Interim Constitution

These terms of reference were adopted on 12 November 2007 by the Steering Group of WinACC as a working constitution until such time as WinACC is registered as a company and secures charitable status.

Aims

The principal aim of Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC) is to encourage, persuade and advise all households and public, private and voluntary organisations in Winchester district to reduce their carbon footprints. In pursuing the above aim Winchester Action on Climate Change will:

  • Promote the many benefits of low carbon living;
  • Work with and through existing networks and partnerships to set the highest possible standards in communicating about climate change; in particular it will work with the City and County Councils and the Winchester District Strategic Partnership to help achieve their climate change objectives;
  • Act as a focal point for information about climate change and advice on measuring, monitoring and reducing carbon footprints;
  • Initiate and support action groups trying to achieve these aims
  • Make the achievement of all the aims as satisfying and enjoyable as possible.

Activities

In order to achieve the above aims WinACC will:

  • Encourage its founder members to lead by example
  • Organise and promote training for those willing to be active in encouraging, persuading and advising households and organisations about the benefits of low carbon living and the most effective ways to reduce their carbon footprint
  • Work with Winchester City Council, The Environment Centre and other organisations to encourage households to conserve energy and reduce their carbon footprints
  • Support and develop ‘low carbon champions’ for Winchester district
  • Work with schools to develop new opportunities for understanding climate change issues and to encourage appropriate action on climate change both inside and outside the normal school day
  • Promote public engagement with the science of climate change and the highest quality of communication on climate change issues
  • Other activities that help to meet the aims

Founder Members

  • Founder members are organisations willing to lead by example by measuring their own carbon footprints, publishing ambitious carbon reduction strategies, and then acting on them (with the aim of reporting back annually).
  • The following organisations are the founder members: Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council, University of Winchester, A2 Housing Association, architecture plb, Churches Together in Winchester, City of Winchester Trust, Denplan, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership, Hampshire Constabulary, Sparsholt College, Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Hospital Trust , Winchester Area Community Action, Winchester Cathedral, Winchester College, Winchester Friends of the Earth.
  • Founder members have the right to be represented at Steering Group meetings and to be involved with all decision-making at those meetings.

Steering Group Meetings

  • The Steering Group will meet at least every two months; the Steering Group will be responsible for making decisions on strategic and constitutional issues.
  • Decisions will be made by consensus as far as possible; otherwise by majority rule, with all Group members entitled to vote.

Management Group

  • A management group will meet as and when necessary to discuss and take decisions on finance, policy and staffing issues.
  • The management group will consist of representatives of the Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council, the University of Winchester, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership and two other members elected by the Steering Group. The management group will be empowered to co-opt two further members.

Open Meetings

  • Meetings open to all those who share the aims of WinACC will be held at least every two months.
  • Open meetings will help to set up action groups; they will also receive reports back from action groups and from the Steering and management Groups

The WinACC rule

  • To help achieve the aims of WinACC, and to encourage a collaborative approach, at the end of every WinACC meeting those present will be encouraged to commit themselves to undertaking a task or series of tasks before the next meeting, and to reporting back.

Finance

  • On receipt of its first donations or other funds WinACC will open a bank account with cheque signatories drawn from members of the Management Group
  • Income and expenditure statements will be prepared for each financial year in relation to any such funds.
  • Members will be encouraged to make a voluntary contribution towards the start up costs of WinACC

Dissolution

  • In the event of the dissolution of WinACC, any assets remaining after all debts and liabilities have been discharged shall be distributed by decision of the Management Group to a charitable organisation within Winchester that is working to promote education in sustainable development.