Charitable Status and the Responsibilities of Members of the Council

The Society of Archivists is a registered charity (no. 1041063).  The elected members of the Council, including the elected officers, are the Trustees of the Charity.  Trusteeship carries legal responsibilities and duties and full financial liability for the affairs of the Society.  Under the Constitution, the Trustees are individually responsible for controlling the management and the administration of the Society.

All Councillors, as the Trustees of the Society, must be aware of their duties and responsibilities according to trust and charitable law.  Therefore every Councillor must formally declare, in writing, that he/she has read and understood the Charity Commission Leaflet CC3, “Responsibilities of Charity Trustees”, and that they fully accept these responsibilities.  All Councillors should sign this declaration annually at the first meeting of the Council following the Annual General Meeting of the Society.  Copies of Leaflet CC3 are available on request from the Honorary Secretary or the Officer Manager of the Society.

Any Committee, Group or individual with formally delegated authority from the Council may negotiate on behalf of the Society with outside organisations.  However, the Council must always formally agree and sign any contract on behalf of the Society of Archivists unless it has formally delegated the authority to do so. When the Council has agreed a contract, it must be signed by two of the authorised signatories of the Society, one of who must always be the Honorary Treasurer.

Last modified 18/04/2007