Chester and District Scout Council CONSTITUTION

Transcription

1 Chester and District Scout Council CONSTITUTION 1. Introduction 1.1 Chester and District Scout Council is the electoral body which supports Scouting in the District. It is the body to which the District Executive Committee is accountable. 1.2 All elected and constitutional bodies of The Scout Association at Headquarters, County, and District should have, as full voting members, at least two young people between the age of 18 and 25 years old. This policy, as a matter of good practice, should also be applied to any ad hoc, short or long term working groups or committees. 2. Membership 2.1 Membership of the District Scout Council is open to: Commissioners Scouters Administrators Section Assistants Skills Instructors Advisers All Explorer Scouts All members of the District Scout Network Chairmen of Troop Leadership Forums in the District Members and Associate Members of the Movement registered in the Scout District and including Members of Active Support Units All parents of Explorer Scouts Persons elected or re-elected annually by the District Scout Council on the recommendation of the District Commissioner and the District Executive Committee The County Commissioner and County Chairman (ex officio) 2.2 Membership of the District Scout Council ceases upon: The resignation of the member The dissolution of the Council The termination of membership by Headquarters following a recommendation by the County Executive Committee 3. Annual General Meeting 3.1 The District Scout Council must hold an Annual General Meeting within six months of the financial year end to:

2 Approve the Annual Report of the District Executive Committee, including the annual statement of accounts Approve the District Commissioner's nomination of the District Chairman and nominated members of the District Executive Committee Elect a District Secretary unless the District Secretary is employed by the District Executive Committee Elect a District Treasurer Elect members of the District Executive Committee Elect Group Scouters to represent the District on the County Scout Council Appoint an auditor or independent examiner or scrutineer as required 4. The District Executive Committee 4.1 The District Executive Committee exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of the appointment and to provide support for Scout Groups, Explorer Scout Units and any District Scout Network in the District. 4.2 The District Executive Committee consists of: Ex officio members: The District Chairman The District Commissioner The District Secretary The District Treasurer The District Explorer Scout Commissioner Nominated members: At least four but not more than six persons nominated by the District Commissioner The nominations must be confirmed or otherwise at the District Annual General Meeting Persons nominated need not be members of the District Scout Council and their number must not exceed that of the elected members Elected members: At least four but not more than six persons elected at the District Annual General Meeting Co-opted members: Persons co-opted annually by the District Executive Committee The number of co-opted members must not exceed the number of members who may be elected Right of Attendance (ex officio): Deputy District Commissioners (added January 2011) The Chairmen of sub-committees of the District Executive Committee (unless already members of the Committee) Active Support Managers 2

3 3 The Secretary of the District Appointments sub-committee The Manager of the District Scout Shop/Badge Secretary The Producer of the Gang Show The County Commissioner and the County Chairman 5. Sub-Committees 5.1 The District Executive Committee may establish any sub-committees that it deems necessary. Sub- Committees consist of members nominated by the Committee. 5.2 The District Commissioner and the District Chairman are ex officio members of any sub- Committee of the District Executive Committee. 5.3 Any fund raising committee must include at least two members of the District Executive Committee, in addition to the ex officio members. No Section Leader or Assistant Leader may serve on such a fund raising sub-committee. 6. Charity Status 6.1 The District is an educational charity. Members of the District Executive Committee are the charity trustees of the Scout District. 6.2 Only persons aged 18 and over may be full voting members of the District Executive Committee because of their status as charity trustees. 6.3 Certain people are disqualified from being charity trustees by virtue of the Charities Acts. 6.4 Charity trustees are responsible for complying with all the legislation applicable to charities. 6.5 The District is registered as a charity in England and Wales and is required to make an annual return to the Charity Commission. 7. Responsibilities of the District Executive Committee 7.1 The District Executive Committee is responsible for: Promoting the development of Scouting in the District and arranging for harmonious cooperation with other organisations The raising of funds and the administration of the District's finance and property, including Explorer Scout Units and any District Scout Network Appointing a District Appointments Advisory Committee and a Chairman of such a Committee Appointing other sub-committees and their Chairmen as the Committee may require Supervising the administration of Groups, particularly in relation to finance and the trusteeship of property Attending to District administration, particularly: Matters relating to appointment of Leaders as provided for by Policy, Organisation and Rules The appointment of Section Assistants and Skills Instructors, Administrators and Advisers Registrations, membership of the Movement Appointing an Assistant Secretary as Badge Secretary for the District

4 The presentation of an Annual Report and annual statement of accounts to the Annual General Meeting of the District Scout Council 8. The District Appointments Advisory Committee 8.1 The District Appointments Advisory Committee is a mandatory sub-committee of the District Executive Committee. 8.2 The District Chairman may not be the Chairman of the District Appointments Advisory Committee. 8.3 The Committee must maintain links with the County Training Manager and/or the Local Training Manager. 8.4 The responsibilities of the Appointments Advisory Committee are: Interviewing candidates and approving appointments (including new appointments and changes in appointment) Providing advice to the District Commissioner on the outcome of suspension of membership for an adult appointment When requested providing advice to the District Commissioner on the action to take in the event that an adverse Criminal Records Bureau disclosure is received Providing advice to the District Commissioner on the renewal of appointments Taking part in the resolution of complaints from applicants regarding the outcome of the appointment process Considering together with the District Commissioner recommendations to cancel appointments as a result of disagreements between adults 8.5 In addition to the functions listed above, the District Appointments Advisory Committee must consider, jointly with the District Commissioner, the report of any conciliator appointed by the Regional or Chief Commissioner Any recommendation to appoint, cancel or not renew a Leader appointment must be agreed with the District Commissioner. In the event of agreement not being reached the matter must be considered by the District Chairman, whose decision must be accepted as final. 8.7 The District Executive Committee may appoint an Assistant District Secretary to be the Secretary of the District Appointments Advisory Committee. 9. The District Development sub-committee 9.1 The responsibilities of the Development sub-committee are: To evaluate the needs and demand for the provision of Scouting in the District To advise the District Commissioner and the District Executive Committee on ways of meeting those needs 4

5 To advise the District Commissioner and the District Executive Committee on ways of extending Scouting to new areas and communities in the District To encourage and monitor innovative approaches to the delivery of Scouting aimed at meeting the needs of young people To create working groups comprised of non-members of the sub-committee, as required for its work 10. The District Gang Show Business sub-committee 10.1 The responsibilities of the District Gang Show Business sub-committee are: To oversee the business management, including finance and marketing, of the District Gang Show, as and when a Show is agreed by the District Executive for any year, in accordance with such conditions as may be agreed by the District Executive Committee To operate within a budget approved by the District Executive Committee and to provide regular progress reports particularly if there appears to be a risk of significant deviation from the approved budget To recommend a Producer for appointment as a District Adviser 11. The District D Fundraising sub-committee 11.1 The responsibilities of the District Fundraising sub-committee are: To advise the District Executive Committee on the District s strategy for fund raising Actively to participate and engage in fundraising activities To provide guidance on fundraising to Groups and Units in the District To promote awareness and interest in the District s fundraising programme To recommend appropriate recognition for donors to the District 12. The District Buildings sub-commit Committee tee 12.1 The responsibilities of the Buildings sub-committee are: To advise the District Executive Committee on buildings owned or managed by the District Scout Council To recommend to the District Executive Committee the acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold property To plan and implement, as approved by the Executive Committee, the programme for the repair and maintenance of buildings, engineering services, grounds and gardens, including additions and/or alterations to existing buildings 13. The District Team 13.1 The District Core Team, comprising the District Chairman, the Deputy District Commissioners (added January 2011), the District Explorer Scout Commissioner, all Assistant District Commissioners and an Active Support Manager, meet as frequently as necessary under the chairmanship of the District Commissioner The District Core Team, together with Group Scout Leaders, District Scouters and District Advisers, meet in conference at least once a year. 5

6 The purpose of meetings of the District Core Team is to: Review the progress, standards and effectiveness of programmes of Groups and Explorer Scout Units and any District Scout Network in the District Plan a programme of visits to Scout Groups and Explorer Scout Units and any District Scout Network Give support and encouragement to Leaders Plan the support of adults undertaking adult training Plan any programme of District events deemed to be necessary to supplement Scouting in the Groups and Explorer Scout Units and any District Scout Network Secure the support of the Scout Fellowship in the work of the District Keep the District Executive Committee advised of the financial requirements of the training programme in the District, including Explorer Scout Units and any District Scout Network 14. Conduct of Meetings in the Scout District 14.1 In meetings of the District Scout Council and the District Executive Committee only members may vote Decisions are made by a majority of votes of those present at the meeting. In the event of an equal number of votes being cast on either side in any issue the chairman does not have a casting vote and the matter is taken not to have been carried The quorum for meetings of the District Scout Council is fifteen members; for the District Executive Committee six members; and for sub-committees three members. Approved by the District Scout Council: 9 June 2008 Amendments to the text relating to the Appointments Advisory Committee following amendments to Policy, Organisation and Rules: September 2008 Amendments relating to the Fundraising and Buildings sub-committees approved by the District Scout Council: 11 June 2009 Amendments to the text relating to the District Team and to references elsewhere to the District Scout Fellowship following changes to Policy Organisation and Rules: January 2010