Rules of Procedure for General and Committee Meetings of the Group
Chair
1. In the absence of the Chair of the Group Committee, the Vice Chair or Honorary Treasurer shall take the chair. In the absence of both these officers, the meeting shall elect a chair from amongst the members present (excluding associated members).
Discipline
2. The Chair shall call a member to order for irrelevance, repetition, unbecoming language, imputations of motives or any breach of order, and may direct such member if speaking to discontinue. The Chair may also direct such member to withdraw from the meeting. The ruling of the Chair on points of order, matters arising in debate or the admissibility of a personal explanation shall be final, and shall not be open to discussion.
Moving of Motions
3.1 No motion shall be considered or voted upon unless it has been duly moved and seconded. A motion from the Chair shall require no seconder.
3.2 The Chair or any member present may ask for any motion to be submitted in writing before it is put to the vote.
3.3 Members may seek further information or clarification on any matter under discussion during a meeting but must advise the Honorary Secretary, where possible in advance of the meeting, so that such information can be available.
Withdrawal of Motions
4. A motion may be withdrawn by the mover with the concurrence of the seconder. A member submitting a report may, with the consent of the meeting, withdraw a paragraph or recommendation contained in the report.
Absence of Mover
5. Business under any motion on the agenda paper shall not be proceeded with in the absence of the member in whose name it stands unless he/she has given authority in writing of his/her consent that it should be taken up by some other member.
Notices of Motion
6. The only motions which will be considered at general meetings are those of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Group Rules.
Procedural Motions
7. During debate on motions the following procedural motions only shall be admitted:
i) To amend the motion
ii) That consideration of the question be postponed
iii) That the meeting does proceed to the next business
iv) That the question be now put
v) That the meeting does now adjourn
Group Rules
Updated: 01 February 2005