The Bridport Environment Group was set up in 2001 to initiate and support environmental projects within the geographical area of the Bridport Market and Coastal Towns Initiative (later the Bridport Community Initiative). In May 2005, following closure of the BCI, the Group adopted its own constitution. The Group is a member of the Steering Group of the Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP).

Membership of the Group is open to all members of the Bridport area community and costs £1 per annum (£5 for organisations).

The Group meets regularly and has a mailing list of more than seventy members of the Bridport area community. Its meetings are open to all members of the community. Notices and minutes of meetings are posted on this site. Officers: Chair, Charles Wild ; Secretary, Susan Anders ; Treasurer, Vince O'Farrell

The Bridport Environment Group Constitution

1.            Name

The name of the organisation is The Bridport Environment Group (the “Organisation”)

2.            Aims

The aims of the Organisation shall be:

a)    to promote and support environmentally sustainable practice within the Bridport area.

b)    to increase awareness and promote discussion of both global and local environmental issues.

c)    to work in partnership with other groups and organisations to protect and enhance the built and natural environment of the Bridport area.

d)    to scrutinise and influence local, regional and national policy, decisions and initiatives which affect the built and natural environment (including planning policy and decisions).

e)    to facilitate, support and, where appropriate, initiate and deliver environmental projects within the Bridport area.

f)     to act as a focus and point of contact for organisations and initiatives which support the aims of the Organisation.

 3.        Membership

Membership of the Organisation is open to individuals, groups and organisations which support the aims of the Organisation.

Each member (individual, group or organisation) shall have one vote.  Member groups and organisations shall appoint their own nominee to represent them on the Organisation.

Members must actively seek to develop and adopt an Equal Opportunities policy and in all aspects to welcome people without discrimination as to age, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or health (including HIV+ status), caring responsibilities, religious belief, social class, political belief, employment status, union membership, place of residence or housing status.

The Committee shall have the right:

a)            to approve membership

b)            to reject applications for membership

c)            for good and sufficient reason, to terminate the membership of any member provided that the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the committee via the grievance procedure before a final decision is made.

All members shall pay an annual subscription fee, the subscription fee to be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

4. Finance

All money raised by or on behalf of the Organisation is to be used only to further the aims of the Organisation.

The Treasurer shall open a bank account in the name of the Organisation.

Cheque signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one to be the Treasurer)

All cheques and instructions to the Organisation bankers shall require two of the agreed signatures.

The Treasurer shall have the Accounts checked annually by an independent auditor or examiner.

The Organisation will not lend money to members.

5.            The Committee

The Committee shall be elected to carry out the official and administrative business of the Organisation.

The Committee shall be made up of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and at least two (2) general members.  The officers and general members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

Only Members of the Organisation are eligible for nomination and election to the Committee.

Officers shall carry out the duties given to them by General Meetings.

The Committee shall meet no less than twice (2 times) a year.

Minutes of the Committee meetings shall be available to all members.

The Committee may introduce, co-opt or appoint new members.

No two members from the same household shall be Officers of the Committee.

The Committee has the authority to establish and dissolve sub-committees and working groups to undertake specific projects or address particular issues or areas of policy.

6.            Annual General Meeting (AGM)

There shall be an Annual General Meeting held every 12 months at which the Committee reports on its work, presents a statement of accounts and then resigns.

The AGM shall elect a new Committee, vote on recommendations and any amendments to the Constitution.

The Secretary will notify all members of the date of the meeting not less than fourteen (14) days before the AGM.

7.            Other General Meetings

A Special or Extraordinary General Meeting open to all members will be held if five (5) or more members submit in writing a request for such a meeting to the Secretary. The Secretary shall arrange for the meeting to take place within twenty-one (21) days.

The Secretary will notify all members of all Special or Extraordinary general meetings at least fourteen (14) days in advance.

Ordinary General Meetings may be held as frequently as decided by the membership (at present monthly).

The Secretary will notify all members of ordinary general meetings at least five (5) days in advance.

8.            Quorum

No general meeting or Annual General Meeting shall take place if less than five (5) members are present or if no member of the Committee is present.

No Committee meeting shall take place if less than half of the Committee are present or if no Officer is present.

9.            Changes to The Constitution

The constitution can only be altered at the AGM or EGM.

Any suggested changes to the constitution must be handed to the Secretary 30 (30) days before the AGM or EGM.

Changes to the constitution must be agreed by a simple majority of the members present at the meeting.

The Chair shall have the casting vote, should the original vote be tied.

None of the aims of the Organisation listed in Section 2 may be deleted, except by a two thirds majority of members voting at an Annual or Special General Meeting, the proposed change to be notified to members no less than fourteen (14) days before the meeting.

10.          Dissolution

The Organisation may only be dissolved at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose and must be advertised fourteen (14) days before the meeting.

A proposal to dissolve the Organisation shall only be accepted if signed by five (5) members, and notified to all members fourteen (14) days in advance.  The decision shall be effective if agreed by a two thirds majority of eligible voters present at the meeting.

Funds and possessions will be disposed of by a gift for charitable purposes in the area to a charity having substantially similar objects to the Organisation and in each case as agreed by a simple majority of the members present in person or by proxy at the meeting.

No members of the Organisation shall receive any benefit either in cash or in kind from any disposal of the Organisation’s assets.

11.          Standing Orders

Members shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a reasonable manner at meetings or in the premises used by the Organisation and be excluded if they contravene the objectives of the organisation. This will be done by a majority of those present and voting at any Committee or general meeting.

Any members may make a proposal. In order for it to be voted on by other members it must be seconded, (or supported) by someone else.

Only members present at the meeting may vote.

The only exception to the above rule will be that members whose disabilities or medical condition make it impossible to attend a meeting.  In these circumstances such members may empower the Chairperson or Secretary to vote on their behalf.

Before voting any member may propose an amendment which must also be seconded.

The Chairperson shall have the casting vote when there is equal voting.

This Constitution was adopted by the Bridport Environment Group

Date:               3 May 2005

Signed ………………………………..

Full Name ………………………….

Position ………………………………

Signed ………………………………..

Full Name ……………………………

Position…………………………………