The organisation shall be called the Imperial Pensioners Action Call (IMPAC).
CONSTITUTION
1. NAME:
2. MEMBERSHIP:
All pensioners, deferred pensioners and employee members of the Imperial Tobacco Pension Fund (ITPF) ["Imperial Pensioners"] are eligible for membership of IMPAC.
3. OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of IMPAC are to work towards and for:
(a) A fair and equitable deal for all Imperial Pensioners
(b) The use of Pension Fund surpluses for the benefit of scheme members
(c) Securing upgrading and full index-linking of all pensions
of all Imperial Pensioners up to the limits permitted by the Inland
Revenue, together with full back payment to date of retirement or date
of leaving service
(d) Securing representation by IMPAC on the managing committees of all
pension funds in which IMPAC has members
(e) A proper legislative framework for all occupational pension schemes
(f) Maintaining regular and appropriate contact with the offices and
activities of relevant organisations and professions e.g. the Pensions
Ombudsman.
4. NATIONAL COUNCIL:
(a) IMPAC shall be administered by a National Council which shall be
responsible for defining and implementing policies in accordance with
the Objectives (see Sec.3)
(b) Each Regional Centre of IMPAC shall be entitled to appoint two members to serve on the National Council one of whom is the Regional PFCC Representative.
(c) The Officers of the National Council shall be Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and shall be elected at an A.G.M. Additional officers and temporary appointments to fill vacancies may be decided by the National Council. Such new officers shall be subject to re-election at the next A.G.M.
(d) A
National Council meeting shall normally be held three times in
any twelve months and its quorum shall be two thirds of the members of
the Council at that time. At least two of the quorum must be National
Officers.
(e) Elected National Officers cannot concurrently hold office on any
Regional or Local Committee
(f) The National Council may appoint a President and other honorary
posts.
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS:
(a) The annual subscription will be determined by the National Council.
Initial annual subscriptions will be from the first day of the month of
joining and be due annually on the anniversary of that day
(b) If any member is more than six months in arrears, his/her membership
shall be deemed to have lapsed
6. REGIONAL CENTRES:
(a) All members of IMPAC will be allocated by home address to a Regional Centre having responsibility for their geographical area. Overseas members, including the Republic of Ireland, will be shown as a separate listing for postings. All members are entitled to be allocated to a particular Regional Centre if specifically requested at joining
(i) The London and South Eastern Regional Centre shall comprise the London Boroughs, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Essex, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, East Sussex, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.
(ii) The Western Regional Centre shall comprise Bristol, Wiltshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, South Wales and Mid-Wales.
(iii) The Midlands Regional Centre shall comprise Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and North Wales.
(iv) The Eastern Regional Centre shall comprise East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
(v) The North Western Regional Centre shall comprise Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland.
(vi) The Scottish Regional Centre shall comprise the whole of Scotland.
(vii) The North Eastern Regional Centre shall comprise Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear.
(b) The National Council may amend the geographical areas of the Regional Centres
(c) Each Regional Centre shall be responsible for its own organisation according to the wishes of its registered members and the geography of the Region consistent with this Constituation. However, it must elect and maintain a Committee to administer the Regional Centre
(d) Each Regional Centre will actively promote and encourage the formation of Local Centres.
7. LOCAL CENTRES
Each Local Centre shall be responsible for its own organisation according to the wishes of its registered members under the leadership of a nominated member consistent with this Constitution.
8. GENERAL MEETINGS:
(a) An Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) of IMPAC shall be held each year, normally in April or May
(b) Other General Meetings shall be held, if required, by the National Council, or by notice in writing to the Secretary signed by 50 members stating the motion to be debated
(c) At least 28 days notice shall be given of an A.G.M., such notice of meeting to be accompanied by a report from the Chairman, a copy of the audited Accounts for the year ended on the previous 31st December, and a proxy form (the detail of which shall be determined by the Council) enabling a member to appoint another person (who need not be a member of IMPAC) to attend the meeting and speak and vote on behalf of the member completing this form
(d) Motions to be raised at an A.G.M.shall be those determined by the National Council and those submitted by any member of IMPAC to the National Secretary by 1st March, signed by the mover and a seconder with the supporting signatures of at least 8 other members
(e) Decisions are by simple majority of the votes of members present in person or by proxy other than on a resolution calling for the winding-up of IMPAC, in which case a majority of 75% of those attending and voting in person on the resolution is required.
9. FINANCE:
(a) All national finance, including all subscription funds but excluding monies raised through independent regional and local activities (see sec.9 (c)), shall be administered by the Treasurer. He shall prepare annually an Income and Expenditure Account with Balance Sheet for approval at the Annual General Meeting following the end of the financial year on 31st December
(b) One or two Independent Examiners or Auditors that shall be appointed annually at the AGM for the purpose of examining and approving the IMPAC's annual accounts as prepared and submitted by the elected National Treasurer. The accounts will be presented to the membership at Annual General Meetings for acceptance. In the event of an Independent Examiner or Auditor vacancy or vacancies arising between AGM's, due to resignation or otherwise, the National Council shall appoint a replacement or replacements,
(c) Funds shall be allocated to Regional committees as agreed by the National Council.
(d) Regional and Local Centres are free to raise finance through self initiated regional and local fund raising activities.
(e) Any member may be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses incurred in carrying out approved duties for IMPAC. Members shall not profit from membership of IMPAC.
(f) In the event of the winding up of IMPAC, any monies in respect of extra-ordinary donations will be returned to surviving members who have stated this requirement. Any remaining funds shall be distributed either:
a) to a charity or charities that will be decided by the elected IMPAC National Council.
or
b) be divided equally between all the surviving members of IMPAC.
The preferences of the membership at that time will be solicited either by ballot or an extraordinary AGM or both. The final decision will be determined by the then elected National Council.
10. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION:
This Constitution shall only be altered by resolution at a General Meeting.
REVISED 18th MAY 2006