So! There was another open public meeting on the 4th November and was basically all about the setting up of community group to best represent Atherton and its views. With the majority of this meeting being about agreeing upon a constitution. The draft version of which is presented below, and we'll post the amended one when it's finished.
Hopefully the recording quality of this one is better than the last, and I've split it up into different sections that correspond to the items on the agenda (in this case each item of the proposed constitution). May not be that useful at this stage but hopefully will be more helpful in future meetings so you only have to listen to the topic that interests / concerns you.
As always would be good to get some feedback going about the things discussed. This way you can get involved and have your say even if you're not into attending public meetings and it can be discussed at future ones. Plus it may encourage some new people to turn up for the next one! So please leave comments at the bottom of the post.
Location: Jubilee Hall - Atherton
Attendees: Michael Livesey, Stuart Gerrard, Hermann St. John, Julie Finch, Mark Dudley, Stephen Hall, Jane Warburton, Alex Hartley.
Below is proposed constitution:
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What We Do and How We Work
We exist to fight for the interests of local residents – our members.
We are run by and for our membership as a whole. All our office bearers, and anyone else representing us, are servants of the membership, and obey the decisions made at our meetings.
Our meetings are open to all local residents; will be held as often as members want/as often as possible; and will hold no issue to be beyond discussion.
Agenda items at our meetings are decided by the body of the meeting – individual members are allowed to write into the agenda any item they want discussed while the meeting is starting.
The Association will hold no political affiliation being open to all, Elected members will be invited to attend but must clarify their position in regard to an issue so members are aware that they are acting as councillors or ordinary members.
CONSTITUTION
1. Name of Association
The name of the Association Shall be the Atherton Community Association & Residents' Forum.
2. Aims of the Association
To promote the interest of residents in the area on all matters concerning housing, the environment, and the social, economic, and community life of the area.
3. Membership
(a) Membership shall be open to all residents in the area: i.e. with a M46 postcode.
(b) Membership shall be free of charge.
(c) All voting members must be at least 16 years of age.
(d) Membership shall cease immediately upon a person leaving the area defined above.
4. Office Bearers
(a) Office bearers shall be elected to carry out the business of the Association.
(b) The office bearers shall include a chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. Other general meetings may decide to create and fill additional office bearer positions such as minutes secretary, vice chairperson and so on.
(c) The office bearers shall be elected at the annual general meeting. Previous office bearers shall be eligible for election again.
(d) Vacancies amongst office bearers shall be filled by election at the next ordinary general meeting.
(e) The office bearers shall carry out the duties given them by the members at general meetings of the Association.
5. Annual General Meeting
(a) There shall be an Annual General Meeting within fourteen months of the Association's inaugural meeting or last annual general meeting.
(b) The Annual General Meeting shall
Receive a report from the office bearers of their activities, including a statement of accounts fully audited;
Accept the resignation of all officer bearers and elect new office bearers (previous office bearers shall be eligible for election again.);
Appoint two competent individuals, not having been office bearers during the preceding twelve months or elected to serve as new office bearers, to audit its accounts;
Vote on any proposed amendments to the constitution; and
Vote on any other proposals submitted by members. Adopted proposals shall be binding on office bearers and others representing the association. All members shall be allowed to submit proposals during the meeting.
(c) The secretary will notify all Members of the date of the meeting not less than 21 days in advance of that meeting.
(d) The quorum for annual general meetings shall be 8 members.
6. Ordinary General Meetings
(a) Ordinary general meetings may be held throughout the year, as called by the secretary or as agreed at earlier general meetings.
(b) The ordinary general meetings shall:
Elect members to serve on any vacant office bearer positions; and
Vote on any other proposals submitted by members. Adopted proposals shall be binding on office bearers and others representing the association. All members shall be allowed to submit proposals during the meeting.
(c) There shall be no set quorum for ordinary general meetings.
7. Special General Meetings
(a) A special general meeting shall be held:
when called by the secretary; or
when called for by any 8 members, in writing, to the secretary, with their signatures and addresses. The request should state the reasons for calling the special meeting.
Those 8 members may organise and publicise the special general meeting themselves if the secretary does not do so within a reasonable time period.
(b) The secretary (or other meeting organiser) will notify all members in writing of the date of the meeting not less than 21 days in advance of that meeting, and state the purpose of the meeting in that notice.
(c) The quorum for special general meetings shall be 8 members.
8. Changes to the Constitution
(a) The constitution may be altered at the Annual General Meeting or at a special general meeting called for that purpose.
(b) Proposed changes must be submitted to the secretary in writing not less than 3 days before the meeting.
(c) Changes must be agreed by at least a two-thirds majority of voting members present at the meeting.
9. Removal of Office Bearers (outwith annual general meetings)
(a) Office bearers may be removed (outwith AGMs, when they are automatically removed) at a special general meeting called for that purpose.
(b) A simple majority of votes at that meeting shall be enough to remove office bearers. The special meeting would then elect new office bearers as at an annual general meeting. Previous office bearers shall be eligible for election again.
10. Finance
(a) All money raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association.
(b) The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association and make a report available at every meeting.
(c) From the moment the Association applies for or receives any funding from other organisations, the funds of the Association shall be managed through a bank account. Cheques written on behalf of the Association must bear the signatures of two office bearers.
11. Equality Clause
12. Dissolution of the Association
(a) The Association may only be dissolved by a special meeting called for that purpose.
(b) Dissolution of the Association shall only take effect if agreed by two thirds of the members present and voting at that meeting.
(c) Any assets remaining after meeting liabilities must be distributed among local charities nominated by that meeting.
(d) Any money received via funding bodies should be returned to the funders in relation to the funding criteria.
(e) On dissolution, any documents belonging to the Association shall be disposed of in a manner agreed by that meeting.
The last thing discussed was:
The election of officers:
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