JIG CONSTITUTION

A) Name
The name of the Association is News Joint Industry Group (JIG)

B) Administration
Subject to the matters set out below JIG shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of the Board as constituted by this constitution.

C) Objects
To improve the distribution of newspapers and magazines in the United Kingdom with power to do all such other things as may seem incidental or conducive to the attainment of that objective

D) Powers
In furtherance of the objects JIG will undertake the following:

a) To improve supply chain efficiencies and drive simplification in order to enhance the service offer to the consumer via the news-trade.

b) To promote the interests and advancement of the industry.

c) To drive positive change and set the agenda for the industry.

d) To secure collective decisions on behalf of association members where
possible

e) To regularly review and update KPI’s, best practice and Standards of the supply chain with a view to the continual improvement of service levels.

f) To deliver benefits to the overall industry through market and industry-wide projects.

g) To collate and disseminate statistics and information aimed at improving member’s knowledge.

h) To establish working groups to deliver ways of improving trade practices.

i) To identify significant industry issues and work together to deliver solutions

j) To apply knowledge gained from other industries where appropriate, which will deliver solutions to news and magazine supply chain issues.

k) To define and prioritise the JIG agenda annually and review the business agenda each quarter.

l) To liaise with appropriate government bodies on unanimously agreed issues and within the confines of the scope of JIG.

m) To manage, regularly review and improve upon the ISS process.

n) To encourage exchange and sharing of non-sensitive and non-competitive industry information.

o) To take responsibility for communications with industry stakeholders, including the production of any relevant books or papers

p) Purchase / lease / hire of any property required, or dispose of same

q) Borrow, raise or invest money

r) Employ paid or unpaid agents, employees or advisors

s) To take any other actions consistent with JIG objectives.

E) Membership
Membership of JIG shall be open to bona fide trade associations involved within the newspaper and magazine supply chain.

Each member association shall appoint an individual to represent it and to vote on its behalf at meetings of the Board and may appoint an alternate to replace its appointed representative at any meeting if the appointed representative is unable to attend.

Member associations will be eligible to contribute and benefit from shared learning from all sub-groups.

Every member through its appointed representative shall have one vote at meetings of the Board.

The Board may unanimously and for good reason terminate the membership of any association: Provided that the association concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Board before a final decision is made. The representative of the member association concerned shall not be entitled to vote on any such resolution.

Members wishing to cease membership of JIG must give three-month notice in writing to the Chairman of JIG.

In the event of an association ceasing membership of JIG, a period of 12 months must elapse before the association is eligible to re-apply for membership.

F) Board
Meetings of the Board shall take place on a monthly basis or such other frequency as decided by the Board.

The JIG chairman shall act as chairman at meetings of the Board. If the chairman is absent from any meeting, the members of the Board present shall choose an alternative person to be chairman of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

The chairman will give proper regard to the objectives contained in the constitution and will facilitate JIG activity and drive forward the business agenda.

The chairmanship of JIG will rotate between the member associations on an annual basis. The chairman will be nominated by the relevant association and approved by JIG. The incoming chairman should be confirmed 3 months prior to taking over office, with the intention of attending the JIG Board as an observer prior to handover.

The chairmanship year will run from April to March. The chairmanship rotation order for the next six years is:

ANMW 2004
ANR 2005
NPA 2006
NFRN 2007
PPA 2008
BRC 2009

There shall be a quorum when five members are present and at least one member from each industry sector is in attendance i.e. retail, wholesale and publisher.

Every matter shall be determined by consensus of members unless unanimously agreed otherwise. Consensus can only be reached when all associations are present

An association suspending membership will be deemed not to be a member for decision-making or voting purposes.

The Board shall keep minutes of the proceedings at meetings of the Board and any sub-committee. The JIG Administrator will take the minutes. A copy of the draft minutes will be circulated within 7 days of the meeting and Board members will have five working days to forward any revisions.

The JIG Administrator will provide the JIG agenda and papers by midday Friday of the week before the meeting takes place.

The Board may appoint one or more sub-committees. All sub-committees should have clearly defined objectives, with timescales and include cost / benefit analysis.

Each year the Board will prioritise industry issues of most relevance that will be carried forward for development the following year. Issues will be prioritised based upon a balanced scoring system. A realistic timeline will be drawn up for each issue to monitor progress. The business priorities will be published to gain industry buy-in.

At the end of each board meeting the Chairman will advise the Board of any item that is not for discussion either generally, or discretely, within associations. The overriding principle of JIG will be openness and every effort should be made to inform wider stakeholders of progress being made. Any information that is identified as being sensitive, to individual companies or associations, will remain strictly confidential.

Where appropriate a press release will be generated following the JIG meeting to promote unrestricted issues on unanimous decisions.

All Board members will also be eligible to attend Stakeholder Group meetings.

G) Financial Matters
Each year a budget will be drawn up, reviewed and agreed by the JIG Board. The final budget will be agreed by the end of December for the following financial year.

The Board will raise funds and invite and receive contributions for the funding of the budget from each member association in equal proportions unless otherwise unanimously agreed. Members will be invoiced on a monthly basis.

Individual or groups of member associations may opt to provide additional finance to fund projects of specific relevance to their business interests.

Should there be a budget shortfall due to additional expenditure that has been agreed by the Board, members will be invoiced in equal parts, or as otherwise agreed by the Board.

All JIG members are jointly and severally liable for the financing of JIG. Members will be required to enter into a Deed establishing its commitment.

Any associations giving notice of cessation of membership will continue to be committed to financial support of the budget for a six-month period, from the date of giving notice.

The funds of JIG shall be paid into an account operated by the Board in the name of Joint Industry Group at such bank as the Board shall from time to time decide.

The JIG Administrator will be authorised to sign cheques on behalf of JIG up to a value of £1,000. Over and above that amount will require authorisation from the JIG Chairman. The Board will be advised of all cheques written out for an amount above £1,000 at the monthly budget update provided at each Board meeting

The funds belonging to JIG shall be applied only in furthering the objects.

The Board shall arrange for:

a) the keeping of accounting records for JIG

b) the preparation of an annual statement of account for JIG, approved by the JIG Board in line with the end of each financial year

c) the appointment of auditors to provide an independent examination of the statement of account of JIG. The financial year of JIG will run from April to March.

H) Dissolution
If the Board decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve JIG the Board shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of JIG. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be divided between the members in equal proportions.

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