• 1.1 Quorum
    No formal business may be transacted unless at least one third of the members of the Executive Committee are present

  • 1.2 Convening of Meetings Meetings shall be convened by the Forum Secretary at the times and places agreeed by the Executive Committee at its first meeting following the AGM in June of each year. The Office-bearers shall have powers to convene a special meeting at any time should urgent business require attention

  • 1.3 Notice of Meetings The agenda and minutes shall be circulated to members not less than five days before each meeting

  • 1.4 Chairperson The Chairperson shall take the chair at all meetings of the Committee. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall assume the Chair, failing whom the committee shall elect one of its member to assume the Chair for the time being**

  • 1.5 Order of Business The normal order of business shall be as follows:-

  • Agenda

  • (1) Constitution of Meeting and Sederunt
  • (2) Minutes of previous meeting
  • (3) Matters arising from the minute not otherwise included on the agenda
  • (4) Minutes and reports for approval from each of the sub-committees
  • (5) Business remitted from the previous meeting
  • (6) Matters of which notice has been given on the circulated agenda
  • (7) Reports from afiliates and individual members
  • (8) Campaigning dates
  • (9) Other correspondence
  • (10) Any other competent business
  • (11) Date of Next Meeting

Business which is not on the circulated agenda may be taken under AOCB at the end of the meeting if deemed competent by the Chairperson. Such business must be notified to the Chairperson before the start of the meeting and may be accepted for consideration with the consent of the meeting, given without debate.

The order of the business may be altered at any meeting with the consent of the meeting, given without debate

  • 1.6 Objections to Sub Committee Minutes Any objection to a recommendation contained in the minutes of a sub committee must be put to the Chairperson in the form of an amendment to the relevant minute

  • 1.7 Notice of Motions Motions for consideration by the Committee under Item(6) of the formal order of business must be submitted in writing to the Secretary in time to be circulated with the papers for the meeting. The Chairperson shall determine any question of competence. Competent motions shall be placed on the agenda in the order received and shall be debated only if the mover is present and seconder is obtained. Amendments to a notice of motion must be in writing and submitted to the Chairperson before the start of the meeting

  • 1.8 Voting All questions of debate shall be decided by a simple majority of those voting. The method of voting shall be by a show of hands. It shall be open to members to record their dissent from any decision of the meeting

  • 1.9 Disposal of Subjects Any matter which is disposed of by vote of the committee shall not be re-introduced for discussion within the space of six months

  • 1.10 Conduct of Debate

1.10.1 A motion or amendment shall not be debated unless moved and seconded. It may be seconded formally

1.10.2 A motion or amendment may be withdrawn at any time by the mover with the consent of the seconder and with the approval of the meeting, given without debate

1.10.3 Members of the Committee may speak only once on any motion or amendment, except that the movers of the motions and amendments shall have the right to reply to any points raised during the debate

1.10.4 In the consideration of an amendment the mover of the original motion shall have the right to close the debate

1.10.5 A motion shall not be debated and voted on until all amendments have been disposed of. when all the amendments have been considered the surviving motion shall be put to the vote as the main question

1.10.6 Where an amendment is moved and seconded, no further amendment may be moved until the first amendment has been dispoed of. If the amendment is rejected a second amendment to the original motion may then be considered. If the amendment is carried it shall take the place of the original motion and shall become the question on which any further amendment may be moved without prior notice. The direct negative is not a competent amendment

1.10.7 A member may raise a question of order or explanation at any time but must not interupt another speaker. The point must be stated without argument. The Chairperson's ruling thereon shall be final unless challenged by two thirds of those present. In the event of such a challenge the matter shall be decided by the majority vote of the Committee following debate. The Chairperson shall vacate the chair for the duration of the debate and shall be entitled to speak in the debate

1.10.8 A debate shall be concluded when all members who wish to speak have been heard or when the Chairperson rules that a sufficiently balanced debate has been heard. It shall be competent for a member who has not previously spoken during a debate to move without argument that the question be now put. the motion, if seconded and if accepted by the Chairperson, shall be put forthwith. The rights of movers of amendments and motions to reply to the debate shall continue to be respected

1.10.9 It shall be competent at the conclusion of any speech for a member who has not previously spoken during the debate to move without argument that the meeting proceed to the next business. If seconded the motion shall be put forthwith. If carried, the question under consideration shall not be further debated

1.10.10 It shall be open to any member to have recorded their dissent from any ruling

1.10.11 Members shall at all times address their remarks to the Chair

1.10.12 In all matters, the Chairperson's decision shall be final. It shall be open to any member to move a vote of no confidence in the Chair. If such a motion be seconded, it shall be put to the meeting after discussion. If a majority of the members vote in favour the Chairperson shall vacate the Chair

1.10.13 If at any meeting of the Forum any member shall disregard the authority of the Chairperson or be guilty of obstruction or offensive conduct, a motion may be moved, either by the Chairperson or by any other member, and seconded, to suspend such member for the remainder of the meeting. The motion shall be put without discussion and if it is carried such member shall withdraw forthwith. and should the member fail to do so, may be removed by whatsoever means may be at the disposal of the Chairperson

  • 1.11 Suspension of Standing Orders A motion to suspend Standing Orders must identify the particular order and specify the purpose for which it should be suspended. It must be seconded and shall be carried only if supported by two thirds of those present. Once the purpose of the motion has been fulfilled the proceedings shall revert immediately to the Standing Orders

  • 1.12 Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee The business of the sub-committees of the Executive shall be conducted in accordance with these Standing Orders as far as it is appropriate

  • 1.13 Changes to Standing Orders Changes may be made to these Standing Orders only by means of a motion to the Executive Committee of which full notice has been given, and which is carried by two thirds of voting members present. Any such change shall be implemented immediately but shall be submitted for confirmation to the Annual Conference