NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION
SOUTH EAST REGION CONSTITUTION
1. NAME.
The name shall be the South East (NPC) Region but will also be formally known and referred to in this document and elsewhere by the acronym SENPeC
The aims and objectives
of SENPeC shall be to promote and to defend the interests of all pensioners
without exception in their just desire to live in decency, dignity
and independence. These aims and objectives shall be deemed to include the aims
as set out in the NPC National Constitution, a copy of which is appended hereto.
3. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANISATION
(a) As
the regional organisation of the NPC, covering the counties of East Sussex;
including Brighton Unitary Authority; West Sussex, Surrey and Kent, SENPeC may
institute campaigns and activities within that area to promote its aims and
objectives and may also take part in any other national or locally organised
campaigns and actions.
(b) SENPeC shall invite all Pensioners Forums, Action Groups, Movements and Associations and Trades Union Retired Members Branches/Associations within the counties of Sussex, Surrey and Kent to affiliate. Individuals may affiliate as indicated in clause 3c
(c)
The affiliation fee shall be £15.00
per calendar year except, for organisations with less than 50 members the fee
shall be £10.00 per calendar year or fees as determined at the Region’s AGM.
Individual affiliation shall remain at £5-00.
(d) All such affiliates shall retain total autonomy in deciding what activities to pursue within their own area organisations.
4. MEETINGS
(a)
There shall be four Delegate
meetings per annum, of which one shall be the Annual General Meeting, (AGM) and
to which members and delegates from paid up, affiliated
organisations
(in accordance with clause 7) are invited, but only Delegates will be permitted
to vote at these meetings.
(b) The AGM shall be held in October at a time and location to be advised to all affiliates. Any motions or business must reach the Secretary at least three weeks prior to the advertised date of the AGM. In addition, items under Any Other Business, (AOB) shall also be advised to the Secretary under the same time span. Only emergency or other issues which occur after that time will be allowed under AOB.
(c)
For the purposes of the
meetings referred to in 4(a), including the AGM, a quorum shall be 10 delegates
from paid up organisations including at least 2 Officers.
(d) At the AGM the Chairman and Secretary shall give a report on the activities of the previous year with copies being available at the meeting.
(e) The
Treasurer shall produce a balance sheet for the previous year, duly certified by
the auditors. A copy of this balance sheet shall be sent with the notification
of the AGM.
(f) A Special General Meeting, (SGM) may be called by the Executive Committee or on the written request of at least 10 affiliated and paid up organisations.
(g) If a situation arises which makes it impractical to call an Emergency Delegate Meeting, (EDM), the Officers, collectively, are empowered to take such actions as deemed necessary. However any such action is to be reported at the next delegate meeting.
(h) Unless prior notice has been given, all meetings should start at 11-30am and finish at 14-00pm, except that, upon the carrying of a motion by two thirds majority of the votes cast by those present who are entitled to vote, the Chairman may suspend this sub-clause and extend the meeting to deal with any outstanding URGENT business.
(j) The Secretary shall advise Affiliates of the location of all meetings and issue the relevant information in timely fashion.
(k) Two auditors for the following year shall be elected at the AGM as per clause 5(e)
(l) VOTING – Motions and amendments thereto require a simple majority of the votes cast by those present and entitled to vote. Changes to the constitution require a two thirds majority as indicated in clause 4 (h)
5. OFFICERS AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(a) The Honorary Officers shall comprise:- Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, General and Minute Secretaries who shall be elected annually at the AGM.
(b) The Executive Committee shall comprise a maximum of 10 delegates who shall be elected annually at the AGM.
(c) In addition, at the discretion of the Officers, a delegate may be co-opted to the EC to cover a vacancy or to attend a meeting where that delegate may have expert knowledge on a specific topic on the agenda.
(d) Only delegates from fully paid up organisations may stand for election to any positions in 5(a), (b) or (c) or to other bodies.
(e) Nominations for Officers and EC members shall be sent the Secretary at least 6 weeks prior to the AGM. If the number of such nominations equates to, or is less than, the number of positions available, said nominees will be deem to be elected. Only if insufficient nominations are received, shall further nominations be accepted from the floor
(f) Where the number of nominated persons agreeing to stand exceeds the positions available and a simple show of hands is therefore inappropriate, voting shall be by secret ballot. The Candidate(s) with the highest votes shall be elected. Ballot papers will be issued as necessary at the AGM
(g) All persons elected at the AGM shall serve until the conclusion of business at the following AGM
6. BANKING
A Bank Account shall be opened with UNITY TRUST in the name of the South East Region NPC. All cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.
7. REPRESENTATION BY BRANCHES
Organisations affiliated to SENPeC shall be allowed representation at all the open meetings and the AGM, on the following basis:- Affiliates with up to 50 members, one delegate, affiliates with over 50 members, two delegates. Such delegates should be properly elected by their parent affiliate and their names and addresses shall be advised to the Secretary. In the event of a delegate being unable to attend, a nominated deputy may be sent, subject to prior written notice.
NOTE:- Only those affiliates that who are full paid up may send delegates to meetings.
8. AFFILIATION PROCEDURE
Applications for affiliations will normally be addressed to the Secretary. The Officers have delegated authority to accept and progress an application for this purpose. The Secretary shall confer with the Chairman, Vice chairman, or Treasurer to agree the affiliation. All such affiliations are to be ratified at the next scheduled delegates meeting.
9. ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AND NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF THE NPC.
Up to THREE delegates may be elected to the National Council and ONE delegate to the National Executive Council. The election and voting procedure shall be observed as in clause 5(e)
10. INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Where the Constitution is ambiguous, conflicting or silent, the Chairman shall interpret at his discretion subject to ratification at the next AGM, SGM or EGM. Any delegate aggrieved by this decision may appeal at said meeting(s) but until such meeting(s), the Chairman’s decision shall be binding.
11. AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
The Constitution shall normally be amended by a motion at the AGM. Any proposal to amend the Constitution shall be sent to the Secretary at least four weeks prior to the AGM. However it may also be amended at a Special General Meeting and the Notice of Convening that SGM shall be sent all affiliates giving that proposal in full.
12. DISSOLUTION
Within 3 months of either:-
(1) The passing of an Executive Committee motion recommending dissolution
OR
(2) Receipt by the Secretary of a similar recommendation on behalf of at least 10 affiliated and paid up organisations, a Special General Meeting shall be
called.
At this SGM a motion to dissolve the organization shall be debated. A 2/3rds majority of the votes cast by those present and eligible to vote, will be necessary to carry the motion. If any such motion is carried the meeting shall decide to which organization(s) with similar aims and objectives any funds shall be given, after payment of all debts.
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ADDENDUM
BASED ON THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION
Our main objective shall be to promote the welfare and interests of pensioners, retired and older people within the South East Region of the National Pensioners Convention by any means deemed by law to be charitable. In pursuance of this objective, the Region will,
§ Promote policies beneficial to pensioners, retired and older people
§ Encourage the development of educational and other opportunities to enable pensioners, retired and older people to contribute to community activities.
§ Act as in information resource for pensioners, retired and older peoples organizations within the Region
§ Provide a platform where matters of concern can be raised and policies and practices developed, paying attention to the particular needs or problems of pensioners, retired and older people
§ Make representations to Governments, Members of Parliament, Members of the European Parliament, Health Authorities, Local Authorities and other Statutory and Voluntary bodies dealing with matters affect pensioners, retired and older people.
§ Act at all times without discrimination on grounds of age, gender, race, belief, disability or sexual orientation.
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