The constitution for Friends of Cherry Hinton Brook was approved at the Inaugural Meeting: 03 June 2009, and re-approved with minor amendments at the AGM 1st June 2010. It was revised in 2024 to reflect the expansion of the group’s geographical remit to include Coldham’s Brook and is to be approved at the next annual general meeting
The name of this group shall be Friends of Cherry Hinton And Coldham’s Brooks (FCHCB). The Brooks shall be defined as that section of its channel from its source at Giant’s Grave to where it joins the River Cam, together with its banks and land on both sides.
The aims of FCHCB will be:
The maintenance of the attractive appearance of the brooks, for example by removing litter;
The raising of public awareness about the importance of the brooks for wildlife, among the residents who live near it, and those who walk and cycle along it;
The improvement of the brooks as environments for wildlife;
The observation and monitoring of the flora and fauna of the brooks and their environs; and
Liaison and co-operation with other organisations
Membership is open to anyone who is interested in the objectives of FCHCB. Membership shall be at the discretion of the Committee. Application for membership must be made to the Membership Secretary and be accompanied by a remittance for the first annual subscription.
A list of all members will be kept by the Membership Secretary. Members may resign at any time in writing to the Membership Secretary. Membership shall be deemed to have lapsed if payment has not been made within three months of the renewal date.
There will be two classes of membership: ordinary and corporate. Annual rates of subscription shall be decided by the Annual General Meeting based on recommendations by the Committee. No member shall be entitled to exercise the benefits and privileges of membership if their subscription has not been received or renewed.
The business of FCHCB will be carried out by a Committee that will be elected at the AGM for a three-year term. The Committee will consist of a minimum of 4 officers. The officers’ roles are as follows:
Chairperson, who shall chair both general and committee meetings
Secretary, who shall be responsible for the taking of minutes and the distribution of all papers
Membership Secretary, who shall be responsible for keeping records of members
Treasurer, who shall be responsible for maintaining accounts
At least one third of the members of the Committee shall stand for re-election each year. No officer may serve in the same role for more than three consecutive terms, but they may be nominated again after one year has passed. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt at its discretion up to four members of the FCHCB to serve on the Committee in addition to the elected members until the next AGM, and shall have power in the event of any vacancy to fill it by co-opting a member of the FCHCB. A President and Patrons of the FCHCB may be elected for a four-year term at the discretion of the Committee.
The quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be four. Decisions shall be made wherever possible by consensus, or where not, by simple majority. The Committee shall meet at least once every half year or at more frequent intervals as the Committee may decide from time to time. The Committee shall have power to appoint Sub-Committees with such terms of reference as the Committee may consider necessary and delegate to them such powers as may be considered desirable
An officer will present a report of the work of FCHCB over the year.
The Treasurer will present the accounts of FCHCB for the previous year for approval of the members.
The officers and Committee for the next year will be elected.
Any proposals given to the Secretary at least 7 days in advance of the meeting will be discussed.
An account will be maintained on behalf of the Friends at a bank agreed by the Committee. Three signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one to be the Treasurer). The signatories must not be related nor members of the same household. Where signatories are needed, two people must sign.
Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement made available at each meeting. All money raised by or on behalf of FCHCB is only to be used to further the aims of the group, as specified in item 2 of this constitution.
The Committee shall appoint an honorary auditor to examine the accounts.
Proposals for any amendment to this constitution must be submitted to the Committee for approval. They can be passed by a simple majority of those present and voting at an AGM or EGM.
If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the group it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group. If it is agreed to dissolve the group all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a local charitable organisation, the organisation to be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.
This constitution was agreed at the Inaugural General Meeting of FCHB
