1. NAME
The name of the organisation shall be
THE BRIGHTON & HOVE ARTS COUNCIL
(hereinafter referred to as “The Council”).
2. OBJECTS
The object of the council shall be to foster and promote the maintenance, improvement and development of the creative and interpretative arts among the inhabitants in the area of Brighton, Hove and district. As ancillary to the foregoing objects:-
(a) To act as a co-ordinating council for non-profit making bodies and individuals in the furtherance of activities which promote the objects of the Council.
(b) To provide liaison between each non-profit making bodies and individuals and the local government authorities.
(c) To establish or further the work of charitable institutions already existing or to be formed for the promotion of the said object.
(d) To present or assist in presenting public concerts, dramatic and musical performances, recitals, art exhibitions, lectures, arts festivals and other arts events.
(e) To compile lists of events promoted by participant bodies.
(f) To do all such things as are necessary to the attainment of the foregoing objects.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Council shall consist of:-
1. Representatives of subscribing County and District local authorities covering the area.
2. Representatives from each of the affiliated artistic non-profit making organisations whose prime function is the furtherance of interpretative and creative arts.
3. Individual members or bodies who may be invited to join the Council.
4. Associate members.
Explanatory notes
Local Authority Members The local authorities concerned shall each be entitled to appoint two representatives to serve as members of the Council.
Representatives of affiliated organisations
Each non-profit making organisation affiliated to the Council shall be entitled to appoint two representatives to serve on the Council.
Individual members or bodies The Executive Committee may invite any persons or bodies who support the work of the Council or who may have special knowledge or experience, to serve on the Council.
Associate Members Associate membership shall be open to any individual (not organisation) interested in the objects of the Council; they shall enjoy all advantages of membership and be admissible as members of the Executive Committee.
4. PRESIDENT & VICE-PRESIDENTS
A President and not more than six Vice-Presidents may be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
5. OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Council shall be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and seven other members elected from the membership.
The officers and members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until the end of the Annual General Meeting next following. They shall retire annually but be eligible for re-election, but the Chairman, after three years of continuous service in that office, shall not be eligible for re-election in that office for twelve months, but is not thereby disbarred from election to any other office. The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill casual vacancies until the next Annual General Meeting and to co-opt not more than three other persona. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to make additional secretarial arrangements as may be required. The Executive committee may delegate all or any of its powers to sub-committees. All acts and proceedings of such sub-committees shall be reported back to the Executive Committee as soon as possible. The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall be an “ex-officio” member of all sub-committees. At meetings of the Executive Committee six shall form a quorum.
6. NOMINATIONS
Nominations for officers and members of the Executive Committee must be in writing, signed by the proposer and seconder and with the signed assent of the nominee to be a charity trustee, and must reach the Secretary not later than the day before the Annual General Meeting. For persons filling casual vacancies, the Executive Committee may nominate such persons but they shall not be charity trustees.
7. FINANCE
Income may be in the form of grants from local authorities and other arts councils, subscriptions, donations, legacies, profits on activities or derived from any source other than by way of permanent trading.
All monies received shall be devoted to the objects of the Council.
No members of the Council shall receive payment either directly or indirectly for services to the Council other than for legitimate expenses incurred in the work of the Council, provided that this shall not prevent the payment to Council members who are not officers or members of any Committees of the Council, in respect of their services as professional artists at public performances organised for or sponsored by the Council. The Council may make grants to affiliated non-profit making organisations in order to further the objects of the Council.
The financial year of the Council shall end on March 31st. At the end of each financial year accounts shall be prepared, independently examined or audited and submitted to members not fewer than twenty-eight days before the Annual General Meeting.
The Council shall operate an account or accounts with any bank or building society which is authorised in the United Kingdom, as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. Withdrawals from the account(s) by cheque or other means must be authorised by any two of the following officers:- Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer & Secretary or in the event of vacancy another trustee as decided by the Executive Committee. The Council shall determine the rates of subscription for member organisations and individual and associate members or may delegate this to the Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee shall be indemnified by the Council for any liability incurred by them as the result of acting as the representatives of the Council provided that nothing in this clause shall entitle them to any indemnity against liability arising through negligence or fraud or similar actions on their part.
8. SUBSCRIPTIONS
Annual subscriptions shall become due on 1st April each year, with proportionate subscriptions payable prior to 1st April. If not paid within three months of this date, the Executive Committee shall have the power to withdraw the privileges of membership of that organisation or member.
9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Council shall be held not later than June 30th each year, twenty-eight days notice of which shall be given to each member. The business of the meeting shall include:-
(a) To receive the annual report from the Executive Committee
(b) To receive the balance sheet and statement of accounts from the Treasurer
(c) To elect Officers and Executive Committee under rules 4 & 5. If nominations exceed vacancies elections shall be by ballot.
(d) To elect Hon. Auditor and Hon. Legal Adviser
(e) To consider any motion of which notice in writing, signed by the proposer and seconder, has been given to the Secretary not fewer than fourteen days prior to the meeting.
10. EXTRA-ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
The Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting at any time on the instructions of the Executive Committee or at the request in writing of not fewer than ten members of the Council.
At any general meeting each Council member present shall be entitled to one vote.
The quorum for an extraordinary general meeting shall be not less than 25% of member organisations and individual members. No business shall be transacted unless a quorum is present.
11. COMPANIES
The Council shall have power to set up or acquire companies limited by guarantee. Memorandum and Articles to be approved by the Council in full session.
12. DISSOLUTON
The Council shall only be dissolved by a resolution passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for such a purpose. In the event of such a dissolution, any funds remaining after payment of debts properly incurred shall be transferred to some other society or council having objects similar to the objects of this Council and which shall prohibit the distribution of its income and property to an extent as great as is imposed by Rule 7.
13. ALTERATION TO RULES
No alteration to these rules shall be made without a resolution proposed, seconded and approved by a two-thirds majority vote of members present and voting at a General Meeting of the Council.
A motion for the alteration of any rule must reach the Secretary in writing and signed by one proposer and one seconder, not fewer than twenty-one days before the meeting at which it is to be considered.
Fourteen days notice of such meeting should be given by the Secretary to all members and must include notice of the motion proposed.
No alteration to Rules 2, 7, 12 & 13 shall be made without the prior approval of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales or other authority having charitable jurisdiction.
Registered Charity No 270293
Constitution updated and reprinted following amendment June 2018