Adopted Constitution – Version 1.3 - Revision date 1/3/04

1 TITLE
The name of the organisation shall be SPADE – (Sunningwell Parishioners Against Damage to the Environment).

2 PURPOSE
SPADE is an organisation formed by residents within the villages of Sunningwell and Bayworth and immediate surrounding areas, in direct response to public demand for action to be taken against the proposed Penbridge development in Sunningwell, arising out of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan consultation 2003-04. Working alongside the parish council, its principal purpose is to resist significant and inappropriate development in the local area, including but not exclusively the Green Belt, using the democratic process.

3 AIMS
• To campaign and lobby on issues relating to significant and inappropriate planning and development of the local area
• To provide a focus for those in the neighbourhood who wish to resist significant and inappropriate development
• To engage local residents in resisting significant and inappropriate development
• To keep the neighbourhood informed on any significant and inappropriate development
• To raise funds to support the work of SPADE
• To be the representative body for local residents during the structure plan consultation process

4. METHODS
• By arranging local meetings at which members of the general public may attend and discuss progress, issues arising and action required to be taken
• By arranging active member meetings at which emerging issues and work programme details will be discussed. Such meetings may, but are not required to be, held monthly or at such other frequency which is deemed appropriate due to current workloads
• By direct door to door interaction with local residents
• By circulation of newsletters and other printed material
• By posting of public notices on the village notice boards and other appropriate positions
• By the composition of a web site www.sunningwell.org upon which relevant information will be regularly posted
• By networking with others who are working to preserve our landscape and environment
• By lobbying decision makers and those who can influence decision makers on matters regarding inappropriate development
• By soliciting press and media coverage

5. OBJECTIVES
• To be recognised as an independent body representing the views of local residents
• To generate an appropriate response to those areas in the structure plan review which require strengthening to ensure the enhancement and protection of the local Green Belt
• To deliver that response to the Structure Plan on behalf of local residents
• To facilitate the writing of lobbying letters to local councillors to ensure that they are aware of the strength of feeling on these issues
• To obtain the necessary professional services that may be required
• To be in an informed position to take part in the examination in public of the Structure Plan in Spring 2004
• To sustain an organisation that will have sufficient credibility to present the views of the residents at any formal hearing or inquiry
• To raise money where necessary to support SPADE’s aims and objectives

6. MEMBERSHIP
The members of the organisation are those who choose to regularly attend SPADE meetings and request to be included in the active members listing. The active members listing will be maintained by the joint secretaries. There shall be no subscription for membership. Members are required to subscribe to the aims and objectives of the organisation. Failure to do so will result in the members removal from the active members listing.

7. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The management and decision making of the organisation shall be in the hands of a Committee consisting of the following officers:-

• Chair
• Joint secretariat (two positions)
• Media officer
• Treasurer

Officers shall be elected by and out of the organisation’s membership biannually in November each year. A quorum for decision making will be any three committee members. Committee meetings may, but are not required to be, held fortnightly or at such other frequency which is deemed appropriate due to current workloads
A wider group of active SPADE members will be maintained, from which co-opted individuals, willing to use their expertise and time as circumstances dictate, will be sought by the Committee.

8. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No individual shall be excluded from membership of the organisation or debarred from any official capacity on the Committee on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or political affiliation.

9. POWERS
In furtherance of the aims the Committee may exercise the following powers:
• power to raise funds and to invite contributions
• power to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the aims
• power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objectives or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them;
• power to establish or support charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objectives;
• power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Committee may think fit;
• power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objectives.

10. FINANCE
All monies received shall be devoted to the objectives of the organisation and shall be invested into a bank account approved by the Committee.
Bank accounts shall be operated in the name of the organisation and withdrawals shall be made on the signature of two of the officers of the organisation, one of whom shall be the Treasurer.
The organisation’s financial year shall run from 1st April – 31st March.
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts and shall be responsible for advising and reporting to the organisation of all financial matters affecting its activities.
The Treasurer shall present to the committee annually a Statement of Accounts of the organisation for the preceding financial year.
The accounts shall be audited or examined annually to the extent required by legislation or, if there is no such requirement, scrutinised by a person who is independent of the Committee.

11. DISSOLUTION
In the event of the organisation being wound up, any assets remaining upon dissolution after the payment of proper debts and liabilities shall be transferred to a charitable institution or institutions having similar objectives to those of the organisation, or disposed of for the benefit of the parishioners.

12. AVAILABILITY OF CONSTITUTION
A copy of the constitution shall be placed on the organisation’s website and be available upon request to all members and the public.

13. AMENDMENTS
The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the officers of the Committee.