The Society's Constitution

The full Constitution is available as a PDF document here. The material below extracts the main points.

Extract from the Constitution:

The Society is established for the public benefit for the following purposes in the area comprising Dartmouth, Kingswear, and the villages of Blackawton, Dittisham, Stoke Fleming and Strete which area shall hereinafter be referred to as “the area of benefit”.

• To promote high standards of planning and architecture in or affecting the area of benefit.
• To educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the area of benefit.
• To secure the preservation protection development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the area of benefit.
• To strive to reconcile the desirability of preserving those features which give the district its distinctive charm with the need for progress and prosperity.
   

In furtherance of the said purposes but not otherwise the society through its Executive Committee shall have the following powers:-

1. To promote civic pride in the area of benefit.
2. To promote research into subjects directly connected with the objects of the Society and to publish the results of any such research.
3. To act as a co-ordinating body and to co-operate with the local authorities, planning committees and all other statutory authorities, voluntary organisations, charities and persons having aims similar to those of the Society.
4. To promote or assist in promoting activities of a charitable nature throughout the area of benefit.
5. To publish papers, reports and other literature.
6. To make surveys and prepare maps and plans and collect information in relation to any place, erection or building of beauty or historic interest within the area of benefit.
7. To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions.
8. To educate public opinion and to give advice and information.
9. To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and otherwise; provided that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary purpose.
10. To acquire by purchase, gift or otherwise, property whether subject to any special trust or not.
11. Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or funds of the Society as shall be necessary.
12. Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to borrow or raise money for the purposes of the Society on such terms and on such security as the Executive Committee shall think fit, but so that the liability of individual members of the Society shall in no case extend beyond the amount of their respective annual subscriptions.
13. To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said purposes.