Durham City Access for All Constitution

Durham City Access For All adheres to a constitution, which sets out its aims and objectives.

You can find the text of the Durham City Access For All Constitution below. You can read more about the group's aims on the Durham City Access for All objectives page.

1 TITLE

The name of the group is: The Durham City Access For All Group. It is non-political, non-sectarian, and non-discriminatory in any other way. Any member of the Group using his or her membership to promote any political or sectarian view may not continue as a member.

2 Aims and objects:

The Group will

(a) provide a forum for the discussion of any and all matters relating to the accessibility of any part of the physical infrastructure of Durham City and its environs, including streets, pavements, paths, walkways, buildings, and all facilities which should be accessible to the general public,

(b) identify improvements which should be made regarding the physical infrastructure of Durham City and its environs, including streets, pavements, paths, walkways, buildings, and all facilities which should be accessible to the general public,

(c) make representations to responsible bodies regarding the accessibility of any part of the physical infrastructure of Durham City and its environs, including streets, pavements, paths, walkways, buildings, and all facilities which should be accessible to the general public,

(d) improve the understanding and awareness of the access needs of people with disabilities.

3 Powers and responsibilities:

To achieve its aims and objectives, the Group has the power to

(a) express, in any form, and subject to the approval of the Group, any view or representation which furthers the aims and objects of the Group,

(b) raise funds, and receive donations and contributions, in accordance with such conditions as may be required by law, in support of the aims and objectives of the Group, provided that the Group does not engage in any permanent trading activities.

(c) nominate members to attend regional or local meetings which may assist in furthering the aims and objectives of the Group.

4 Membership:

Provided only that they are over eighteen years of age, the Group will welcome as members

(a) any person with an interest in promoting the aims and objectives of the Group,

(b) representatives of any group of people, or any statuary body, promoting the interests of people with disabilities who live in or visit Durham City,

All members have the right to vote at an Annual General Meeting.

5 Meetings:

Once in each calendar year, normally in May, an Annual General Meeting shall take place. The Secretary of the Group will provide all members of the Group notice of the date, time, and place of the Annual General Meeting. At least twenty-one days notice of the Annual General Meeting will be given.

The business of the Annual General Meeting will be:

(a) to receive a Report of activities of the Group since the previous Annual General Meeting;

(b) to receive the annual accounts of the Group,

(d) to elect ‘officers’ of the Group, in accordance with 6 below,

(e) to consider any other business of which due notice has been given to the Secretary at least twenty one days prior to the Meeting.

Ordinary meetings of the Group normally take place on the second Wednesday in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November.

The Secretary of the Group will notify all members of the Group of all meetings, and provide all members with minutes and agendas for all meetings.

A minimum of four members shall constitute a quorum for a meeting.

For those matters requiring a vote, a simple majority in a quorate meeting is needed for decisions. If a casting vote is needed, it will be cast by the Chairman or Chairwoman.

6

There will be a Chairman, or Chairwoman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Elections for these offices will take place at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations should be proposed and seconded. If, for any reason, a vacancy occurs the Group will fill that vacancy from among its members.

7 Insurance:

If it should be needed, the Group must have and maintain suitable public liability insurance.

8 Finance:

(a) All monies raised by or on behalf of the Group shall be applied to furthering the aims and objects of the Group, or to reimbursing any reasonable or out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Group.

(b) A bank account in the name of the Group will be maintained. The Group will appoint, in writing, and subject to the agreement of the Chairman or Chairwoman, named members of the Group to dispense money from this bank account. At least two appointed members of the Group are permitted to authorise payments.

(c) The Treasurer will provide annual accounts providing details of all income to and expenditure from the bank account at the Annual General Meeting, and accounts more frequently if required. The annual accounts should be approved by an independent examiner.

9 Dissolution:

(a) If, at a meeting of the Group, it is decided by a simple majority that it is necessary, or advisable, to dissolve the Durham City Access For All Group, all members of the Group will be informed of the decision within twenty-one days of the decision, giving the terms of the decision to dissolve the Group. If dissent is expressed, there will be a further meeting of the Group when the reasons for the dissent will be considered, and a final decision reached.

(b) In the event of dissolution, the members will transfer any funds in the bank account of the Group to a suitable organisation with aims and objectives which are as similar as possible to those of the Group.

10 Alternations to the Constitution:

(a) Any proposal to alter this Constitution must be delivered, in writing, to the Secretary of the Group no less that twenty-one days before the date of the meeting at which the alteration is to be considered

(b) Any alteration will require the approval of a two thirds majority of members of the Group present and voting at a General Meeting of the Group.