Constitution

The Community Association was launched on 18th June 2008.

The constitution was approved as follows:

CONSTITUTION for the School Lane Community Association


1.   NAME
  The name of the Association shall be the School Lane Community Association
   
2. OBJECTS
  The objects of the association shall be to promote and protect the interests of the local residents living in the area covered by the association. This should include:
(a) To promote members rights and the maintenance and improvement of housing conditions, transport, amenities and the environment in general.
(b) To promote social activities for all members.
(c) To uphold equal opportunities and work for good relations amongst all members of the community.
   
3.  MEMBERSHIP
  Membership shall be open to any tenant, leaseholder and home owner (and their households) living in the area 2-18 School Lane All members shall have one vote at general meetings.
   
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
  No subscription shall be charged for membership. Membership is based solely on where you live.
   
5. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
  Members of the association shall seek actively to represent the needs of the whole community and will not discriminate on the grounds of nationality, ethnic origin, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief.
   
6. THE COMMITTEE
6.1 At the Annual General Meeting members shall elect a committee.  The Committee is responsible for the management of the Association.
6.2 The Committee will be made up of the following members; Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and other members.
6.3 The Committee may co-opt a maximum of 3 members who shall be non-voting.
6.4 All elected members of the Committee shall have one vote.
6.5 If vacancies occur among the officers of the Committee, the Committee shall have the power to fill them from amongst their members.
6.6 Committee meetings are open to all members who may speak but not vote.
6.7 The Committee may form sub-groups to deal with specific issues but these must report to the Committee.
6.8 The quorum for a committee meeting shall be 5.
6.9 The Committee shall aim to meet 6 times a year, but not less than 4 times a year.
6.10 Minutes shall be taken of committee meetings and shall be available to all members.
6.11 Only tenants of Wealden District Council may vote on matters relating to the tenant landlord relationship.
   
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
7.1 There shall be an Annual General Meeting held every year (within 15 months, maximum) at which the following items will be included as agenda items:
 
  • Annual report from the Committee
  • Present statement of accounts
  • Election of Committee
  • Amendments to the Constitution (this item may be excluded if there are no recommendations for change)
7.2 The Committee will notify all members of the date no later than 10 days before the AGM.
   
8. GENERAL MEETINGS
8.1 In addition to the Annual General Meeting the Committee may call a general meeting to which all members of the Association will be invited.
8.2 All General Meetings shall be advertised to members at least five days
in advance.
8.3 A Special (or extraordinary) General Meeting, open to all members, will be held if 9 or more members submit a request in writing to the Secretary.
8.4 The Secretary shall arrange a meeting within 14 days of the receipt of the request for a Special General Meeting.
   
9. QUORUM
  No General, Special General or Annual General Meeting shall take place
if less than 6 members are present.
   
10. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
10.1 The Constitution of the Association may be altered at the AGM.
10.2 Any suggested changes must be handed to the Secretary 14 days before the AGM.
10.3 Changes to the Constitution must be agreed by a majority of the members present at the meeting.
10.4 The Association shall notify Wealden District Council within 28 days of changes to its Constitution.
   
11. FINANCE
11.1 All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects and aims of the Association and for no other purpose.
11.2 The Treasurer shall  open  a  bank/building  society  account  in  the  name  of the Association.
11.3 The Treasurer shall keep a proper account of the income and expenditure of the Association.
11.4 Three cheque signatories shall be nominated by the Committee (one should be the Treasurer). Any 2 of these signatories can authorise a cheque. No 2 signatories shall be from the same household.
11.5 Any expenditure over £50 shall be authorised by Committee at meetings.
11.6 The Treasurer shall submit the accounts for audit at the end of each financial year and Wealden will audit these free of charge.
   
12. DISSOLUTION
12.1 The Association may only be dissolved at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose and advertised fourteen days before the meeting to all members.
12.2 At least 3 of the members present at the meeting must agree to the dissolution.
12.3 Any funds and possessions shall be donated to a charity or charities of the meetings' choice. Once liabilities have been settled.
   
13. STANDING ORDERS
13.1 Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a reasonable manner at meetings.
13.2 Members shall be excluded if they contravene the aims of the Association, use abusive language and/or violent behaviour.
13.3 If a member behaves abusively or is offensive (eg racist, sexist language) they shall be warned by the chair and if their behaviour persists a vote of the whole meeting will be taken to exclude them for the rest of the meeting.
13.4 The Chair shall have a second casting vote in the event of a resolution being tied at any meeting being held.
   
   

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