Dedicated to preserving a pleasant environment in the Wilmslow Area
1. The name of the Trust shall be The Wilmslow Civic Trust (herein after referred to as the "Trust").
2. The objects of the Trust shall be :-
[a] To promote the study of civic design.
[b] To stimulate public consciousness and appreciation of the amenity, history and character of Wilmslow and its surroundings.
[c] To promote the preservation, development and improvement of features of design quality, general amenity and historic interest.
[d] To pursue these ends by such means as meetings, lectures, study groups, exhibitions and publications.
3 The Trust shall have no political or religious activities and shall be of charitable status and may be registered with the Civic Voice.
4. Membership.
Membership shall be open to all who are interested in the aims of the Trust. Membership shall lapse if the subscription remains unpaid six months after it is due.
5. Subscriptions.
The membership fee shall be fixed by a simple majority vote of those present at either an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting.
6. Meetings.
The Annual General Meeting shall be held before 30 April to receive reports, to approve the audited accounts and to appoint the Honorary Auditor. At this meeting the Officers and members of the Executive Committee (herein after referred to as the "committee") shall be elected and any other business may be transacted of which at least fourteen days notice shall have been given to the Secretary in writing. The Committee shall draw up a programme of meetings and outings for the year. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called, by no fewer than ten members, at any time. Members must be given at least fourteen days notice of the topics to be discussed. Only topics so notified may be discussed.
7. Officers.
The Officers shall consist of the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The Chairman can appoint a deputy to act in his absence as and when required. All Officers shall relinquish office every year and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.
8.a. Committee.
The Committee shall consist of the Officers as defined in clause 6 above together with six members of the Trust elected at the Annual General Meeting, plus one representative nominated by Wilmslow Town Council, and one representative nominated by Cheshire East Council, if they so wish. Nominations for membership of the Committee must be in writing and in the hands of the Secretary not less than seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting and must be signed by the proposer, seconder and nominee. If the number of nominees exceeds the number of vacancies a poll shall be taken. In order to fill vacancies arising, members of the Committee may appoint other Trust members to fill the vacancies and such appointments shall be effective until the next Annual General Meeting. The Committee may, if it so wishes, co-opt up to two members of the Trust to serve on the committee until the next Annual General Meeting.
8.b. Declaration of interest.
Nominees for election as Officers or Committee members shall declare at the Annual General Meeting at which their election is to be considered, any financial or professional interest known or likely to be of concern to the Trust. Any Officer or Committee member who is, in any way, directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any committee meeting must declare such interest and shall not discuss or vote on such item, unless invited to do so by the Chairman Any Trustee who is, in any way, directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any committee meeting must declare such interest and withdraw from the meeting whilst this item is being discussed or a vote taken.
9. Auxiliary Officers.
The committee may appoint an Honorary Solicitor and other officers whom it considers necessary to ensure the efficient operation of the Trust, and at its discretion invite interested person/s to become Patrons.
10. Working Groups.
The Trust may bring into existence, as and when required, such working groups as it may consider necessary in pursuit of its aims and shall appoint a Chairman for each such group who shall thereupon become a member of the Committee. Other members for the working groups may be appointed without restriction of number at a General Meeting of the Trust and each working group may co-opt additional members at its discretion. Membership of a working group shall not confer with it membership of the Committee. Chairmen of such groups may appoint a deputy to represent them at meetings of the Committee.
11. Trustees.
There shall be three named members of the Trust including one committee member other than a serving officer to be Trustees of the Trust.
12. Quorum.
The quorum for transaction of business at the Annual General Meeting shall be fifteen members and for the Committee Meetings shall be five members.
13. Amendments.
The constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of members present and voting at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting provided that fourteen days notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members and provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise any amendment permitting the expenditure of funds of the Trust which is not charitable at law.
14. Bank Accounts.
The Bank Accounts of the Trust may be operated only by the signature of two of the officers.
15. Winding up.
The Trust may be dissolved only by a special meeting called with not less than fourteen days notice given to all members clearly stating its purpose. A two thirds majority of members present and voting is required to approve such dissolution. In the event of the winding up of the Trust, the disposal of the funds shall be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of the members and shall be applied solely for charitable purposes. On dissolution the minutes and other records of the Trust shall be deposited with the Cheshire Records Office.