Constitution

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE WESTMINSTER SOCIETY ADOPTED AT THE 61st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 13th OCTOBER, 2021 

REGISTERED CHARITY No 235400

1) NAME

The name of the Society shall be The Westminster Society.

2) OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY

The objects of the Society shall be the enhancement and conservation of the amenities of the City of Westminster in such ways as are charitable:

3) POWERS

The Society shall have the power to further these objects by;

• stimulating interest in its beauty and historic physical features
• considering the public aspect of new architecture and by drawing attention toexisting buildings of beauty and historical interest
• encouraging the preservation of the river frontage and of open spaces, freefrom disfigurement and encroachment
• representing the interests of the residents of Westminster, in particular by encouraging good town planning and all forms of environmental protection
• acknowledging good architecture and design by making awards from time to time for excellence in the design and construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings
• considering and stimulating public interest in transportation, environmental protection and such other issues as may be beneficial to the people who live and work in Westminster
• undertaking other activities that contribute to the Society’s Objects, including visits and other educational events

4)  MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Society shall be open to all who share the Society’s Objects. Subscription rates for both individual and corporate members shall be determined by the Society’s Annual General Meeting on the basis of recommendations from the Executive Committee when deemed appropriate.

5) VISITS

Members shall be offered visits to places of architectural and cultural interest.       A non-refundable fee for each visit booking will be charged to cover administrative expenses inaddition to any admission charge that may be imposed.

6) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

6.1 The management of the affairs of the Society shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee which shall consist of not more than 20 members including the Society’s officers. The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and at such places as it shall itself determine, subject to sub-paragraph 6.4 below, so long as not less than three meetings are held each calendar year. Five members shall be a quorum.

6.2 The Executive Committee shall have power to regulate its own procedure and to co-opt any member of the Society to fill any casual vacancy. The Treasurer will prepare an annual budget of expenditure for approval by the Executive Committee, any additional significant and individual items of expenditure outside the approved budget being approved separately by the Executive Committee. In regulating its own procedures, the Executive Committee shall take into account the regulations laid down by the Charities Acts and the Statements of Recommended Practice on Charity Accounting laid down by the Charity Commissioners or the Professional Accounting bodies recognised by the Charities Acts.

6.3 Members of the Executive Committee (who shall be required to be members of the Society and shall act as the Society’s Trustees) shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society for a period of three years and be eligible for re-election.Nominations duly proposed and seconded must reach the Honorary Secretary not less than 7 days before the date of the meeting. No person may be elected to the Executive Committee who by operation of the Charities Acts is not permitted to act as a Trustee of aCharity.

6.4 Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held either by those attending meeting in person at a designated place, or by audio-conference or audio-visual conference. In the case of meetings held by audio-conference or audio-visual conference it shall be a requirement that the equipment used shall permit each of the participants to concurrently hear the contributions made by each of the other participants as they are made. 

7) OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY

The Officers of the Society shall be the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Other Officers of the Society may be appointed by the Executive Committee on an ad-hoc basis as required. The Officers of the Society shall be members of the Executive Committee and be elected annually by the Executive Committee at its first meeting following the Annual General Meeting of the Society; they shall be eligible for re-election. Nominations for the posts of Officers of the Society should be submitted to the Honorary Secretary not less than 1 working day prior to the meeting at which the elections will be made and shall include the consent of the person being nominated.

8) GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY

8.1 A General Meeting of Members shall be held once in each calendar year at a time and at a place to be determined by the Executive Committee, subject to sub-paragraph 8.4 below.  The business of the General Meeting shall be to receive the Report and Accounts for the preceding calendar year, to make elections to the Executive Committee and to appoint an Independent Examiner, or such other person as may be required by the Charity Commissioners, to review the accounts prepared by the Treasurer.

8.2 Other General Meetings of the Society shalt be held upon the requisition of the Executive Committee or of not less than 20 individual members of the Society.

8.3 Members shall be given not less than 14 days’ notice of any General Meeting together with particulars of the business to be transacted.

8.4 General Meetings of Members may be held either by those attending meeting in person at a designated place, or by audio-conference or audio-visual conference. In the case of meetings held by audio-conference or audio-visual conference it shall be a requirement that the equipment used shall permit each of the participants to concurrently hear the contributions made by each of the other participants as they are made. 

9) AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

This Constitution may be altered by Resolution carried by a simple majority of those members of the Society present and voting at a General Meeting provided that particulars of the proposed alterations have been circulated to Members with the notice of the meeting and that such alterations do not alter or invalidate the status of the Society as a Charity

10) DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY

In the event of the dissolution of the Society, the assets shall be vested in a similar body, which shall also be concerned with Westminster, the terms of such vesting to be approved by the Charity Commissioners.

The Westminster Society Constitution adopted at 61st AGM 13 Oct 2021