The Society's Constitution

(As amended at the 2001 Annual General Meeting)

1. The Society shall be called The Royal Crescent Society.

2. The objects of the Society shall be to preserve and enhance the amenities of the Royal Crescent and its surroundings and to promote the interests of members of the Society. The Society shall be a not-for-profit organisation.

3. The Society shall consist of ordinary members of not less than 18 years old who shall be:-

a) either owners of any part or parts of the property comprising No 1 to 30 Royal Crescent, Bath or

b) occupiers of not less than six months continuous residence of any part or parts of Nos. 1 to 30 Royal Crescent.

4. Non-voting membership shall also be open to anyone interested in the objects of the Society, on payment of the appropriate Annual Subscription. Such members shall be called 'Friends of the Royal Crescent Society' and shall be entitled to receive the Newsletter and other papers issued to members and to attend the Society's functions.

5. The annual subscription for ordinary members shall be £8, or £12 for double membership (two people in the same household. The subscription for Life members shall be £50, or £75 for double membership. Life Members who move away from the Royal Crescent shall remain as Life Friends without further subscription. Subscription shall be due on the first day of May in any year. The annual subscription for Friends (Rule 4) shall cover at least the cost of production and distribution of the Newsletter and shall be set by the Committee as necessary, subject to confirmation of the following Annual General Meeting.

6. Members and Friends whose current subscriptions shall not have been paid before the 30th day of September in any year shall cease to be Members or Friends respectively.

7. Any alteration to the rules shall be proposed by the Committee, but no such alteration shall take effect until the same has been proposed and confirmed at the Annual Meeting or a special general meeting convened for the purpose.

8. The Committee shall have the power to make bylaws for regulating the conduct and affairs of the Society provided the same are not inconsistent with these rules, and such bylaws shall be binding all members.

9. A general meeting of the Society shall be held every year not later than the 30th April to transact the following business:-

a) to receive and, if approved, to adopt a statement of the Society's accounts to the end of the preceding year;

b) to consider and, if approved, sanction any duly proposed alteration to the rules;

c) to appoint the Officers and other Members of the Committee. Nominees for Officers and Committee Members must be members of the Society and may only be proposed and seconded by members of the Society;

d) to appoint an auditor or auditors;

e) to deal with any special matter which the Committee desire to bring before the members and to receive suggestions from members for consideration by the committee. Notice convening the general meeting shall be sent to the members not less than 21 days before the meeting, and shall specify the matters to be dealt with.

10. A special general meeting may be convened at any time by the committee and shall be convened within 21 days from the receipt of a recquisition in writing signed by not less than 15 members specifying the object of the meeting for any of the following purposes:-

a) to consider and, if approved, sanction any duly proposed alteration of the rules;

b) to deal with any special matter which the committee may desire to place before the members, including the expulsion of a member;

c) to receive the resignation of the committee or to remove any member or members from their office and to fill any vacancy or vacancies caused;

d) to deal with any special matter which the members requiring the meeting may desire to place before the Society.

Notice convening a special general meeting shall be sent to the members not less than seven days before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with.

11. At committee meetings and at general meetings a chairman shall be elected to preside, and he shall have a casting or additional vote in the event of an equality of votes. At committee meetings three shall form a quorum. At general meetings fifteen shall form a quorum.

12. The Committee of the Society, other than the Officers, be limited to six. Casual vacancies arising in the course of the year shall be filled by the Committee, subject to confirmation of the following Annual Meeting.

13. The most senior office of the society shall be the non-executive one of President; the remaining offices shall be those of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, plus any other Offices the Committee may find it necessary to create in order to prosecute its business, subject to confirmation at the following Annual Meeting. The Committee shall have power to co-opt members in a special position or who have special aptitudes, knowledge or experience, for the prosecution of Society business; such members may be drawn from outside the Royal Crescent where essential (Rule 3 need not apply). Such members may not form part of a quorum.