LAGIP: Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgendered People in Probation and Family Courts

LAGIP Constitution

Article 1 Name

LAGIP – (Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgendered individuals in Probation and Family Courts)

Article 2 Aims

2.1 To work with members employers towards full equality for Lesbian, Gay Transgendered and Bisexual employees of the association.

2.2 To offer advice and support to the members of the organisation in fighting discrimination. To support members who are experiencing isolation and personal difficulties.

2.3 To represent and campaign on behalf of full members on issues relevant within the Criminal Justice system and beyond.

2.4 To help improve Probation practice with Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered and Bisexual offenders.

2.5 To contribute to the Criminal Justice response to hate crimes

2.6 To deliver these services with due consideration to issues such as gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, age, faith, health, previous criminal convictions or marital status.

Article 3 Membership

3.1 LAGIP is open to Probation, NOMS and CAFCASS staff and members of the Probation Board.

3.2 Membership of the organisation is at present available in three categories:

Full Member As in 3.1 currently employed and who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered.

Associate Member As in 3.1 and who are former full member Honorary Member Any person, regardless of their sexuality, can become an

Honorary Member of LAGIP. Such persons would not be entitled to attend AGMs or EGMs or have any rights to vote in any matters concerning LAGIP

3.3 Membership of the Association is not to be taken as an indication of an individual’s sexual orientation or status.

3.4 Membership of the Association will be granted by the LAGIP committee and not solely guaranteed by completion of an application form. (Subject to appeal)

3.5 Membership lists will be kept by the Administrator, a copy of this list will be kept by the Chair. No other members will have access to this list to ensure confidentiality. Any mail-outs to the membership will go through one of these parties.

3.6 The Committee may remove from membership, after making thorough enquiries, any member who cannot be contacted at the address and/or email contact details supplied by them to LAGIP

Article 4 National Executive Committee

4.1 Full members of the association shall elect and ratify committee members prior to its annual AGM. Any vacancies that occur can be elected during the year.

4.2 Election to the committee is open to all full members of the association.

4.3 Additional advisors may be co-opted onto the committee as demand requires. Co-opted advisors will not be entitled to vote at meetings of the committee.

4.4 The Association shall elect the following posts: Chair Vice Chair Secretary Treasurer Membership Secretary 10 Regional Co-ordinators Others as required. These posts may be added to or deleted as the needs or the structure of the organisation changes.

4.5 The committee shall have at least 4 members present for a quorate vote and will take decisions on the basis of a simple majority. In the event of an even vote the Chair shall have the casting vote.

4.6 The committee shall meet on a regular basis with a minimum of 4 members being quorate.

4.7 The committee shall appoint a minute taker for each meeting and full minutes will be available to full members. Minutes from AGMs and EGMs may be précised to maintain members’ confidentiality. Associate members will not be in receipt of these minutes due to issues of confidentiality. However they will be informed by means of a Newsletter of business discussed.

4.8 Persons elected to the committee shall sign a written undertaking to carry out their role allied to the aims of this association.

Article 5 Election of National Committee members

5.1.1 An election of the committee will be held prior to the AGM of the association.

5.1.2 The role of Vice Chair (Chair Designate) shall be elected biannually. The individual so elected shall subject to ratification, assume the role of Chair the following year and shall serve as Chair for 2 years after which they shall serve as Vice Chair (Immediate Past Chair).

5.1.2.1 In the event of the resignation or dismissal of a Chair, the Vice Chair shall assume the role of Chair or in the case of the resignation or dismissal of a Co-Chair shall assume the role of the resigning / dismissed Co-Chair.

5.1.2.2 If the Vice Chair is Chair Designate they shall then continue to hold the role of Chair until the date on which they would have held that role if the Chair had not resigned or been dismissed.

5.1.2.3 If the Vice Chair is Immediate Past Chair, they shall resume the role of Chair for the remainder of the current term.

5.1.2.4 The vacant role of Vice Chair shall be filled by postal ballot in accordance with

5.1.2.1. The Vice Chair shall then serve as Vice Chair until the Chair's term of office expires when the Vice Chair shall become Chair.

5.1.2.5 In the event of the resignation or dismissal of the Vice Chair (Chair Designate) the Association shall hold postal ballot to elect a Vice Chair (Chair Designate).

5.1.2.6 In the event of the resignation or dismissal of the Vice Chair (Immediate Past Chair) the NEC may call an election or may co-opt a full member to fill the vacant role.

5.1.2.7 In the event of Chair or Vice Chair being dismissed, appeals processes must be completed before any replacement is elected.

5.1.3 Volunteers shall be sought at Conference for teams prepared to form a conference organising sub-committee and organise the following conference. The AGM shall then vote between bids for the next conference. The Conference Organiser shall be a representative of the conference organising sub-committee and shall have voting rights on the NEC.

5.1.4 NEC members other than Chair and Vice Chair and Conference Organiser shall be elected for a term of 3 years. Their tenure shall run from the AGM following election. One third of NEC members shall stand down and be eligible for re-election each year.

5.2 All nominees must have a proposer.

5.3 All nominees must be seconded. The method of voting will be a “first past the post” postal ballot.

5.4 In the event that not all NEC posts are filled during the postal ballot, any remaining vacancies may be filled by nomination and election by secret ballot at the AGM.

Article 6 General Meetings

6.1 The Association shall hold an AGM at a date, time and place determined by the National Executive Committee.

6.2 At least 30 days notice will be given to full members of the Association and an agenda will also be provided. Associate members may attend but are not eligible to vote.

6.3 The National Committee may convene an extraordinary General Meeting providing 14 days notice is given to members. This meeting shall only consider business stated in the notice convening it.

6.4 The agenda of an AGM shall include: The National Committees Report The Treasurers Report Results of Election of Committee Members Any other business. An AGM by majority vote may agree to consider any other urgent business, which is not on the agenda but has arisen since notice of the AGM was given.

6.5 The quorum for an AGM will be at least 15% of the Membership.

6.6 The quorum for an EGM will be at least 15% of the Membership.

Article 7 Disciplinary Procedure

7.1 The National Committee will draw up a disciplinary procedure.

7.2 All members of the Association including Members of the National Committee will be bound by this procedure.

Article 8 Finance

8.1 The National Committee will be fully accountable to its members for the Financial Transactions of LAGIP. Yearly accounts including Income and Expenditure and a balance sheet will be published and be open to inspection from the General membership.

8.2 The Financial Year will run from April to March.

Article 9 Amendments to the Constitution

9.1 Any amendment to this Constitution can be made by two thirds of those voting at an AGM or EGM.

9.2 Details of amendments will be communicated to the general membership.

Article 10 Interpretation

10.1 In the event of any question of interpretation or on any matter on which this constitution is silent the National Executive Committee reserves the right to act according to its interpretation and discretion in accordance with the aims of this association.

Article 11 Winding Up Procedure

11.1 In the event of a National Committee Meeting or AGM that calls for the association to be wound up, a ballot of members shall be held. A majority of two thirds of those voting will be required to wind up the Association.

11.2 After meeting all its remaining liabilities the National Committee will be responsible for disposing of any remaining assets. A donation will be made to charity/s that aligns itself with the aims of this association