CONSTITUTION OF CEDARS PARK RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
1. NAME
The name of the group shall be the CEDARS PARK RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
2. AIMS
2a. To provide a forum for discussing the concerns and
interests of residents of the Cedars Park estate in Stowmarket.
2b. To promote and represent the concerns and interests of
residents to relevant individuals and official bodies.
2c. To promote the social development of Cedars Park
3. POWERS
3a. The Association shall form a Management Committee through
which the stated aims shall be administered. The Management Committee
may, in turn, create sub-committees in order to pursue the stated aims.
3b. Members of the Association may raise concerns, or interests, either
at general meetings, or through a member of the Management Committee. Any
member wishing to initiate independent action on an issue of common concern
should discuss the matter with a member of the Management Committee prior to
acting.
3c. The Management Committee will liaise with relevant
individuals and official bodies in any manner it deems appropriate.
3d. The Management Committee will also communicate with
members in any manner it deemsappropriate, subject to there being an Annual
General Meeting, and at least one ordinary general meeting, in any 12 month
period.
3e. The Management Committee shall be empowered to change the
legal status of the Association in order to pursue the stated aims. Any
change which creates potential liabilities for members must be approved by
them, in advance, at a general meeting.
4. MEMBERSHIP
4a. Membership of the Association shall be open to any Cedars
Park resident who wishes to join, provided they are willing to accept the aims
and rules of the Association.
4b. For the present, any resident both attending, and
registering at, general meetings will be deemed to have joined. In
future, the Management Committee may seek members approval to levy a membership
subscription, and / or apply such terms or conditions as members deem
appropriate for preserving the Association’s viability, integrity and
administrative efficiency.
4c. The Management Committee shall be empowered to withdraw
membership from any individual whose conduct is judged to be seriously
prejudicial to the aims of the Association.Notification of withdrawal may,
initially, be oral. However, this must be followed, within 2 weeks, by a
written confirmation, containing both an explanation and the offer of a
personal appeal to the next general meeting. If an individual’s behaviour
has been abusive, threatening or appears likely to encourage serious public
disorder, the Committee may explicitly withhold the right to personal
attendance, and substitute the offer of a written submission by proxy.
5. MANAGEMENT
5a The Association shall be administered by a Management
Committee of not less than 3, and no more than 11, members normally elected at
the Association’s Annual General Meeting.
5b. The Honorary Officers of the Committee shall be: The
Chairperson, the Treasurer, the Secretary and up to 8 other Committee Members.
5c. Due to financial responsibilities described in Section 8
below, the Chairperson, the Treasurer, and the Secretary must all be over 18
years of age on appointment.
5d. Any resident may stand for election to the Management
Committee. Any candidate who is not already an Honorary Officer must
submit a signed written notice of their intention to the Secretary, or
Chairperson, by the end of February. Any such notice must be seconded and
signed by at least one other resident, and will contain the full names and
addresses of all signatories. Candidates will have the right to address the AGM
personally, with any encumbent having a right of reply.
5e. If an unchallenged, encumbent Management Committee does
not receive the clear approval of a majority of members present at the AGM, the
Chairperson must open the floor to new volunteers. Voting will then be
re-staged as appropriate, with unchallenged Officers elected by default.
5f. The Management Committee itself may, at any time, appoint
new officers up to the specified maximum, subject to confirmation at the next
general meeting of the Association: If confirmation is not given by a clear
majority of members present, the Chairperson shall follow the procedure laid
down in Section 5e.
5g. The Management Committee shall meet at least once every 3 months.
5h. The quorum for the Management Committee shall be 3 officers.
5i. The Chairperson shall chair all Management Committee
meetings, or general meetings of the Association. If the Chairperson cannot be
present, then a quorum of officers present, or planning to attend, shall
nominate an acting-Chairperson.
5j. Any officer subject to medical incapacity may be retired
by the Management Committee if there is no prospect of a return to duties
within a reasonable time-frame.
5k. Any officer failing to attend more than 3 consecutive
Management Committee meetings without reasonable explanation, or contact, may
be deemed to have resigned.
5l. The Management Committee may, at any time, create
sub-committees in accordance with section 3A. Sub-committees shall have
only such powers as the Management Committee chooses to delegate.
Sub-committees shall report to the Management Committee in any manner the
latter deems appropriate. Members of the Association, or representatives
of other interested parties, may be co-opted for sub-committee service as
appropriate. Membership of a sub-committee shall confer only such duties
and responsibilies as are agreed by the Management Committee to be appropriate
to the task in hand: Ultimate accountability shall reside with the
Management Committee.
6. HONORARY OFFICERS’ DUTIES
6a. The Chairperson will be responsible for chairing
meetings. The Secretary will keep and publish minutes. The
Treasurer will be responsible for keeping the accounts and making and receiving
any payments on behalf of the Association. Committee Members will be
responsible for such duties as are agreed at the time of appointment.
Other duties may be attached to any post at any time, subject to agreement
between the post-holder and other officers.
6b. An officer may resign, at any time, by submitting a
written notification to either the Secretary or the Chairperson.
7. VOTING
7a. Only members of the Association shall be entitled to vote
at general meetings.
7b. Only Honorary Officers shall be entitled to vote at
meetings of the Management Committee.
7c. At all meetings, voting will be by show of hands, unless
the Chairperson decides that alternative arrangements are appropriate.
7d. All decisions shall require a simple majority, except
resolutions on DISSOLUTION, CONSTITUTIONAL ADOPTION OR AMENDMENTS, or
MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWAL, where a three-quarters majority shall be required.
7e. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson shall have a
second vote.
8. FINANCE
8a. The Association may raise money by soliciting donations,
grants, subscriptions, sponsorship, advertising or undertaking fund-raising
events. Any such schemes must be given prior approval by the Management
Committee. Any request for subscriptions must also be approved by members
at a general meeting.
8b. Funds raised cannot be refunded under any circumstances,
except as provided for within a contract for advertising or sponsorship, or as
may be deemed appropriate within the context of Section 10 below.
8c. The Management Committee may subsidise community-wide
social events, subject to the event organisers proving able to maintain
appropriate financial controls.
8d. Members may not, under any circumstances, borrow money on
the Association’s behalf.
8e. Members may not undertake any expenditure on behalf of
the Association without the Treasurer’s consent.
8f. Any money obtained by the Association will be used only
for the benefit of the Association.
8g. Any bank accounts opened for the Association shall be in
its own name.
8h. Any cheques issued, or other payments authorised, shall
be signed by any two of the following: The Treasurer, the Chairperson,
the Secretary.
8i. The Treasurer’s financial records shall be subject to
independent audit at least annually.
8j. Management Committee officers shall not be paid for
their usual, or agreed, duties. They may, however, be remunerated for expenses
incurred whilst performing their duties, or for any service supplied to the
Association on an occupational basis.
9. GENERAL MEETINGS
9a. The Association shall hold an Annual General Meeting
(AGM) in April, or May, of each year.
9b. All members will be given at least 5 days written notice
of the AGM, or any ordinary general meeting, and they shall be entitled to
attend and vote.
9c. The business of the AGM shall include:
-
Receiving a report from the Chairperson on the Association’s activities over
the year.
-
Receiving a report from the Treasurer on the finances of the Association.
-
Election of Honorary Officers
-
Considering any other matters as may be decided
9d. The quorum for the AGM, and any ordinary general
meeting, shall be 15 members.
10. DISSOLUTION
10a. If the Management Committee decides to DISSOLVE the
Association, this will be by resolution at a SPECIAL general meeting held with
at least 21days written notice to members.
10b. The Committee will submit a proposal for dealing with
any assets remaining after all outstanding liabilities have been discharged.
11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
11a. This CONSTITUTION may only be AMENDED by a resolution of
the AGM.
11b. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Management
Committee by the end of February for incorporation into the AGM agenda.
12. ADOPTION
This revised CONSTITUTION was adopted at an Annual General Meeting held on 9th
May 2008 at Cedars Park Primary School
R Willison-Gray - Chairperson
I A Hillyer - Secretary
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