Contents

1.   Name of organisation

2.   Aims

3.   Members

4.   Equal Opportunities

5.   Committee and officers

6.   AGM and other meetings

7.   Rules of procedure for meetings

8.   Finances

9.   Changes to the constitution

10. Dissolution

 

1. Name of Organisation

Tree Squad - Compton Branch 

(Also known as ‘Tree Squad’)

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2. Aims and Objectives

The primary aim of our group is to:

Enhance and improve the biodiversity and natural environment of Inwood Crescent and Compton Road with the agreement and support of the local residents, and with the overall aim of making a local contribution towards tackling the climate and ecological crisis. 

We will begin by joining the Plant Your Postcode scheme to facilitate new street tree planting in our neighbourhood, and will also explore other ideas as they arise.

We aim to do this by undertaking initiatives:

• where all residents are given a chance to have a say and/or get involved;

• that do not discriminate against any residents or visitors to the area;

• that will support net gains in biodiversity for our street;

• that are as carbon neutral to implement and maintain as feasible;

• where waste is minimised;

• that do not adversely impact the health and safety of our residents or neighbourhood.

In order to do this we will:

• gather residents’ ideas and views on what we can do, and how to achieve our aims;

• raise funds to achieve the above aims;

• provide a friendly forum for community involvement in local sustainability projects;

• keep residents and members informed of our activities.

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3. Members

Membership to the Tree Squad is open to all residents of Inwood Crescent and Compton Road.

Currently members can join Tree Squad by joining the WhatsApp group or by contacting Tree Squad through treesquad.compton@gmail.com. Residents under 16 yrs are welcome to join and can be registered with their parent's permission.

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4. Equal Opportunities

Tree Squad is committed to treating all people equally and with respect; irrespective of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

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5. Committee and Officers

The business of the group will be carried out by a Committee, with help from the members. The inaugural Committee will consist of volunteers involved in the establishment of the group.  Subsequent Committees will be elected at the Annual General Meetings. The Committee will meet as necessary, and not less than four times a year.

The committee will consist of 3 officers. Additional members may be co-opted onto the Committee at the discretion of the Committee.

The officers’ roles are as follows:

• Chair, who shall chair both general and committee meetings.

• Secretary, who shall be responsible for the taking of minutes and the distribution of all papers.

• Treasurer who shall be responsible for maintaining accounts.

In the event of an officer standing down during the year, a temporary replacement will be nominated by the Committee and the role will be up for election at the next Annual General Meeting. 

Any committee member not attending a meeting without apology for four months will be contacted by the committee and asked if they wish to resign.

The Committee meetings will be open meetings where any member can attend.

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6. Meetings

6.1. Annual General Meetings

An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within fifteen months of the previous AGM.

All members will be notified in writing at least 3 weeks before the date of the meeting, giving the venue, date and time.

Nominations for the committee may be made to the Secretary before the meeting, or at the meeting.

The quorum for the AGM will be 10% of the membership.

At the AGM:-

• The Committee will present a report of the work of Tree Squad - Compton Branch over the year.

• The Committee will present the accounts of Tree Squad - Compton Branch for the previous year.

• The officers and Committee for the next year will be elected.

• Any proposals given to the Secretary at least 7 days in advance of the meeting will be discussed.

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6.2 Special General Meetings

The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the majority of the committee or at least eight other members giving a written request to the Chair or Secretary stating the reason for their request.

The meeting will take place within twenty-one days of the request.

All members will be given two weeks notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda, and notice may be by telephone, email or post.

The quorum for the Special General Meeting will be 10% of the membership.

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6.3 General Meetings

General Meetings are open to all members and will be held when necessary.

All members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda, and notice may be by telephone, email or post.

The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 10% of the membership or 5 members, whichever is the greater number.

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6.4 Committee Meetings

Committee meetings may be called by the Chair or Secretary. Committee members must receive notice of meetings at least 7 days before the meeting.

The quorum for Committee meetings is three Committee members.

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7. Rules of Procedure for meetings

All questions that arise at any meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general consensus among those present.

If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.

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8. Finances

An account will be maintained on behalf of the Association at a bank agreed by the committee. Three cheque signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one to be the Treasurer).  The signatories must not be related nor members of the same household.

All payments will be signed by two of the signatories.

• For cheque payments, the signatories will sign the cheque.

• For other payments (such as BACS payments, cash withdrawals, debit card payments or cash payments), a requisition note will be signed by two signatories, and held by the treasurer.

Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement given at each Committee or Annual General Meeting.

All money raised by or on behalf of Tree Squad - Compton Branch is only to be used to further the aims of the group, as specified in item 2 of this constitution.

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9. Amendments to the Constitution

Amendments to the constitution may only be made at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.

Any proposal to amend the constitution must be given to the Secretary in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the notice of the meeting.

Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.

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10. Dissolution

If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the group it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group.

If it is agreed to dissolve the group, all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a local charitable organisation. The organisation will be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.