Amended Constitution as agreed at the AGM 2006

1. Name
The name of this body shall be The Liverpool Governors’ Forum (hereinafter called The Forum).
2. Purpose and Objectives
2.1 To represent the views of all governing bodies from Liverpool schools.
2.2 To liaise with all bodies connected with education, both locally, regionally, and nationally.
2.3 To provide a forum for discussion and mutual assistance.
2.4 To promote best practice in fulfilling statutory and other responsibilities with sensitivity.
2.5 To raise awareness of educational issues.
2.6 To provide a basis for pursuing common ideals and objectives.
3. Membership
3.1 Membership shall be open to all Governing Bodies of schools in Liverpool.
3.2 Each Governing Body will have one vote, but may have up to three members present.
3.3 Voting membership is open to all schools that have paid their annual membership fee.
4. Executive Committee (hereinafter called the Committee)
4.1 Each annual meeting shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and no more than 12 other Committee members. The Executive Committee (hereinafter called the Committee) will manage the affairs of The Forum.
4.2 Election of the Committee shall be by nomination, including self-nomination, followed, if necessary, by a ballot of those representatives with voting rights who are present at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of The Forum.
4.3 The ballot may be secret if agreed by a simple majority of members present.
4.4 A Committee member may resign at any time. Such vacancies may be filled by co-option until the next general meeting when they shall be subject to ballot.
4.5 The Committee shall have the authority to form working parties and/or sub-committee from Forum members.
4.6 The Committee shall determine the extent of delegation of powers to its working parties or sub-committees.
4.7 The Committee has the right to co-opt additional members.
5. Meetings
5.1 The Committee shall meet as necessary to conduct its business.
5.2 There shall be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the Autumn term of each year.
5.3 An Honorary Independent Examiner shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
5.4 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Forum shall be either at the request of the Committee or at the written request of 10% of the member schools. Notice of the meeting, together with an agenda, shall be circulated to all Governing bodies at least seven days before the meeting.
5.5 Motions may be presented at all meetings and shall be adopted subject to a simple majority in favour.
6. Relationship with Other Organisations
6.1 The Forum, through the Committee, shall seek to establish good working relationships with other appropriate organisations and individuals.
6.2 From time to time, members of these organisations or individuals may be invited to meetings.
6.3 The Forum, as a body, shall have no political affiliations.
7. Funding
7.1 During each year the Forum shall require membership fees from its members:
(a) Such membership fees shall be proposed by the Committee and ratified by the Annual General Meeting.
(b) Such membership fees shall be collected by the Treasurer and used for payment of operational expenses.
7.2 The according period of the Forum shall commence on 1st September of each year.
7.3 The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and submit independently examined accounts in agreed format to the Annual General Meeting.
7.4 The Forum shall keep a bank/building society account in its name, withdrawals being made by any two of four authorised i.e. Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
7.5 The Forum shall not go into debt whether through overdraft, loan or debtors.
8. Amendments to the Constitution
The rules of the constitution may be amended, supplemented or varied by a resolution of a two-thirds majority of members present at an AGM or EGM subject to 28 days notice, in writing to the Secretary.
9. Dissolution
9.1 A resolution for a dissolution ballot may be approved at an AGM or EGM. There must be a postal ballot of all Forum members. A simple majority is required for dissolution to take place.
9.2 Any assets remaining, after discharge of liabilities, shall be donated to educational charities. The charities to be nominated by the Committee and details circulated to members with the dissolution papers.