Following a Special General Meeting held on April 18th 2023, the Constitution has been revised:
1. NAME The name of the Group shall be the Ogbourne St.Andrew Parish History Group.
2. OBJECTS. The object of the Group is to create an indexed Archive of the History of the Parish.
In furtherance of this aim the Group shall;- i. Promote research into subjects directly connected with its object.
ii. Use any relevant media to record such research.
iii. Publish papers, reports, and other relevant material.
iv. Hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions.
v. Raise funds by inviting contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way
of subscription, donation and otherwise.
vi. Do all such other lawful acts as are necessary for the attainment of the said object.
3. MEMBERSHIP. i. Membership shall be open to all who are interested in furthering the purposes of
the Group. All paid-up members shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Group.
ii. Persons below the age of eighteen shall be Junior Members with no entitlement to
vote at any meeting of the Group.
be payable at the AGM.
ii. The subscription of a member joining the Group in the three months before 1st
ii. The subscription of a member joining the Group in the three months before 1st
May in any year shall cover membership for the year following that date.
iii. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is unpaid three months after it is due.
5. MEETINGS. i. An Annual General Meeting shall be held in or about May of each year to receive the
Committee’s report, the independently examined accounts and to elect Officers and
Members of the Committee.
ii. At least 14 days notice of the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting
shall be given to members.
iii. The Committee shall decide when ordinary meetings of the Group shall be held.
iv. Special General Meetings of the Group shall be held if called for by the committee or
at the written request of ten or more paid-up members.
v. A quorum for a Meeting shall consist of ten or more members personally present.
vi. The Committee shall give at least 7 days to notice to members of all Meetings of the
Group.
6. OFFICERS. i. The Officers of the Group shall consist of;-
Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, all of whom shall relinquish their office every year and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting
ii. The Committee shall have the power to fill casual vacancies occurring among the
Officers of the Group.
7. THE COMMITTEE. i. The Committee shall be responsible for the management and administration
of the Group. It shall consist of the Officers and not less than 2 and not more than
4 other members.
ii. The quorum shall be 4 members of the Committee.
iii. All members shall relinquish their office every year and shall be eligible for
re-election at the Annual General Meeting.
iv. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt further members who shall act
in a non-voting capacity.
v. The Committee shall have the power to fill up to three casual vacancies occurring
between General Meetings
vi. In the event of an equality in the votes cast, the Chairman shall have a second or
casting vote.
8. ELECTIONS. i. Elections of Officers and Committee members shall take place each year at the Annual
General Meeting.
ii. Nominations shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least 7 days before
the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations must be supported by a seconder and
the consent of the nominee must first have been obtained.
iii. The election of Officers shall be completed prior to the election of further
Committee members.
iv. If the nominations exceed the number of vacancies, a ballot shall take place in such
manner as shall be determined.
9. EXPENSES. i. The Committee shall, out of the funds of the Group, pay all proper expenses
of administration and management of the Group.
ii. The remaining funds shall be applied by the Committee to further the purposes
of the Group.
10. AMENDMENTS. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present at
an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Group, provided that 14
days notice of the proposed amendment has been given to all members.
11. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given by this Constitution shall be deemed to be duly given if
left at the last notified address of the member or sent there by electronic means or by
pre-paid post.
12. WINDING UP. i. The Group may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of members voting at an
Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
ii. If, at either meeting, a motion for the dissolution of the Group is to be proposed
this motion shall be referred to specifically when notice is given.
iii. In the event of the dissolution of the Group the Archive and records of the Group
shall be deposited between The Merchant’s House, High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire;
The Swindon History Centre, Chippenham; the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural
History Society, as appropriate until suitable accommodation becomes available within
the Parish of Ogbourne St. Andrew.
iii. The deposited material shall be made available to any interested person.
iv. Any residual funds of the Group shall be apportioned in whatever manner as the
meeting decides between Ogbourne St Andrews’ Parish Council and Parochial Church
Council.
v. Any other assets of the Group shall be disposed of as the meeting feels appropriate.