The Constitution

In this section

The BBCPA constitution

Rules

Edition: Feb 2021

1.0 Name

1.0. What is the Association

An independent, not-for-profit association, open to former employees of the BBC and associated employers, who are in receipt of a BBC pension or hold a deferred pension to which the BBC has contributed. This also includes former BBC employees who have transferred their BBC pension to another pension arrangement.

All members are able to enjoy the full benefits of BBCPA membership

2.0 Objectives

The Association’s objectives are:-

2.1 to promote and safeguard the interests of BBC Pensioners, as defined above;

2.2 to provide a forum for the examination and discussion of all matters relating to BBC pensions;

2.3 to provide a means whereby the interests and views of BBC pensioners may be ascertained and collectively represented to the administrators of BBC pension schemes, the scheme trustees, the BBC Trust, BBC management and others;

2.4 to obtain information from and co-operate with other bodies concerned with the advancement of pensioner interests at a national level;

2.5 to further advance the history of the BBC by collecting, creating and maintaining permanent accessible records of personal memories from retired staff of their working lives at the BBC

2.6 at the committee’s discretion to initiate and to participate with others in furthering such records in the wider public interest.

2.7 to obtain professional advice and do anything else reasonably required in pursuance of the objectives of the Association.

3.0 Eligibility for membership

3.1 Any person in receipt of a pension from a BBC pension scheme defined as in 1 above is eligible for membership of the Association.

3.2 At the invitation of the committee the surviving spouse or partner of a deceased member is eligible for honorary life membership.

3.3 At the discretion of the committee honorary life membership may be conferred on members in recognition of their services to the Association.

4.0 Management

4.1 The Association shall be managed by a committee which consists of not fewer than four and not more than twelve members of the Association.

4.2 The committee shall serve from one Annual General Meeting (AGM) to the next but committee members may be re-elected and serve further terms.

4.3 Candidates for the committee shall be nominated by a proposer and a seconder who are members of the Association and who have secured the agreement of their candidate to be nominated.

4.4 If the number of members of the preceding year’s committee who are willing to serve for another year together with the number of other candidates exceeds twelve, then a ballot shall be held at the AGM and the twelve receiving the most votes shall be elected and serve as the committee for the following year.

4.5 At its first meeting after an AGM the committee shall elect from amongst its number three honorary officers: a chair, secretary and treasurer. A membership secretary shall also be elected to whom an honorarium may be paid at the discretion of the committee.

4.6 The committee may co-opt additional members to serve on the committee at any time so long as the total number of members does not exceed twelve.

4.7 An officer of the committee together with three other members of the committee constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting any business provided due notice of the meeting and the business has been given in the normal way.

4.8 The committee shall be responsible for keeping members of the Association informed about current issues relating to the BBC pension schemes and develop-ments at a national level that are likely to have an impact on BBC pensioners.

4.9 The committee will normally arrange two or three regional meetings a year in addition to the AGM and any Special General Meetings (SGMs), and will undertake the publication of an annual newsletter.

5.0 Annual subscriptions

5.1 A person who wishes to become a member or a joint member of the association shall pay a subscription to the Association upon joining and a renewal subscription on 1st May in each subsequent year. When the member attains the age of 90 the payment of all subsequent subscriptions shall be waived.

5.2 Any changes in the annual subscription shall be determined by the committee and confirmed at the next AGM.

4.4 If the number of members of the preceding year’s committee who are willing to serve for another year together with the number of other candidates exceeds twelve, then a ballot shall be held at the AGM and the twelve receiving the most votes shall be elected and serve as the committee for the following year.

4.5 At its first meeting after an AGM the committee shall elect from amongst its number three honorary officers: a chair, secretary and treasurer. A membership secretary shall also be elected to whom an honorarium may be paid at the discretion of the committee.

4.6 The committee may co-opt additional members to serve on the committee at any time so long as the total number of members does not exceed twelve.

4.7 An officer of the committee together with three other members of the committee constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting any business provided due notice of the meeting and the business has been given in the normal way.

4.8 The committee shall be responsible for keeping members of the Association informed about current issues relating to the BBC pension schemes and develop-ments at a national level that are likely to have an impact on BBC pensioners.

4.9 The committee will normally arrange two or three regional meetings a year in addition to the AGM and any Special General Meetings (SGMs), and will undertake the publication of an annual newsletter.

6.0 Life membership

6.1 A member aged 80 or over may at his or her option choose to become a life member on payment of a single subscription.

6.2 Any changes in the life membership subscription rate shall be determined by the committee and agreed at an AGM.

7.0 Joint membership

Two members both paying annual subscriptions and living at the same address may at their option choose to become joint members and may thereafter pay a reduced annual joint subscription in place of two annual subscriptions. Joint members shall receive one copy of any notices or other matter sent to members by the Association.

8.0 Lapse of membership

If a subscription remains unpaid by the AGM in the year after the renewal date then that member’s membership shall lapse at that date. The Association shall not be obliged to issue reminder notices. The operation of this rule may be waived or suspended in particular cases at the committee’s discretion.

9.0 Annual General Meeting

9.1 The Association shall hold an Annual General Meeting in April each year unless at an AGM it has been agreed to hold the following AGM at some other time.

9.2 The business of the AGM shall include reports to be given by the chair, the treasurer and the membership secretary on the activities of the Association, its financial affairs and its relationship with and recruitment of members.

9.3 The AGM shall incorporate the election of members of the committee in accordance with the Rules set out in Section 4: Management.

9.4 Notice of the AGM agenda, date, time and place shall be sent to all members at least six weeks before the date of the meeting, together with copies of the certified accounts and a report for the preceding calendar year, which shall also be available at the AGM.

9.5 Any member who wishes to move a resolution or motion at the AGM shall send the text of the resolution or motion and the names of the proposer and seconder to the chair or the membership secretary in accordance with any instructions relating to resolutions or motions which may accompany the agenda.

9.6 The chair may exercise his/her discretion as to whether to accept amendments and motions or resolutions which have not been received prior to the AGM or which do not conform to instructions.

9.7 Twenty members shall constitute a quorum for an AGM.

9.8 The elected committee members shall appoint an auditor for the accounts for the following year.

10.0 Special General Meetings (SGMs)

10.1 An SGM may be called at the instance of the committee at any time.

10.2 An SGM shall be convened by the committee upon receipt of a requisition requesting an SGM signed by at least twenty members and stating the purpose for which such SGM is to be called.

10.3 Upon receipt of such requisition or if otherwise requested to do so by the committee, the secretary shall within one calendar month send a notice to all members advising them of an SGM. The notice shall give the date, time place and purpose of the meeting together with the text of any formal resolution or motion which it is proposed should be put to the meeting. The SGM shall take place not less than two weeks or more than one calendar month after the date of the notice.

10.4 At the discretion of the chair amendments to any resolution or motion which has been circulated with the notice and resolutions or motions from the floor may be accepted.

10.5 Twenty members shall constitute a quorum and if fewer than twenty attend the meeting then no business shall be conducted and all resolutions shall be considered void.

11.0 Record of meetings

The secretary shall minute all meetings of the Association and the committee. Minutes of AGMs and any SGMs shall be circulated to all members before the next following AGM and shall be agreed to as a true record of the business transacted.

12.0 Finance

12.1 The treasurer shall have day to day responsibility for the management of the Association’s financial affairs and shall arrange for the opening and running of such bank accounts as the committee determines. The treasurer and any other officer of the Association shall be authorised to sign cheques and to operate any such accounts.

12.2 Committee members who incur expenses while undertaking activities on behalf of the Association shall be entitled to be reimbursed from Association funds.

12.3 So long as funds are not in deficit, the committee shall have discretion over the funding of external activities in pursuit of the Association’s objectives.

12.4 The honorary treasurer shall prepare accounts for the year to 31st December and shall submit them to an honorary auditor for scrutiny. The accounts as certified shall be available for circulation to the members at or prior to the AGM.

13.0 Voting

13.1 A record shall be made of the names of members who attend any meeting of the Association. All resolutions, motions or ballots on which votes are taken at a meeting of the Association, except those which relate to the constitution, shall be carried by a simple majority with the chair having an additional tie-breaking vote.

13.2 Unless a postal vote has been agreed by the committee, only members present at a meeting shall be entitled to vote.