CHAMBER CONSTITUTION
1. The Association shall be called “The Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce” (hereafter called The Chamber).
2. The area covered by the Chamber shall be the land area incorporated within the boundaries of the Borough of Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire District (or formerly of these Council areas if disbanded in 2021).
OBJECTIVES
3. (a) The objectives of the Chamber are to;
i) consider and develop measures calculated to benefit and protect the commercial, industrial and trade interests of its members, including the promotion and celebration of its members and other companies within the area.
ii) assist and facilitate investment and development within Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire for the benefit of its members and promote the area as a prime location for establishing or relocating businesses and growth.
iii) consider legislative and municipal proposals and matters affecting the business community of Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire representing and expressing the opinion of the Chamber on commercial and other matters of general interest.
iv) share information of commercial or business interest and promote mutual inter-change of ideas.
v) promote good fellowship and fraternity amongst business and professional men and women.
(b) To affiliate with and/or support such organisations as the executive committee of the
Chamber believes to be fit & appropriate in all matters affecting the interests of the members.
MEMBERSHIP
4. (a) Membership of the Chamber shall be open to all businesses, trades and professions within
the area of Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire subject to their acceptability by the members of the Executive Committee and the production of satisfactory references if required.
(b) Associate membership shall be open to all individuals who have an interest in the business and commerce of the area or who have been in employment or owned a business in the area, subject to their acceptability by the members of the Executive Committee and the production of satisfactory references if required.
(c) Chamber membership means the business organisations and each of its employees.
Representation may be by any number of people, however, at meetings each member shall be entitled to one vote only but may appoint a proxy authorised in writing to act on their behalf or submit a postal vote.
(d) The Chamber Executive Committee shall recommend to the Annual General Meeting (AGM), when an individual member having rendered outstanding service, be proposed for honorary membership. To those having rendered outstanding service and retired from business, Life Membership, both with all rights and privileges.
(e) A public register shall be maintained of members and their addresses and nature of business in which they are engaged.
(f) Membership of the Chamber is terminated if:
i) the Member dies;
ii) the Member resigns by written notice to the Chamber;
iii) the subscription is three months in arrears and upon agreement of the Executive Committee
iv) the Member is removed from membership by a resolution of the Executive Committee that it is in the best interests of the organisation to so do. Such a resolution may only be passed if:
i) the Member has been given at least twenty one days’ notice in writing of the meeting and the reasons why it is to be proposed;
ii) the Member or the member’s representative has been allowed to make representations to the meeting.
SUBSCRIPTION
5. (a) The annual subscription is payable on acceptance of the membership request and subsequently on the 1st of March each year. The membership fee shall be decided by the Executive Committee and approved at the AGM or at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
(b) A person accepted for membership on or after the 1st of September shall pay a reduced subscription equal to one half of the agreed annual subscription and thereafter the full subscription on the 1st of March or an amount as agreed by the Executive Committee.
(c) The Membership Subscription rates will be posted on the Chamber’s website and will from time to time be updated dependent on any resolution to amend them at the Annual or Extraordinary General Meetings.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
6. (a) The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President, the Immediate Past President, Hon Treasurer and Hon Secretary and eight elected members, making a total of fourteen. The eight elected members shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM or at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
(b) Past Presidents who retain their business/personal membership shall automatically be elected to the Executive Committee, providing they have attended a minimum of five executive committee meetings in the previous Chamber year. This attendance rule also applies to every executive member wishing to renew his or her position to serve on the executive, from the AGM, held in April of each year.
(c) The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt.
(d) In the event of a tie in the number of votes cast or any dispute, the decision of the President shall be final and binding on all parties
(e) The Management of the affairs of the Chamber shall be vested in the Executive Committee.
(f) All major decisions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the next General Meeting.
ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7. (a) The election of the eight elected members of the Executive Committee of the Chamber shall be annual from nominations as agreed at an Executive Committee meeting held at least ten days prior the AGM. Nominations having been requested from members no less than ten days prior to the Executive Committee Meeting.
(b) Members so nominated shall have given their prior consent to serve if elected.
MEETINGS
8. The Annual General Meeting of the Chamber shall be held in the month of April in each year, notification of the AGM together with nominations for committee members to be sent at least ten days prior to the meeting date, the meeting agenda being available on the day.
9. Full Executive Committee Meetings shall be held at least four times per year of which due notice shall be given to its members in writing. A quorum shall comprise ‘four’ elected executive members.
10. General Meetings of the Chamber will be open to all members and held at least two times a year one in September the other in January. Further meetings can be arranged as desired.
11. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary:
(a) At any time pursuant to a Resolution passed at a meeting of the Executive Committee or;
(b) Upon a request to the Secretary signed by seven members of the Chamber and stating the business to be transacted thereat.
12. All Members will have the power to vote at an AGM or Extraordinary General Meeting
13. The Agenda for all Extraordinary General Meetings shall be sent to each member at least
ten days prior to the Meeting taking place.
14. The AGM or Extraordinary General Meetings will be chaired by the President or the Vice-President in their absence. In the event of voting being equal, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
RULES/CONSTITUTION
15. Changes to the Rules (Constitution) of the Chamber may only be made at the Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting for adoption.
16. A copy of the rules of the Chamber shall be supplied to each member.
FINANCE
17. The Treasurer will prepare accounts up to the end of February each year, which will be audited and approved by the Executive Committee and submitted to the AGM for adoption.
18. Executive Members who receive monies pertaining to Chamber activity will pass these monies
directly to the Treasurer, whose responsibility it is to record these and pay them into the Chamber account.
19. The funds of the Chamber shall be deposited in a bank account, the signature of which shall be any two of the Treasurer, President and Secretary.
20. Accounts for payment shall be authorised by a majority of the Executive Committee. (Quorum
of four)
21. Bankers, Solicitors and Auditors shall be elected at the AGM each year.
22. The Treasurer shall not make payments in excess of £100 in respect of a single transaction, without authorisation from the Executive Committee. (Discussion with the President & Secretary as needed).
INCOME AND PROPERTY
23. The income and property of the Chamber shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the purposes.
(a) Executive members are entitled to be reimbursed from the property of the Chamber or may pay out of such property reasonable expenses properly incurred by them when acting on behalf of the Chamber.
(b) Monies may be held by the Chamber for separately designated purposes as agreed at an Executive Meeting and should be applied solely towards the promotion of these purposes.
24. None of the income or property of the Chamber may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the Chamber. This does not prevent a member who is not also an Executive Member from receiving:
(a) a benefit from the Chamber in the capacity of a member;
(b) reasonable and proper remuneration for any goods or services supplied to the Chamber.
DISPUTES
25. Should any matter arise for which no provision has been made in this Constitution or any doubt as to the interpretation of the Rules, the same shall be determined by the Executive whose decision shall be final.
26. If a dispute arises between members of the Chamber about the validity or propriety of anything done by the members under this constitution, and the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement, the parties to the dispute must first try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation before resorting to litigation .