Constitution

  1. Title

    1. The Organisation shall be called Central Scotland Smallholders’ Association, thereafter to be referred to as “the Organisation”.

  2. Objects

    1. To serve the needs and interests of existing and aspiring smallholders, whether smallholding is pursued as a lifestyle or as a business.
    2. To promote and support sustainable land use.
    3. To promote and support high standards of animal welfare.
    4. To contribute to relevant local and national consultations, representing the views of members and promoting their interests.

  3. Membership

    1. Membership of the Organisation shall be open to any person, regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation or ability, who completes a membership application form and pays the relevant subscription/joining fee as determined by the Annual General Meeting of the Organisation Members.
    2. There shall be one class of membership available. This is Full membership.
    3. The membership year runs from 1st January to 31st December. The membership fee for the coming year shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting, held in December. All membership fees must be paid by the end of January.
    4. Any person joining the Association after 30th June will be liable for a membership fee, in that year only, of 50% of the full annual fee.

  4. Officers

    1. The Executive Officers of the Organisation shall be as follows:
      • Chairperson
      • Secretary
      • Treasurer

  5. Election of officers

    1. All Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Organisation, from, and by, the Members of the Organisation.
    2. All Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year.

  6. General Committee

    1. The affairs of the Organisation shall be controlled by a General Committee comprising the Executive Officers of the Organisation and all other Full Members. The General Committee shall meet not less than four times per year.
    2. The duties of the General Committee shall be:
      • To control the affairs of the Organisation on behalf of the Members.
      • To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Organisation through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members and should be audited before every Annual General Meeting. The Organisation shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign Organisation cheques: two from the Chairperson; Treasurer and Secretary.
      • To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote (by show of hands), where a consensus cannot be reached. A quorum for a meeting of the General Committee will be six members including two Executive Officers. In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.

  7. General meetings

    1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the end of December each year. Twenty-one (21) clear days’ written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by circulating a copy of the notice to every member at their home address and posting the notice on the Organisation notice board. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 14 days before a meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 10 days before the meeting.
    2. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
      • Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
      • Receive the audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
      • Receive the annual report of the Committee from the Secretary.
      • Elect an auditor.
      • Elect the Officers of the Club i.e. Chairperson; Secretary; Treasurer and other General Committee Members.
      • Review subscription rates and agree them for the forthcoming year.
      • Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 14 days prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.
    3. Special General Meetings may be convened on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not fewer than five Full Members of the Organisation. At least 21 days’ notice of the meeting shall be given.
      Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. A nomination can only be made by a Full Member and must be seconded by another Full Member.
    4. At all General Meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairperson or, in their absence, by a deputy appointed by Full Members attending the meeting.
    5. Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes (by show of hands) from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
    6. A quorum for a General Meeting shall be six Full Members including two Executive Officers.
    7. Each Full Member of the Organisation shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.

  8. Alterations to the Constitution

    1. Any proposed alterations to the Organisation’s Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Organisation and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not fewer than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.

  9. Dissolution

    1. If, at any General Meeting of the Organisation, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Organisation, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Organisation to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
    2. If, at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the General Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Organisation and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Organisation.
    3. After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Organisation, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of the Organisation, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the Organisation and which also prohibits the distribution of its income and property amongst its members.

Download the CSSA Constitution (PDF)

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