8pm: Special General Meeting

Purpose of meeting:

(i) To amend Clause 12 of the branch constitution to change the start of the branch financial year from 1 September to 1 December.

(ii) To amend Clause 7 of the branch constitution to insert a comma that was omitted in error when the constitution was adopted.

Reason for changes:

(i) To allow sufficient time in this and future years for beer festival accounts to be prepared and submitted.

(ii) To correct a drafting error and bring the clause into line with that in CAMRA’s model branch constitution.

Proposed changes:

(i) Amend Clause 12 to replace September with December, as follows: “The financial year of the Branch shall commence on the first day of September December in each year.” Rest of clause to remain unchanged.

(ii) Amend Clause 7 to add a comma after Committee, as follows: “A Special General Meeting of the Branch may be called only on the decision of the Branch Committee, on written request signed by 5 members of the Branch or by one tenth of the Branch membership (whichever is the greater), or by the National Executive.” Rest of clause to remain unchanged.

Interpretation:

Financial year 2018/19 to run from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019.

Financial year 2019/20 to run from 1 September 2019 to 30 November 2020.

Financial year 2020/21 to run from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.

Subsequent financial years to run from 1 December to 30 November the following year.

Only the National Executive or their duly appointed representatives or members of the Branch are entitled to vote at the SGM. The quorum for the SGM is seven members present (who are entitled to vote). The changes need to be approved by at least two thirds of those present and entitled to vote, and only become effective once they have been approved by the Directors of CAMRA or their duly authorised representative (in effect this means the Regional Director). That approval needs to happen before the end of August in order for the change to take effect in time to amend the 2018/19 financial year.

8.10pm: Branch Meeting