Meeting of all members of the Committee at which this recommendation shall be considered. If at this meeting the Committee resolves to disband itself it shall also resolve to transfer any assets remaining after discharging all of its remaining debts and liabilities to LlCC.