Yorkshire and the Humber Transport Roundtable Purposes

YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER TRANSPORT ROUNDTABLE (YHTAR)

CONSTITUTION

1. The Round Table shall be called YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER TRANSPORT ROUNDTABLE, hereinafter called YHTAR.

The YHTAR is a network of organisations based within Yorkshire

2. YHTAR shall cover the YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER REGION as currently defined by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. It shall liaise closely with surrounding areas.

3. YHTAR shall also liaise closely with National TAR and will take close account of its recommendations.

4. YHTAR is an independent, unincorporated organisation.

OBJECTIVES:

1) To promote sustainability and safety in transport throughout Yorkshire and The Humber Region and to follow and to act in accordance with the purposes outlined in Annex A of this Constitution.

2) To encourage and facilitate co-operation and liaison between its members and between other bodies and people with similar aims, including all levels of government.

3) To seek greater accountability in decision making by all levels of Government and other statutory and official bodies, and by transport operators.

4) To promote dialogue with all levels of Government and other statutory, commercial and voluntary bodies.

MEMBERSHIP:

a) Full Membership of YHTAR is open to any public interest organisation or network that supports YHTAR's objectives.

b) Member organisations will pay annual subscriptions at varying levels to be determined by the Annual General Meeting.

c) Individuals who support YHTAR objectives may become Associate Members of YHTAR and receive papers and attend meetings, but will not have voting rights.

d) Voting rights shall be held by all full member organisations who have paid their current subscription, each full member having one vote.

e) Voting shall be by a show of hands, secret ballot or a postal vote.

f) Voting to elect representatives on other bodies shall be by show of hands, secret ballot or postal ballot.

g) Members or Associate Members who are deemed to have worked against the aims of YHTAR or to have brought the name of the Round Table into disrepute may be suspended or expelled. Such action shall require a two-thirds majority of votes cast at an Annual General Meeting or at any other general meeting after due notice has been given, both of the meeting and the expulsion or suspension motion.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Four weeks written notice shall be given to all members of the intention to hold an AGM, which will normally be during the month of April each year. The Agenda for this meeting shall be circulated at least 2 weeks before the meeting but not more than 4 weeks before the meeting.

The business of the AGM shall be:

a) to receive and adopt the Annual Report;

b) to receive and adopt the Accounts and confirm subscription level for the following year;

c) to elect Honorary Officers: i) Chairman, ii) Vice Chairman, iii) Treasurer and iv) Other Honorary Officers as deemed appropriate;

d) to elect up to 5 other individuals to sit on the Executive Committee and

e) to discuss and vote on any other motions of which 4 weeks prior notice has been given in writing.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by five or more paid-up members, on giving at least one calendar month's written notice to all other members, specifying date, time, location, agenda and motions for the meeting; each member signing the notice with their names, which shall also be printed at the bottom of the notice.

Ten per cent of the paid-up membership shall constitute a quorum for all General Meetings

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

This shall consist of the elected Honorary Officers, YHTAR representative(s) on official regional bodies that have some concern with transport, such as the YH Regional Chamber, and up to 5 other elected members.

The Executive Committee shall:

a) Co-ordinate the activities of YHTAR;

b) organise the day to day administration of YHTAR;

c) employ such persons that it thinks are necessary;

d) collect subscriptions and hold monies in whatsoever form as it considers necessary,

e) maintain a list of members;

f) call and organise the AGM and such other meetings as are necessary;

g) co-opt members to itself if necessary (especially in the case of an officer's resignation);

h) do whatsoever else is necessary to ensure the smooth and efficient working of the YH TAR,

i) keep proper accounts and to arrange for annual accounts to be audited by an independent examiner.

WINDING UP

YHTAR can be wound up by a vote at the AGM or an Extraordinary General Meeting.

Any monies held shall be returned to members or subscribers in the proportion in which they were given.

STATUS OF THIS CONSTITUTION

This Constitution, which was adopted by an AGM of YHTAR members on 21st April 2001, and amended at an AGM of YHTAR members on 16th April 2005 shall be the Constitution of YHTAR.

This Constitution shall only be changed by a motion at an AGM which is supported by two thirds of the votes cast by those present.

ANNEX A

YHTAR AGREED STATEMENT OF PURPOSES

1. The YHTAR is a network of organisations based within Yorkshire and the Humber Region, who share a common wish to seek the development of more environmentally sustainable, safe and fully integrated transport within our region, including walking, cycling and forms of transport for people and freight which do not have an adverse impact upon the environment.

2. Members of the YHTAR recognise that all people of our region, whether they live in urban or rural areas, should be able to enjoy high quality access to workplace, education, shopping, social and recreational facilities, including access to the countryside, without having to use a private motor vehicle.

3. Members of the YHTAR will work closely together to oppose major road and other developments which will generate additional traffic, and will campaign to reduce road traffic and traffic pollution in both town and countryside, in order to minimise such impacts on local communities and the environment.

4. Members of YHTAR will actively co-operate with and support fellow organisations in the sharing of information, experience and expertise, and will work together in appropriate ways with all relevant organisations to achieve the purposes outlined above.

5. Members of YHTAR will respect the interests and concerns of other member organisations, and avoid, whenever possible, any public statement which will cause difficulty or embarrassment to other members, divide opposition to harmful schemes or result in problems being moved into other parts of our region or into other regions.