1. The organisation will be called The Village Green Teams (Leavenheath, Polstead and Stoke by Nayland.)

2. The aims of the organisation are:

2.i to build on existing networks in the three villages, to make best use of local knowledge and experience and to work together so that individually and collectively we can make environmentally helpful choices about the way we live.

2.ii as far as possible to keep our structure informal and administration simple so that we can put maximum time and energy into learning about green, eco friendly strategies and putting them into practice.

3. The guiding principles of the organisation are:

3.i to link with other like-minded groups in the villages, district, county and diocese so that we can support and learn from each other and collectively contribute to building sustainability into the life of our communities.

3.ii to be open and welcoming to anyone who wishes to be involved in all or any of our activities.

3.iii to make particular efforts to involve children and young people and to offer information and practical help to older people and others who cannot easily get directly involved.

3.iv to keep records of activities and to measure outcomes so that individually and collectively we can see if we are making progress.

3.v This is NOT a membership organisation but an informal group of individuals with shared interests in sustainability who will be free to participate and/or take a lead in agreed activities.

4. The structure of the organisation will be as follows:

4.i The Core team consisting of:

· Convenor (to run meetings),

· Treasurer (to manage the funds, authorise significant expenditure and advise on fund-raising),

· Reporter (to record action points from meetings and arrange publicity.)

· Events co-ordinator (responsible to book speakers, events, transport, halls etc.)

4,ii Representative from each of the villages

4.iii Representative from the Parish

4.iv Team Leaders who are currently taking an active lead on themes or issues which the group decides to work on will also be eligible to take part in meetings with the core group.

5. Meetings and decision making

5.i Meetings of the Core Group together with Village and Parish Representatives and Team Leaders will be held at least quarterly to review current work and to plan future developments. A minimum of FOUR people must be present when decisions on future activities are made.

5.ii Decisions affecting the budget must be approved by the Treasurer.

5.iii A public meeting, open to all, will be held annually. Those who attend the meeting, who have been actively involved with the V.G.T. in the past year, are eligible to make nominations, and to be nominated, for the Core Group and Representatives, and will be eligible to vote on such appointments.

5.iv At the annual public meeting the Core Group and Representatives will be eligible for re-appointment for a maximum of three consecutive years.

6. Financial matters.

6.i Accounts will be kept by the treasurer and will be available for inspection and approval at the Annual Meetin

6.ii An independent examiner will check the organisation’s accounts prior to the annual public meeting.

6.iii In the event that the Village Green Teams cease to function, any remaining funds will be transferred to an approved organisation in the District, County or Parish, which shares the aim of promoting sustainable living.

7. Development of the Green Teams

7.i. The draft constitution dated 15.2.2006 was adopted at the Annual Meeting held on 16.2.2007, with amendments as incorporated in this document.

7.ii In the event that the Constitution needs further adjustment, changes or additions should be approved at the next Annual Meeting.

draft lm/cls. 15.2.2006

amended lm/cls/dp 17.2.07 based on agreements reached at annual meeting on 16.2.2007.

This version of the Constitution is now agreed and in operation.