5. Suitability of a person to be on the Council
5.1 A person must be a fully paid up member of the Club, and must be at least 18 years old at the
time of the Annual General Meeting at which election could happen.
5.2 A person may only be accepted as a member of the Council, whether at the first, or any
subsequent election, after they have signed a declaration of acceptance and of willingness to act
in the interests of the Club. The sheet of signatures shall be kept with the Minutes of the Annual
General Meeting.
5.3 A member of the Council shall cease to hold office if he or she:
(i) is disqualified under section 72 of the Charities Act 1993 (or its statutory successor)
(ii) becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and
administering his or her own affairs
(iii) is absent without the permission of the Council from all their meetings held within a period
of six months and the Council resolve that the office be vacated
(iv) notifies to the Council a wish to resign (but only if at least five members of the Council will
remain in office when the resignation is to take effect)
6. The Council: powers
6.1 The management and governance of the Club and the control of its property shall be vested
in the Council of members of the Club.
6.2 In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Council may exercise the following powers:
(i) power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions, provided that in raising funds the
Council shall not undertake any substantial trading activities and shall conform to any relevant
requirements of the law;
(ii) power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the
objects and to maintain and equip it for use;
(iii) power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of
the property of the Club;
(iv) power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating
in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and
advice with them;
(v) power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all
or any of the objects;
(vi) power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Council may think fit;
(vii) power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
6.3 Subject to the discretion of the Council, Groups may be formed within the membership of
the Club, for the further study of particular aspects of the natural history of Essex. The President
and the General Secretary shall be ex-officio members of all Groups. Each Group shall elect
annually a Representative to serve on the Council.
6.4 The Council may appoint Recorders. Their names and addresses shall be printed with the
list of Officers and their duties shall be to keep records within their respective limits of the
natural history of Essex, and to communicate items of interest to the Club. Each Recorder shall
be asked to supply an annual report for publication.
6.5 Council may set up and/or disband temporary or permanent committees, usually of three or
four people, to study or administer certain parts of the Council's business. Each Committee shall
have a Convener appointed, who shall act as Chairperson and ensure that minutes are kept and
presented to the full Council at the next meeting of Council.
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 43, January 2004
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