THE HAVANT LITERARY FESTIVAL CONSTITUTION

 

Object         The Object of the Havant Literary Festival shall be to establish and sustain an annual or biennial celebration of the written and spoken word in the Borough of Havant.

 

Aims    The aims of the Havant Literary Festival shall be:

 

  1. To establish Havant as a centre of literary excellence by attracting high quality speakers, nurturing and showcasing local writing talent and providing new opportunities for local people to experience literature in direct, accessible and dynamic ways.

 

  1. To promote, encourage and develop participation in all aspects of the literary arts in Havant.

 

  1. To promote literacy and a life-long love of reading across all sections of the community, including the very youngest.

 

  1. To create a sense of occasion and identification with the Festival, raising the profile of Havant nationally and stimulating economic opportunities for local businesses.

 

Organisation

 

A Steering Group of interested members of the local community will form to realise the Object and Aims of the Havant Literary Festival as specified in this constitution.

 

The Steering Group and Executive Committee

 

A)      The Steering Group will appoint the Executive Committee from its own number, consisting of four officers - a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and other members as required.

 

B)             The Executive Committee will raise funds and approve expenditure.

 

C)             The Executive Committee may, at their discretion and in consultation with the Steering Group, invite interested individuals in the community to form a Steering Group which will act to plan and organise different aspects of the Festival and related events. Members of this group may volunteer to take on functions essential to the running of the Havant Literary Festival and thereby become co-opted members of the Executive Committee when it is appropriate for them to be so.

 

D)            On behalf of the Havant Literary Festival, The Executive Committee will make any contractual appointments or hire any services considered necessary to ensure the effective running of the Festival.

 

Finances

 

A)                  An account will be maintained on behalf of the Havant Literary Festival at a bank agreed by the Steering Group. The Treasurer and at least one other member of the Executive Committee will be nominated as cheque signatories. All cheques must be signed by two nominated signatories. The signatories must not be related nor members of the same household.

 

B)                  All monies raised by or on behalf of the Havant Literary Festival are only to be used to further the aims of the Havant Literary Festival, as specified in this constitution.

 

C)                  No property or monies will be given to any individual or group carrying out the business of the Festival as defined by the Executive Committee, in accordance with this constitution, except as:

§         A contracted fee for goods or services

§         A refund of legitimate expenses.

 

D)        The Executive Committee will have the Havant Literary Festival accounts

                         audited annually by an independent auditor.

 

Friends of the Havant Literary Festival

 

The Steering Group will maintain a database of Friends of the Havant Literary Festival, keeping them regularly informed of appropriate Festival business and events.

 

Extraordinary Executive powers          

           

When a decision is needed, where time is of the essence, any two Officers of the Society are empowered to agree action on behalf of the Havant Literary Festival.     

 

Dissolution          

 

In the event of the Havant Literary Festival being dissolved, any remaining funds will be

donated to The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, with the proviso that they be spent on

literary events.

 

Adoption of constitution: This Constitution was adopted on:

 

·         Date: 21 November 2011

 

·         Name and signatures: