The Committee has completed a careful review of the Society’s Constitution to ensure it reflects how PLHS operates today and reflects current best practice across the charity sector, and propose the following changes. The proposed updates do not change the spirit or purpose of the Society — they simply bring our rules up to date.
The key change that is being made is to the Objects to the Society; all the other changes are minor.
Objects
Following discussions with the Charity Commission about changes to the Objects of the Society, the Charity Commission have approved changing the Objects of the Society:
"Based on the supporting information you have provided we can provide formal consent under s.280A of the Charities Act 2011 (as amended) to change the charity's objects clause to read:
The objects of the Society shall be to encourage the study of and interest in local history and archaeology in all its aspects with a special reference to the history of Pinner and its environs and to achieve these objects the Society shall have the following powers: -
1. To promote public lectures, conferences, and visits concerned with history and related subjects.
2. To publish as may be appropriate studies concerned with history and related subjects.
3. To support as appropriate the publication by others of studies concerned with these subjects.
4. To raise, invite, and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions, donations or otherwise provided that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activity.
5. To set up and maintain research and archives to support activities of the Society.
6. To receive whether by way of loan, gift, or bequest any books, manuscripts or other historical documents or articles which appear to the Committee to be relevant to the objects of the Society, and the Committee in their absolute discretion shall make such arrangements as seem appropriate for retention and/or display of such items"
The objects of the Society have been updated to include points 5 and 6 above.
We are also suggesting minor changes to the constitution that have been approved by the Committee Members. The changes are highlighted below for your information.
Changes at a Glance
- Membership is now open to anyone who subscribes — no election required.
- Membership categories updated; “Ordinary Members” renamed to Individual Members.
- Committee structure modernised: Membership Secretary and Editor added; fixed number of “Ordinary members” removed.
- Remote decision-making formally permitted.
- Research & Archives added as an explicit object.
- Gifts section incorporated into Objects.
- AGM reporting updated: Chairman’s Report replaces Secretary’s Report.
- Subscription concession period extended (January instead of February).
- "Auditor" replaced with Independent Accounts Examiner.
- Requirement added that funds must be held in the Society’s bank account.
We will need the members to approve the changes at the May AGM.
Why These Changes?
These updates help ensure the Society remains well governed, transparent, and aligned with current best practice — while continuing to promote and preserve the history of Pinner. If members approve the revised Constitution at the AGM, it will replace the 1982 version currently in use which you can view here.
