Newark and Sherwood Solar Action Group (NASSAG) Constitution

1. Name of organisation
Newark and Sherwood Solar Action Group (NASSAG)

2. Aims and Objectives
The aims and objectives of NASSAG, an unincorporated association, will be:
* To scrutinise and challenge where necessary all aspects of unreasonable solar development proposals across the Newark and Sherwood District in an informed and logical fashion.
* To encourage local specialists to help in our aims and become members.
* To keep all local residents affected by solar development proposals informed of our activities on a regular basis.
* To encourage all local residents to take part in all consultations, providing them with details of how and when.
* To seek use of best endeavours in seeking help if needed and raise funds to do so.

3. Membership
(a) Membership is open to anyone interested in actively stopping or reducing in scale unreasonable solar development proposals across the Newark and Sherwood District.
(b) Membership is available regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or other beliefs.
(c) All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of practice.
(d) Membership is available to all volunteers supporting NASSAG as evidenced by being on the NASSAG newsletter email list or other similar criteria as determined from time to time by the committee.
(e) Individuals shall not be eligible to take part in the business of NASSAG, vote at general meetings unless any membership fee, if required and agreed at an AGM, has been paid by the due date.

4. Committee
* The affairs of NASSAG shall be conducted by a Committee which shall consist of the Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary, plus up to 7 additional Committee Members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
* All committee members must be members of NASSAG.
* If required, the committee shall elect a Vice Chair from among its members.
* The term of office shall be for one year, and members shall be eligible for re-election for a maximum of three years.
* If the post of any officer or ordinary committee member should fall vacant after such an election, the Executive Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy by cooption until the succeeding Annual General Meeting.
* The Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice, and rules that affect NASSAG.
* The Committee will have powers to appoint any advisers to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.
* The Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe NASSAG rules/regulations/constitution. The Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.
* The committee meetings will be convened by the Secretary of NASSAG and be held no less than 4 times per year.
* Only the posts listed above will have the right to vote at committee meetings.
* The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be 4.

5. Finances
(a) NASSAG treasurer will be responsible for the finances of NASSAG.
(b) The financial year of NASSAG will run from 1st January and end on 31st December.
(c) All NASSAG monies will be banked in an account held in the name of Newark and Sherwood Solar Action Group.
(d) A statement of annual accounts, having had an Independent Examination, will be presented by the treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
(e) All members of NASSAG shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of NASSAG.

6. Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings
* General Meetings are the means whereby the members of NASSAG exercise their democratic rights in conducting NASSAG’s affairs.
* NASSAG shall hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the month of February to:
* Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM.
* Receive reports from the Chairman and Secretary.
* Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts.
* Receive a report from those responsible for certifying NASSAG’s accounts.
* Elect the officers on the committee.
* Agree the membership fees, if any, for the following year.
* Consider any proposed changes to the Constitution.
* Deal with other relevant business.
* Notice of the AGM will be given by the NASSAG secretary with at least 10 days’ notice to be given to all members.
* Nominations for officers of the committee will be sent to the secretary at least 3 days prior to the AGM. In the event of no nominations being received for a specified officer position or insufficient candidates being nominated to form a committee, nominations may be taken from the floor of the AGM, along with a seconder and the agreement to stand from the individual.
* Proposed changes to the constitution shall be sent to the secretary prior to the AGM, who shall circulate them at least 7 days before an AGM.
* All members have the right to vote at the AGM.
* The quorum for AGMs will be 8.
* The Chairman of NASSAG shall hold a casting vote at general and committee meetings.
* An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary supported by at least 10 members of NASSAG. The committee shall also have the power to call an EGM by decision of a simple majority of the committee members.
* All procedures shall follow those outlined above for AGMs.

7. Amendments to the constitution
The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

8. Dissolution
(a) A resolution to dissolve NASSAG can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of those present.
(b) In the event of dissolution, all debts should be cleared and residual funds or assets following this will be distributed to a charity or charities to be decided at the absolute discretion of the Management Committee.

9. Declaration
The Newark and Sherwood Solar Action Group hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.