Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) Constitution - as amended on 10 February 2025 GALBA is an unincorporated association
The name of the group shall be Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA)
The aims of GALBA are:
1. To oppose any change – whether a development, planning application, policy, rule change or non-compliance with existing rules – that would result in:
2. To take any necessary action to ensure that LBA conforms to planning conditions.
3. To oppose expansion plans at all airports, in the face of unacceptable health risks and the worsening climate crisis.
4. To bring together people and organisations to achieve the above aims.
Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of GALBA.
Membership will begin after an application has been approved by the membership secretary or another member of the Committee.
A list of all members will be kept securely by the membership secretary.
3.1 Ceasing to be a member
Members may resign at any time in writing to the secretary.
Any offensive behaviour, including racist, sexist or inflammatory remarks, will not be tolerated. Anyone behaving in an offensive way or breaking the equal opportunities policy may be asked not to attend further meetings or to resign from the group if a genuine apology is not given or the behaviour is repeated.
The individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
GALBA will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sex, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.
The business of the group will be carried out by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee will meet as necessary and not less than four times a year.
The Committee will consist of up to 10 elected members and be composed of 5 officers and 5 Committee members. Additional members may be co-opted onto the Committee at the discretion of the elected Committee members.
The officers’ roles are as follows:
In the event of an officer standing down during the year, a replacement will be elected by the next General or Annual General Meeting of members. Temporary officers may be elected by and from the Committee, between General or Annual General Meetings.
Any Committee member not attending two meetings without apology will be contacted by the Chair and asked if they wish to continue on the Committee.
The Committee may ask a Committee member to stand down if they are not fulfilling their duties or if they are bringing GALBA into disrepute.
6.1. Annual General Meetings
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within fifteen months of the previous AGM.
All members will be notified in writing at least three weeks before the date of the meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda of the AGM.
Nominations for the Committee may be made to the Secretary at least seven days before the meeting.
If not all Committee places have been filled after voting at the AGM on the nominations received in advance, nominations may be taken at the AGM.
The quorum for the AGM will be 10% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the lesser number.
At the AGM:
6.2 Special General Meetings
The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the majority of the Committee or at least 10 other members giving a written request to the Chair or Secretary stating the reason for their request.
The meeting will take place within 21 days of the request.
All members will be given at least one week’s notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda. Notice may be made by telephone, email or post.
The quorum for the Special General Meeting will be 10% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the lesser number.
6.3 General Meetings
General Meetings are open to all members and will be held in addition to the AGM if or when necessary.
All members will be given at least one week’s notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda. Notice may be made by telephone, email or post.
The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 10% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the lesser number.
6.4 Committee Meetings
Committee meetings may be called by the Chair or Secretary. Committee members must receive notice at least seven days before the meeting.
The quorum for Committee meetings is four Committee members, including elected and co-opted members.
Committee meetings will be open to any member of GALBA wishing to attend, who may speak but not vote. Members who wish to attend Committee meetings should contact an officer to check the date, time and venue of Committee meeting. The Committee may designate certain agenda items confidential, for discussion by Committee members only.
All questions that arise at any meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general agreement that everyone present can agree to.
If a consensus cannot be reached, a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.
One or more accounts will be maintained on behalf of GALBA at a bank agreed by the Committee. Four bank signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one must be the Treasurer). The signatories must not be related nor members of the same household. All payments will be signed or authorised online by at least two of the signatories.
Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement given at each meeting.
All money raised by or on behalf of GALBA is only to be used to further the aims of the group, as specified in the aims section of this constitution.
Amendments to the constitution may only be made at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution must be given to the Secretary in writing at least two weeks before the date of the AGM or SGM. The proposal must then be circulated to those attending the meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.
If a meeting, by a simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down GALBA, it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group.
If it is agreed to dissolve the group, all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to another organisation whose goals include preventing the expansion of aviation. The organisation will be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.
This constitution was agreed at the inaugural General Meeting of GALBA held on 16 April 2020 and amended at the Annual General Meeting held on 10 February 2025.
Leeds Bradford Airport is big enough already