Our Constitution

The Parks Management Association exists to:

Represent those individuals and organisations working in the public parks and open spaces sector, whether in the public, private or third sector. The Association remains independent and will aim to work through a steering group of parks professionals acting in the interest of public parks in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Association will act as the lead commissioning, collaborating and coordinating body for the sector in relation to skills, knowledge, continuing professional development, activation in the community, advocacy and wider representation. Its complete independence will allow it to champion the value of public parks and open spaces and steer the best intervention and development amongst the various organisations that work within the parks sector.

The Association’s Board will evaluate entry level for all practitioners to be involved and set the parameters that are required to develop the sector and practitioners’ skills.

1. Individual Membership is open to ALL practitioners working within the parks and open spaces sector.
2. Membership is also open to all individuals in non-profit-distributing organisations (NPDO’s), delivering a range of services and influencing the development of parks and open spaces.
3. Individual Membership can be extended to sole traders within the commercial sector who make a significant contribution to the sector.
4. Corporate Membership is available for Local Authorities and organisations as defined in b) above with more than one eligible member or organisations where it would be difficult to identify one individual with overall and specific cross-cultural and parks responsibility.
5. Membership is also open to companies and members of the commercial or private sector making significant contribution to parks and open spaces. Applications from all such organisations will need to be agreed by the Executive Board.
6. Complimentary Membership is offered to ‘strategic partners’, such as DCMS, DEFRA, MHCLG, LGA, NDPBs etc.
7. Honorary Membership is awarded to people from the sector, usually former full members, who have made a significant contribution to the development of the sector. This will be complimentary and will be decided by the Executive Board.
8. In each case, the key criteria for full membership will comprise a critical test of eligibility, with the consensus that anyone can apply.
9. The Parks Management Association is currently an organisation that specifically covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Membership, though, is open to eligible applicants from other countries, who meet the Membership key criteria.

Individual members should:

• be employed directly within local government, or for a Non-Profit Distributing Organisations, outsourced contractors / partners, delivering environmental, cultural and leisure services directly on behalf of local government, the wider public sector and trusts;
• have experience of working at any level in parks and open spaces services; and
• work across a range of environmental, cultural and leisure sectors.

Individual members are entitled to all of the benefits of the Association with full voting rights.

Individual members from within local government and associated NPDO’s have the right to stand for election to the Executive Board.

Individual Membership is available to:

• 4.1.1 All individuals working directly in the local government environment for parks and open spaces or NPDO equivalents with a range of disciplines related to the parks and open spaces sector.
• 4.1.2 Sole traders within the commercial or private sector who make a significant contribution to the sector.
• 4.1.3 Retired members, who are no longer actively working in any capacity, are eligible for a reduced subscription.

Complimentary Membership is available at the sole discretion of the Chair in consultation with the Executive Board. There are two sub-categories:

Honorary Membership can be awarded to individuals who are making or who have made a significant contribution to the development of parks and open spaces nationally and/or internationally. Examples are former full members who have left the sector through promotion and retirement to e.g. Council CEO etc. The Executive Board has the power to nominate Honorary Members. Such nominations are subject to endorsement by a General Meeting of the Association.

The PMA Board will seek nominations from the membership and make 2 awards each year. The nominations will be reviewed and Honorary awards agreed by the Chair and Vice Chairs for confirmation at the AGM.

Strategic Partners, typically from strategic partner organisations such as Local Government Group, DCMS, NDPBs, etc., will be allowed two complimentary memberships each; they will not have voting rights and will not be eligible for election to the executive Board.

Corporate Membership is available to eligible organisations on an organisational rather than individual basis, for access to services by individuals who work within the local government environment but where it would be difficult to identify one individual with overall and specific cross-cultural and leisure responsibility.

Corporate Membership is also available for eligible organisations where more than one individual within the organisation is eligible for membership.

Corporate Membership is available to organisations on an organisational, rather than individual basis, as follows:

For access to services by public / statutory sector organisations, working at any level equivalent to the Full Membership categories of membership, and working directly with local government on the enhancement of parks services. Organisations eligible under this category will have been judged to meet the membership key criteria on an organisational rather than individual basis.

For access to services by voluntary sector organisations, working at a any level equivalent to the Full Membership categories of membership, and working directly with local government on the enhancement of parks and open spaces. Organisations eligible under this category will have been judged to meet the membership key criteria on an organisational rather than individual basis.

For access to services by individuals from educational sector organisations, working at a senior, strategic level equivalent to the Full Membership categories of membership, and working directly with local government on the enhancement of parks services. Organisations eligible under this category will have been judged to meet the membership key criteria on an organisational rather than individual basis. Exceptions to this will be approved by the Chair and Executive Board.

The following conditions apply as standard, but may be varied as determined by a General Meeting on the recommendation of the Executive Board:

Except for Individual Members, the total numbers for each membership category may be restricted from time to time as determined by a General Meeting on the recommendation of the Executive Board.

Only Members working directly in the local government environment or in non-profit-distributing organisations, delivering a range of services within the parks sector for local government may be elected as Chair or Vice Chair.

7.1 Any eligible person wishing to become a member of the Association shall apply for membership in such form as the Executive Board may from time to time prescribe.

7.2 The formal acceptance by the Membership and Recruitment Secretary of such an application, together with the prescribed subscription, shall constitute the application for consideration to the Executive Board. If there are areas of concern, the Membership and Recruitment Secretary shall be responsible for collecting relevant information and reporting this directly to the Executive Board.

7.3 The Executive Board shall reserve the right at their discretion to decide or not to grant the application. The Membership and Recruitment Secretary will inform the applicant of the decision of the Executive. There is no right of appeal to the decision.

7.4 A member shall cease to be a member of the Association when they fail to meet the eligibility criteria. It is the responsibility of members to inform the Association of any change in their circumstances that might affect their membership category or their eligibility for membership.

7.5 A member shall cease to be a member of the Association when their subscription is in arrears of three months after the date of notice of renewal, and they have been formally notified of the arrears at least twice and the implications of non-payment.

7.6 A member may resign from the Association at any time by giving three months written notice of resignation to the Membership and Recruitment Secretary, but they are not entitled to a rebate for any of their annual subscription paid for the year in which they resigned unless there are reasons of hardship, where a rebate is entirely at the discretion of the Membership and Recruitment Secretary. They shall remain liable to the Association for any subscription or fees for activities unpaid by them at the date of resignation.

7.7 The Executive Board may, if two thirds of the members of the Executive Board present and voting at a meeting of the Board properly constituted  according to this constitution, expel from membership of the Association any member whose conduct is in the opinion if the Executive Board detrimental to the interests of the Association or calculated or likely to bring the Association into disrepute; or who in the opinion of the Executive Board wilfully and persistently refuses to comply with the rules of the Association.

The business of the Association shall be conducted by an Executive Board of: the Chair; 4 Vice Chairs; the Honorary Treasurer; the Immediate Past Chair; and up to 10 elected Members. Restrictions on appointment to the Board of certain membership categories are set out above.

However, should the Board deem that the best interests of the Association are served by increasing the number of such members on the Board; they have the power to increase representation of any category, over and above the limit set out, by power of co-option. The continuation of any co-options shall be subject to specific confirmation at the AGM immediately following the date of co-option.

Accountants and auditors shall be nominated and elected at each Annual general Meeting and shall serve in that capacity until the Annual General Meeting in the following year.

Officers of the Association shall be a Chair,  4no. Vice Chairs, an Honorary Treasurer and the Immediate Past Chair. The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall elect the Officers of the Association.

The members of the Executive Board shall hold office from the commencement of one Annual General Meeting to the next Annual General Meeting. The Chair shall hold office for a maximum of three consecutive years, excluding any period of such office arising from a casual vacancy. In exceptional circumstances, the Executive Board may extend this period, but not beyond that set for the last date on which the AGM may be held, currently 1 September. All officers shall be eligible for re-election to the same office except for the Chair.

Should a vacancy arise in the officer positions for any reason, the Board, lead as appropriate by the remaining Officers, shall act in the best interests of the Association and determine how to fill the vacancy on a temporary basis. Any officer position which is filled on a temporary basis shall be subject to election, by normal process, at the AGM immediately following the occurrence of the vacancy, regardless of whether the position would normally be due for election or not.

Only members employed directly within local government, or for a Non-Profit Distributing Organisation (often referred to as Trusts) that provides strategic advice to the local authority, alongside delivering parks services directly on their behalf, are eligible to join the Executive Board.

A maximum of 3 NPDO members are permitted to join the Board. These members will not be eligible to hold the roles of Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer.

Nominations for places on the Executive Board shall be in writing signed by two current members and delivered to the Board Secretary not later than the four weeks before the date of the relevant AGM. The Board Secretary shall, within one week, send written notice by post to each person so nominated of their nomination; any such person may withdraw their candidature by written notice to the effect and delivered to the Board Secretary not later than one week following receipt. If, after the end of the week following, there remains only the required number of persons nominated, those persons shall be declared by the Chair to be elected members of the Board Board. If more than the required number of persons remains so nominated, the Chair and the Secretary shall conduct an election at the Annual General Meeting of the Association. See Appendix 1 for Election Protocols.

The Executive Board shall appoint from its membership on an annual basis any Special Responsibility officers as it deems necessary to fulfil the mission and purposes of the association.

9.7 The Executive Board shall appoint a professional, dedicated Administrator (Board Secretary), provided the roles and responsibilities are agreed by a general meeting; that such expenditure is contained within the agreed annual budget and that robust contracting arrangements are fulfilled.

9.8 The Executive Board shall have power to co-opt from the membership either to fill a casual vacancy, or to ensure that the Executive Board has adequate representation from the Membership in the furtherance of its mission and purpose.

9.9 The Executive Board may appoint such other Boards, including ‘Panels’, ‘Working Groups’, etc, as considered appropriate to report to the Executive Board on any matter and may delegate accordingly, except on matters of Membership and Subscriptions.

9.10 The Executive Board may incur any expenditure that it deems desirable for the conduct of the affairs of the Association, provided that such expenditure is within the financial resources of the Association and within the limits set by the approved Annual Budget. It shall be presumed that the Executive Board shall do all in its power to obtain such additional support services (i.e. those not specially con

11.1 An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held before the 1st September each year, except where in exceptional and unavoidable circumstances a reasonable extension to this is agreed by the Executive Board, to receive the Annual Report of the Executive Board including the Accountants Report & Financial Statement and to transact such other business as may be proper to be transacted thereat, including changes to the Constitution.

11.2 Special General Meetings shall be called either by direction of the Executive Board or a requisition (stating the object of the Meeting) signed by at least 25 members and sent to the Executive Secretary, who shall seek to call a meeting within 21 days after receiving the requisition.

11.3 General (“Members”) Meetings shall be held on such dates and at such a place as may be arranged by the Executive Board; the Secretary shall give not less than 14 days written notice thereof to all members.

11.4 The quorum of any Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting shall be 25 members.

11.5 The procedure at all General Meetings shall be at the absolute discretion of the Chair.

11.6 Each member shall have one vote and in the event of an equality of votes the Chair shall have a second or casting vote.

11.6.1 Only individual members as described in paragraph 4.1 may vote in matters relating to the constitution of PMA at any stage of the process of amending the constitution.

11.7 The Chair, or in the Chair’s absence one of the Vice Chairs, shall preside at all General Meetings of the Association. In the absence of the Chair and the Vice Chairs the meeting shall elect a chair from the members present.

11.8 Any member may bring forward any matter covered by the objects of the Association for consideration at any Annual General Meeting on giving to the Executive Secretary of the Association not less than one calendar month’s previous written notice thereof.

The funds of the Association not required for current business or to meet accruing liabilities may, subject to any direction of the Executive Board, be invested in any of the investments referred to in Parts I, II and III of the First Schedule to the Trustee Investment Act, 1961. Provided that this power of investment may be exercised without compliance with the provision of the Trustee Investment Act, 1961 as to the investment of Trust Funds, or other succeeding legislation which may affect the financial stability of the Association.

The Chair and 4 Vice Chairs of the Association shall be the Trustees of the Association and the property of the Association both real and personal shall be conveyed demised or assured to or become vested in the Trustees of the Association.

17.1 These Rules may be altered only be resolution supported by at least two thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting of which the Executive Secretary shall have given to every member at least one calendar month’s notice specifically of the nature of the proposed alteration.

17.2 Any matters not dealt with by these Rules and any case of doubt as to their interpretation shall be referred for determination to the Executive Board whose decision shall be final.