OUR CONSTITUTION:

1.   Name

The Group shall be called “The Heart of England High Speed Railway Action Group”, abbreviated where appropriate to HHAG.

2.   Scope

HHAG was formed in response to the High Speed 2 Railway proposal (hereinafter referred to as “HS2”), which was published with the Government Command Paper Cm 7827 High Speed Rail on 11 March 2010.

The activities of HHAG shall be focused primarily on the areas of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull affected by HS2 and associated proposals.

For the purposes of determining the eligibility of local councils and amenity associations for representation on the General Committee (see §5.1 below), the affected area shall be deemed initially to comprise the parishes or towns of Balsall, Berkswell, Bickenhill, Chelmsley Wood, and Hampton-in-Arden.

3.   Objectives

The objectives of HHAG are (amended 5/5/11):

• to oppose HS2, as close examination of all available information shows
  - the business case is flawed
  - it is an inappropriate and wasteful use of taxpayers’ money
  - will cause excessive harm to the environment, communities, businesses, agriculture and SSSI's.
  - there are alternative schemes which have been proven to meet all capacity and journey time needs and which would be far cheaper and quicker to implement.
• to seek full financial and physical compensation schemes for those affected now and in the future by HS2 and associated proposals.

4.   Membership

Members of HHAG will obtain the following benefits:

·        regular information bulletins related to HHAG’s objectives

·        invitations to meetings related to HHAG’s objectives

·        the right to vote at HHAG’s Annual and Extraordinary meetings

·        inclusion in a register of persons supporting HHAG’s objectives.

Membership shall be open to all persons, over the age of 15 years, who are supportive of HHAG’s objectives

An individual can become a Member by providing his or her name, contact information (for example address, e-mail address, or telephone number) and by affirming his or her support for the Objectives of HHAG, as set out in §3 above.

By joining HHAG, members agree to the retention by HHAG of such of their personal details as is deemed necessary by the General Committee to record their membership and to allow them to be contacted.

The General Committee shall have the power to terminate the membership of any member it considers to have brought HHAG into disrepute.

5.   Management

5.1         General Committee

HHAG shall be administered by a General Committee.

The committee will comprise:

·        a member nominated by each of the parish and town councils in the area defined in §2 Scope

·        a member nominated by each of the local community associations concerned with the amenities of part of the area defined in §2 Scope

·        individual members co-opted by the existing committee members or elected by members of HHAG at an annual or extraordinary meeting.

Sub-groups shall be established from time to time as considered expedient.

5.2         Responsibilities

The General Committee shall be responsible for directing the activities of the Group to achieve its objectives expediently, safely and lawfully.

5.3         Public meetings

Public meetings of HHAG shall be convened by the General Committee to further the work of HHAG.  Such meetings will be open to both members and non-members alike.

5.4         Annual and extraordinary meetings

An Annual General Meeting shall be held to receive and approve a report and accounts from the General Committee.

At the Annual General Meeting, a Chairman and Treasurer shall be elected by the members present.

At least two weeks notice of an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting shall be given to the membership by:

·        e-mails to the addresses held on the records of HHAG, and

·        notices in a prominent place in each of the local council areas represented on the General Committee.

5.5         Voting

Matters to be decided by a poll shall be decided by a simple majority of those current members present and voting.

In any poll of the members, the Chairman shall exercise a casting vote if necessary.

5.6         Accounts

The annual accounts shall be audited prior to the Annual General Meeting by a qualified independent person.

6.   Activities

·        to obtain and analyse all relevant information on the High Speed 2 Railway and associated projects

·        to assess, analyse, record, and publish details of the actual and potential effects of these projects

·        to raise public awareness of these projects

·        to lobby decision-makers at all levels of government to achieve the objectives of HHAG

·        to support other groups with objectives similar to those of HHAG

·        to inform and support the work of local councils and amenity groups where relevant to the objectives of HHAG

·        to organise and promote community and fundraising activities to support the objectives of HHAG.

7.   Cessation of activities

When the General Committee believes that the objectives of the Group cannot be advanced further in the prevailing circumstances, it shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss the matter.

If approved by a vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting, HHAG shall be declared Inactive.

While HHAG is inactive, members will be considered to maintain their membership throughout the period of inactivity.  The General Committee shall meet at least once annually to review the situation, and may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the dormant members to consider resuming activities.

After HHAG has been inactive for at least 5 years, the General Committee shall consider whether to recommend that HHAG be dissolved.  A recommendation of dissolution shall be put to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the dormant members.

Upon dissolution, any residual funds held by HHAG shall be donated to charitable organisations working to preserve and enhance community amenities in the local council areas represented on the General Committee.