Thanet Nature Conservation Umbrella Group

TERMS OF REFERENCE

AIMS

To help formulate and implement the Isle Thanet's Local Agenda 21 Strategy by.

  1. Promoting sustainable land use and nature conservation on an individual, corporate and community-wide level through the formulation of a nature conservation strategy.
  2. Working in partnership across all sectors of the local community, interest groups, businesses and Thanet District Council and acting as an umbrella group for members of local environment groups to co-ordinate activity and highlight concerns.
  3. Monitoring progress towards a sustainable Thanet through the use of sustainability indicators such as the Kent Biodiversity Action Plan.
  4. Providing information, comment, proposals and feedback on matters of nature conservation interest.

ROLE OF THE GROUP

  1. To involve the local community by providing a platform for local people, groups and businesses to become involved in Thanet's Local Agenda 21 Strategy as it relates to nature conservation.
  2. To promote specific nature conservation projects and to liaise with and make application to Thanet District Council and other grant making bodies for resources to fund such projects.
  3. To raise awareness and/or lobby for a more sustainable approach to land use and conservation in the district of Thanet and to recommend to the Council appropriate courses of action.
  4. To comment and make recommendations on planning and other issues affecting the natural environment in Thanet and to work with Thanet District Council in reviewing local and countrywide Structure Plans as they affect nature conservation.
  5. 5. To publicise positive steps and examples of good practice.
  6. To help identify and protect amenity land in Thanet.
  7. To develop easily understood sustainability indicators for local land use and local nature conservation and to co-ordinate their measurement.
  8. To provide feedback and recommended courses of action to the Council's LA 21 Action Committee and to interested organisations and members of the local community.
  9. To help educate the local community about issues relating to nature conservation and to encourage local individuals. groups, businesses and local authority representatives to review current nature conservation policies and practices.

Meetings and Proceedings of the Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee shall hold at least four meetings each year . Meetings may be called at any time by the Chairperson or shall be called by the Secretary on the request of at least 3 members of the Executive Committee.
  2. If the Chairperson is absent from any meeting. the members of the Executive Committee present shall choose one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting before any other business is transacted.
  3. There shall be a quorum when at least 3 members of the Executive Committee are present at a meeting.
  4. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
  5. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of the proceeding at meetings of the Executive Committee and any Sub Committee.
  6. The Executive Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business so long as no rule may be made which is inconsistent with this constitution.
  7. The Executive Committee may appoint one or more Sub Committees on such terms and with such powers as the Executive Committee from time to time determine. All acts and proceedings of any such Sub-Committees shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee.

Annual General Meeting

  1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Group, which shall be held each year with no more than 15 months in between one Annual General Meeting and the next.
  2. The Executive Committee shall call every Annual General Meeting. The Secretary shall give at least 21 days notice of the Annual General Meeting to all the members of the Group, this notice shall invite nominations for the Executive Committee. All the members of1he Group shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
  3. The Chairperson shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee, but if he or she is not present, before any other business is transacted the persons present shall appoint a Chairperson of the meeting.
  4. The Executive Committee shall present to each Annual General Meeting the report of the Group for the preceding year.
  5. Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by members of the Group in writing and must be received by the Secretary of the Executive Committee at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting. Should nominations exceed vacancies, election shall be by show of bands unless the Chairperson or 3 members request a ballot of members present. Should vacancies exceed nominations additional nominations shall be invited at the meeting before the election,

To find out more about Thanet Nature Conservation Umbrella Group (TNCUG) Tel/Fax 01843 847421 or Email

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