UKCP General Meeting: proposed changes to Articles of Association

The Articles are the rules that explain how UKCP is run. They cover things such as membership, voting, member meetings and the Board of Trustees. We are asking members to approve an updated set of these rules at the General Meeting (GM) on Friday, 27 November. You will vote on the proposed Articles as a whole. The Board has approved the proposal, but the final decision belongs to members who are entitled to vote.

Some of our rules need updating to make them clearer and easier to use. We want to bring back annual meetings, make it easier for members to take part in future meetings online, and help the Board work consistently. This is a first set of changes. Bigger questions about how UKCP should be organised will be considered separately.

• An Annual General Meeting, so members can hear about UKCP’s work, meet the Board and ask questions each year.
• Clear rules allowing future meetings to take place online, in person, or with both options available.
• A clearer explanation of which members can vote and who is an Associate.
• Clearer rules about who can become a trustee, how trustees can be removed, and how long they serve.
• Updates to administrative rules, including the Company Secretary role and the common seal, a device traditionally used to mark official company documents.

Yes. The four-year term and limit of eight consecutive years would stay. At present, a separate rule can require trustees to step down before their term finishes. Removing that rule would help the Board retain experience and keep its work moving. Elections and ways to remove trustees would remain. There would also be an additional Board removal process, with safeguards including notice and a chance for the trustee to respond

The work would still be done, even though the Articles would no longer require someone with that job title. Under the proposed rules, the Board would oversee trustee elections. Requests for an election to remove a trustee would go to the Chief Executive or someone they authorise. Members would keep their existing right to request that process.

These changes would not change your professional standards, supervision requirements or day-to-day practice. UKCP’s charitable purposes, overall Board structure and the Members Forum’s main roles would stay. This vote does not decide a new structure for colleges or committees, or a new review process for organisational members. Bringing back an AGM would give members a regular opportunity to hear from the Board and ask questions.

Full individual members and full organisational members can vote. Associates cannot vote on this decision. An organisational member will need to authorise someone to act on its behalf, following the meeting instructions. If you are unsure whether you can vote, please use the contact details in the GM information.

You can appoint a proxy: someone who votes on your behalf. The GM pack will explain how to do this and when your form must be received. It will also explain the arrangements for attending and voting. The changes need at least 75% of the votes cast to be in favour to pass. This is called a special resolution. The proposed rules would allow future online meetings; please check the GM pack for the arrangements for this meeting.

If members vote in favour, the updated Articles will be adopted. If the proposal does not pass, the current Articles will stay and we will consider the result and members’ feedback. The wider review will explore how members can contribute and how UKCP is run. No particular future structure has been agreed. Any further changes to the Articles would need another formal member vote.

You will be able to find the current Articles, proposed Articles and a plain-English comparison on this page (above).

The General Meeting information will include voting instructions and a way to send us your questions. You can also ask questions through the planned member and college briefings. The longer FAQ provides more detail if you would like it.