Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus is a local music making charity which is also a member of Making Music, a national charity which supports music-making individuals and organisations, and Classical Sheffield, a local umbrella organisation for classical music-making in Sheffield.
Our Constitution sets out our charitable objects ‘to advance the education of the general public in choral music by the regular performance of such music from the widest possible repertoire and such means as the Committee think fit’.
Positive reviews and audience feedback confirm that we present high quality and innovative performances that are pleasurable cultural experiences for both audience and participants, even when we select difficult works that extend everyone’s musical knowledge. Concerts are open to everyone, with fully accessible venues and concession prices for young people and those in receipt of benefits.
Chorus members greatly value the opportunity to engage in creative, enjoyable and fulfilling performances and recordings that help them to develop their vocal technique and musical repertoire. Singing membership is open to anyone who can sing to the required standard, and we do not exclude people on any other basis than their ability to sing. A number of registered blind people are valued members of the Chorus, and we have ensured that members with limited mobility are able to sing from the rather steep City Hall choir risers by buying and regularly using a stair-climber, which we share with the Montgomery Theatre. We offer special arrangements to those unable to pay the full subscription fee.
How We Operate
SPC was an unincorporated charity (registration number 518073) until 17 October 2017 when it was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registration number 1175185. The assets of the unincorporated charity will be transferred to the CIO as soon as Gift Aid for payments have been processed, when the unincorporated charity will be wound up in accordance with the procedure required by the Charities Commission.
Our Constitution was agreed by the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 15 November 2016. It is based on the Charity Commission’s ‘Association’ model and can only be amended at a meeting of all the members. It was amended at the AGMs held in 2021 and 2022.
CONSTITUTION
Date of constitution (last amended): 15th November 2022
1 Name
The name of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“the CIO”) is The Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus
2 National location of principal office
The principal office of the CIO is at The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield, S1 4FW
3 Objects
The main objects of the CIO are
(1) The education of the general public in choral music by the regular performance of such music from the widest possible repertoire and
(2) The advancement of arts and culture particularly in relation to choral music.
Nothing in this constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for purposes which are not charitable in accordance with Section 7 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Section 2 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
4 Powers
The CIO has power to do anything which is calculated to further its objects or is conducive or incidental to doing so. In particular, the CIO’s powers include power to:
(1) borrow money and to charge the whole or any part of its property as security for the repayment of the money borrowed. The CIO must comply as appropriate with sections 124 and 125 of the Charities Act 2011 if it wishes to mortgage land;
(2) buy, take on lease or exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and to maintain and equip it for use;
(3) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the property belonging to the CIO. In exercising this power, the CIO must comply as appropriate with sections 117 and 119 – 123 of the Charities Act 2011;
(4) employ and remunerate such staff as are necessary for carrying out the work of the CIO. The CIO may employ or remunerate a charity trustee only to the extent that it is permitted to do so by clause 6 (Benefits and payments to charity trustees and connected persons) and provided it complies with the conditions of those clauses;
(5) deposit or invest funds, employ a professional fund-manager, and arrange for the investments or other property of the CIO to be held in the name of a nominee, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the trustees of a trust are permitted to do by the Trustee Act 2000.
5 Application of income and property
(1) The income and property of the CIO must be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects.
(a) A charity trustee is entitled to be reimbursed from the property of the CIO or may pay out of such property reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the CIO.
(b) A charity trustee may benefit from trustee indemnity insurance cover purchased at the CIO’s expense in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in, section 189 of the Charities Act 2011.
(2) None of the income or property of the CIO may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the CIO. This does not prevent a member who is not also a charity trustee receiving:
(a) a benefit from the CIO as a beneficiary of the CIO;
(b) reasonable and proper remuneration for any goods or services supplied to the CIO.
(3) Nothing in this clause shall prevent a charity trustee or connected person receiving any benefit or payment which is authorised by Clause 6.
6 Benefits and payments to charity trustees, (hereinafter referred to as “Trustees”), and connected persons
(1) General provisions No trustee or connected person may:
(a) buy or receive any goods or services from the CIO on terms preferential to those applicable to members of the public;
(b) sell goods, services, or any interest in land to the CIO;
(c) be employed by, or receive any remuneration from, the CIO;
(d) receive any other financial benefit from the CIO; unless the payment or benefit is permitted by sub-clause (2) of this clause, or authorised by the court or the prior written consent of the Charity Commission (“the Commission”) has been obtained.
In this clause, a “financial benefit” means a benefit, direct or indirect, which is either money or has a monetary value.
(2) Scope and powers permitting trustees’ or connected persons’ benefits
(a) A trustee or connected person may receive a benefit from the CIO as a beneficiary of the CIO provided that a majority of the trustees do not benefit in this way.
(b) A trustee or connected person may enter into a contract for the supply of services, or of goods that are supplied in connection with the provision of services, to the CIO where that is permitted in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in, section 185 to 188 of the Charities Act 2011.
(c) Subject to sub-clause (3) of this clause a trustee or connected person may provide the CIO with goods that are not supplied in connection with services provided to the CIO by the trustee or connected person.
(d) A trustee or connected person may receive interest on money lent to the CIO at a reasonable and proper rate of interest which must be no more than the Bank of England bank rate (also known as the base rate).
(e) A trustee or connected person may receive rent for premises let by the trustee or connected person to the CIO. The amount of the rent and the other terms of the lease must be reasonable and proper. The trustee concerned must withdraw from any meeting at which such a proposal or the rent or other terms of the lease are under discussion.
(f) A trustee or connected person may take part in the normal trading and fundraising activities of the CIO on the same terms as members of the public.
(3) Payment for supply of goods only – controls The CIO and its trustees may only rely upon the authority provided by sub-clause (2)(c) of this clause if each of the following conditions is satisfied:
(a) The amount or maximum amount of the payment for the goods is set out in a written agreement between the CIO and the trustee or connected person supplying the goods (“the supplier”).
(b) The amount or maximum amount of the payment for the goods does not exceed what is reasonable in the circumstances for the supply of the goods in question.
(c) The other trustees are satisfied that it is in the best interests of the CIO to contract with the supplier rather than with someone who is not a trustee or connected person. In reaching that decision the trustees must balance the advantage of contracting with a trustee or connected person against the disadvantages of doing so.
(d) The supplier is absent from the part of any meeting at which there is discussion of the proposal to enter into a contract or arrangement with him or her or it with regard to the supply of goods to the CIO.
(e) The supplier does not vote on any such matter and is not to be counted when calculating whether a quorum of trustees is present at the meeting.
(f) The reason for their decision is recorded by the trustees in the minute book.
(g) A majority of the trustees then in office are not in receipt of remuneration or payments authorised by clause 6.
(4) In sub-clauses (2) and (3) of this clause:
(a) “the CIO” includes any company in which the CIO: (i) holds more than 50% of the shares; or (ii) controls more than 50% of the voting rights attached to the shares; or (iii) has the right to appoint one or more directors to the board of the company;
(b) “connected person” includes any person within the definition set out in clause 30 (Interpretation);
7 Conflicts of interest and conflicts of loyalty
A trustee must:
(1) declare the nature and extent of any interest, direct or indirect, which he or she has in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the CIO or in any transaction or arrangement entered into by the CIO which has not previously been declared; and
(2) absent himself or herself from any discussions of the trustees in which it is possible that a conflict of interest will arise between his or her duty to act solely in the interests of the CIO and any personal interest (including but not limited to any financial interest). Any trustee absenting himself or herself from any discussions in accordance with this clause must not vote or be counted as part of the quorum in any decision of the trustees on the matter.
8 Liability of members to contribute to the assets of the CIO if it is wound up
If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.
9 Membership of the CIO
(1) Admission of new members
(a) Eligibility Membership of the CIO is open to anyone who
(i) is interested in furthering its objects,
(ii) has indicated his or her agreement to become a member and acceptance of the duty of members set out in sub-clause (3) of this clause and the Chorus Rules, and
(iii) has successfully passed a voice test in accordance with the CIO’s current audition policy.
(b) Admission procedure
(i) The trustees may require applications for membership to be made in any reasonable way that they decide;
(ii) Applicants undertaking a voice test in accordance with the Audition policy and Chorus Rules, shall be informed of the result within 14 days.
(iii) An application for membership will be refused if the applicant is unable to pass the voice test and may be refused if the trustees believe that such refusal is in the best interests of the CIO in accordance with the Chorus Rules.
(iv) If an application for membership is refused the applicant will be given the reasons within 14 days of the decision being taken and the opportunity to appeal against the refusal unless that refusal was as a result of failure of a voice test;
(v) The trustees shall give fair consideration to any such appeal and shall inform the applicant of their decision, but any decision to confirm refusal of the application for membership shall be final.
(2) Transfer of membership
Membership of the CIO cannot be transferred to anyone else.
(3) Duty of members
It is the duty of each member of the CIO to exercise his or her powers as a member of the CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the objects of the CIO, in accordance with the Chorus Rules.
(4) Termination of membership
(a) Membership of the CIO comes to an end if:
(i) the member dies; or
(ii) the member sends a notice of resignation to the trustees or to the Membership Officer acting on behalf of the trustees; or
(iii) The member fails to pay in full, or make arrangements to pay in full, any sum of money owed by the member to the CIO within eight months of its falling due; or
(iv) the trustees decide that it is in the best interests of the CIO that the member in question should be removed from membership and pass a resolution to that effect.
(b) Before the trustees take any decision to remove someone from membership of the CIO they must:
(i) inform the member of the reasons why it is proposed to remove him or her from membership;
(ii) give the member at least 21 clear days’ notice in which to make representations to the trustees as to why he or she should not be removed from membership;
(iii) at a duly constituted meeting of the trustees, consider whether or not the member should be removed from membership;
(iv) consider at that meeting any representations which the member makes as to why the member should not be removed; and
(v) allow the member, or the member’s representative, to make those representations in person at that meeting, if the member so chooses.
(5) Membership fees
The CIO requires members to pay a membership subscription to the CIO, the subscription amounts are determined during the AGM.
(6) Informal or associate (non-voting) membership
(a) The trustees may create associate or other classes of non-voting membership, such as Honorary Members or Friends of the Chorus, and may determine the rights and obligations of any such members (including payment of membership fees), and the conditions for admission to, and termination of membership of any such class of members.
(b) Other references in this constitution to “members” and “membership” do not apply to non-voting members, and non-voting members do not qualify as members for any purpose under the Charities Acts, General Regulations or Dissolution Regulations.
10 Members’ decisions
(1) General provisions. Except for those decisions that must be taken in a particular way as indicated in subclause (3) of this clause, decisions of the members of the CIO are taken by vote at a general meeting as provided in sub-clause (2) of this clause.
(2) Taking ordinary decisions by vote. Subject to sub-clause (3) of this clause, any decision of the members of the CIO may be taken by means of a resolution at a general meeting. Such a resolution may be passed by a simple majority of votes cast at the meeting.
(3) Decisions that must be taken in a particular way
(a) Any decision to remove a trustee must be taken in accordance with clause 15(2).
(b) Any decision to amend this constitution must be taken in accordance with clause 28 of this constitution (Amendment of Constitution).
(c) Any decision to wind up or dissolve the CIO must be taken in accordance with clause 29 of this constitution (Voluntary winding up or dissolution).
(4) Any decision to amalgamate or transfer the undertaking of the CIO to one or more other CIOs must be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Charities Act 2011.
11 General meetings of members
(1) Types of general meeting
There must be an annual general meeting (AGM) of the members of the CIO. The first AGM must be held within 18 months of the registration of the CIO and subsequent AGMs must be held at intervals of not more than 15 months. The AGM, and all general meetings, can be held virtually / on-line rather than face-to-face. The AGM must receive the annual statement of accounts (duly audited or examined where applicable) and the trustees’ annual report and must elect trustees as required under clause 13. Other general meetings of the members of the CIO may be held at any time. All general meetings must be held in accordance with the following provisions.
(2) Calling general meetings
(a) The trustees:
(i) must call the annual general meeting of the members of the CIO in accordance with sub-clause (1) of this clause, and identify it as such in the notice of the meeting; and
(ii) may call any other general meeting of the members at any time.
(b) The trustees must, within 21 days, call a general meeting of the members of the CIO if:
(i) they receive a request to do so from at least 10% of the members of the CIO; and
(ii) the request states the general nature of the business to be dealt with at the meeting, and is authenticated by the member(s) making the request.
(c) If, at the time of any such request, there has not been any general meeting of the members of the CIO for more than 12 months, then sub-clause (b)(i) of this clause shall have effect as if 5% were substituted for 10%.
(d) Any such request may include particulars of a resolution that may properly be proposed, and is intended to be proposed, at the meeting.
(e) A resolution may only properly be proposed if it is lawful, and is not defamatory, frivolous or vexatious.
(f) Any general meeting called by the trustees at the request of the members of the CIO must be held within 28 days from the date on which it is called.
(g) If the trustees fail to comply with this obligation to call a general meeting at the request of its members, then the members who requested the meeting may themselves call a general meeting.
(h) A general meeting called in this way must be held not more than 3 months after the date when the members first requested the meeting.
(i) The CIO must reimburse any reasonable expenses incurred by the members calling a general meeting by reason of the failure of the trustees to duly call the meeting, but the CIO shall be entitled to be indemnified by the trustees who were responsible for such failure.
(3) Notice of general meetings
(a) The trustees, or, as the case may be, the relevant members of the CIO, must give at least 14 clear days’ notice of any general meeting to all of the members, and to any trustee of the CIO who is not a member.
(b) If it is agreed by not less than 90% of all members of the CIO, any resolution may be proposed and passed at the meeting even though the requirements of subclause (3)(a) of this clause have not been met. This sub-clause does not apply where a specified period of notice is strictly required by another clause in this constitution, by the Charities Act 2011 or by the General Regulations.
(c) The notice of any general meeting must:
(i) state the time and date of the meeting:
(ii) give the address or on-line link at which the meeting is to take place;
(iii) give particulars of any resolution which is to be moved at the meeting, and of the general nature of any other business to be dealt with at the meeting; and
(iv) if a proposal to alter the constitution of the CIO is to be considered at the meeting, include the text of the proposed alteration;
(v) include, with the notice for the AGM, the annual statement of accounts and trustees’ annual report, details of persons standing for election or re-election as trustees or Members’ Representatives, or where allowed under clause 22 (Use of electronic communication), details of where the information may be found on the CIO’s website.
(d) Proof that an envelope containing a notice was properly addressed, prepaid and posted; or that an electronic form of notice was properly addressed and sent, shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given. Notice shall be deemed to be given 2 working days after it was posted or sent.
(e) The proceedings of a meeting shall not be invalidated because a member who was entitled to receive notice of the meeting did not receive it because of accidental omission by the CIO.
(4) Chairing of general meetings
The person nominated as chair by the trustees under clause 19(2) (Chairing of meetings), shall, if present at the general meeting and willing to act, preside as chair of the meeting. Subject to that, the members of the CIO who are present at a general meeting shall elect a chair to preside at the meeting.
(5) Quorum at general meetings
(a) No business may be transacted at any general meeting of the members of the CIO unless a quorum is present when the meeting starts.
(b) Subject to the following provisions, the quorum for general meetings shall be the greater of 15% or 30 members.
(c) If the meeting has been called by or at the request of the members and a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the starting time specified in the notice of the meeting, the meeting is closed.
(d) If the meeting has been called in any other way and a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the starting time specified in the notice of the meeting, the chair must adjourn the meeting. The date, time and place at which the meeting will resume must either be announced by the chair or be notified to the CIO’s members at least seven clear days before the date on which it will resume.
(e) If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the start time of the adjourned meeting, the member or members present at the meeting constitute a quorum.
(f) If at any time during the meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting may discuss issues and make recommendations to the trustees but may not make any decisions. If decisions are required which must be made by a meeting of the members, the meeting must be adjourned.
(6) Voting at general meetings
(a) Any decision other than one falling within clause 10(3) (Decisions that must be taken in a particular way) shall be taken by a simple majority of votes cast at the meeting. Every member has one vote.
(b) A resolution put to the vote of a meeting shall be decided on a show of hands (or electronic poll for virtual meetings), unless (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) a poll is duly demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chair or by at least 10% of the members present in person at the meeting.
(c) A poll demanded on the election of a person to chair the meeting or on a question of adjournment must be taken immediately. A poll on any other matter shall be taken, and the result of the poll shall be announced, in such manner as the chair of the meeting shall decide, provided that the poll must be taken, and the result of the poll announced, within 30 days of the demand for the poll.
(d) A poll may be taken:
(i) at the meeting at which it was demanded; or
(ii) at some other time and place specified by the chair; or
(iii) through the use of postal or electronic communications.
(e) In the event of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chair of the meeting shall have a second, or casting vote.
(f) Any objection to the qualification of any voter must be raised at the meeting at which the vote is cast and the decision of the chair of the meeting shall be final.
(7) Adjournment of meetings
The chair may with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place. No business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting except business which could properly have been transacted at the original meeting.
12 Trustees
(1) Functions and duties of trustees
The trustees shall manage the affairs of the CIO and may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the CIO. It is the duty of each trustee:
(a) to exercise his or her powers and to perform his or her functions as a trustee of the CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the objects of the CIO; and
(b) to exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and skill as is reasonable in the circumstances having regard in particular to:
(i) any special knowledge or experience that he or she has or holds himself or herself as having; and
(ii) if he or she acts as a trustee of the CIO in the course of a business or profession, to any special knowledge or experience that it is reasonable to expect of a person acting in the course of that kind of business or profession.
(2) Eligibility for trusteeship
(a) Every trustee must be a natural person.
(b) No one may be appointed as a trustee:
(i) if he or she is under the age of 16 years; or
(ii) if he or she would automatically cease to hold office under the provisions of clause 15(1)(f).
(c) No one is entitled to act as a trustee whether on appointment or on any reappointment until he or she has expressly acknowledged, in whatever way the trustees decide, his or her acceptance of the office of trustee.
(3) Number of trustees
(a) There must be at least seven trustees. If the number falls below this minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new trustee.
(b) There is no maximum number of trustees that may be appointed to the CIO.
(4) First trustees
The first trustees of the CIO are: Paul Henstridge (Chair), Anne Adams (Administrator), Graham Dawson (Finance Officer), John Spence (Membership Officer), Els Pearse (Librarian), Sue Pennington (Minutes Secretary), Sally Tunstall (New Members’ Officer), Paul Bedwell (Marketing Officer), Helen Kirk (Social Events Officer), Georgina Hulse (Education and Outreach Officer), Paul Duffield (Members’ Representative), Rachel Mallaband (Members’ Representative), Janet Hoyle (Members’ Representative)
13 Appointment of trustees
(1) The trustees of the CIO shall be the Chair , the Vice Chair, the Administrator, the Finance Officer, the Membership Officer and the Members Representatives elected at the annual general meeting and who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting, and such other members of the CIO who shall be elected to that office at a general meeting.’
(2) At the first annual general meeting of the members of the CIO all the trustees shall retire from office;
(3) At every subsequent annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, all of the trustees shall retire from office.
(4) The members or the trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new trustee, whether in place of a trustee who has retired or been removed in accordance with clause 15 (Retirement and removal of trustees), or as an additional trustee;
(5) A person so appointed by the members of the CIO shall retire in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause (3) of this clause.
14 Information for new trustees
The trustees will make available to each new trustee, on or before his or her first appointment:
(a) a copy of this constitution and any amendments made to it; and
(b) a copy of the CIO’s latest trustees’ annual report and statement of accounts.
15 Retirement and removal of trustees
(1) A trustee ceases to hold office if he or she:
(a) retires by notifying the CIO in writing (but only if enough trustees will remain in office when the notice of resignation takes effect to form a quorum for meetings);
(b) is absent without the permission of the trustees from all their meetings held within a period of six months and the trustees resolve that his or her office be vacated;
(c) dies;
(d) in the written opinion, given to the CIO, of a registered medical practitioner treating that person, has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a trustee and may remain so for more than three months;
(e) is removed by the members of the CIO in accordance with sub-clause (2) of this clause; or
(f) is disqualified from acting as a trustee by virtue of section 178 – 180 of the Charities Act 2011 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision).
(2) A trustee shall be removed from office if a resolution to remove that trustee is proposed at a general meeting of the members called for that purpose and properly convened in accordance with clause 11 and the resolution is passed by a majority of votes cast at the meeting.
(3) A resolution to remove a trustee in accordance with this clause shall not take effect unless the individual concerned has been given at least 14 clear days’ notice in writing that the resolution is to be proposed, specifying the circumstances alleged to justify removal from office, and has been given a reasonable opportunity of making oral and/or written representations to the members of the CIO.
16 Reappointment of trustees
Any retiring trustee of the CIO shall be eligible for re-election, except trustees elected as Members’ Representatives, who may not stand for re-election at more than three successive AGMs.
17 Taking of decisions by trustees
Any decision may be taken either:
(i) at a meeting of the trustees; or
(ii) by resolution in writing or electronic form agreed by all of the trustees, which may comprise either a single document or several documents containing the text of the resolution in like form to each of which one or more trustees has signified their agreement.
18 Delegation by trustees
(1) The trustees may delegate any of their powers or functions to a sub-committee or sub-committees and, if they do, they must determine the terms and conditions on which the delegation is made. The trustees may at any time alter those terms and conditions, or revoke the delegation.
(2) This power is in addition to the power of delegation in the General Regulations and any other power of delegation available to the trustees, but is subject to the following requirements:
(a) a committee may consist of two or more persons, but at least one member of each committee must be a trustee;
(b) the acts and proceedings of any sub-committee must be brought to the attention of the trustees as a whole as soon as is reasonably practicable; and
(c) the trustees shall from time to time review the arrangements which they have made for the delegation of their powers.
19 Meetings and proceedings of trustees
(1) Calling meetings
(a) Any trustee may call a meeting of the trustees.
(b) Subject to that, the trustees shall decide how their meetings are to be called, and what notice is required.
(2) Chairing of meetings
Meetings shall be chaired by the Chair elected at the annual general meeting. In the event that the Chair is unable or unwilling to fulfil this function for any reason the Vice Chair will chair the meeting. If the Vice Chair is unable or unwilling to chair the meeting, the trustees may appoint one of their number to chair that meeting.
(3) Procedure at meetings
(a) No decision shall be taken at a meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the decision is taken. The quorum is six trustees, or the number nearest to one third of the total number of trustees, whichever is greater, or such larger number as the trustees may decide from time to time. A trustee shall not be counted in the quorum present when any decision is made about a matter upon which he or she is not entitled to vote.
(b) Questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of those eligible to vote.
(c) In the case of an equality of votes, the chair shall have a second or casting vote.
(4) Participation in meetings by electronic means
(a) A meeting may be held by suitable electronic means agreed by the trustees in which each participant may communicate with all the other participants.
(b) Any trustee participating at a meeting by suitable electronic means agreed by the trustees in which a participant or participants may communicate with all the other participants shall qualify as being present at the meeting.
(c) Meetings held by electronic means must comply with rules for meetings, including chairing and the taking of minutes.
20 Saving provisions
(1) Subject to sub-clause (2) of this clause, all decisions of the trustees, or of a committee of trustees, shall be valid notwithstanding the participation in any vote of a trustee:
(i) who was disqualified from holding office;
(ii) who had previously retired or who had been obliged by the constitution to vacate office;
(iii) who was not entitled to vote on the matter, whether by reason of a conflict of interest or otherwise; if, without the vote of that trustee and that trustee being counted in the quorum, the decision has been made by a majority of the trustees at a quorate meeting.
(2) Sub-clause (1) of this clause does not permit a trustee to keep any benefit that may be conferred upon him or her by a resolution of the trustees or of a committee of trustees if, but for clause (1), the resolution would have been void, or if the trustee has not complied with clause 7 (Conflicts of interest).
21 Execution of documents
(1) The CIO shall execute documents by signature.
(2) A document is validly executed by signature if it is signed by at least two of the trustees.
22 Use of electronic communications
(1) General The CIO will comply with the requirements of the Communications Provisions in the General Regulations and in particular:
(a) the requirement to provide within 21 days to any member on request a hard copy of any document or information sent to the member otherwise than in hard copy form;
(b) any requirements to provide information to the Commission in a particular form or manner.
(2) To the CIO Any member or trustee of the CIO may communicate electronically with the CIO to an address specified by the CIO for the purpose, so long as the communication is authenticated in a manner which is satisfactory to the CIO.
(3) By the CIO
(a) Any member or trustee of the CIO, by providing the CIO with his or her email address or similar, is taken to have agreed to receive communications from the CIO in electronic form at that address, unless the member has indicated to the CIO his or her unwillingness to receive such communications in that form.
(b) The trustees may, subject to compliance with any legal requirements, by means of publication on the CIO’s website:
(i) provide the members with the notice referred to in clause 11(3) (Notice of general meetings);
(ii) give trustees notice of their meetings in accordance with clause 19(1) (Calling meetings); and
(iii) submit any proposal to the members or trustees for decision by written resolution in accordance with the CIO’s powers under clause 10 (Members’ decisions)
(c) The trustees must:
(i) take reasonable steps to ensure that members and trustees are promptly notified of the publication of any such notice or proposal;
(ii) send any such notice or proposal in hard copy form to any member or trustee who has not consented to receive communications in electronic form.
23 Keeping of Registers
The CIO must comply with its obligations under the General Regulations in relation to the keeping of, and provision of access to, registers of its members and trustees.
24 Minutes
The trustees must keep minutes of all:
(1) appointments of officers made by the trustees;
(2) proceedings at general meetings of the CIO;
(3) meetings of the trustees and committees of trustees including:
(i) the names of the trustees present at the meeting;
(ii) the decisions made at the meetings; and
(iii) where appropriate the reasons for the decisions;
(4) decisions made by the trustees otherwise than in meetings.
25 Accounting records, accounts, annual reports and returns, and attendance register maintenance.
(1) The trustees must comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 with regard to the keeping of accounting records, to the preparation and scrutiny of statements of accounts, and to the preparation of annual reports and returns. The statements of accounts, reports and returns must be sent to the Charity Commission, regardless of the income of the CIO, within 10 months of the CIO’s financial year end.
(2) The trustees must comply with their obligation to inform the Commission within 28 days of any change in the particulars of the CIO entered on the Central Register of Charities.
26 Chorus Rules
The trustees may from time to time make such reasonable and proper rules or bye laws as they may deem necessary or expedient for the proper conduct and management of the CIO, but such rules or bye laws must not be inconsistent with any provision of this constitution. Copies of any such rules or bye laws currently in force must be made available to any member of the CIO on request.
27 Disputes
If a dispute arises between members of the CIO about the validity or propriety of anything done by the members under this constitution, and the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement, the parties to the dispute must first try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation before resorting to litigation.
28 Amendment of constitution
As provided by clauses 224 – 227 of the Charities Act 2011:
(1) This constitution can only be amended:
(a) by resolution agreed in writing by all members of the CIO; or
(b) by a resolution passed by a 75% majority of votes cast at a general meeting of the members of the CIO.
(2) Any alteration of clause 3 (Objects), clause 29 (Voluntary winding up or dissolution), this clause, or of any provision where the alteration would provide authorisation for any benefit to be obtained by trustees or members of the CIO or persons connected with them, requires the prior written consent of the Charity Commission.
(3) No amendment that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Charities Act 2011 or the General Regulations shall be valid.
(4) A copy of any resolution altering the constitution, together with a copy of the CIO’s constitution as amended, must be sent to the Commission within 15 days from the date on which the resolution is passed. The amendment does not take effect until it has been recorded in the Register of Charities.
29 Voluntary winding up or dissolution
(1) As provided by the Dissolution Regulations, the CIO may be dissolved by resolution of its members. Any decision by the members to wind up or dissolve the CIO can only be made:
(a) at a general meeting of the members of the CIO called in accordance with clause 11 (Meetings of Members), of which not less than 14 days’ notice has been given to those eligible to attend and vote:
(i) by a resolution passed by a 75% majority of those voting, or
(ii) by a resolution passed by decision taken without a vote and without any expression of dissent in response to the question put to the general meeting;
or (b) by a resolution agreed in writing by all members of the CIO.
(2) Subject to the payment of all the CIO’s debts:
(a) Any resolution for the winding up of the CIO, or for the dissolution of the CIO without winding up, may contain a provision directing how any remaining assets of the CIO shall be applied.
(b) If the resolution does not contain such a provision, the trustees must decide how any remaining assets of the CIO shall be applied.
(c) In either case the remaining assets must be applied for charitable purposes the same as or similar to those of the CIO.
(3) The CIO must observe the requirements of the Dissolution Regulations in applying to the Commission for the CIO to be removed from the Register of Charities, and in particular:
(a) the trustees must send with their application to the Commission:
(i) a copy of the resolution passed by the members of the CIO;
(ii) a declaration by the trustees that any debts and other liabilities of the CIO have been settled or otherwise provided for in full; and
(iii) a statement by the trustees setting out the way in which any property of the CIO has been or is to be applied prior to its dissolution in accordance with this constitution;
(b) the trustees must ensure that a copy of the application is sent within seven days to every member and employee of the CIO, and to any trustee of the CIO who was not privy to the application.
(4) If the CIO is to be wound up or dissolved in any other circumstances, the provisions of the Dissolution Regulations must be followed.
30 Interpretation
In this constitution:
(1) “connected person” means:
(a) a child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, brother or sister of the trustee;
(b) the spouse or civil partner of the trustee or of any person falling within sub-clause (a) above;
(c) a person carrying on business in partnership with the trustee or with any person falling within sub-clause (a) or (b) above;
(d) an institution which is controlled:
(i) by the trustee or any connected person falling within sub-clause (a), (b), or (c) above; or
(ii) by two or more persons falling within sub-clause (d)(i), when taken together
(e) a body corporate in which:
(i) the trustee or any connected person falling within sub-clauses (a) to (c) has a substantial interest; or
(ii) two or more persons falling within sub-clause (e)(i) who, when taken together, have a substantial interest.
(2) Section 118 of the Charities Act 2011 shall apply for the purposes of interpreting the terms used in this constitution.
(3) “General Regulations” means the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012.
(4) “Dissolution Regulations” means the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012.
(5) The “Communications Provisions” means the Communications Provisions in Part 10, Chapter 4 of the General Regulations.
(6) “Charity trustee” means a trustee of the CIO. (7) A “poll” means a counted vote or ballot, usually (but not necessarily) in writing.
This Constitution was amended at the 86th AGM held in November 2022.
Our Rules are not part of the formal Constitution, but form an Appendix to it; they are made available to members on joining the Chorus. The Rules include arrangements for appointing the Music Director and Accompanist and for auditions and re-auditions, minimum attendance requirements, concert procedure, and the chorus dress code. The Rules were last updated in May 2018.
