Hebveg's Constitution
Hebden Bridge
Community Supported Agriculture Group
HebVeg
Constitution
1. Name. The name of the group shall be: Hebden Bridge Community Supported Agriculture Group, commonly known as ‘HebVeg’
2. Aims. The aims of the group are to:
Secure land for sustainable food production for the explicit purpose of a community supported agriculture project, for the benefit of the local communities of Hebden Bridge and surrounding area.
Grow and trade healthy, affordable, local food using ecologically sound methods.
Build resilience into the local community by helping towards food security.
Develop the project in ways that protect and encourage biodiversity and wildlife.
Provide local employment at fair rates of pay in safe working conditions. We are pioneering a new economic model based on mutual benefit and shared risk and ensure that the growers and farmers have a decent livelihood.
Promote community supported agriculture to other communities and farms, learn from established CSAs and in the future share our learning (both economic and farming). We will demonstrate to other local farmers and landowners the possibilities for diversification into horticulture in this area. We will work co-operatively with neighbouring farms and other enterprises that share our principles.
Encourage community involvement and engagement in food growing and distribution, promoting a sense of community around the project. This community will be fully inclusive. People from all backgrounds, abilities, income groups and experiences are welcome to join.
Promote education in projects running on the site emphasizing the importance of localised food production.
Be open and transparent in our affairs, making decisions on the basis of consensus wherever possible and striving towards social justice.
Be a positive social enterprise and adopt the ‘triple bottom line’ approach to running our enterprise so that social and environmental objectives are met alongside financial ones. Surpluses will be re-invested into the social and environmental aims of the project.
3. Powers. In order to further the aims, the group shall have the power to:
Raise funds and receive contributions by subscription, donation and otherwise.
Encourage membership
Employ paid or unpaid agents, staff or advisers on such terms and conditions of employment as the group shall determine.
Co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them.
To establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects.
Do anything else within the law which promotes or helps to promote the objects.
4. Membership.
Application for membership may be made by any person regardless of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and educational qualifications, who wishes to receive a vegetable box or cropshare from the group, shows an interest and aptitude for the work of the group and has agreed to pay to the group any fee or other monies due for such services or work. The group can decide to supply non members as well.
Membership will automatically cease when a person no longer receives a Cropshare.
Members may also resign from HebVeg, but must give 3 months notice of their intention to terminate their Cropshare.
A General Meeting may resolve to terminate the membership of an individual or group. This decision must be communicated to the member, who must be given the opportunity to put their case to a subsequent General Meeting. Termination of membership shall not have effect until the decision is ratified at this subsequent meeting.
5. Officers. The Officers of the group shall include a Co-ordinator and Treasurer. The Officers shall be decided by the meeting at which this constitution is adopted and will stand until the first Annual General Meeting (AGM). Thereafter Officers shall be decided by the AGM. All Officers shall retire from office at the AGM but may be requested to take office again at the same AGM.
The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and shall present examined accounts at the AGM.
The Co-ordinator shall keep records of meetings and hold details of the membership. The Co-ordinator will also give members notice of the Annual General Meeting and of any Special General Meetings.
The Co-ordinator will support the flow of communication within the Group and ensure that General Meetings are held.
If any Officer retires between AGMs a General Meeting shall appoint a replacement.
6. General Meetings. General Meetings of the group shall be held at least four times a year. A formal record of the meetings shall be kept. Five members or 10% of the membership, whichever is the smaller number shall constitute a quorum. Decisions shall normally be made by consensus. By consensus is meant a situation where those not in agreement agree not to maintain an objection. In event of consensus not being possible then that decision shall be postponed until a further meeting. If a decision cannot be reached by consensus at this meeting then that decision will be made by simple two-thirds majority, with each member present having one vote.
7. Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting shall be held every year in January, or as soon as possible thereafter. The Co-ordinator shall give all members 21 days notice of an AGM. A report of the year's activities and the examined accounts shall be presented. Nominations for officers shall be made at the AGM. Officers will normally be chosen by consensus. If an agreement cannot be reached by consensus a decision shall be made on a show of hands by a simple two-thirds majority vote, with each individual member present having one vote. Officers shall serve from the end of the AGM to the following AGM. All members shall be entitled to attend the AGM.
8. Special General Meetings. A Special General Meeting may be called at any time if five members give a request to call one to the Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator must give 21 days notice of a Special General Meeting to all members.
9. An accidental omission to give a member notice of a meeting does not invalidate that meeting.
10. Finance. There shall be a bank account in the name of the group. Four members shall be authorised by the AGM, or in exceptional circumstances by a General Meeting, to sign cheques. Each cheque must be signed by two of these signatories, who must not be related.
The income and property of the group shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects.
Members may claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
An Independent Examiner, who is not a member of the group, shall be appointed to examine the accounts.
11. Amendments. The constitution may be amended at an AGM or a Special General Meeting, provided that 21 day's notice of full text of the amendments has been communicated to all members. Decisions on amendments shall normally be made by consensus. By consensus is meant a situation where those not in agreement agree not to maintain an objection. In event of consensus not being possible then that decision shall be postponed until a further meeting. If a decision cannot be reached by consensus at this meeting then that decision will be made by simple two-thirds majority, with each member present having one vote.
12. Dissolution. A decision to dissolve the Group may be made at a General Meeting provided that 21 day's notice of this resolution has been communicated to all members. Decisions on dissolution shall normally be made by consensus. By consensus is meant a situation where those not in agreement agree not to maintain an objection. In event of consensus not being possible then that decision shall be postponed until a further meeting. If a decision cannot be reached by consensus at this meeting then that decision will be made by simple three-quarters majority, with each member present having one vote.
In the event of dissolution, any assets remaining after the clearing of all debts and liabilities shall be given to a group having similar aims, or, if this cannot be done, to any charitable purposes.
This constitution was approved by the Officers on:
Co-ordinator ...............................................
2nd Co-ordinator ...............................................
Treasurer ...............................................