Hebridean Marine National Park Partnership

Constitution

Approved and adopted at the Inaugural Meeting held on 2nd September 2002.
As amended at the AGM held on 27th November 2006.

1. Name.
   
   The organisation shall be called the “Hebridean Partnership”. Referred to as the “Partnership” in this constitution document.
   
   
2. Location.
   
   The area of particular interest includes: Mallaig and the Small Isles to the North, Coll and Tiree to the West. The Gulf of Corryvreckan and Crinan to the South, Oban and Fort William to the East. It includes all of the sea lochs within the area and the “watershed” area that drains into the area.

3. Aims.

• To protect the habitats, fauna and flora within the area.

• To promote and encourage environmentally friendly, sustainable use of the seas and land within the area and those that surround the area.

• To promote educational programmes: to schools, communities and commercial sectors to enhance the aims of the Partnership.

4. The Partnership.
   
   Membership of the Partnership is open to all members of the community, resident or non-resident within the area.
   
   Membership of the Partnership is open to all organisations, businesses and companies, located within or out of the area.

5. General Meetings.
   
   The Partnership shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in each calendar year. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) shall be held when required.
   
   Twenty-one days notice of General Meetings shall be given to Partnership members with voting rights. Public notice will be issued, if practicable. 
   
   Motions put forward to an AGM or General Meeting must be submitted in writing to either the Secretary or Chairman twenty-eight days before that General Meeting.                                                                                                                                                                        Emergency motions: In situations where new information has become available and an urgent response may be required the 28 day ruling, for the presentation of motions to a General Meeting, may be waived. Notice should be given by the most economical means.  
   
   Partnership voting rights: Any member wishing to vote at a General Meeting must have completed a membership form and submitted it, fully completed to the Secretary no less than twenty-one days before a General Meeting.
   
   Partnership voting rights; businesses, companies and organisations (entitlement: one vote each) wishing to vote at a General Meeting must have completed a membership form and submitted it, fully completed, stating the name of their representative to the Secretary no less than twenty-one days before a General Meeting.
   
   All proposed motions at a General Meeting shall be in writing and must be seconded.                                                                                                                                                                  Internet Communications may be accepted as part of general meetings.
   
   
6. Office Bearers.
   
   There shall be a Chairman (Mister/Madam), Vice-Chairman (Mister/Madam), Secretary and Treasurer. These positions are for a two-year period. The Chairman/Secretary and the Vice-Chairman/Treasurer on alternate years. Providing a continuity of two officers. An outgoing officer may be re-elected.
   
   
7. The Committee.
   
   The Committee shall consist of the Office Bearers and as many committee members as decided by the AGM (six general members being ideal).
   
   Committee members shall be elected at the AGM by a simple majority of those present.
   
   The Committee may co-opt people onto the committee when required between AGM’s.
   
   
8. Proceedings of the Committee.
   
   The Committee shall manage all general affairs of the Partnership.
   
   The Committee may make and amend rules as necessary for the well being of the Partnership. These would be subject to the approval of the next General Meeting.
   
   The Committee may meet as often as it may determine for the welfare of the Partnership but at least once every three calendar months.
   
   The Committee shall meet on the request of the Chairman or of any three members of the Committee.
   
   The Secretary shall give at least seven days notice, in writing if possible, of every meeting of the Committee, stating the agenda. Unless, urgent circumstances require shorter notice.
   
   Accurate minutes of all meetings shall be made by the Secretary or in the absence of the Secretary, any committee member appointed by the Committee.
   
   All matters shall be decided by a simple majority of the members present in accordance with the agreed method at the meeting of the Committee.
   
   There shall preside at any Committee meeting the Chairman, or in the absence of the Chairman the Vice-Chairman or any committee member appointed by the Committee.
   
   The quorum at a meeting of the Committee shall be five; at least two shall be Office Bearers. An Office Bearer and one member or two members may be absent from the meeting but must indicate their opinion to any decision implemented in writing before that asction is to be taken. In that case the minimum number of members in attendance must be three and to include at least one Office Bearer. The Chairman shall only have a casting vote.
   
   The Committee may invite “interested parties” to the Committee but they cannot vote at committee meetings.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Internet Communications may be accepted as part of committee meetings.                                 
9. Activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       To encourage the application of existing and future environmental legislation, initiatives and commitments.
   
   
10. Special Committees.
    
    The Committee may appoint a Special Committee as required in the interests of the Partnership or Park. The Committee may also determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition; subject to their approval at the next General Meeting.
    
    Special Committees shall at all times be answerable to and make regular reports to the Committee.
    
    All Special Committees shall have the Chairman or Vice-Chairman or a committee member appointed by the Committee presiding.
    
    
11. Finance.
    
    The financial year of the Partnership shall be from 1st April to 31st March.
    
    The Committee shall control the ordinary expenditure of the Partnership subject to the approval and direction of any General Meeting. No liability shall be incurred or any payment made without the Committees prior approval.
    
    The Partnership shall maintain a bank/building society account in the name of the Partnership and all cheques over fifty pounds shall be signed by: - the Treasurer and any one of the remaining Office Bearers. In extenuating circumstances cheques may be signed by any two Office Bearers, in which case the Treasurer shall be notified as soon as is practicable.
    
    Cheques issued for sums of fifty pounds or less may be signed by any one of the Office Bearers, subject to the following restriction: that the person making the claim for reimbursement of expenses or personal expenses should not be the authorised signatory.
    
    The Committee shall keep true accounts of all monies, assets and liabilities concerning the Partnership.
    
    Prior to the AGM, the Treasurer shall submit the accounts to an independent examination (or to an examination as determined by the current legislation). An appropriate independent examiner will be elected at the previous AGM.
    
    A certified statement of the Partnerships accounts that comply with the current legislation shall be produced at the AGM.
    
    The Treasurer will lay before the Committee an up to date extract of the Partnerships accounts, a minimum of once every three calendar months.
    
    
12. Funds and Assets.
    
    All funds and assets belonging to the Partnership shall be applied to the promotion of the aims of the Partnership.
    
    
13. Dissolution.
    
    The Partnership may only be dissolved by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of voting members at an EGM called for this purpose.
    
    In the event of dissolution the funds and assets of the Partnership remaining after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities shall not be divided between the remaining members. The remaining funds and assets shall be donated to an organisation(s) of similar standing, decided at the EGM.
    
    
14. Misconduct and Expulsion.
    
    Non-compliance of the constitution or any conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Partnership or Park may on a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the Committee result in suspension or expulsion from the Partnership.
    
    Any aggrieved parties may make a written appeal to the next General Meeting.
    
    
15. Resignation.
    
    Any resignation from the Partnership must be in writing to the Secretary.
    
    
16. Alterations to the Constitution.
    
    The Constitution may not be altered except on a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the Partnership present at a General Meeting.
    
    A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be received in writing by the Secretary at least twenty-eight days before the General Meeting at which the resolution is to be considered. Such a resolution will include in writing notice of the alterations proposed to the Constitution.