1)       Name

The name of the Association is the "Yorkshire & Humberside Brass Band Association" ("the Charity").

 2)       Administration

Subject to the matters set out below the Charity and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of the Executive Committee, constituted by clause 7 of this constitution ("the Executive Committee").

 3)       Objects

The Charity's objects ("the objects") are to maintain, improve and advance the education of the public through the promotion of the practise and performance of brass band music.

 4)        Powers

In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Executive Committee may exercise the following powers:

 i)        power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in  raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any substantial  permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements  of the law;

ii)       power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the  achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use;

iii)     power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all  or any part of the property of the Charity;

iv)      power subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to charge all or any part of the property of the Charity with repayment of the money so borrowed;

v)       power to 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;

vi)      power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;

vii)    power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Executive Committee may think fit;

viii)   power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the  achievement of the objects;

ix)     the Trustees shall have power to provide indemnity Insurance for themselves out of the income of the Charity provided that any such insurance shall not extend to any claim arising from any act or omission which the Trustees knew to be a breach of trust or breach of duty or which was committed by the Trustees in reckless disregard of whether it was a breach of trust or breach of duty or not provided also that any such insurance shall not extend to the costs of an unsuccessful defence to a criminal prosecution brought against the trustees in their capacity as trustees of the Charity.

5)       Membership

i)        Membership of the Charity shall be open to any body corporate or unincorporated association which is interested in furthering the Charity's work and has paid any annual subscription (any such body being called in this constitution a "member organisation").

ii)       Every member organisation shall have one vote.

iii)     Each member organisation shall appoint an individual to represent it and to vote on its behalf at meetings of the Charity; and may appoint an alternate to replace its appointed representative at any meeting of the Charity if the appointed representative is unable to attend.

iv)      Each member organisation shall notify the name of the representative appointed by it, and of any alternate, to the secretary. If the representative or alternate resigns from or otherwise leaves the member organisation, he or she shall forthwith cease to be the representative of the member organisation.

v)       The Executive Committee may unanimously and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual or member organisation: provided that the individual concerned or the appointed representative of the member organisation concerned (as the case may be) shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee, accompanied by a substitute person of their choice, before a final decision is made.

vi)      Associate membership of the Charity shall also be open to any individuals (over the age of 18) who are interested in furthering the work of the Charity and who have paid any annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee.

vii)    Associate members shall not have a vote unless an elected Officer.
 
6)       Honorary Officers

At the annual general meeting of the Charity the members shall elect from amongst themselves a chairman, a secretary and a treasurer who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting.

7)       Executive Committee

i)        The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than 7 members nor more than 15 members being:

a)       the honorary officers specified in the preceding clause

b)       not less that 4 and not more than 12 members elected at the annual general meeting who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting.

ii)       The Executive Committee may in addition appoint not more than 5 co‑opted members but so that no‑one may be appointed as a co‑opted member if, as a result, more than one third of the members of the Executive Committee would be co‑opted members. Each appointment of a co‑opted member shall be made at a special meeting of the Executive Committee called under clause 10 (1) and shall take effect from the end of that meeting unless the appointment is to fill a place which has not then been vacated in which case the appointment shall run from the date when the post becomes vacant.

 iii)     All the members of the Executive Committee shall retire from office together at the end of the annual general meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be re‑elected or re‑appointed.

 iv)      The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their number or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the appointment or qualification of a member.

 v)       Nobody shall be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee who is aged under 18 or who would if appointed be disqualified under the provisions of the following clause.

 vi)      No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Executive Committee whether on a first or on any subsequent entry into office until after signing in the minute book of the Executive Committee a declaration of acceptance and of willingness to act in the trusts of the Charity.

 8)       Determination of Membership of Executive Committee

A member of the Executive Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:

i)        is disqualified from acting as a member of tine Executive Committee by virtue of section 45 of the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re‑enactment or modification of that provision);

ii)       becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs;

iii)     is absent without the permission of the Executive Committee from all their meetings held within a period of six months and the Executive Committee resolve that his or her office be vacated; or

iv)      notifies to the Executive Committee a wish to resign. (but only if at least three members of the Executive Committee will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect). 

9)       Executive Committee members not to be personally interested

 i)        No member of the Executive Committee shall acquire any interest in property belonging to the Charity (otherwise than as a trustee for the Charity) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the Executive Committee) in any contract entered into by the Executive Committee.

ii)       and subject to clause 4 (ix)

10)   Meetings and proceedings of the Executive Committee

i)        The Executive Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chairman or by any two members of the Executive Committee upon not less that 4 days notice being given to the other members of the Executive Committee of the matters to be discussed but if the matters include an appointment of a co‑opted member then not less than 21 days' notice must be given. 

ii)       The chairman shall act as chairman at meetings of the Executive Committee. If the chairman is absent from any meeting the members of the Executive Committee present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

iii)     There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the number of members of the Executive Committee for the time being or three members of the Executive Committee, whichever is the greater, are present at a meeting.

iv)      Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

v)       The Executive Committee shall keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose, of the proceedings at meetings of the Executive Committee and any sub‑committee.

vi)      The Executive Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings and the custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this constitution.

vii)    The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub‑committees consisting of three or more members of the Executive Committee for the purpose of making any inquiry or supervising or performing any function or duty which in the opinion of the Executive Committee would be more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub‑committee: provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub‑committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee.

viii)   The Executive Committee may from time to time call a meeting of the representatives of each member organisation. At least 7 days notice of such meeting must be given.

11)   Receipts and expenditure

i)        The funds of the Charity, including all donations contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Executive Committee in the name of the 1 Charity at such bank as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of the Executive Committee.

ii)       The funds belonging to the Charity shall be applied only in furthering the objects.

12)   Property

i)        Subject to the provisions of sub‑clause (2) of this clause and sub‑clause 4 (ix), the Executive Committee shall cause the title to:

a)       all land held by or in trust for the Charity which is not vested in the Official Custodian for Charities; and

b)       all investments held by or on behalf of the Charity;

to be vested either in a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee or in not less than three individuals appointed by them as holding trustees. Holding trustees may be removed by the Executive Committee at their pleasure and shall act in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive Committee. Provided they act only in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive Committee, the holding trustees shall no' t be liable for the acts and defaults of its members.

ii)       If a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee has not been appointed to hold
the property of the Charity, the Executive Committee may permit any investments held by or in trust for the Charity to be held in the name of a clearing bank, trust corporation or any stockbroking company which is a member of the International Stock Exchange (or any subsidiary of any such stockbroking company) as nominee for the Executive Committee, and may pay such a nominee reasonable and proper remuneration for acting as such.

13)   Accounts

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re­enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to:

i)        the keeping of accounting records for the Charity;

ii)       the preparation of annual statements of account for the Charity;

iii)     the auditing or independent examination of the statements of account of the Charity; and

iv)      the transmission of the statements of account of the Charity to the Commissioners.

14)   Annual Report

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re­enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the Commissioners.

15)   Annual Return

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re­enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual return and its transmission to the Commissioners.

16)   Annual General Meeting

i)         There shall be an annual general meeting of the Charity which shall be held in the month of March in each year or as soon as practicable thereafter.

ii)       Every annual general meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall give at least 21 days' notice of the annual general meeting to all the members of the Charity. All the members of the Charity shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.

iii)     Before any other business is transacted at the first annual general meeting the  persons present shall appoint a chairman of the meeting. The chairman shall be the  chairman of subsequent annual general meetings, but if he or she is not present,  before any other business is transacted, the persons present shall appoint a  chairman of the meeting.

iv)      The Executive Committee shall present to each annual general meeting the report  and accounts of the Charity for the preceding year.

v)       Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by members of the Charity in writing and must be in the hands of the secretary of the Executive  Committee at least 14 days before the annual general meeting. Should nominations  exceed vacancies, election shall be by ballot. Should nominations fail to meet  minimum requirements, the chairman with the agreement of the meeting may  accept nominations on the day of the meeting. 

vi)      Associate members are entitled to attend the meeting but are not entitled to vote.

17)   Special General Meetings

The Executive Committee may call a special general meeting of the Charity at any time. If at least ten members request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered the secretary shall call such a meeting. At least 21 days' notice must be given. The notice must state the business to be discussed.

18)   Procedure at General Meetings

i)        The Secretary or other person specially appointed by the Executive Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every general meeting of the Charity.

ii)       There shall be a quorum when at least one tenth of the number of members of the  Charity for the time being or eight members of the Charity (including Officers),  whichever is the greater, are present at any general meeting.

19)   Notices

Any notice required to be served on any member of the Charity shall be in writing and shall be served by the secretary or the Executive Committee on any member either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member at his or her last known address in the United Kingdom, and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of posting.

20)   Alterations to the constitution

i)        Subject to the following provisions of this clause the Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the general meeting must include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.

ii)       No amendment may be made to clause 1 (the name of Charity clause). clause 3 (the objects clause), clause 9 (Executive Committee members not to be personally interested clause), clause 21 (the dissolution clause) or this clause without the prior consent in writing of the Commissioners.

iii)     No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Charity cease to be a Charity at law.

iv)      The Executive Committee should promptly send to the Commissioners a copy of any amendment made under this clause.

21)   Dissolution

If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Charity it shall call a meeting of all members of the Charity, of which not less than 21 days' notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two‑thirds majority of those present and voting the Executive Committee shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Charity. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Charity as the members of the Charity may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose. A copy of the statement of accounts, or account and statement, for the final accounting period of the Charity must be sent to the Commissioners.

22)   Arrangements until first Annual General Meeting

Until the first annual general meeting takes place this constitution shall take effect as if references in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.

This constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.

Signed: P Tomlinson, D Hill, F R A Stirk, Alan Martin, D M Ratcliffe, C Wormald, D Lancaster, M Bryan, A D Milner, P Sanderson.

Mrs M. Williams
7 The Lea,
Garforth,
Leeds,
LS25 2BT

Tel:  (+44) 0113 2860005