Brigade Committee Standing Orders

FIRE BRIGADES UNION SOUTHERN REGION
ROYAL BERKSHIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE
STANDING ORDERS

1.  Duties of the Brigade Committee

1.1       The  duties of the Brigade Committee shall be in accordance with Rule 21 (2) of the FBU Rule Book.

2.  Membership of the Committee.

2.1       The  Brigade  Committee shall consist of  the Brigade Secretary, Brigade Chair, Vice Chair, Membership Secretary, Health and Safety Co-ordinator, Retained Co-ordinator, Fairness at Work Officer, Education Officer, Women’s Rep., Black and Ethnic Minority Rep., Gay and Lesbian Rep. and one delegate from  each branch.

2.2       Observers will be permitted to attend and speak at Brigade Committee meetings.

2.3       The officers of the committee shall be the Brigade Chair, Brigade Secretary, Brigade Vice Chair and Brigade Membership Secretary.

2.4             The Brigade Executive Committee shall consist of, Brigade Secretary, Brigade Chair, Vice Chair, Membership Secretary and the Officers Branch Secretary.

2.5       Other members/ officials may attend Brigade Executive Committee meetings by invitation.

3.  Meetings of the Brigade Committee.

3.1       At least 4 meetings of the Brigade Committee will be held each year.

3.2       The timing and venue for Brigade Committee meetings shall be determined by the Brigade Executive Committee.

3.3       Except in the case of an emergency meeting notice of a Brigade Committee meeting will be sent by the Brigade Secretary to each delegate together with an agenda and a copy of the previous meetings minutes at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.

3.4       Emergency Brigade Committee meetings to discuss items of a specific urgent nature may be called at short notice by any officer of the committee as defined in section 2.3 above. An Emergency meeting may also be called on request from delegates representing at least 6 branches, such requests should be sent in writing to the Brigade Secretary.

3.5       Special Brigade Committee meetings may be called by any officer of the committee as defined in section 2.3 above. A special meeting may also be called on request from delegates representing at least 6 branches, such requests should be sent in writing to the Brigade Secretary.

3.6       The quorum for meetings will be delegates from at least 6 branches as defined in Appendix A attached provided that at least one officer of the committee as defined in 2.3 above is present. ( The quorum requirements will not apply in the case of an emergency or special meetings ) The Brigade Chair and Brigade Secretary will not be included in the count for a quorum.

3.7       Full voting rights will be given to 1 delegate from each branch represented, voting will be by show of hands, in the event of a tied vote the Chair shall have the casting vote.

3.8       Branch  delegates  must show proof of holding a  branch  meeting where voting on Annual Conference final agenda has taken  place, prior  to  voting on this issue at a brigade committee  meeting where  this  item appears on the agenda.  If the  branch  cannot provide the said proof, they shall forgo any voting  rights on this issue.

3.9             If the Brigade Chair is absent for all or part of a meeting or is subject to a challenge, then the Vice Chair will take the chair for the vacated period. If both the Brigade Chair and Vice Chair are absent for any reason an Acting Vice Chair will be elected from the members present.

Note: Any challenge to the Chair must be seconded and to be successful must be supported by at least two thirds of the voting members present.

3.10    The Annual General Meeting of the Brigade Committee will usually be held in December and will include annual reports from the Brigade Secretary, Brigade Chair, Brigade Vice Chair, Membership Secretary, Brigade Health and Safety Co-ordinator, Brigade Fairness at Work Officer and Brigade Education Officer, Retained Co-ordinator Womens Rep., Black and Ethnic Minority Rep. and the Gay and Lesbian Rep.

3.11    The Brigade Committee will organise the following separate Sub Committees:-

• Health and Safety  
• Fairness at Work    
• Education
• Black and Ethnic Minority Members.
• Gay and Lesbian Members.
• Women Members.

3.12    Each Sub Committee should meet at least 4 times per year and minutes from these meetings should be presented at the subsequent Brigade Committee Meeting for endorsement.

3.13    Each Sub Committee will be chaired by the relevant officer or co-ordinator, standing orders should be produced by each Sub Committee and when agreed by the Brigade Committee will be attached to these standing orders.

3.14    There will be a no smoking policy whilst Brigade Committee meetings are in session.

3.15    Mobile Telephones should be switched off  or set to silent whilst Brigade Committee meetings are in session.

3.16    Branch Delegates should provide a written copy of their report to assist with the compilation of accurate minutes.

4.         Agenda

4.1       Agenda items shall be decided by the officers of the committee. Should a branch wish to have an item placed on the agenda the Brigade Secretary must be informed of this at least 21 days prior to the date of the meeting to allow inclusion on the agenda.

4.2       Business other than agenda items may only be discussed at the discretion of the Chair.

5.         Election of Officials.

5.1       The  Brigade Secretary and Brigade Chair shall be  elected by  ballot in accordance with Rule 21(3)(a).  The Brigade Membership Secretary shall be elected in accordance with Rule 21(3)(b). Other  officers as decided by the Brigade Committee shall be elected in accordance with Rule 21 (3)(c).

6.         Suspension of Standing Orders

6.1       Suspension of Standing Orders must have the support of two thirds of the voting members present.

7.         Alterations to Standing Orders

7.1       Any member of the Executive Committee or any Branch Delegate may submit proposed changes to these Standing Orders.

7.2       Proposed changes to Standing Orders must be forwarded, in writing, to the Brigade Secretary at least 28 days prior to the date of the Brigade Committee meeting where such changes are to be discussed.

7.3       The Brigade Secretary must send details of any proposed changes to Standing Orders Brigade Committee members at least 14 days in advance of the meeting.

7.4       Support of at least two thirds of the voting members present is required for the proposed changes to be accepted.

7.5         Following any amendments to these standing orders being accepted by the Brigade Committee the Brigade Secretary will distribute revised copies of standing orders to all Executive Committee members and all branches prior to the next scheduled brigade Committee meeting..

8.         Implementation of  Standing Orders    

8.1       Any changes which are agreed to these standing orders will become effective from the subsequent meeting.

THESE STANDING ORDERS WERE AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY THE BERKSHIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE AT A MEETING HELD ON (date).

 ———————                          ———————–

          A. Irlam                                         E. Cardoso

      Brigade Chair.                           Brigade Secretary

FIRE BRIGADES UNION SOUTHERN REGION
ROYAL BERKSHIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE
STANDING ORDERS 

APPENDIX A

Eligible Branches:

Branches eligible for membership of the Brigade Committee shall be :-

Station 1        Caversham Road

Station 2        Wokingham Road

Station 3        Dee Road. (Including non officer members in B.H.Q. complex).

Station 4        Newbury

Station 5        Hungerford

Station 6        Lambourn

Station 7        Pangbourne

Station 9         Wargrave

Station 10       Wokingham

Station 11       Mortimer

Station 13       Windsor

Station 14      Ascot

Station 16      Bracknell

Station 17       Slough

Station 18      Langley

Station 19      Maidenhead

Station 20      Whitley Wood

Control Staff Branch

Officers Branch

Training Centre Branch

In accordance with Standing order 3.6 a quorum shall be a minimum of 6 branches.