PSPS BYE LAWS
Sections of the Bye Laws
·
A Branches
·
C Restoration and Preservation Fund
·
D [Not used]
o Social Networking and Internet Policy
·
F Election of Council of Management
Approved
4 August 1990 [A17 added 24 April 2004]
A1 Branches of the Society may be formed in
specified areas, with the approval of the Council of Management, to further the
objects of the Society and organise local activities.
A2 Affiliation to any Branch will be open to
every member of the Society at no additional charge, but members may affiliate
to only one Branch during any one financial year.
A3 The Objects of Branches shall be those of
the Society as declared in the Society's Memorandum of Association, however,
the Powers of Branches shall be restricted to those contained in Clauses 3(C),
3(D), 3(H), 3(I), 3(J) and 3(O), and those otherwise specifically delegated by
the Council of Management.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Branches may acquire items of equipment,
photographic material, publications, stationery and other sundry items required
in connection with their activities.
A4 Statements of General Policy or proposed
affiliation of the Society shall not be made without reference to the National
Council.
A5 The Management of Branches shall be the
responsibility of elected Branch Committees which shall exercise the Powers.
A6 Assets and liabilities of Branches shall
form part of the assets and liabilities of the Society.
A7 Each Branch shall adopt Rules, to be
approved by the Council of Management, to govern its General Meetings, the
election of its Branch Committee and its general administration.
A8 Each Branch Committee shall consist of a
Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and a minimum of four other affiliated members.
A9 Each Branch Secretary shall keep or cause
to be kept proper Minutes of all General and Committee Meetings and these shall
be made available for inspection by the National Secretary if required.
A10 Each Branch Secretary shall provide a Report
to each meeting of the Management Sub-Committee and Council of Management
concerning the activities of the Branch and its financial position.
A11 An Annual Grant shall be made to each Branch
on 31 October amounting to 20% of the subscriptions paid by affiliated members
calculated from the membership records as at 1 January of the same year.
A12 Branch Committees shall have the power to
open and operate bank accounts in the name of the Society provided that all
withdrawals exceeding £200 are sanctioned by at least two persons duly
authorised by the Branch Committee.
Branches shall not have the power to borrow funds.
A13 Each Branch Treasurer shall maintain proper
books of account and these shall be made available for inspection by the
National Treasurer if required.
A14 Each Branch Treasurer shall make an annual
balance at 31 December and prepare an Income and Expenditure Account for
approval by affiliated members at the Branch Annual General Meeting. This Account and all other information
required by the National Treasurer shall be submitted to him by 28 February
next, and each Branch Treasurer shall co-operate fully with the National
Treasurer and the Auditor of the Society appointed in accordance with the
Companies Acts, providing every book, voucher, document or explanation required
by him.
A15 The Council of Management shall have the
right to require the remittance of Branch funds to the Society's central
accounts should the need arise.
A16 Branch Secretaries shall be given at least
six weeks' notice of any proposed alterations to Section A of these Bye laws.
A17 Branches may make direct grants to Waverley
Steam Navigation Co Ltd, Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust Ltd, Loch Lomond
Steam Ship Co or to any other relevant preservation body, subject to:
(a)
the maximum sum that may be granted by each Branch in any calendar year
being £2,000; and
(b)
any individual grant of £1,000 or more being cleared in advance by the
Council of Management or Executive Sub-Committee.
SECTION B
- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Approved
16 June 2018
B1 There shall be an
Executive Committee of the Council of Management consisting of the Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, National Secretary, Company Secretary and Treasurer of the
Society.
B2 The Committee may
meet at any time and the quorum shall be three.
B3 The Committee
shall have power to consider all aspects of the Society's business and to make
recommendations to the Council of Management.
B4 The Committee may
confer by email and in that case, decisions may be taken by at least three
members in agreement
B5 In cases of
urgency, the Committee may act on behalf of the Council of Management, provided
that at least three members are in agreement with such action and such action
is advised to members of the Council of Management immediately and is reported to
its next meeting, and recorded in the Minutes thereof.
SECTION C -
RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION FUND
Approved
11 May 1991
C1 The Restoration and Preservation Fund of
the Society shall be created for the benefit of P.S. "Waverley" and
P.S. "Kingswear Castle" and shall be used to make payments for the
following purposes in connection with the said ships:
a) to facilitate their continued
preservation;
b) to improve their condition;
c) to assist with the provision of
improved maritime safety measures.
C2 The Fund shall not be used to make
payments with the sole objects of:
a) improving the trading performance of an ancillary
activity on board the said ships; or
b) sustaining in business the owner or
operator of a paddle steamer.
C3 The Council of Management of the Society
shall approve all payments from the Fund having regard to the criterion that
the object of the payment shall not be prejudicial to the historical appearance
or character of the vessel concerned.
C4 The Fund shall be sub-divided as follows:
a) by resolution of the Council of
Management of the Society, and in accordance with the conditions expressed in
Bye laws C1, C2 and C3 above, monies shall be raised for and allocated to
specific projects for the benefit of P.S. "Waverley" and P.S.
"Kingswear Castle". Payments
to finance such projects in whole or in part may be made from the Fund to the
ship-owning Companies by resolution of the Council of Management;
b) Refit Reserve. At the discretion of the Council of
Management, monies donated to the Restoration and Preservation Fund may be
allocated to a Refit Reserve. Payments
may be made from the Refit Reserve by resolution of the Council of Management
and after consultation of the Council of Management and after consultation with
the owners of both ships for the sole purpose of re-fitting or repairing P.S.
"Waverley" or P.S. "Kingswear Castle" when to do so is
beyond the financial means of the relevant ship-owning Company.
C5 By resolution of the Council of
Management, and in consultation with the ship-owning Companies, the use of the
Fund may be extended to facilitate the continued existence of the other British
paddle steamers provided that priority in use of the Fund be given to the
current or projected needs of P.S. "Waverley" and P.S.
"Kingswear Castle", and provided also that the Society's investment
be reflected in a comparable share holding or legal
"share" up to the value of the sum invested. Any loan made from the Fund for the benefit
of other paddle steamers shall be protected by a legal charge over the assets
of the borrower.
C6 The National Treasurer shall be
responsible for:
a) the custody of the Fund;
b) the maintenance of proper records of all
transactions relating to the Fund, in particular the sub-division referred to
in Bye law C4; and
c) the investment of the Fund in
accordance with the directions of the Council of Management and relevant
Charity law.
SECTION
D - MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
Approved
4 August 1990 - Revoked 25 February 1996
Approved
26 May 2012
E1.The behaviour of all members of the
Society may have an effect on the Society’s reputation. In particular cases, a member’s behaviour
may be such as to require some sanction on the Society’s behalf. The Council of Management has adopted Codes
of Conduct and these will be used to determine whether a particular episode is
or has been prejudicial to the Society’s reputation.
E2.This Section of Bye Laws applies to
all members of the Society.
E3.The Codes of Conduct referred to in
E1 are:
a.
The General Code of Conduct set out at Schedule 1 to Section E; and
b.
The Social Networking and Internet Policy set out at Schedule 2 to
Section E.
E4.Any officer or member of the Society
may report an instance of behaviour which may have contravened the Codes of
Conduct to the Chairman or Secretary.
In order for the episode to be investigated, the complainant must
provide in writing (by correspondence or email) a report and any evidence to
substantiate the complaint. The
Chairman or Secretary may commence an investigation on their own initiative,
i.e. without a complaint having been received.
E5.The Chairman or Secretary shall appoint
an independent member of the Society (who need not be a member of the Council
of Management) to investigate the substance of the complaint and determine
whether there is a case to answer. The
outcome of all investigations shall be reported to the Chairman and Secretary
and the complainant.
E6.The Chairman, Secretary or
complainant may request within fourteen days of notification that the
determination be reviewed by a second independent member of the Society (who
need not be a member of the Council of Management).
E7.If the investigation determines there
is a case to answer then the Chairman or Secretary:
a.
shall appoint a panel of three independent members of Council (“the
Panel”) (nominating one to be the Convener) to adjudicate over the complaint
and recommend what sanction, if any, should be applied, supplying them with
full details of the complaint and all the evidence available; and
b.
inform the member who is the subject of the complaint (“the subject”) that
the adjudication is to take place and supply him/her with full details of the
complaint and all the evidence available.
E8.The Convener shall arrange a date,
time and place for the Panel to meet within thirty days to make its
determinations. The subject shall be
afforded the opportunity to address the Panel or submit a written statement and
evidence. The absence of a response
from the subject shall not prevent the Panel from making a determination. The Panel shall be entitled to take the
subject’s previous disciplinary record into account.
E9.The Panel has the power to seek
further information from the complainant, the subject or elsewhere.
E10.
The Panel shall recommend courses of action to the Council of Management
which may include:
a.
No further action be taken;
b.
A written warning to the subject with advice and guidance regarding their
future conduct;
c.
Removal from any office of the Society held by the subject (other than as
a member of the Council of Management); and
d.
Termination of the subject’s membership of the Society following the
provisions of Article 14(b).
E11.
No details of the complaint shall be reported to the Council of
Management unless termination of membership is recommended in order that a
Second Panel may be appointed without previous knowledge of the complaint.
E12.
The convener shall notify the Chairman or Secretary and the subject of
the recommendation within seven days of the Panel’s determination.
E13.
Unless the recommendation is for termination of membership (when a
separate process applies), within twenty-one days of the Panel’s determination,
the subject may lodge an appeal with the Chairman or Secretary. Any appeal shall be dealt with by a separate
independent panel of three members of the Council of Management (“the Second
Panel”) using the same procedures as the Panel. The subject may submit an additional
statement or additional evidence to the Second Panel. The Second Panel may confirm, vary or quash
the recommendations of the Panel. There
is no further appeal.
E14.
The recommendations shall be submitted to and considered by the Council
of Management at its first meeting after the expiration of the twenty-one day
appeal period or immediately after the determination by the Second Panel.
E15.
At any meeting held in connection with this Section of the By-Laws it is
not necessary for all parties to be in the same place provided they can each
communicate in real time to the others any information or opinions they have on
any particular item of the business of the meeting. In determining whether a person is participating
in a meeting, it is irrelevant where that person is or how the participants
communicate with each other. If all the
participants in a meeting are not in the same place, they may decide that the
meeting is to be treated as taking place wherever any of them is. This permits the use of conference calls,
Internet chat rooms or similar systems but not email or postal correspondence.
Schedule
1 to Section E
Paddle
Steamer Preservation Society
1.
This Code applies to all members of the Society (“Members”) at all times
when they could be construed as acting as an officer or member of the Society.
2.
Members should act in a polite and civilised manner and only use language
likely to be heard on the BBC before 9 p.m.
3.
Members should act in a positive manner in relation to any equalities
issues.
4.
Members must obey applicable law.
5.
In any written material they prepare, Members must refrain from:
a.
personal remarks regarding any relevant person;
b.
exaggerated or destructive criticism of the Society or any relevant
company; or
c.
exaggerated or destructive criticism of the management or navigation of
any relevant vessel.
6.
Members must not act in a manner likely to bring the Society into
disrepute
7.
“Written material” means any book, booklet, pamphlet, magazine,
newsletter, letter addressed or sent to more than five people, email addressed
or sent to more than five people or to undisclosed recipients or posting on the
Internet visible to more than five persons.
8.
“Relevant person” means a member of the Council of Management, a Branch
Committee member or official, an officer of the Society or a director, officer,
employee, crew member or volunteer of a relevant company.
9.
“Relevant company” means Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd, Waverley
Excursions Ltd, Waverley Excursions (Guernsey) Ltd, Timecrest
Ltd, Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust Ltd, Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle
Trust (Trading) Ltd, Loch Lomond Steamship Company, New Medway Steam Packet Co
Ltd or any subsidiary thereof.
10.“Relevant vessel” means Waverley,
Kingswear Castle, Balmoral, Maid of the Loch, Medway Queen or any other vessel
owned or operated by a relevant company.
Paddle
Steamer Preservation Society
Social
Networking and Internet Policy
i.
The widespread availability and use of social networking applications
brings opportunities to engage and communicate with our friends, colleagues and
the wider audiences through the Internet. It is important that we are able to
use these technologies and services effectively and flexibly. However, it is
also important to ensure that we balance this with our duties to our service
users and partners, our legal responsibilities and our reputation. For example,
our use of social networking applications has implications for our duty to
protect:
a.
officers and members of the Society;
b.
directors, employees and volunteers of relevant companies;
c.
captains, officers and crews of relevant vessels; and
d.
our own individual reputation.
ii.
The Society recognises that members and may engage in "social
networking". "Social networking," for the purposes of this
policy, includes all types of postings on the Internet, including, but not
limited to, social networking sites, (such as Facebook, MySpace
or Linkedin); blogs and other on-line journals and
diaries; bulletin boards and chat rooms; microblogging, such as Twitter, the
posting of video on YouTube and similar media and sending an e-mail to more
than five addressees or to undisclosed recipients. The Policy applies to personal social
networking sites which have a restricted membership exceeding five people.
iii.
It is clear that in areas such as libel, or the invasion of privacy,
publication through electronic media carries the same penalties as through the
conventional written word. Individuals may be risking civil and/or criminal
legal action.
iv.
In this Policy “relevant company” means Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd,
Waverley Excursions Ltd, Waverley Excursions (Guernsey) Ltd, Timecrest Ltd, Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust Ltd,
Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust (Trading) Ltd, Loch Lomond Steamship
Company, New Medway Steam Packet Co Ltd or any subsidiary thereof and “relevant
vessel” means Waverley, Kingswear Castle, Balmoral, Maid of the Loch, Medway
Queen or any other vessel owned or operated by a relevant company.
v.
Members and who engage in any form of social networking should be mindful
that their postings could have an adverse effect on the Society's or relevant
companies’ legitimate interests or the individual mentioned by name or
innuendo. To reduce the likelihood of personal social networking or comments
having an adverse effect on the Society, the following rules apply:
1.
Do not use social networking sites through PCs in public places or mobile
telephones when in an environment where the public could look over your
shoulder.
2.
Do not defame or otherwise discredit the Society and/or the products or
services of relevant companies and/or the management or navigation of relevant
vessels. Do not mention customers, business partners, or suppliers without
prior approval.
3.
Before any criticisms, grievances, complaints or problems about the
conduct of the Society, the relevant companies or the relevant vessels are made
on the Internet, they must be raised in writing with the appropriate officer
and reasonable time allowed for a reply (2 weeks if writing to a full time
employee, 6 weeks if writing to a volunteer.)
If there is no reply, or if the reply is considered unsatisfactory, the
matter may be referred to on the Internet if the member considers the matter is
important enough to warrant this. Such reference must include the full text of
the complaint and the full text of the reply. A complete copy of any reference
to the matter must be sent to the official concerned no later than the time it
is made available to the public.
4.
Criticisms which may be interpreted as a personal attack on specific
members or officers of the Society, a relevant company or the captain, officers
or crew of a relevant vessel in any public arena or on the Internet may be
dealt with as a breach of the General Code of Conduct. The test you should apply before making
comments about an individual is “Would I say this to his/her face?”
5.
Do not allow others to use your web site to criticise openly, or by
alluding to, Members or Officers of the Society and/or Directors or Employees
of relevant companies and/or crews of relevant ships. Individuals are
responsible for what is written on their site that can bring disrepute to that
person, the organisation or cause distress to the individual concerned.
6.
If someone from the media or press contacts you about your social
networking activities that relate to the Society, and/or relevant companies
and/or relevant vessels, refer immediately to the Society’s Chairman or
Secretary before responding.
7.
Failure to comply with this Policy may be dealt with in accordance with
Society’s General Code of Conduct. Any
consequential disciplinary action could lead to a termination of membership.
SECTION F - ELECTION OF COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT
Approved
24 February 1996
F1 These bye-laws are made in accordance
with Article 37. The Articles of
Association shall take precedence should any conflict with these bye-laws
arise.
F2 The Secretary shall:
i) give notice of the date of the
Annual General Meeting and of the timetable for the election of members of the
Council of Management in accordance with Article 55 in the Spring issue of
"Paddle Wheels";
ii) receive nominations and if necessary
implement the procedure for a postal ballot;
iii) arrange for the printing and distribution
of ballot papers, which shall be in a similar form to that set out in the
Schedule hereto using a different coloured paper each year, in the Autumn issue
of "Paddle Wheels";
iv) in consultation with the Chairman, shall
appoint an independent person to be Scrutineer. The Scrutineer need not be a member of the
Society but must not be a candidate, a proposer of a candidate, nor a relative
thereof.
F3 The Scrutineer shall:
i) be responsible
for the receipt by post of ballot papers from members;
ii) hold the ballot papers envelopes
unopened until the time of the count;
iii) hold the count between the close of the
poll (7 days before the AGM) and the start of the AGM in the presence of at
least one other independent person;
iv) at all times to maintain the integrity of
the ballot and to keep a sharp look out for any irregularities which, if
detected must be reported in writing to the Chairman of the Society without
delay;
v) provide a written and signed report of
the number of ballot papers envelopes received, the number of ballot papers
returned, the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of ballot
papers spoilt to the Chairman of the AGM;
vi) retain the ballot papers for seven days
after the AGM and then destroy them unless otherwise directed by the AGM or the
Chairman of the Society.
F4 Candidates may submit details of their
Society and other relevant activities together with a personal statement
regarding their views on Society matters.
The statement shall not name, directly or by implication, another
candidate nor any Society officer or Council member. The maximum overall length of the details and
statement shall be 100 words. These
details may be printed on the reverse of the ballot papers.
F5 No ballot paper shall be valid unless it
has been signed by the member using it.
Schedule
to Bye-law Section F (Revised 1999)
PADDLE STEAMER PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Election of Council Members 1947
|
VOTES
OF FIRST
MEMBER |
VOTES
OF SECOND
MEMBER |
HANDY
Para Retiring
Council Member; Hon
Secretary |
|
|
MOUSE
Michael Nominated
by Walt Disney |
|
|
ROCKERFELLER
Nelson Retiring
Council Member; Hon
Treasurer |
|
|
DIRECTIONS
FOR VOTING:
1. EACH MEMBER MAY VOTE FOR UP TO xxx
CANDIDATES.
2. EACH MEMBER MAY ONLY VOTE ONCE FOR EACH
CANDIDATE.
3. ONLY USE THE SECOND COLUMN IF TWO
MEMBERS RECEIVE ONE PAPER.
4. Please return your paper to PSPS Ballot, ... by
.... Do not enclose any
correspondence.
5. If there are two or more addressees are
named on your envelope then each is entitled to vote. However, junior members are NOT
entitled to vote.
6. Replacement or additional voting papers
and any other assistance may be obtained from the Scrutineer at the above
address, marking your envelope "Additional Paper".
7. The Society's Bye-laws require ballot
papers to be signed in order to prevent duplicate voting.
I declare
that I am a paid up adult member of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and
am eligible to vote in this election.
First
Member
Signed :...........................................................
Print Name:...................................................
Second
Member
Signed :...........................................................
Print Name:...................................................
SECTION G - COMPLAINTS PROCESS
Approved
13 September 2014
G1.
It will be necessary to establish a mechanism to be able to handle any
complaint in a timely manner.
a.
A panel of three Members of Council plus a reserve should be appointed by
council to investigate and respond to a complaint. One of the three should be
designated as the Chairman. The ‘reserve’ will be required if: -
A complaint cites one of the three
panel members.
A panel member is unable to be
involved due to holiday absence etc.
b.
A method for recording complaints should be set up, this could be paper
or electronically based to be maintained by the Secretary of the Society. This
should be used to record brief details of the complaint and the dates of receipt
and of responses.
G2.
When complaint is received by the Secretary, details should be logged and
forwarded to the members of the panel.
G3.
Should the Secretary be implicated in any by the complaint, it should be
passed to the Chairman, Vice Chairman and so on to a non
affected Council Member.
G4.
The panel should undertake an investigation. To do this they have the
authority to request all relevant correspondence/paperwork, and to speak to any
and all relevant members of the society.
G5.
A response, in writing, should be forwarded to the complainant by the
Chairman of the panel within 28 days of the receipt of the complaint by the
Secretary of the Society. In exceptional circumstances, where considerable
research and additional time is required, the complainant must be advised of
progress.
G6.
The written response should be sent by recorded delivery.
G7.
Full details of the complaint and the response will be forwarded to all
members of the Council of Management.
G8.
The decision of the Panel will be final.