Constitution

The Group Scout Council is the electoral body, which supports Scouting in the Scout Group. It is the body to which the Group Executive Committee and the Spolek Association Committee is accountable.

1. Membership of the Group Scout Council is open to:

   Ex Officio Members

   • All adult members of the Scout Group as defined by Policy Organisation and Rules of the UK Scout Association.
   • Patrol Leaders;
   • all parents of Squirrel Scouts, Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts and Explorer Scouts;
   • District Lead Volunteer
   • District Trustee Board Chair

   Nominated members

   • Other supporters of the Group appointed by the Group Scout Council on the recommendation of the Group Scout Leader and the Group Trustee Board.
   • The number of Nominated Members must not exceed the number of Elected members.
   • Nominated members must be appointed for a fixed period not exceeding 3 years. Subsequent reappointments are permitted.
2. Membership of the Group Scout Council ceases upon:
   • the resignation of the member;
   • the dissolution of the Council;
   • the termination of membership by Headquarters following a recommendation by the Group Executive Committee.
3. The Group Scout Council must hold an Annual General Meeting within six months of the financial year end to:
   • receive and consider the Trustees’ Annual Report and the annual statement of accounts (following completion of their examination by an appropriate auditor, independent examiner, or scrutineer); prepared by the Group Executive Committee,
   • approve the Group Scout Leader’s nomination of the Group Chair and nominated members of the Group Executive Committee
   • approve nominations for the Spolek Association Committee;
   • elect a Group Secretary and Group Treasurer;
   • elect members to the Group Trustee Board;
   • appoint an auditor, independent examiner or scrutineer as required;
   • adopt (or reconfirm) certain resolutions:
     • agree the quorum for each of meetings
     • Group Scout Council
     • Group Trustee Board
     • Group Sub Committees
     • agree the number of members that may be elected to the Group Executive Committee
     • adopt the constitution of the Group Scout Council
   • appoint (or re-appoint) any Group Presidents or Vice Presidents

1. The Spolek Association Committee exists to run the legal responsibilities of the Czech Spolek Association.
2. Spolek Association Committee Meeting operates as part of the Group Executive Committee Meetings.
3. Members of the Spolek Association Committee are also members of the Group Executive committee and their appointment is approved by the Group Scout Council, their appointment must be for a fixed period not exceeding 3 years. Subsequent reappointments are permitted.
4. These nominated members have legal authority to act on behalf of the Scout Group Executive Committee and the Scout Group. No actions relating to the use of this legal authority can be carried out by these members without first gaining Group Executive Committee approval.
5. The Scout Group/Spolek Association is always represented by 2 Spolek Association Committee members together in all legal matters.

1. The Group Trustee Board exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment.
2. Members of the Group Trustee Board must act collectively as de facto Charity Trustees of the Scout Group, and in the best interests of its members to:
   1. Comply with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association
   2. Protect and maintain any property and equipment owned by and/or used by the Group.
   3. Manage the Group finances.
   4. Provide insurance for people, property and equipment.
   5. Provide sufficient resources for Scouting to operate. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting recruitment, other adult support, and fundraising activities.
   6. Promote and support the development of Scouting in the local area.
   7. Manage and implement the Safety Policy locally.
   8. Ensure that a positive image of Scouting exists in the local community.
   9. Nominate the members of the Spolek Association Committee.
   10. Appoint and manage the operation of any sub-Committees, including appointing a Chair to lead the sub-Committees.
   11. Ensure that Young People are meaningfully involved in decision making at all levels within the Group.
   12. The opening, closure and amalgamation of Sections in the Group as necessary.
3. The Group Trustee Board must also:
   1. Appoint Administrators, Advisers, and Co-opted members of the Group Trustee Board.
   2. Prepare and approve the Trustees’ Annual Report and Annual Accounts after the examination of the accounts by an appropriate auditor, independent examiner or scrutineer.
   3. Present the approved Trustees’ Annual Report and Annual Accounts to the Group Scout Council at the Annual General Meeting; file a copy with the District Trustee Board; and to the appropriate charity regulator if the regulator’s rules require it.
   4. Maintain confidentiality with regard to appropriate Trustee Board business.
   5. Where staff are employed, act as a responsible employer in accordance with Scouting’s values and relevant legislation.
   6. Ensure line management responsibilities for employed staff are clearly established and communicated.
4. The Group Trustee Board consists of:
   • Ex-officio Members
     1. The Group Chair;
     2. The Group Secretary;
     3. The Group Treasurer;
     4. The Group Scout Leader;
     5. The Deputy/Assistant Group Scout Leader;
     6. The Explorer Scout Leader (if stated in a Partnership Agreement, and subject to that Explorer Scout Leader expressly indicating to the AGM (in writing or orally at the meeting) that they are willing to perform such a function);
     7. All Section Leaders (i.e. individuals holding a Squirrel Scout leader, Beaver Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader or Scout Leader role) subject to that Section Leader expressly indicating to the AGM (in writing or orally at the meeting) that they are willing to perform such a function.
   • Elected Members
     8. persons elected at the Group Annual General Meeting;
   • Nominated Members
     9. persons nominated by the Group Scout Leader;
     10. the nominations must be approved at the Group Annual General Meeting; the number of nominated members must not exceed the number of elected members.
   • Right of Attendance
     11. the District Commissioner and the District Chair have the right of attendance at meetings of the Group Executive Committee.
5. Additional Requirements for sub-Committees:
   1. sub-Committees consist of members nominated by the Committee.
   2. The Group Scout Leader and the Group Chair will be ex-officio members of any sub Committee of the Group Trustee Board.
   3. Any fundraising committee must include at least two members of the Group Trustee Board. No Section Leader or Assistant Leader may serve on such a fundraising sub Committee.
6. Additional Requirements for de facto Charity Trustees:
   1. Because legally only the association committee members are Charity Trustees in UK terms, the members of the Group Trustee Board are therefore regarded by the Scout Group as de facto Charity Trustees.
   2. All ex-officio, elected and nominated members of the Group Trustee Board are de facto Charity Trustees of the Scout Group.
   3. Only persons aged 18 and over may be full voting members of the Group Trustee Board because of their status as de facto Charity Trustees (however the views of young people in the Group must be taken into consideration).
   4. De facto Charity Trustees are responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation including GDPR.
   5. All de facto Charity Trustees /Charity Trustees must complete the required learning and complete background checks specified in P.O.R.

1. Membership of the Section Leader Meeting consists of the Group Scout Leader as chair, assistant and deputy Group Scout Leaders, all Section Leaders including the Explorer Leader, the Group Scout Active Support Manager.
2. Other leaders may be invited to attend from time to time.
3. The role of the Section Leaders’ Meeting is to:
   1. consider the well-being and development of each Member of the Group;
   2. ensure the progress of each Member through the programme;
   3. plan and co-ordinate all the Group’s activities;
   4. to keep the Group Trustee Board advised of the financial and other resource requirements of the training programme.

1. Only members as defined above may vote in meetings of the Group Scout Council and the Group Trustee Board.
2. Decisions are made by a majority of votes cast by those present at the meeting or by an electronic vote prior to the meeting. In the event of an equal number of votes being cast on either side the chair does not have a casting vote and the matter is taken not to have been carried.
3. A quorum is defined in the Spolek Association Document.
4. The Group Trustee Board / Group Scout Council can meet by telephone conference, video conference as well as face to face in order to discharge their responsibilities when agreed by the appropriate Chair.

Constitution last approved at the AGM on 18th June 2023